My project 66

BeepBeepRR · Oct 1, 2018

Ok guys.. I purchased a rusted out old 66 Belle. I started ordering sheet metal. 2 quarters and 2 trunk extensions. Well, they arrived today and I did a test fit on the quarter panels. The front body line matches up perfect. The rear part of it is way off by an inch and a quarter. I dont want to mention the company name yet I want to give them a chance to correct the problem. Being as though not many places make the entire lower quarter like I needed. Anyhow here is the picture of the 2 lines.. The line they made and the actual line it needs to be with tape. The portion of the tape facing the wheel opening is the side that is correct. Both sides are the same. 1 1/4 off.. Sadly I need all the way up to the edge of the sheet metal to fix the rust issues. Or I would just cut off what I need to make it work.

jusglazin · Oct 1, 2018

Been there, done that. Those panels are stamped by Sherman's parts in Canada. They are the only ones available for 66-67. Many resellers carry them but that's who makes them. The body lines are not sharp and the wheel lips are no where near stock. I used pieces from mine but ended up finding a good donor for the wheel lips.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

I appreciate the pictures. That helps a ton. Here are some pictures of the rust damage Im dealing with. Some one rolled the lip at some point to fit fatter tires under the car and this caused a bowl like place where water would collect. The rust is really bad behind the tire. Over the wheel its right at the body line. Yours looks fantastic and a great job making it work. I sent them an email I will see what they say.

jusglazin · Oct 2, 2018

Mine was similar. The back section will cover most of that. You will have to fabricate the other pieces. Or if you don't care if it's stock just weld in the whole panel. That would be the easiest for sure. The more pieces you cut and weld th more grinding and finishing you will have to do.

Mike67 · Oct 2, 2018

I just did mine on my 67 Coronet, the problem with the panels are that the contours are not correct I would suggest cutting a profile template from you existing metal that you can use later when doing your filler.
And just an observation, your tape line tapers away from the wheel well arch, I believe those lines were a little more parallel. The body line looks as its supposed to be in my opinion.

YY1 · Oct 2, 2018

aren't there two different stampings with one being much better than the other?

we went through this with my brother's 66 but ended up using 4 door donor arch metal as the 4 door part covered what was needed on his car.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

I took some pictures of the body line it’s way off. The black paint where it meets the yellow is the actual body line.

Mike67 · Oct 2, 2018

I'm not disputing that you body line is off, mine was a little and I had to reconstruct it down most of the length of the quarter.
I just think your tape is way off. Look at some pics of that line at its closest point to the wheel arch, it almost touches the lip of the wheel arch where it flares out, looks like your tape is a good 2 1/2" + from that same point.
Just wanting to help you get it right.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

It’s 1 3/8 from the tape to the actual line. If I were to put the lines on each end lined up the wheel arch is an inch and 3/8 below the arch of the sheet metal. I guess i’ll Just have to make it work. I will set the panel in place when I get home and take some pictures of how it fits.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

The body lines get closer together towards the rear of the car.

Mike67 · Oct 2, 2018

Maybe someone can measure what their car is along the wheel arch...I think @Cranky has a Belv....maybe he would volunteer....

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

Ok took some measurements on the body line. Front up by the door is 13 1/2 inches from line to line. At the back of the car its tapers to 11.5 inches. There is a definate taper in that body line.

Cranky · Oct 2, 2018

Yup....haven't given up on mine....yet.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

Mike67 said:
I just did mine on my 67 Coronet, the problem with the panels are that the contours are not correct I would suggest cutting a profile template from you existing metal that you can use later when doing your filler.
And just an observation, your tape line tapers away from the wheel well arch, I believe those lines were a little more parallel. The body line looks as its supposed to be in my opinion.

View attachment 662032 View attachment 662034 View attachment 662035

Those pictures are a coronet. I know basically the same car but the body lines are different between the 2.

Mike67 · Oct 2, 2018

The red and white ones are Belve's. I was just showing what I had done to mine ( Coronet)

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

Im in the process of uploading a youtube video..

Mike67 · Oct 2, 2018

I'm no pro by any means but I just finished instaling substandard Sherman panels about a month ago ( that's all I had to choose from). I learned as I went,made many mistakes but had some sucesses too. I know nothing of your expirence and am not trying to insult you so please don't take it that way,
I can't tell but does your replacement panel wrap under the rocker panel? If so that's what is going to set your body line at the door other wise it will hang way past its point of attachment.
My biggest mistake was keeping the patch panel as small as possible, my outer tubs needed work as did my trunk extensions so I cut them a little larger than they probably needed to be which got me into some of the radius'es that's where the pre cut template based of the side profile comes in handy. I can pretty much guarantee those radi are flatter than the OE panels
I would measure several points from the bottom up to the line on your car and then compare to the replacement panel and see what you get. I'm really curious sorry for the crude sketch, doing this on my tablet...

BeepBeepRR · Oct 2, 2018

The front part right behind the door fits like a glove. I measured the original gap between the wheel arch and the body line in a couple places. I was getting 2 and a 1/4 inches in a couple spots. I then measured approximately the same areas of the new panel and got I think id i remember correct an inch and a half to that same body line. My quarters are rusted beyond using them for measurements. Cant hook a tape to rust. In your picture the front most portion is good and wraps under the car nicely. The wheel well matches perfectly. But the body line is way off. Hell even the rear of the panel wraps under to meet the trunk extension great. Although my extensions are rusted out too. I have the new ones to install. But I have tried lining up the body lines and making it correct as far as those go. Then the problem is that the arch is above the actual wheel well. I will take some measurements from both the panel and the car At the places you pointed out. Have to do it tomorrow though.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 4, 2018

Ok when I set the panel the bottom front matched up to the pinch weld under the rocker panel. The wheel well was lined up and set perfect. The front line was dead on the factory line. The rear of the quarter on both sides is exactly 1 3/8 off. It cant be me messing this up.

The rear most part of the body lines is 11 1/8th inch. Right at the door the body lines measure 13 and a half. I cant take any measurements behind either wheel due to the rust. When I push the rear portion down and wrap it around the bottom of the old panel the line matches some of the old rusted portion that connects to the trunk extension.

BeepBeepRR · Oct 4, 2018

New video both sides mocked up. Its not me.. lol

My project 66

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Banned Henchman #27

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads