I was just wondering if anyone who does bodywork would know what's best to do when replacing the RR quarter panel on my 97 z24, I have the old panel off and a new one ready to go on. Should i use panel bond like 3m, or plug weld the new (used panel) on. Also what is suggested to prep the area, what should i seal the exposed metal with if welding ?
if you are using plugwelds to mimic the factory instal of the qp, then epoxy primer the flanges then grind down the spots where you will weld to bare metal keep the area as small as possible. if you're using 3M's panel bond adheisive you'll prep the flange by taking it down to bare metal and applying the adheisive with a brush, if im not mistaken(you may want to refer to a repair manual) you may need to plug some areas of the quarter panel in combination with the panel bond.
ok cool, yea i just heard about the panel bond and was not sure which method to use. if im to plug weld do they make sealer that is weld through etc?
we use 3m panel bond, or 8115 as its called, clamp it and let dry
ok exactly what i needed to know, thanks alot. so just out of curiosity if the panel ever needs to be removed how do you go about it ?
o and i, guessing i got to buy a gun to apply? they look more expensive than the adhesive lol
You must drill out all the spot welds. if i remember correctly its like 170 something spot welds.
yea i did that there is allot i got my old panel off, any tips on how to dispense w/o buying the 300 dollar gun?
why are you replacing your qp in the first place? if i may ask...
well i had hit some black ice in dec. and put a nice dent in the rr quarter and smashed the door. i figured i like the car and got some money into it so id fix it, needless to say what a mother to get them off and back on . To others looking to do this it is a lot of work and patience. im geting ready to put the panel back on did a test fit to make sure things line up right and looks good allthoe i dont think i will be using the weld bond i just dont think it will hold well seeing as i got the spot weld cutter every 1/2 inch or so and i dont think you can weld through it?
also another ? what should i do to seal this area ( between the panel and inner panel)? primer and paint ?
my question is did you pre pull the old panle, you alwyas pre pull doesnt matter if your replacing, re pulling fixes inner panle, gets gaps at the door, pre pulling is a must before replacing metal
if you removed the old 1/4 did you cut it before the laser welding seam on the sail panle?? i sure hope ya did, and what kind of joint are you going to do will it be a open butt, open butt with backing, lap joint lap joint with plug welds, all experience right there experience plays a huge factor, and your asking simple questions which tells me your inexperienc in the field
how did you remove the old panle, drilling is fine, what size drill bit did you use, anything over 5/16 is to big and not icar approved and the weld will fail, leaving your car unsafe, did you clean off all the mating flanges to clean bare metal for welding and panle bond, if this is a new gm panle going on, you never remove the e coat inside the new panle, all you do is scuff with a red scuff pad and apply the panle bond on both the panle and the cars mating flanges, thats the icar way and thats the way i do them and allot of other techs do to
junk yard panles yes you have no choice but to gind the sinside of the donor panle, i know there is no choice
panle bond, fusor is used by gm.ford, dodge, some of the best panel bond out there, and it has glass beads in it as well as the 3m does too, clamp to hard you will hear the beads cracking and the panle bond is no good
can i haz bondo
using a weld through primer on the cars mating flanges is the best way for corrosion protection but dont put to much on becasue when welding it likes to spatter allot, so i put a light coat on before i weld
if you grind all the welds out remove the panle using a torch, it basicly comes off with your hands, and you can install new panle with a resistant spot welder, applying panle bond all the way around and resistant spot welding, just like factory does and it still holds the corrosion protection, which is also the i car way
never do you put a expoy sealer before you weld you will never get a good weld, and cant weld impossible to weld, panle bond is corrosion protected so all we do is seal, base and clear, and inside re install pillar foam where needed, seam sealer on after its sealed,, and apply a corrosion resistant body wax to the inside of the panle
its allot more invovled then your thinking
can i haz bondo
ok, cool . yes i am not a body guy im a mechanic so in this field i know the basics. thats why i am on here, and theres a reason i asked the questions. I used a spot weld cutter and removed the old panel on both the smashed car and the donor car. i will be plug welding the holes in the new panel to my inner panel of the repaired vehicle. Greatly appreciate the feedback very help full
