removing botched patch panel ?

[blazer 2010]

I have a 67 belverdere but the quarter full length patch panel has been welded over top of the old quarter panel.I can see good metal inside the wheelwell just the typical wheel lip rot.I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on removing the patch panel without damaging the original.The only way I see is to use a grinder with a flap wheel, go slow and don,t stay in one spot too long.Here is a pic of the panel I,m sure is what is on there.

 

[Cranky]

Do you have any pics of the panel on the car and how it was welded on?

 

[blazer 2010]

I,m sure is a wire feed weld and ground down smooth is most places.It,s not a bad job but the wheel well is bowed out,not a straight smooth line down the side.Is is one pic but I will go take some more.You can see in this pic how the center body line kinks out just before the back tire right where that little rust mark is at the bottom

 

[cryplydog]

nice car blazer, I would start by blasting the whole area in question with like silica sand or glass or something comparable and use a small type of blast system with lower air pressure and adjust pressure and feed to get good results. Don't let some idiot use a big *** industrial blaster with a screw compressor! the heat and pressure will ruin it! one or those 150$ things would take you all the way and if you would step up and buy/borrow one of the newer models with soda/sand capability. its not that biga deal. I've done a lot of this kind of work and in the industrial setting also and the one thing you would learn quickly is that you have got to see what you are dealing with inside and out and all around! Trim all bad areas away with good aviation, snips right and left, a air powered porting grinder with about a 3" norzon cutting wheel that is about 1/16" thick and use eye protection. GO easy and have fun saving a mopar then go kill some rats. they are the guys that wear a bowtie and all claim to have pink rods!

 

[blazer 2010]

I,ve already starting sanding the old bondo out and trying to follow the weld line to see what dangers lurks for me.Hopefully I can get a edge loose and slowly work my way down the weld line.Had to laugh,I have a big block in my blazer.

 

[cryplydog]

Just joking around to have a little fun. good luck on your project.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Don't you love half *** work .
Get that car fixed the right way .
Good luck

Hopefully the welds are half assed too .

 

[blazer 2010]

Just joking around to have a little fun. good luck on your project.

Actually I never thought of it that way ,big tough chevy guys with bowties and pink rods,I still get a chuckle.

 

[Homstead]

You should take some pics! We are interested to see how your progressing....

 

[blazer 2010]

I've been trying different methods of removing the bondo without making a big dust pit but I borrowed a heat gun and it seems to work pretty good with the big chunks.I see your in vernon too.I,ll take some pics this afternoon.

 

[blazer 2010]

Well I tried the heat gun for awhile but was worried about doing where the rear door panel is,I didn,t want a fire.The metal gets pretty hot,so I tried one of those black scot bright looking pads on a grinder that I didn't know what it was for and had sitting around,and it worked like crazy but now my clean garage is a mess and I didn't realize how many spider webs I had.I got most of the panel off but is stuck somewhere along the wheelwell,probably a plug weld or a screw.I did grind thru the original metal a bit so I took and old wood chisel and it followed the weak part of the weld where it was ground smooth and it just followed the path of least resistance.I'm not worried about the taillight section as I got a new one from a board member last year.

 

[Homstead]

Hey your getting there! At least its cooled off enough now to get working on the projects. I hope your wearing a dust mask or something while your grinding. That bondo dust will kill you! Have fun and we all look forward to seeing more pics!

 

[blazer 2010]

Wearing the whole get-up ear muffs ,mask and glasses and a fan to blow the dust outside.Looks like I salvaged the old sheet metal and the new panel,at least I can use it to fix the rusted wheel well lip.