The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Partial panel replacement question

Was just watching an overhaulin' show where guys were replacing a rear quarterpanel. Never seen it done this way, but fellow trimmed the new piece to fit with a butt joint. Question is that he was using cleco connectors every 8 - 10 in's, and as he welded the joint removed the cleco's. The cleco's would require overlap, so what were the cleco's in? Program didn't show, and wondering if anyone is familiar with that technique? Maybe he left tabs in the old panel and cut the tabs as he approached the cleco?

I installed quarter panels and patches for many years that way. There's a tool for an air hammer that makes a 1/2" wide flange in the old metal and allows a flush patch to be welded in. The Clecos are one way to attach the patch panel, but I prefer a set of long-reach welding Vise Grips every few inches if there's any way to use them. The fewer holes to weld up in a patch, the better, less heat distortion. The main advantage to replacing a big section like a quarter panel that way is that it doesn't require the OEM spot welds to be cut out, and there's less likelihood of getting a severe misalignment of the new panel.
Jerry

I think the tool Jerry's referring to is a panel joggler,but i've had bad experiences with overlapped joints,it provides a water/rust trap if not fully sealed afterwards.IMO.

I much prefer to butt join and work the weld although i'm not sure how Chip and the gang managed to do butt joints with Clecos.

These are much more suited to butt welding joins and hold the panels with just enough gap for maximum weld penetration.
This is a UK based site but i'm sure they're available your side of the pond.

Isn't the picture you sent a cleco?? The package I bought says butt welding clamps. I got mine at Harbor Freight.

John

Clecos are small round doobers that go thru rivet holes to hold panels in place while riveting, used a lot in aviation and bus work

Bill

First of all Jerry has been holding out on us...we didn't know he could do body work !

Jock - that's what threw me off, the whole panel was trimmed for a butt joint for the reasons you mentioned, so I was wondering what the cleco's were holding on to? I think Jerry's got it, every 8 to 10 inches they left a 1/4 inch section of the old metal and used a pneumatic crimper as Jerry describes to crimp the old steel in that small 1/4 in section so the rest of the new panel can butt up to the old, and give an overlap to use the cleco. They didn't show any of these details on the program, but I'm thinking they welded up to the clips, then used a very thin hacksaw blade and cut the clips, then worked their way to the next clip.

Some guys make there own washers with a 1/8" hole in them. you place them on the back side of the butt joint and put your cleco through it to hold the panel in place. Do your welding,then release the clecos and the washers fall off,then retrieve them.
I know some body men that use this method.



Tim

That makes sense now,not a bad idea.