Replacement Panels - 1954 Cdn Pontiac
I've been gathering replacement body panels for awhile and finally have all the panels needed to repair the rust on the car. Here's a list of panels and where I purchased them:
- Rocker Panels
These are complete rocker panels (no back) that go from the front of the door to the rear quarter panel. They end following the curve under the rear quarter panel curve. I am very happy with the quality, fit and price. I purchased them from J.C. Whitney catalog #634G-01 Page 90. Part # 78HE6226F for US$21.95 each which is an incredibly good price.
Here's the front of my rusty rocker panel under the driver's door
Replacement rocker panel showing curved area under front of rear fender
- Leading Edge of Rear Quarter Panel
These panels replace the front part of the rear wheel opening and and the lower part of the rear quarter panel curve. The fit is terrible! The wheel well curve radius is too large, the area under the fender bulge is also too large. I figure that it's going to take just as much work to make these fit as to make another pair from scratch!
I purchased these from National Chevy Association part #697L and 697R which normally has excellent fitting panels (see all other panels). I would send them back but I had to pay a Foreign Expediate charge of US$42.50 and a UPS COD of $6.00. The price for the panels themselves was only US$58.00 ($29 each). I would lose close to $50 if I sent them back. My complaint email went unanswered after a month. Normally, I try to avoid buying from the States because of the shipping, exchange and customs charges.
My rusty front wheel opening
Replacement panel on a strange angle. Wheel well lip is facing you, bottom of panel is to the left.
- Wheel Well Opening
I purchased these from a body shop supply house in Calgary called Fender and Body Parts. They fit well, are easily purchased and were reasonably priced. They are generic openings and are available from pretty well any body supply house. National Chevy Association sells them for $29 each under part #698L and 698R.
Replacment wheel opening (pix doesn't show rolled edge very well!)
- Lower Rear Fender Panel
I purchased these from National Chevy Association part #699L and 699R for $42 each and they fit perfect (quite a contrast from the leading edge mentioned above!). Interestingly, they only cover half of the area under the rear tail-light.
Rusty lower rear quarter panel
Replacement panel
- Lower Trunk lip
This is the area from under the tail-light across the bottom of the trunk lip to the other tail-light. There's a right and left piece and each piece covers "the other half" of the area under the tail light to the middle of the trunk. The fit is excellent and I purchased them from National Chevy Association which calls them Under Deck Lid repair panel part # 684L and 684R for $24.00 each. They are found in the NEW ITEM section in their online catalog not in the body replacement section!
Rusty trunk rear
Replacement lower trunk lip (Passenger side on top, driver side on bottom)
All of the above panels require major panel replacement on the interior side. Most will be just flat sheet metal welded in place.