best way to fix this? (quarter window channel rot)

[rodneypierce]

Hey guys, removed my quarter window today so that I could convert my landau pillar to a classic/standard pillar and found this nice rot. Is there a window channel kit? Or some reproduction piece for this area? Not to sure how I am going to get in there to cut it out (probably use a dremel more then likely) let alone tack weld a new piece in there. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[LS1GN]

That's going to be a challenge - could you find a donor at a junkyard? How are your welding/fabricating skills?

 

[rodneypierce]

That's going to be a challenge - could you find a donor at a junkyard? How are your welding/fabricating skills?

most of the donor cars around here are complete garbage. They rot bad in the midwest. I ended up doing the other side as well, and it was much much worse. Went to a buddy's speed shop and had him bend me up a piece of channel out of 20 gauge mild steel. Cut it all out, and welded in new pieces.

Today I plan to duraglass it and should have it back to tip top shape in no time! I do still need to weld in a new piece of window channel, but plan to do that today as well.

 

[Longroof79]

It looks good, man.
I was going to suggest just cutting out as much of the rusty area as you can, then forming a piece using either 18-20 ga metal and welding it in.
But I see you took care of it...good job!
The car will look better with the regular coupe window pillars, rather than the landau pillars.

 

[Brother Al]

Nice Repair!

How bad was the factory bodywork on the rear pillar to quarterpanel seams?

I've seen some really horrible factory bodywork hidden under a vinyl roof... and elsewhere... Monday/Friday build issues... LOL. I used to be pretty heavy into the '68-'72 A-Body's... came across more than a few that had huge seam screw-ups hidden underneath the vinyl roof. Especially on '71/72 cars, very likely because of the UAW strikes. My old '84 Grand Prix had a nasty hidden seam crammed full of filler and my '83 Monte had an open seam at the passenger-side front cowl, near the fender upper mount... the factory filler fell out and water would come in from seemingly nowhere... discovered it when I replaced the windshield.

 

[liquidh8]

I echo Jacks statement, that is what I did to my wagons. I kept cutting till there was no more rot/pitting on the front and back side. My wagon was rotting from the back out. In anycase, that is the way to repair it properly, cut it out.

 

[rodneypierce]

Hey guys, I actually have a build thread here >> http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=48520 that details much of the car. The top was already removed when I got the car, but I did have to grind out what they did for filler and redo it myself. It was not done right or to my satisfaction. I also found another spot of rot at the bottom where the pillar meets the quarter panel. Cut that out last night and welded in a new piece there as well. I couldnt get all the way back into the very back corner of the window channels, so just cut back as far as I could, and POR15'd the rest that in there. Hope that keeps it at bay. I then spread dynaglass filler over it and am not in the process of blocking it back out here and getting it straight again (or as close as possible). I plan to apply seam sealer over the new seams on the inside from the patch pieces as well. Figure Ill just put a nice thick bead of urethane on the glass when I reinstall it.

I still need to weld in the new piece of channel/lip for the window that I cut out going up the pillar. Plan to do that here in a minute. Then Ill be back on my way to better things!! About had enough body work for a while!

 

[Longroof79]

Rodney,
There's several companies that produce a rust treatment for inside panels and pillars. I know SEM makes a product that uses a spray can and has a long piece of tubing attached to get into tight nooks and crannies.
I'm considering it myself to get into the A & B pillars where I've already done repairs. There's nothing more disappointing than seeing rust bubbles come thru areas that you thought you took care of.
Keep up the good work.

 

[rodneypierce]

Jack, I will def. look into that!! I ended up repairing the channel piece in a way that I really did not want too, but it will have to do. I couldnt get in there to cut that lower piece of channel out, so I cleaned everything up as good as I could, scuffed it all down with 80 grit paper, made a filler panel with the channel piece attached, degreased everything and bonded it together with duraglass. I plan to tack weld in the upper portion and lower portion on the inside. Anyhow, here are a few pictures of the repairs, and the channel repair I just did.

 

[rodneypierce]

Also, not sure if anyone can get me a picture or not, but would really like a picture of the point where the B pillar trim meets the quarter window trim, at the quarter panel (if that makes sense). I need to see how far out I need to make sure its finished nice. Im not going to spend a whole lot of time on the area that goes under the lower quarter window trim, but want to make sure its all finished out and paint ready where I need to.