Rommel, just wanted to thank you for coming here with the intentions of improving your Scrambler specific products! I have never understood have muscle cars and other vehicles that are commonly being restored can have every replacement panel available in the correct gauge of steel and also have it match the originals exactly. Yet when it comes to our Jeeps, replacement parts never seem match the originals pieces and are typically constructed of much thinner gauge steel than the original panels. I hope you can possibly make this not the case for Scrambler replacement panels in the future!
I have used your rear replacement quarter/side panels and the top lip profile of your panels do not match the profile on the original tubs at all. It is off worse than what the picture even shows.
The original quarter panels had a small flanged section that runs along the bottom of the panels in front of and behind the wheel opening. I don't have a good picture of what I am referring to on hand but if you look at the bottom edge of the original tub you have and then at your replacement panel you will see what I am talking about. It is my assumption this flange along the bottom adds some needed rigidity to the panel.
The vertical flange along the back edge of the panel where you are supposed to spot weld it to the taillight panel is not wide enough to allow a hole to be pre-drilled for spot welds.
As JeeperDD stated earlier, this raised portion which surrounds the rear wheel well opening was very poorly done and does not match the original. The contour is not the same, there are numerous dents, and the the raised section is much wider toward the bottom-rear of the panel.
For new panels, would it be possible to make a smaller section of the rear wheel well surround? Say, have the raised portion of the rear wheel well surround plus a few inches of sheet metal to allow just this raised section to be replaced instead of having to replace the whole quarter panel; which is currently the only option. I guess the whole quarter panel replacement wouldn't be a big deal if you can get the panel the exact same as the original. My hold up has been the replication of the current new side/quarter panel is so poor I have not wanted to install it when the only part of my current side panels which are bad/rusted is that raised section around the wheels. Often this is the case for most Scramblers.
Another panel option would be the lower sections of the A-pillar and B-pillar. You wouldn't necessarily need to make the entire A-pillar but you could offer the lower 8" or so which would allow the purchaser to trim down to the length they need. This panel could apply to the CJ5's, CJ7's, and CJ8's and is very common for rust. Here is my cardboard template of the section of a A-pillar I had to repair:
New piece welded in:
The B-pillars are also a section that commonly has rust, particularly the lower portion. You could offer potentially offer the entire B-pillar and make a piece that has the lower approx. 8" which could be trimmed to fit. I would be sure and include the seat belt mounting point too. This piece could be used on the CJ8's and CJ7's. Here is one of my B-pillars midway through repair:
Again, I just wanted to thank you for coming here to get our opinions and ideas on what your company can do to help improve upon with your replacement panels. Keep us posted on the updates and progress made!
