quickie body question

[wingman]

ok, so since my rear passenger side is toast, i've been looking for repair options...when i stumbled upon this:

http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/EPC/MKIII_NATO/291420/6101_1.html

that shows the rear quarter panel, exactly what I need, as a seperate piece. Now last I checked our cars had a unitized body, and that piece really isn't a "bolt in" piece, especially since I see no mounting hardware...but I'm still a little bit confused and would like some final confirmation. If I were to order the mentioned piece from toyota, would it be a bolt in replacement, or will I have to cut the old section out and bust out the TIG welder? Either method is fine by me, but the former is obviously preferred.

 

[mcpcola]

no it's welded on and part of the overall body. only a shop would be able to do this. From your question i can tell ya its not something you are going to be able to do as it will effect the alignment of the hatch and tail lights. I say this not to be mean to you but that is major replacement.

 

[Mr.SelfDestruct]

yup, spot welds, though, not seams

 

[wh0wants2know]

no it's welded on and part of the overall body. only a shop would be able to do this. From your question i can tell ya its not something you are going to be able to do as it will effect the alignment of the hatch and tail lights. I say this not to be mean to you but that is major replacement.

This is a major job, but it can be done without a shop. However, for the trouble, it's a better idea to have a shop do the job for you because you'll hate life if you try it and it's a major PITA to line the panel up properly so that the door, hatch, light, and trim all look decent. You can save some money by having the shop just hang the panel and not bother finishing the welds or painting or anything like that as long as you're comfortable with bondo, an airbrush, and sandpaper. That's what I did and it cost about $900 for the shop to hang the panel.

 

[Stretch]

I called toyota last year and inquired about the rear quarter panel. It would have cost $925 each, so I said thank you and hung up. Then ordered an hks superdragger :icon_razz
eric

 

[Jeff Lange]

The quarter panels were just discontinued this year.

The quarter panels are held on with spot welds, and are removable. Almost every single part on this car is available by itself. Also, unibody does NOT mean that the structure of the car is reliant on stuff like outer body panels. The structure wouldn't be harmed much at all if the outer quarter panel is removed.

Getting an OEM quarter panel replaced should cost about $500 - 900 without paint, body work etc, (I was quoted in that range from many places). When you bought the new quarter panel from Toyota, as you can see in the diagram, it goes all the way to the roof, the seam at the top of the roof is braized I believe, then bondo'd over. The quarter panel on my car was replaced due to an accident actually. (Rear passenger - before I bought the car).

Here's a pic of a Supra with (most of) the quarter panel removed:

I called toyota last year and inquired about the rear quarter panel. It would have cost $925 each, so I said thank you and hung up. Then ordered an hks superdragger :icon_razz
eric

Pffft, nobody pays list price on stuff like that, lol. On a big purchase like that, local dealers usually cut you a break from list, or you can order it from a dealer that gives discounts, etc. There's ways to get it much cheaper than that, but they are discontinued now.

 

[Yawgmoth]

Good to know jeff! It almost makes me want to try and replace the quarter panel on my supra....err...well no it doesn't actually. Way to much body work for my unexperienced body hands. <--did that just make sense or no?

Anyhoo, I had no idea it was held on with spot welds like that, craaazy

 

[wingman]

well, the damage isn't ALL that bad...it would just take a good day or two with some serious cramped-space mallet-power. I might be able to tackle it from the inside, without removal...but wanted to explore other, simpler options first....now I've just got to find a loaner car to use while I fix it.

I saw the seam between the panels on the rear light when I removed it, so that has to be where it was mounted...I just couldn't figure out why there was no seam near the roof, but one on the taillights...never thought about the bondo though!

and since my rear bumper is 1/3 vaporized, and my front one looks like it was run through the sandblaster, anybody know of some halfway decent, inexpensive body kits? I may just sell the car to my best friend, but don't want to leave him hanging with something that looks like hell.