replacing both rear quarter panels and bumper

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0perose
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replacing both rear quarter panels and bumper

Post by 0perose »

how tough is it going to be for me to locate and install both rear quarter panels and the rear bumper for a '96 legacy gt that got rear ended from behind? my friend is in a pinch.. title still clear, and car still runs and drives, but the bumper is fallin' off!

also, any expected price, or place to get OEM panels/bumper for cheap rather than used?
0perose
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Post by 0perose »

it's basically just the top rear corners of the quarter panels that are damaged... could I just cut a piece off of another car and weld it in there?

what are my chances of finding a '96 legacy gt in a junkyard, though, I guess?
91White-T
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Post by 91White-T »

Any 95-99 legacy sedan will work if you just want to get the parts off it. The GT was just different bumpers and side skirts and a spoiler.
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0perose
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Post by 0perose »

so I can use the rear corners from any 95-99 legacy, but I'll need an actual GT bumper? crap... I hope this stuff isn't hard to come by
scottzg
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Post by scottzg »

Rear Q panels are welded on. Bondo or weld.
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0perose
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Post by 0perose »

scottzg wrote:Rear Q panels are welded on. Bondo or weld.
right, what I'm saying, is that it isn't damaged past the upper back corners... the damage doesn't go all the way to the rear pillar.. so I can theoretically cut out the rear corners from a 95-99 legacy, and weld them in, but would that screw with structural integrity?
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Post by LaureltheQueen »

you could use a non-gt bumper, it just wouldnt look the same.
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evolutionmovement
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Post by evolutionmovement »

The welded section would be more likely to attract rust so I'd recommend good metal treatment. The structural integrity a small part of the quarter panel provides is marginal.

Steve
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Post by professor »

unless they are ripped or crushed most shops will pull out that damage and repair the quarter panels. Rear quarter replacement is a huge job and no 95-99 is worth doing that on, it would be a total first.

No matter how good the shop is, expect rust eventually in the damaged areas. it sucks but that's just the way it is.
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Post by 0perose »

pound it out and bondo? :(
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angus106
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Post by angus106 »

if u do find replacement panels like new ones.... instead of welding them look into that Fusor panel epoxy... i used it to shave the door handles on my truck and i've used it for friends cars doing rear quarter work too... you might find it handy to have a welder around as well for tacking the panels in place and then clamping them... the big benefit of the epoxy is that it's just as strong as welding the panels in but you don't weaken the metal by heating it up.... the subaru body shop near me uses this stuff all the time...

good luck
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Post by LegacyT »

Angus is right nowadays alot of people use expoxy and apparently like said its just as strong if not stronger and you wont get hot spots that will rust. I personally used this stuff on my 91 and its pretty cool, you just need a special gun ( sorta like a cocking gun) You have to word fast and have all metal parts handy. Is used the screw and glue method, so there was no welding at all

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angus106
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Post by angus106 »

i forgot to say this :
u can get all the supplies from and local bodyshop supplier, i dunno if you have a carquest near you but they have it... alot of the places will sell u the special applicator, but they will also lend it to you. All u have to do is put a deposit down and you will get that back when u bring the gun back...
1989 chev s10 (work in progress! lotsa a wiring and soon some air ride!)

1990 Legacy L - over 320,000 km and engine finally poo'd the bit! tranny still good though!
evolutionmovement
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Post by evolutionmovement »

Is this the same type of epoxy that they use in alloy car applications like the Lotus Elise? If it is, this is giving me another idea ...

Steve
Midnight in a Perfect World on Amazon or order anywhere. The first book in a quartet chronicling the rise of a man from angry criminal to philanthropist. Midnight... is a distopic noirish novel featuring 'Duchess', a modified 1990 Subaru Legacy wagon.
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