Camaro Paneling, Part 2

The panel below the rear window is the last remaining piece of rear body structure to deal with. In this project's case, AMC started by cutting out the rusted outer skin, in hopes the bottom structure was salvageable.

The inner panels were de-rusted and saved, but for more serious cases, there's Classic's 866-page catalog to the rescue, with part number C831, including inner and outer panels, braces and hinges.

At this juncture, the floorpan has been welded to the rear framerails and several other key points, including some spotwelds to join the new top panel to the inner piece below the rear window.

Once the top flanges were permanently hitched, much "clampage" was employed so the AMC craftsmen could weld the trunk-opening edges of the two panels. The idea is to weld a little, move a few inches further and weld again, until the whole edge is secure.

Now that the quarter-panel is where it needs to be, the fenderwells can be welded and the clamps gradually removed. This is all part of a slow, methodical process that shows what is required to do this kind of work and have it be as good or better than factory, for show, auction or restoration.

Here's a complete right fenderwell with all the clamps and screws replaced by weld-throughs about every inch or two. The next step is to lightly grind the top of each spotweld flush with the parent metal, for a stock appearance when painted.

The final piece to complete the back-half of the Camaro is the "rear body panel", also referred to as the taillight panel. It is spot-welded to the inner valance at the rear of the trunk floor, and also attached to the quarter panels, but not before a perfect '69 trunk lid is trial-fit in the trunk opening to make absolutely sure all panels are aligned.

AMC is using their lift because the final welding is to tack the bottom flange of the quarter to the trunk floor, and the bottom of the taillight panel to its inner valance flange.

Final adjustment at the doorjamb to quarter flanges is done after installing a known-good door and checking for fit. At AMC, they also measure the width of the top and bottom of the door opening, as well as diagonal measurements that indicate if the opening is square. You'll see the top of the quarters attached to the (new) roof in the next issue's installment.