BUILD THREAD “The Juggernaut”

Is there a way to keep enough of the weather strip mount flange in place (while being flexible enough to adjust as needed) & fab a new tail panel to correct GM's great quality control giving a new slate to work on? It sucks getting into panel fabrication to find the fixed panel is out of wack. With this idea, you could even make a pocket that'll give a inner access to mount/remove the plate light while using that voodoo you do so well to look factory like. Regardless, taking a break & stepping back for a moment or two can be what's needed to give a better view on the fix.

That's an all too familiar feeling. You've illustrated that these things are slapped together about as well as a kid's first model car, and the panels are all on different planes and angles. I don't think you could square it unless you completely separated both quarters, the pan, and the tail again.

This reminds me of replacing siding or redoing a floor in a home that's not square. In those instances the "tweak" is spread out over a larger area, effectively hiding it. Would sectioning solve the issue?

What about trimming the entire border of the tail panel and squaring that and the tag filler panel with the trunk lid, then filling?

There's also the Bob Ross approach: instead of trying to remove something from one side you can add it to the other side. They'll match and it might be easier.

I understand your frustration, Donovan, don't blame you for taking a step back to think on it. But I also understand that a guy like you won't be stumped for long and be back with the fix for the problem! 👍

Much the same as everyone else, totally support the need to take a step back to get the clear head you will need. What I see you end up doing is just like everything else going to the umpteenth, my guess is you will come up with a complete redo of factory flaws while also making it something that nobody will really know is different but will have a very trick twist that will further fit what you are looking to do with the car which is taking everything to the next level. Something like building it out to have a stow away tool compartment to be able to fix anything that may come up when out on the road.

There’s a big surprise…… Not! 😉