Quarter Panel Skin Replacement help

I am using full skin to replace rear quarter panels. Questions (so far, there'll be more) are these. Is it better to simply lay the quarter skin over the top edge after cutting away the old sheetmetal from the sides, and weld it in there? It seems it may be difficult to get the skin to look flush, even after filler and etc. Or, should I cut the top part of the skin off to match the cut on the old sheetmetal and attempt to flange and weld or butt weld it?

"Hanging" the skin on and welding seem simple enough, but I wonder what the results would be compared to cutting and fitting the new panel in.

Next question is about how to weld the new panel into the rocker panels. Rockers are fine, and do not need to be replaced. I'll cut the old quarters off just above the rockers, and drill out the spot welds that way. How do I get in to weld in the new quarters?

Many thanks. 66 coupe, father/son resotmod project. Lots of fun so far!

top of skin "laps over" horizontal edge...

...and it appears I could just "hang" the skin on the existing edge and weld it in place. That's what I meant by "hanging" the skin on. Looked pretty simple, but I'm guessing the results may not be real pretty.

I'm thinking your advice will be taken. This is our first project, and you know what they say about dumb questions!

Appreciate the help very much.

excellent advice, thanks.

Many thanks. Hadn't thought of cutting off the new panel, and using it as the template. Good thinking! Using the magnets is a neat trick, too! Beats the blind panel holders from eastwood at $30 for a set of four.