Tail Panel Replacement / Deck Lid Alignment?

[Dichard]

Hey all.

I'm working on some replacement panels on the rear of my 71 Camaro. It started with rust in the trunk pan and rear valance, as well as a suspect previous tail panel repair.

I removed that tail panel, replaced the rusted areas of the trunk, replaced the lower valance, and am now working on replacing the tail panel as well as trying to line up the deck lid and quarters. It's a challenge for sure.

This is what I have so far. I don't have the decklid seal. It's hitting at the middle. The decklid doesn't quite clear the top of the tail panel (not sure if it's supposed to).

I'm just looking for any ideas or advice that may be helpful in getting this to fit better. Thanks!

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The tail panel that attaches to the trunk striker (where the latch for the trunk is) is HIGH, as you mentioned the tail panel is a poor fit, but from what I see, you need to bring the middle of the tail panel down more, so you will have to get the striker support to come down also. this should fix your fitment problem.
let me know what you think..??
Also in your pic the quarter panel area where the trunk closes, you need to take a bucking bar in the back of the area that is sticking out and work that straight.

 

[Dichard]

good stuff...I will need all this in about a week or 2, when i get to putting replacement panel on. Im still grinding the dam leftover pieces of the old tailpanel. At some point the rear was wrecked and someone went all weld happy with the drivers side, and its hard for me to tell whats welded and whats spot welded. little bit of both.

Yeah, I know the feeling, it took me a month of Sunday's to get the driver side quarter off. I think my car was made with 2 dissatified employees working at just about Strike time in 1970.. one side had barely any tack welds the other side had 3 times too many..I still haven't ground all of the welds in the fender well yet, still fixing the rust and getting the remnants of the quarter out.

 

[giggity]

Does anyone know if I need to cut this bracket out to replace with AMD panel?

The light housing mount is different than the AMD panel version. It like at least I have to take out the top of the bracket.

 

[Dichard]

Does anyone know if I need to cut this bracket out to replace with AMD panel?

The light housing mount is different than the AMD panel version. It like at least I have to take out the top of the bracket.

View attachment 77072


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WOW, now that's different, Yes, looks like you need to cut the bracket (attachment point) off of your original. Mine is not like that at all..
I'm trying to remember who made my panel, I got it from the A2Z guy, so there wasn't any name on the box, I'm thinking it was and OER panel.
That doesn't look good, more friggin work for you..Of course mine is a 70, but I doubt there is that much difference between those years..

 

[giggity]

mine is 70 as well. Im curious if I just beat out that pressed in stud, if the panel will sit in that bracket?

 

[Dichard]

mine is 70 as well. Im curious if I just beat out that pressed in stud, if the panel will sit in that bracket?


View attachment 77074

I think you are correct. I will take a look at mine when I get home tonight and see what the deal is on mine.. Something looks out of place.. I can't seem to place that bracket being that large.. Could be the angle of the picture..
Can you take a picture from inside the trunk facing toward that bracket?

 

[giggity]

ok will do when i get home

 

[Dichard]

I looked at my Camaro and I have no idea what the heck you have on your Camaro.. I stand corrected, mine was built in the 2nd week of July, when was yours built??
I can’t think there would be a difference, but !! Sitting here, eating my wife’s bon bon’s, contemplating the theory of relativity, looking at the pic, I have to ask you this question... is that bracket welded to the trunk drop off ??
Here is a pic of the driver side before I took the tail panel off to replace it .

 

[jsibayan]

mine is 70 as well. Im curious if I just beat out that pressed in stud, if the panel will sit in that bracket?


View attachment 77074

I think that part was/is attached to the tail panel assembly. From the looks of it you still have some tail panel debris attached to the quarter panel, I think.

 

[jbloake]

The brace is the first design tail end brace . It was changed before the end of 1970 run . I would leave as much as much of it attached as possible!!!