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By now you have probably notice that I replaced the entire rear clip on my GTS.  It is a long story but the short version is this.

When I bought the GTS, the rear fender-wells were cut out for larger tires.  When they made the cut, they cut it high enough that there was about a 2” gap between the wheel house and the quarter panel.  We welded in a strip of metal, but the damage was already done. The drivers quarter had been replaced when the car was new. It was a full quarter, but was installed with pop rivets.  Some time later on someone put a quarter skin on and welded it to the existing pop riveted quarter. The passenger side also received a quarter panel skin.

Just skinning the quarters, and not welding in a lip to close the gap on the wheel house/quarter panel joint, they weakened the entire rear of the car. There was no rust to speak of but every thing was twisted. To further compound the problems, the rear shackles had broken at some point and the leaf springs tore through the trunk floor.

I decided to replace the rear clip by cutting the “A” pillars, and drilling out the spot welds joining the floor pans and the trunk pan. The rocker panels were also cut. The pictures are hard to see, from the cuts, because all I could afford at the time was a very cheap digital camera.  You will still be able to see where I made the cuts.  It was hard and I almost had a nervous breakdown once I started cutting!  Once I had it tack welded and checked my measurements, I knew it would all be ok! 

Enjoy,

-Dave