yeah, it's not cheap to do it right. and if you can't find good metal to work with after taking a grinder to the nasties then you need new panels. i work at a body shop, $2k isn't far fetched depending on severity. we don't touch the stuff unless it's minor or people pay to replace the panel because it usually comes back and a huge waste of money. I just got an 86 FJ60, I freaked when i looked up new full quarter skins today at Spectra Off Road-- $1400 some dollars a piece. that's soooo wak. skins for new cars rarely cost that, that's beyond porsche prices and a lot of high end cars. I did find quarter patch panels which happens to have everything I need. lower section behind the wheel and a thin strip up over the wheels to about where the rear door starts. better, $361 each at Cool Cruisers. way better and less labor. you end up splicing in a patch cut to fit instead of a full quarter swap but time and money is worth something. anyone know of a better source out there than Cool Cruisers for 60/62 patch panels? I expected them to be around $75-$150.
