Replacing or Repairing Rear Body Panels

[89FourRunner]

Now that its warm I am working on this next. It looks like I will need to replace around the rear fender, the entire flare and a bit higher, as well as in front of the rear tires up to the door (under the gas door) and in that area on the other side too.

Who can I buy these patch panels from relatively cheap, and be able to have them shipped relatively fast?

I am not to sure if fiberglass is the way I want to go, because I won't be replacing the entire rear sides.

I am also open to custom fabrication, I don't need anything fancy, I just want to ensure the vehicle stays alive and road worthy.

Who are we using, or what custom methods are being used? Any good threads on front fender reversal method?

 

[SV_Dude]

Well... you are very limited on your options here. Your cheapest method is to find a rust free 4runner and cut the good panels out and weld them in place of yours. Your best bet is to buy some fiberglass panels from www.toyotafiberglass.com . I looked into buying some for another runner about a month ago and a local place is a distributor for them. They told me that they only place orders once a month due to shipping and import costs. Once they place the order it will take them about a month to get here. Overall cost for just rear panels were about a grand for both. Maybe [MENTION=3959]slacker[/MENTION] can shed some light on this as well since he owns toyotafiberglass.

 

[89FourRunner]

Well... you are very limited on your options here. Your cheapest method is to find a rust free 4runner and cut the good panels out and weld them in place of yours. Your best bet is to buy some fiberglass panels from Precision 4X4 Center . I looked into buying some for another runner about a month ago and a local place is a distributor for them. They told me that they only place orders once a month due to shipping and import costs. Once they place the order it will take them about a month to get here. Overall cost for just rear panels were about a grand for both. Maybe [MENTION=3959]slacker[/MENTION] can shed some light on this as well since he owns toyotafiberglass.

Okay thanks. I knew of this option, and it would be the best way to do the job for sure, but between the cost for each side, the cost to have them painted and everything, I am not sure if it is worth it for me cost wise.

No one has any detailed information about flipping front fenders? I know those are still in production. Or, detailed information on cutting and creating new sections that are not factory, but custom? My main goal is to have the truck not get eaten up over the next few winters, it doesn't necessarily have to appear stock in the rear, I could care less.

 

[SV_Dude]

I have seen a hand full of awesome fender work on pirate4x4 but the threads there are a lot more detailed fab work. I'm not sure what your fab capabilities are and what tools you have at your disposal. You can go there and look in the toyota 4runner/truck forum and do a search. Sorry, aside from the options I mentioned above I cannot be too much help.

 

[KidVermicious]

There were at least a couple companies out there making patch panels, last time I checked, but that seems silly to pay for a brand new formed patch panel when I can take a cordless sawzall down to the wrecking yard and make my own.

Fiberglass is the way to go. If that's not in the budget (and it's certainly not in mine), go hack up a wrecked truck and make your own panels.

 

[89FourRunner]

There were at least a couple companies out there making patch panels, last time I checked, but that seems silly to pay for a brand new formed patch panel when I can take a cordless sawzall down to the wrecking yard and make my own.

Fiberglass is the way to go. If that's not in the budget (and it's certainly not in mine), go hack up a wrecked truck and make your own panels.

I wish hacking up a truck was an option but I am in the northeast, and they just don't exist. I found one company in Canada that makes direct replacement panels, Wolf something or other, and I found a place in Ohio that hand makes generic rear wheel well panels that are specifically for the 1st gen runners. Other than that, Not sure. Its not the wheel well arch that will be tough to custom fab, it is the area in front of the wheels under the gas cap. Just don't know how to go about that section.

 

[SV_Dude]

I could be wrong but I think the pickup beds have the same bends as the 4runners. You may be able to find a section of a rust free bed and cut that out to patch it in. I have seen a few guys on pirate fab their own too. If you have access to a sheet metal brake then you can grab a 10" section (or whatever width you need) and put a few bends in it.

 

[slacker]

[MENTION=24995]SV_Dude[/MENTION] .. thanks much for the referral .. 'precieate it

so I guess I'll pipe in now ... and express my experiences on this topic

I talk to people everyday on this subject , and this is my first question to them after I have listened to there story .

" is it a keeper" , (meaning are you going to keep it long term) , if so , why would you not do it right the first time ?

We have many , many customers come in every year , whom have spent thousands of dollars in the past trying to stop the rust . welding in patches , and bondoing up the panels . What most people don't understand , is the rust that they don't see ..

like these pics

the nice thing with replacing the whole panel with ours , is you can address these issues .
and if your worried about "fiberglass" , our panels are 21 century technology , not 1960 . these are absolutely stronger then the stock steel , no question !



.

 

[89FourRunner]

Thanks Slacker, I support the product, and I know it is the best route to take. However, I cannot support the product by purchasing it, because it just isn't in the budget.

 

[89FourRunner]

Can I cut out the entire flare without running into a hiccup? I mean from end to end, the entire bulge? I am thinking at this point of creating a mostly flat crescent to replace the flare. I would weld it from the cut out, to the inner wheel well pan - and weld it there again. I might have to shave the pan as well.

Is this possible? I am also going to have to cut out the section under the gas cap, but below that sharp angle along the side, so I would really only need to create the rounded patch, and then figure out something with the rotted rocker below it, or delete the rocker all together in design.

All of this seem feasible? I am hoping I am left with a flat wheel well, no arch or bubble present. (almost like an old jeep with the flare removed from the panel)

I can do all this for the tune of $100 or so, including the rust proofing and bondo, and rattle can blend job.

Thats the sort of budget I am talking about. I am not really interested in original body lines as much as keeping the truck from rotting away.

Don't flame me here - my main question now is -

Can I chop off that flare and weld a flat patch in its place, or is there an obstruction of some sort?

Thanks.

 

[platonicbomb]

[MENTION=24995]SV_Dude[/MENTION] .. thanks much for the referral .. 'precieate it

so I guess I'll pipe in now ... and express my experiences on this topic

I talk to people everyday on this subject , and this is my first question to them after I have listened to there story .

" is it a keeper" , (meaning are you going to keep it long term) , if so , why would you not do it right the first time ?

We have many , many customers come in every year , whom have spent thousands of dollars in the past trying to stop the rust . welding in patches , and bondoing up the panels . What most people don't understand , is the rust that they don't see ..

like these pics

the nice thing with replacing the whole panel with ours , is you can address these issues .
and if your worried about "fiberglass" , our panels are 21 century technology , not 1960 . these are absolutely stronger then the stock steel , no question !



.

Do your panels replace the entire panel then? I'll have to get a couple pair, just bought 2 1986's that have a little wheel well rust

 

[slacker]

Do your panels replace the entire panel then? I'll have to get a couple pair, just bought 2 1986's that have a little wheel well rust

yes .. we are very busy though , so there is a lengthy wait .
Deposit required .