Body panel access info

yank with ute · 04-24-2008, 07:50 AM

A VERY BIG Caddy tried to mate with my 85 LX coupe through the quarter panel below the right rear window. Very ugly dent which tore out some of the rust that was hiding the holes in the rocker panel. (Car's never been in a garage overnight, acidic soil in my neighborhood, and hey, it's getting old!)

Discovered I have no photos that show what is inside of the right rear of the interior when the seat and side panel are removed.

Is there a large opening in the inner panel or small access holes? If there isn't a large opening I'm not going to continue to try to get the rear seat cushion out of the car (right side is stuck). Getting old, what large open space to hammer out the dent.

(I'm planning on pulling the dent out via a bar placed against the door opening and wheel well/jack screw running through threaded holes in the bar.

I've used this method when pulling panels on early Falcons; this is "restoration" and not quick and dirty "crash repair".

If I try to pop it with a slide hammer there isn't enough solid metal around the panel to hold it in place.

jonmark1985 · 04-24-2008, 08:08 AM

Do you have a coupe or an hatch-back? I had an 85' coupe. When I removed the rear seat and the rear interior I believe that it did have a large opening to the back side of the the rear fender. It was'nt very hard to remove. I'd suggest pulling the seat first though, and then the trim.

Hope that helps!

yank with ute · 04-28-2008, 07:01 AM

Exacatly what I wanted to hear "big opening". I have a coupe but the lower rear seat cushion is fighting back on the right side so I have been waiting for warm weather ("incident" happened in late January).

Had hopes the area might be wide open like a 70 Maverick which has no inner body bracing in that area. Figured if it was going to be a hassle on the Mustang I'd let it go as the car's "somewhat" rusted and 24 years old.

But thanks to you I now will take the time to remove the interior panel/seat and determine what I have to do to at least knock some of the dent back into the shape of an 85 Mustang. (Maybe I could get by painting "This car appeared in the opening scenes of "Road Warrior" on the rear fender? LOL!)