how to tub and keep my quarter windows?

[Matty B]

hey, Ive been scratching my head about once of the harder parts of my build and I need some advise. Im laid up at the moment so I cant actually do anything right now but I would like a bit of guidance of how to go about doing this when Im a bit better. Quick run down is its a 64 malibu, the outer wheel houses appear that they had rotted at some point and the previous owner filled the gaps with pieces of aluminum flashing. I have some big wheels for the back so Id have to minitub regardless so I figured I could get a set of steel yubs from alston and kill two birds with one stone. Ive been looking over what needs to be done and Ive run into a few spots that I dont know how to deal with and was coming here for a little mentoring. My biggest issues that I cant figure out what to do is with the window channels for the quarter glass. They are welded directly to the the wheel well stock and I dont know what the best way to go about cutting the wheel wells out and keep the glass functional. First I dont know what to do about actually cutting them off the tub cause its in the small cavity where the window goes so its fairly tough to get a die grinder in there to actuall cut them loose. Secondly once I figure that out what should i do to make them work with a different shaped tub? I talked to Alston and they said to just make the windows solidly attactched to the car with some bolts in the regulators and just cut em loose. I wanna keep the no post look of the car so I dont like that idea obviously. So Im coming here to ask what you guys would do to get the tubs in and all the other stuff still working. Ive seen a few PT cars with actual wheel tubs so Im assuming that it can be done but I have no idea how. I dont have a mentor to go ask questions about these kind of things so Im coming here to ask. If anyone can give me pointers on the little detail things like this Itd be a huge help. Also if there are any links to web pages that might detail the whole job that would be awesome too. Ive searched all over and this type of thing isnt very well documented on the web so Im kinda in the dark.

[chevyIIpost]

If you don't change the diameter of the wheel tub or raise the wheel tub up into the body you should be able to have funtioning rear quarter windows. Most mini tubes just replace the inner half for added tire width. If the outer half of the wheel tub is replaced it is unsually done with the rear quarter panel off due to the fact that if one has rust then normally both items do. You then have room to work and do a quality job. With out the outer quarter off that will be a tight and difficult area to work in. I would be using a plasma to carve out the old outer tub in peices. But putting the new tub back in will be even more work as this is not how the car was built originally and may not be feasable. Are your outer quarter panels in real good shape??? If not I would start here. Do a search on mini tubes and you'll find lots of info and pics like this https://lateral-g.net/forums/show...highlight=tubs or https://lateral-g.net/forums/show...t=15008&page=2

[Matty B]

hey I saw what you did on your car and looks awesome. Im only guessing that the wheelhouses rusted out cause why else would you cut them out and fill it in with strips of flashing??? Regardless the quarters are in exceptional condition and I dont wanna cut them off. Ive been really kick around the idea of somehow fixing the cut up section with new outer wheelhouses and then tub the inside like you did. Seems thats what everyone does anyways. Thankfully the outers didnt get cut up to where the window channel is mounted so Im thinking I can cut out the bad stuff and just section in the necessary metal. Which brings me to my next question... how the hell is the outter wheelhouse attatched to the quarter?? Is it just tack welded to the quarter? On my car there is no lip on the inside of the wheel opening so either it was rolled up flat and undercoated or it was cut off but there is no bondo and is awfully smooth so Im at a loss as to what exactly was done. If any of you have a run down on doing that repair without a full quarter please send me a link or something as the only documentation on this only included the quarter off and a full quarter with wheelhouse attatched going back in. BTW thanks for the info and if I may ask if anyone knows of a cheapy plasma cutter I could buy? Id love to get a nice fancy one but Im broke do to disabilty and cant swing something pricy. I do have a die grinder though will that work ok or do you think I just need to get a plasma?

[Matty B]

ok well I had a buisness friend that owns a body shop stop by and take a look at the car. He sadly informed me that I gotta replace the quarterpanels. I couldnt tell but his trained eye noticed that the wheel well openings had been enlarged not only front to back but also height wise. Apparently was done to fit big drag slicks in there. So now I know why the wheel houses are cobbled up and why things like the wheel opening lips arent there anymore. He said he would get back to me but figured if I bought the sheetmetal the job could be done for about $800 a side. Is that a good price to redo the quarter skin and weld in the outer wheelhouses? I figured it was fair at $70/hr but maybe hes getting a little more than the job entails.