[wygoat]

Has anyone used these quarter panels from original parts group? Going on my 68 gto. Just wondering if there worth a darn.
http://www.opgi.com/p/steel-body-pan...0/G240054.html

[iceman411]

Take a look at the one's being offered by our site sponsor....

[wygoat]

Iceman, have you use them? I just wanna get my body guy the best I can. I'm doing the rest of the body myself and really just want these quarters to look perfect. Thx

[68GTOSCA]

Gentlemen:

I am not a bodyman by any means. That being said, the quarter I purchased for NPD for the non-drivers side was problematic. First, the top of the quarter panel that tied-in with the upper window was fabricated incorrectly. In other words, it did not match the curvature of the window. This fix took everybit of 30 hours for me to resolve. Do a search this is very common situation.

If I was to do it again, I would cut / seam the original quarter about two foot below the manufactures seam at the sail. The new quarter panel below the window region fit properly.

In conclusion, unless the manufacturer has made a corrections. do not and I mean do not expect the new quarter to be a direct fit. These new quarters are better than the alternative which is to attempt to patch an original but not by much.

But without any real alternatives, whats a man to do when trying to save a pontiac.

Sean

[1968firebird455]

There is a good chance that there is only one die set of that part which mean you would be getting the same part no matter what distrubuter put their name on it. If thats the case go for the best price. I will talk to my distrubuters and see if that's the case.

Sean has some very good advise. An aftermarket part is most likely going to need some work and are a much better starting point than hand fabbing something from sheet. With that being said sometimes the best result is saving the part of the car that is good and sectioning in only what you need from the aftermarket panel (saving the old sail panel and butt welding the aftermarket in at the base.) Finding the right person/shop to install the parts or doing the proper research before you install the part itself is just as important and the quality and fitment of the panel you are installing.

If the sail panel is a problem area I would take a profile gauge and compare the original to the aftermarket. I also always check the tail panel contour as well as the trunk gutter contour. The camaro/firebird quarters have been problematic with trunk lid gaps so we have been saving the original if it's in good shape and but welding the aftermarkt in about an inch from the lip. Does this take more time and skill? YES! Is the added work worth the end result? I think so.