Shrinkage. (no pool content), actually...panel shrinkage--gap issues Options

[TargaToy]

Rick's recent posts where he expertly repaired a previously filled dent in his green car's fender prompted me to post this question. I'm working on the same part of my car but didn't want to hijack his post.


Speaking of beating down the hight spots, this is what was under the filler:



I cut out the whole bad section and reworked the same section I had in a salvaged fender.





As you can see, I cut out the old section right along the top edge of the quarter panel. The cut line was only about 3/16" from the channel for the trunk weather-stripping.





In retrospect, I may have made a booboo here. I thought I took my sweet time welding in this panel but now that everything's said and done (and cooled off), the shrinkage in the panel has pulled the trunk lid gap a bit.







Rick, you once told me that if the gaps were within 3mm (3 dimes) not to stress as the bodies were hand built. However, I'm not thrilled with the trunk gap now and and my finish grinding is not even done yet which means there'll be more heat introduced.

Can this be corrected?

Also, my vertical weld where the two panels join also shrank a bit. Can I use some dolly work and bumping to bring the area out once I do my finish grinding and minimize the amount of filler that'll be needed?

[rick 918-S]

I think my rear lid is like that. Is the passenger side like that?

[TargaToy]

I think my rear lid is like that. Is the passenger side like that?

The passenger side looks almost perfect but, then, I haven't removed the paint over there yet. I know for sure there's filler in the seam below the PS light and I also know the trunk lid has been filled along the entire rear edge. It's lumpy and irregular, although the lid itself measures the same length on both sides at the corners.

Make sure your tail light fits also.

Light fitment on DS still looking good.

[rick 918-S]

I think my rear lid is like that. Is the passenger side like that?

The passenger side looks almost perfect but, then, I haven't removed the paint over there yet. I know for sure there's filler in the seam below the PS light and I also know the trunk lid has been filled along the entire rear edge. It's lumpy and irregular, although the lid itself measures the same length on both sides at the corners.

Make sure your tail light fits also.

Light fitment on DS still looking good.

Examine the inner panel on the driver side and be sure there isn't some damage that needs to be straightened that would give you back some length. Otherwise you may want to check the measurement of both quarter panels from the engine bay seal to the tail light. If they are the same then do what you need to to get where you want to be.

[TargaToy]

Examine the inner panel on the driver side and be sure there isn't some damage that needs to be straightened that would give you back some length. Otherwise you may want to check the measurement of both quarter panels from the engine bay seal to the tail light. If they are the same then do what you need to to get where you want to be.

Now that you say that, the whole mess looks to me (if I had to guess) like a truck with a hitch backed into the quarter or punctured it. You can see in my first pics the nasty patch some shop brazed in. The inner panel had a soft dent that it appeared had been pounded back out from the trunk side. I'll bet you're right and that's where my 1/8" of original length went.

I'm planning to screw a copper backer under the re-cut line when I go to weld in the new wedge section. Should I bend the vertical section I'm welding to a bit past vertical in the opposite direction to compensate for an more possible shrink/pull?

[rick 918-S]

Examine the inner panel on the driver side and be sure there isn't some damage that needs to be straightened that would give you back some length. Otherwise you may want to check the measurement of both quarter panels from the engine bay seal to the tail light. If they are the same then do what you need to to get where you want to be.

Now that you say that, the whole mess looks to me (if I had to guess) like a truck with a hitch backed into the quarter or punctured it. You can see in my first pics the nasty patch some shop brazed in. The inner panel had a soft dent that it appeared had been pounded back out from the trunk side. I'll bet you're right and that's where my 1/8" of original length went.

I'm planning to screw a copper backer under the re-cut line when I go to weld in the new wedge section. Should I bend the vertical section I'm welding to a bit past vertical in the opposite direction to compensate for an more possible shrink/pull?

No, I don't you'll need to do that now that your aware what can happen if you leave a gap and not notice what is happening when you weld in the est of tha panel.

Good luck! Go slow, think it through and show us when your done.

Oh, BTW: check your tail light fit again. I just have this sinking feeling you may actually have to pull the patch panel over to meet the trunk lip section not add a piece in the gap..... Just a thought. Take some measurements off the other side too. Just to be sure.

If that's the case I have an idea for closing the gap. Let us know.