[Stan65]

Hello all,

I know this is not the place for a wanted add, but it directly pertains to the 70-73’s and hopefully will help the hobby in the future.

I am looking for one or both trunk drop off to cross rail filler panels. I can mirror one if I can’t get both.

I hope to either reproduce these myself or have it done. (May have someone to help if I can’t pull it off)

The panel is located behind the lower red circled area in the first picture.

It’s the rusty parts in the second picture (stolen from the net). (The black are Camaro and are different)

Thanks,
Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[cpu]

I think I read a post here from a few years back where these parts were discussed

[72projectbird]

I just went thru this with my 70. They're not reproduced, and finding them is a pain.

[Stan65]

cpu, 72projectbird,

There have been several posts.

I’m hoping to find a used one or pair that I can use to pattern and reproduce. Rust pitting and pinholes is not a concern. Need the whole piece. I prefer that the attached parts be still attached so I can remove them surgically. They can be cut just outside the edges of the filler panel.

Thanks

Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[Formulabruce]

I have some pics I can post and a good idea. Will post later tonight

[Formulabruce]

Ok, here is some info, and pics.. this California car got hit in RR corner and below many decades ago.
The small panel in question you can see is tack welded, as original, to the inner rear panel. This panel is actually a " camaro " repop part sold for a firebird, because... " same same ya know" .. Obviously I had to beat it and reform it to make it right for a firebird. That said, ALL the repop Quarters, or patch panels ARE WAY wrong in this area.. The repops just come around the bend and go straight, vs a compound dynamic curve WITH a shelf in it to correctly FIT this panel, like original quarters have. Most body shops IGNORE all this and will even solid weld the outter tail panel to the quarter ( WRONG). IF you question the " seam" they get a grinder and make one... Wrong.. ..So I put a modified repair quarter which was ready to weld, up to the " inner tail panel extension " part way on the car so you all can see how it is Supposed to Lay in the extension panel ( part in question).
The Outter tail panel Is ONLY attached at the very bottom edge on the Inner tail panel. It comes with a rolled EDGE on the sides. On a FACTORY Sheet metal car there is an air gap, shown on another car with George Washington helping out. This is factory sheet metal. Take a good look, ask Questions.. LAST Pic is factory Untouched Driver side of same car. One my phone it's hard to get pics to load right side up, sorry PS Paint on inside is Dp74LF. with spot clear

[Formulabruce]

Here is a FACTORY SHeet metal tail panel on factory quarter. This is how ALL 70- 73 SHOULD be. Again, pic orientation is off. Tail pipe on right bottom side of pic for reference. This area is open from bumper area to the very bottom and end of the panel.

[Stan65]

Formulabruce,

When I built my 71, the quarters, trunk drop offs, cross rail, and tail panel were very accurate to the originals. I had one sourced original filler panels at the time and they fit excellent.

I attached a pic of my 71 with an original filler piece. Wish I would have made a 3D scan of it 10 years ago when I took this picture.

You can barely see it attaches to the rear cross rail and the trunk drop off.

The tail panel does not attach to the filler nor does the quarter. Kinda hard to explain.

When you put the quarter on it spot welds to the lower horizontal of the trunk drop off. The tail panel spot welds to the lower horizontal of the cross rail. There is one place that a couple spot welds go on the bottom corners attaching the lower most part of the quarters to the lower of the tail pan.

That being said, I hope someone has one I can use.

Thanks,
Stan

[Formulabruce]

I believe you can make what will work from a Camaro part, but it will not be perfect , nor original. I just made this work in a correct manner of assembly. I agree with you on how it all goes. Last NOS piece I saw for that area was 1981, and was dated 1978. Think the pair were left over from the body shop at my Dealer.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Ok, here is some info, and pics.. this California car got hit in RR corner and below many decades ago.
The small panel in question you can see is tack welded, as original, to the inner rear panel. This panel is actually a " camaro " repop part sold for a firebird, because... " same same ya know" .. Obviously I had to beat it and reform it to make it right for a firebird. That said, ALL the repop Quarters, or patch panels ARE WAY wrong in this area.. The repops just come around the bend and go straight, vs a compound dynamic curve WITH a shelf in it to correctly FIT this panel, like original quarters have. Most body shops IGNORE all this and will even solid weld the outter tail panel to the quarter ( WRONG). IF you question the " seam" they get a grinder and make one... Wrong.. ..So I put a modified repair quarter which was ready to weld, up to the " inner tail panel extension " part way on the car so you all can see how it is Supposed to Lay in the extension panel ( part in question).


The Outter tail panel Is ONLY attached at the very bottom edge on the Inner tail panel. It comes with a rolled EDGE on the sides. On a FACTORY Sheet metal car there is an air gap, shown on another car with George Washington helping out. This is factory sheet metal. Take a good look, ask Questions.. LAST Pic is factory Untouched Driver side of same car. One my phone it's hard to get pics to load right side up, sorry PS Paint on inside is Dp74LF. with spot clear

I used the Camaro ones ,purchase a Shriner/strecher and got it to work

['ol Pinion head]

Will ck later today. Have a cutoff lower driver side that had a tiny bit of rust in it, have to see how far I cut into the tail panel.

[Stan65]

ol Pinion head,

That would be excellent!

Thanks all for the info so far.

I know I can make the Camaro ones work, I have also pounded them out from flat sheet before. My goal here is to reproduce a correct Firebird part. There are only a couple pieces left that have to be fabricated to fix anything on these old bodies, this is one of them.

A little birdie told me the piece above the tail lights will be available soon.

That leaves the part I am looking for an example of. I really don’t want to cut apart one of my cars to get one.

Thanks,
Stan

[poncho-mike]

I have a NOS pair of these that came with a set of quarter panels I bought. I live in NC. If you can find someone in the area willing to scan them for you, let me know. I work in design engineering, but we don't have a 3D scanner.

[Stan65]

poncho-Mike,

Pm sent…

Thanks,
Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[Formulas]

Are any of you guys near south western West Virginia?

I have a gutted CA. 70 Espirit

[Stan65]

Formulas,

I’m located central Illinois

Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[Stan65]

ol Pinion head,

Did you have a chance to check out your cutoff?

Thanks
Stuart “Stan” Landreth

['ol Pinion head]

Stan, yes, pulled it out of one of the boxes of cutoff panels. Need to run over the outside of the lower 1/4 with the Forney rotary wire brush & get rid of a thick skim of bondo.

Cut this one off years ago with one of my sawsalls(?) to save the trunk drop & this small bracket attachment piece. Will get it cleaned up this weekend & get some pics, will need to get it clean enough so can carefully removed the bracket attachment piece.

[Stan65]

'ol Pinion head,

Much appreciated!

Thanks,

Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[HWYSTR455]

I have an AMD trunk drop off piece I didn't use, believe it's a driver's side. Will send it for free, just pay shipping.

EDIT: In original box. I can take pics and post if interested.
.