Lemikson

Is rear quarter panel spot—welded to the outer wheel housing?
I am not able to find any witness marks from spot welds - got the wheel arch lip cleaned to galvanized steel and can't see them, can't feel them, puzzled kinda...
How is the rear panel skin "attached" to the outer wheel housing panel if no spot welds are used?

Jherriott

Folded over? Like a metal French Seam?

Lemikson

Nope, it's not folded over. That's called "hemming" - hood outer / door outer is attached in such way to respective inner panels.

Humboldtgrin

They are spot welded. You just have to look harder.

Lemikson

Thanks Humboldtgrin. Especially for throwing in photos - exactly I needed to see.
At the back panel, did you weld the donor panel at the factory seam (spot welds seams above / below tail light) or you cut / but weld around - like done at the C pillar outer?

Humboldtgrin

It's welded before the seem. And I used a bronze door stop I had to use only on the back side of the panel above the fuel door before it was tig welded. All the others were tig welded in little sections. And I used a mig in some spots. It turned out very nice.

Humboldtgrin

Don't drill thru any spot welds on the body side. The quarter panel will need 3/16" holes where the spot welds were for a tig welder to weld the new quarter panel onto the inner body structure. I have a lot more photos if you would like. Don't forget seam sealer on the lip of the outer fender well before placing the quarter panel on to weld it. But don't put it on the very lip where it gets welded, it gets it right above the 90 degree bend where the welds are. Otherwise it will be a pain to weld, and stinky if you get that body seam sealer between the welds. This was my first time doing this to any car. It's easy, just have to think " can it be welded if it's cut there". I didn't even weld it, my brother did but that's what he told me to keep thinking as I sectioned the panel. And if you use the edges of the old panel and but it up to the new panel on the backside you can trace out the outline of where you need to cut the new panel. Don't cut to much off, it's much easier to grind meterial off then it is to add it.

Humboldtgrin

The whole car is spot welded besides the hood support. I'm glad we had this talk.

Lemikson

Humboldtgrin, you have been amazingly helpful. Thank you so much.
Yes, I can see how nicely you got the cut sections joint at the rear. Having a brother who does TIG is the icing on the cake. As you offered more photos I will contact you via PM.
Thanks again.

Lemikson

OK, cross out my statement about the doors on 944s.. They really made them strong....