i need help!

[mopar madman]

I bought a 1974 dodge charger as a project for me and my son but it had a vinal top and the roof skin is just rusted to pieces the front pillars are rusted pretty bad too I would like to put a new skin on but I need the pieces that run from the roof and hold the windshield as well im located in Camden tn any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Photon440]

Welcome to the forum, mopar madman. Nice to hear that you're doing a project with your son. Yeah, rust under vinyl is often a problem. Giving us some pictures could help with any advice. You might end up getting some good metal from a wreck that someone's parting out.

-=PHoton440=-

 

[super-bee_ski]

Welcome to the forum!
Thanks for joining.
As Photon440 suggested...

Also;
Try: Desert Valley Auto parts, ask for a new roof.

 

[Mogre]

Welcome aboard. Family projects are always rewarding.

 

[Montclaire]

You want A pillars and a rood skin. I THINK that they are the same from 71-74 D/P, or at least the skin is. Two door only, no sedans.

 

[aldal]

Welcome and good luck.

 

[73runner]

Send pictures please.

Changing a roof skin is not too hard if the under structure is still good. It's a lot of work and, as a unibody car, the roof ( including the skin) is a structural member so you may need to weld in some temporary supports to keep the car from racking or loosing its alignment while doing the work.

But if it's too bad, you may want to consider using the car you have as a parts car and getting a better body. How is the rest of the car?

 

[mopar madman]

the rest isn't bad just quarter panels and floor pans only serious problem is where the vinal top held moisture

 

[super-bee_ski]

Man,
Im not so sure "mopar madman"...
Your looking at :
1. Floor pan: $499.95 for AMD fulll OEM style floor pan
2. Both quater panels: $599.95 each ($1,200)
3. Roof: Desert Valley Autoparts $450 plus shipping from AZ

Who know what else such as new inner quater panels (AMD quater panel inner re-inforcements 2 each required, and quater panel supports 2 each required)
As 73runner stated, it may be better to start w/ a better body.

 

[mopar madman]

I can handle all the other repairs but dvap wants a ton for the roof so that's the only thing stopping me

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Having 4 years of continuous production ( maybe later years too? ), both Plymouth and Dodge 2 doors sharing same roof maybe 3/4 of cars having vinyl roof, still wondering why AMD have not considered to reproduce yet the roof skin to our cars.

Are we talking maybe about 700k cars sold allong these years? And lot of these being really valuable!

 

[super-bee_ski]

I bought a 1974 dodge charger as a project for me and my son but it had a vinal top and the roof skin is just rusted to pieces the front pillars are rusted pretty bad too I would like to put a new skin on but I need the pieces that run from the roof and hold the windshield as well im located in Camden tn any suggestions would be appreciated

madman,
Please send us some pics of your project....

 

[flypaper]

I can handle all the other repairs but dvap wants a ton for the roof so that's the only thing stopping me

check here with members dodge33 and moparmarks
they might have what you need
also throw out a want ad.
there is always someone out there parting out a similar car.

 

[The Ripper]

For the same price of buying a roof from DVAP, $450 +freight shipping, you could more than likely find a parts car.
From a cost perspective..... my advice would be to buy a parts car, use what you need, sell off the extras.

If that is out of the question...I have one off a 73 RR, that I would sell for $200.
I am located in Conyers, GA...which is about 25 miles east of Atlanta.

For a reasonable fee, I could probably deliver it and meet you along I-40 as I occasionally travel I-40 between Nashville and Memphis.
Feel free to send me a message if interested.

- - - Updated - - -

(not my ad)
http://nashville.craigslist.org/pts/4396961329.html

 

[super-bee_ski]

mopar mad man:
Check out todays post (01 May 2014) by Problem Child II (upstate NY)
He found a "yard" with a bunch of Mopars...perhaps a top is available cheap....

 

[challenger6pak]

I have a 73 Charger with the same problem. By the time I redid everything the cost is the same or more than buying another body. Buying another body will same a year of spare time welding and grinding. If the car were an R/T or rare car it would be worth saving. Since it isn't, find another body. I'll bet if you put a hose with running water on the cowl vents you get wet floors also. That is if they are still there. Post pics of everything so we can see how bad it is.

 

[mopar madman]

im interested in the top how much would you charge to bring it with you when your going around I 40 I got it in my shop now so it can be at your convenience

 

[Ron 73]

I know its a lot of work bud but it can be done.. When you get one, check out some You Tube car roof repairs/restoring videos, im sure there's some on there that would help you some and Good luck, i hope you and your son enjoy the build!!

 

[1ol74charger4me]

Currently there is a guy selling a lot of 74 parts on Ebay and by the looks of what he has sold the roof is probably good. You didn't list your roof style but there is the SE and hardtop in 74. Look under 74 Charger on Ebay and all the parts are dark green. He's in Tennessee somewhere. Steve's muscle cars is also parting out some Chargers. There's a pretty decent whole 73 charger on Columbia Missouri CL for $750 if you want to do some driving. I love 73-4's but doing a roof on one would have me looking for a new body. There are a lot of these cars popping up all the time. You could also make it a sunny day convertible and cut the roof off. Make a custom boot for the package tray area and voila! Get Galen Goveir to certify a one off status as a factory built "one of one" and guys will flock to it like crazy everytime you take it out. Paint it FM3 and put a 4 speed with a long snaky 70 pistol grip in it.:idea1: OMG where's my sawzall...........

 

[ma mopar nutz]

welcome! I'm thinking we need pics !!! If it were me I would find another car ! Roof work is a ton of work !!