Taillight Panel Replacement

[Machspeed 219]

I'm considering replacing the taillight panel on my 69 Mach 1. I've searched the web, and our forums here, but find very little. Can anyone provide? I changed out the whole radiator support assembly and both inner fenders on this car, so I'm confident I can do this. I just want some pictures or even a video as to were it is spot welded. 

Also, I see NPD has a Taillight Panel, "New Tooling, thicker metal. Can anyone comment? It's comparatively a little pricy.  

https://www.npdlink.com/product/panel-taillight-improved-repro-thicker-metal-new-tooling/147051/485

 

[SWPruett 83]

Machspeed,

Although the below links detail a 70 tail light panel replacement, the process is virtually identical.  Hope this helps!

http://1970boss302.blogspot.com/2011/10/tail-light-panel-and-trunk-floor-part-1.html

http://1970boss302.blogspot.com/2012/03/tail-light-panel-and-trunk-floor-part.html

Regards,

 

[Machspeed 219]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you, Sven!!!

[unilec 57]

Get yourself a decent spot weld remover tool, similar to this one. The center pin is spring loaded, but i still prefer to drill a small hole to stop it slipping.

 https://www.totaltools.com.au/99174-Toledo-Spot-Weld-Remover-10mm-313301?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8caLmYXC3gIVjYuPCh3OmwHTEAQYAiABEgK6lvD_BwE

[Mike65 475]

Machspeed, here is a pic from my 69 Coupe before I started welding in the new tail light panel.

[mustangstofear 608]

Make sure you have a  gasket on the decklid so you can see if it's  sealing up  before you  weld the panel in. 

[SWPruett 83]

22 hours ago, Machspeed said:

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you, Sven!!!

Very welcome!  If you hit any snags just give a shout!

[shelbyshelby 52]

On 11/7/2018 at 7:42 PM, mustangstofear said:

Make sure you have a  gasket on the decklid so you can see if it's  sealing up  before you  weld the panel in. 

Speaking of the deck lid, where the tail panel meets quarter extension, where the deck lid gasket would lay if the lid is closed, mine had brazing in there. Is that something ford did or a previous owner?  Looking at mike65’s pic, it would be about where his welding cable is laying 

[aslanefe 333]

29 minutes ago, shelbyshelby said:

Speaking of the deck lid, where the tail panel meets quarter extension, where the deck lid gasket would lay if the lid is closed, mine had brazing in there. Is that something ford did or a previous owner?  Looking at mike65’s pic, it would be about where his welding cable is laying 

Ford brazed that area to fill the gap so water won't get in. That panel between trunk and rear window has also brazing where it joins to the quarter panel.

[Machspeed 219]

Thank you, friends. Really appreciate your responses to my query!!!

[mustangstofear 608]

Ford used it all over the body .

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

And it a pain in the butt if you want to mig weld the area

[shelbyshelby 52]

What seems to be better mig the seam shut and grind it flush or braze it back? Anybody have a pic of the seam mig’d shut? 

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

If you are careful a mig will make a clean weld ,screw up and it is hard to hide ,i like to mig it

[aslanefe 333]

Brazing takes less heat which means less warping. Also, with brazing, the filler material is wicked inside the joint (like solder does), no wicking when welding.

[aslanefe 333]

One more thing, if the part has brazing material left on it (like when you are attaching a new panel to old panel that was brazed) you have to grind all of the brazing material, because you can't weld on to braze. If all of the parts are new, you can mig the gap, but if there is brazing left on one of the panels, I would braze that joint because it is difficult to remove all the brazing material wicked into nicks and folds etc.

[mustangstofear 608]

Just mig  weld it .