Using fenders to fix quarters

[am4blue]

I was wondering if anyone tried to use fenders on an 84-87 Regal to fix rot on the quarters?

I recently picked up a set of fenders and a hood in great condition... I can't pass up a good deal. My Regal has rot around the wheel wells and bottom of the quarter on the outer skin. I was thinking, maybe I could cut patch panels for around the wheel wells ont he quarters from the fenders? Anyone tried or looked into doing this?

It is kind of crappy outside, but I measured the bottoms of the wheel openings on the fender and quarter and they appeared to be the same. I don't know about the height from bottom to top, but they look close if not identical. I willl still have to patch in front and in back of the wheel wells, but this would save me a lot of time if I could just cut out what I need from the spare fenders.

I think the wheel well moldings have separate part numbers from front to back, but this could be just due to how they interact to the other trim pieces differently from front to back and side to side. I'm going to try and line up a rear molding to the front tomorrow.

I don't care it the fender has a different circumference length as I will need to fab a piece for between the door and the wheel well. I just want to figure out if the radius of the opening, the rounded part above the molding, and the body line on the panels will line up from front to back.

Let me know if anyone has tried this or if you have any input.

Thanks,

D

 

[R/T kota]

They are not identical but are very close to it.
It can be done by someone who has some talent when it comes to body work.
I thought about doing the same thing with my regal but I found a parts car with mint 1/4 panels

 

[am4blue]

How deep did you have to get? Did you replace the whole section, inner and outer including the wheel wells? I've been keeping my eyes open for sound quarters, but in Michigan they are kind of scarce... I was hoping to be able to patch in new metal as they aren't too far gone. The previous owner, for some reason, replaced 3 or so screws with some hex head deals and of course they rotted there.

 

[R/T kota]

I'm just across the border in Ontario so ya I know how hard they are to come by.
Best thing to do is look for the cars with the rusty frames but still have a decent body. They are out there.
The one I found, the body was so nice we really didn't want to cut it up but once we saw just how bad the frame was, we went to it.
I haven`t decided how much of the panel I am going to use yet. We just cut them off last weekend.
We cut the panel from inside the door to behind the tail light area and from the 1/4 window and inside the trunk down and about half on the inner.

This will give you an idea of how much we took.

 

[am4blue]

I'm keeping my eyes open for a solid roller now. Found a couple, but finding time to trailer them atm is going to be difficult with the new job and no tow vehicle currently, not to mention that they are 8-9 hours away. I should just borrow my brother's truck and head down this weekend. By the time I buy quarters and a pass door around here I'd be at the cost of one of those rollers anyway...

I got a decent deal on my Regal, knowing it needed some body work/welding done, but maybe I just buy another one and swap the drivetrain and other numerous new parts onto the next one. I'm going to yank the body off anyhow.

D

 

[R/T kota]

Good luck on the search. Even in the rust belt they do exist.