I'm picking up my first Camaro in a few days (Just waiting for the paper work to be complete), and I would like to hit the ground running as far as restoration goes.

It's an 86 RS (which, I'm also unsure of - was the RS available in 86, or did it start in 87?), and as to be expected, there are some rust holes in the body right behind the rear wheels, a few little spots above the wheels, and a few others here and there. I would like to fix them, but I would rather replace the pieces instead of simply patching the holes. The problem is that it appears that the sheet metal which constructs the rear quarter panels (I think that's the right term) seems to be the same as that which constructs the roof. In other words, the left and right rear quarter panels, and the roof are all one piece. Is this so, or are the seams small and painted over?

Any suggestions for where to find replacement panels for this year? Everything I see online seems to be newer or older.

Thanks, and nice to be a part of the board.

 

it is all one piece you will have to strip it to the bare metal cutout and replace the rusted areas then refinish it. sick

 

Okay, cool. I do a lot of welding, so metal work is in my realm, but I've never done anything with such thin metal. Any suggestions for books or online docs instructing how to go about such a project?

 

watch "American Hotrod" on the discovery channel. might give ya some insight. sick