MTFCA Forum

Hello all need some advice for my 23 touring. The rear panel is full of bondo, and the bottom tack strip that attaches to the body is rusted out. This is from water gathering under the spare tire bracket. I was thinking of ordering an entire replacement panel for the back of the car. Just a few questions how are these panels attached as I cannot see any obvious welds? What panel would I need from Macs or another source as I'm not sure on the year of the Canadian car vs U.S. panels. Thanks

Thomas, the panels are likely spot welded together along the rolled beads. These welds can be difficult to spot on a rusty/painted panel.
From your photos, I would not replace the whole panel and go through the process of massaging a reproduction panel to fit. Rather, I would have sheet metal worker fold up a patch panel to repair the tack edge. This should have the angled foot and a folded in recess along the top edge so that the original panel can be lapped over it. This will help it to hold its shape during welding. A series of 1/4" holes drilled in the original panel can be Mig welded through, just like spot welding.
If you have the skills and equipment to replace the whole panel, you could certainly do the repair to the tack edge. If not, the repair should be far cheaper than a new panel replacement.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

The rounded over molding strips are spot welded to either the quarters or to the panel itself (i cannot remember which and the metal piece in the bottom is spot welded to the panel as well.

There are also bolts that hold the quarters and that panel together. You can see that here in this picture

You'll want to save that T round molding as an exact match is not manufactured. Restoration Supply Company has one that's close.

Thanks guys dumb question what do you mean by round T part? Thanks again

Thomas, responders may be at cross purposes here. I believe US built cars had a separate piece between the panels. This piece has a rounded top which forms the bead which is seen. If your body is built like the Canadian cars we see, that bead is rolled on the edge of the panels. Where the panels meet, they overlap and one bead nestles in the other. These are spot welded together in what is an overlap joint, so there may not be the separate piece being refered to.

Allan from down under.

Thanks Allan, do you maybe have a link to the metal I need?

Thomas, if you were here I'd refer you to Sandy Creek Engineering. You will have to find someone local to make the patch piece. Beating the bottom to match the bead would be the only tricky bit.
Allan from down under.

Thanks Allan, I was under the impression that I could just buy a whole new panel. Seems like this may be a slight different problem in owning a Canadian car. Thanks for your help!