bracing for rear restoration ie... quarters, wheel wells, trunk area

[Fst Blk]

Getting close to purchasing new quarters and the rest of the metal that goes along with a complete rear end restoration. Plan put in new inner and outer wheel wheels along with trunk floors w/ drop offs. While I'm back there, going to put a new rear trunk brace and tail light pan in. Also, the rear portion of the frame rails will get replaced as my shackle mounts are swollen.

How would you guys attack this? It will be hard to just do one side at a time. How would you brace to make sure nothing moves. Probably need to brace the inner structure that rest on the inner wheel well too. Ideas, suggestions?

Bill

 

[Midlife]

Sounds like a big job. But you need to break it down to smaller jobs that disturb the car as little as possible. The frame rails are a critical part, so I'd replace those first, matching them to existing structures to ensure they are installed correctly. Quarters are not critical to structural integrity, and you'll need those removed to access wheel wells. I'd install each side of the trunk drop-offs before wheel wells, using the gas tank as an alignment tool. Do one side at a time. Then the wheel wells, followed by quarters, leaving the rear brace and tail-light panel last. Try to leave old metal in place where you can for alignment purposes.

Good luck!

 

[AzPete]

You can also remove the old quarters in sections using the remaining portions to brace the tail light panel and other items until you get to them. The big thing is measure things and take your time. Compare the new part to the old because sometimes you get an odd stamping on a new section.

 

[Fst Blk]

Sounds like a big job. But you need to break it down to smaller jobs that disturb the car as little as possible. The frame rails are a critical part, so I'd replace those first, matching them to existing structures to ensure they are installed correctly. Quarters are not critical to structural integrity, and you'll need those removed to access wheel wells. I'd install each side of the trunk drop-offs before wheel wells, using the gas tank as an alignment tool. Do one side at a time. Then the wheel wells, followed by quarters, leaving the rear brace and tail-light panel last. Try to leave old metal in place where you can for alignment purposes.

Good luck!

This is a good suggestion. I can picture this process.

You can also remove the old quarters in sections using the remaining portions to brace the tail light panel and other items until you get to them. The big thing is measure things and take your time. Compare the new part to the old because sometimes you get an odd stamping on a new section.

That was how I thought about the quarters. Remove just what I need to gain access to the panels I'm replacing.

Bill

 

[stangg]

Ideally you would want a jig to set the body on and then set the points for each leaf spring mount and perhaps the rear bumper brackets. When I did mine, I didn't have a jig, but did set the body on four jackstands at the front and rear of each rocker panel. I had the pinch welds seated in the slots of the stands. Next I measured various points to the concrete floor and used those as a reference to re install the whole back half. With the suspension removed you could make some simple jigs to help you get things line back up if you don't like measuring over and over. The jigs would be easy to build if everything on the car currently is in the right place. If you build jigs or take measurements, make sure the body is well set so it can't move on you... otherwise your jigs and measurements will become meaningless if you lose your frame of reference.