A Pillar and Roof Skin for 71 GTX

[crahill39]

Can someone tell me if the A-Pillars and roof skin are the same for 71-74 B Body cars? I have a 71 GTX that needs both A Pillars replaced and the roof skin either patched or replaced. Trying to source the parts, but wasn't sure what years I could pull from.

Thanks!

Craig

 

[Chase383]

The roof skin is the same for all 71-74 2 door B bodies. And Im 99% sure the a-pillars are as well. The windshields and door glass are the same.

I'm in the same boat.... canopy top ate my windshield channel. I'm planning on removing the a pillars and roof ribs from my Charger parts car.... But I'm still searching for a roof skin that won't cost a fortune to ship.

 

[Montclaire]

I think the pillars changed in 1973 but I am not sure. The SKIN is the same but the understructure and drip rails vary. Why they have not repopped the skin is beyond me.

 

[flypaper]

too bad you weren't closer to me.
i know of a 71 that is going to get parted out soon..

 

[crahill39]

This may be interesting if I can get it confirmed. But reading another thread it may be the A Pillars are shared among the 1970 74 E Bodies. The E Body A-Pillars are repoped by AMD.

Here is the thread, Post #353:

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...225-71-Road-Runner-Restoration-Started/page18
Post #353

"With the 71-72 model year B Body cars the majority of the inner sheet metal interchanges with 71-74 E Bodies from the front floor pan and A pillar posts all the way forward to the radiator support."

Craig

 

[Chase383]

I don't know about the entire A-pillar...

But the lower portion (where the wide stainless corner pieces screw) appears to be identical. This is an area that always seems to rust out.

I asked about the entire pillar before I got my parts car and never got an answer.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Hello everyone. It's my post about the interchangeability. The "A" pillars are different between the E body and B body cars. The firewalls / cowlings are very similar and can be used with a little modification.

You may be able to use parts from an A pillar from one car line to the next but it would involve some cutting / welding.

Sorry if I caused any confusion.

The front floor pans are the same if you are working on a 71-72 B body and are looking to use parts from an E body. The only exception is that a 70 Challenger has a different flange on the outer edge.

The inner fender wells, radiator core supports interchange between 71-72 B bodies and 70-74 E bodies. A lot of the smaller brackets are interchangeable too.

The front frame rails will work as long as you use parts from a 70-72 E body. The bumper bracket bolt hole alignment changed in 73 - 74 E bodies.

- - - Updated - - -

As far as the roof is concerned there is a minor difference. I was looking for a new outer roof skin for my 71RR. I spoke to Ted Stephens who owns Stephens Performance, about it. He told me that there is a very minor difference between the 71-72 Dodge vs 71-72 Plymouth 2 door B bodies. They removed roof skins from several cars in his yard and compared them side by side. He told me that there was a very minor difference and added that they could be used in ace of each other if you knew what you were doing. I personally don't know what this difference is, and I have not seen it in person. But I trust his answer because be is a friend and has been in the business for many years now.

I don't know about the roof skins from a 73-74 B body.

I agree. It would be FANTASTIC if AMD decided to produce new skins for the roofs of our cars.

Hope this helps.

- - - Updated - - -

The cowling side panel areas where the door hinges bolt on are very different between B and E body cars as are the door hinges.

 

[Chase383]

As far as the roof is concerned there is a minor difference. I was looking for a new outer roof skin for my 71RR. I spoke to Ted Stephens who owns Stephens Performance, about it. He told me that there is a very minor difference between the 71-72 Dodge vs 71-72 Plymouth 2 door B bodies. They removed roof skins from several cars in his yard and compared them side by side. He told me that there was a very minor difference and added that they could be used in ace of each other if you knew what you were doing. I personally don't know what this difference is, and I have not seen it in person. But I trust his answer because be is a friend and has been in the business for many years now.

Looks like I'm going to have to give them a call... this is the first I have ever heard they were different. I have both a '71 Plymouth and Dodge in my garage right now... and I can't tell any difference by walking back and forth and checking the minor detail areas. Perhaps around the top of the qtr. windows?

This is kinda making me doubt my grand plan to salvage the roof ribs and A-pillars from my Charger to transplant on my Satellite...

 

[71airgrabberRR]

The roof skins look very close to me too. Ted Stephens said that you can use them in place of each other with a little work. I don't know what the minor difference is. Don't give up on your parts car idea just yet. I'd give it a try.

Check out the area that goes up against the rear window and compare the seam lines to see if they measure the same between the 2 cars. Then check the area by the drip rails too. I'm just curious and don't have a Dodge and a Plymouth to compare.

Please let me know what you find. Thanks,
Louis

 

[Chase383]

I'll go snap some pics tomorrow night,

My current goal is to remove the rusty Charger roof skin like I was planning on saving it... its good practice. I'm not quite ready to start chopping on my Satellite just yet, I really need my Coronet to be mobile under its own power first.

The Charger is full vinyl top car... so no attempt was made by Mopar to finish the seams... they are as-welded. My Satellite is a canopy top car so the rear qtr. seams are leaded. The front seams are identical, the windshield and back glass interchange between the two cars... so the difference must be in the drip rails and qtr window area.

 

[YY1]

Depending on the (specifically Charger) car line, a 72 SE has different drip rails because of the rear side window plug.

73/74 (SE and spring special only) has a different plug, but the drip rails are yet a third different size.

I don't know what the skin difference would be, as IIRC the rails are separate.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Chase, can you post the pictures after you take them. It would also help a lot if you could take a few close ups with a tape measure or ruler to see if the differences are where we are thinking ???

Thanks.

 

[Chase383]

I will by this weekend,

Its raining down here and this is contributing to my general laziness :laughing6:

 

[Chase383]

Okay... I decided to brave the swampy conditions and snap some pics.

I'm gonna upload them in stages so they don't cram together on one post. Here is the corner of the roof at the qtr. window, 1st is the Charger, 2nd is the RR, both are '71s. The "step" in the roof panel appears to be specifically designed to account for different qtr. window shapes.

 

[Chase383]

Edit: Arrrgh...

My two posts crammed togther..

Ok.. 1st two pics

Under skin bracing appears to be identical. Note the damage to my RR, looks like somebody tossed something heavy on the roof and dented the whole thing in... then "popped" the skin back up. This is the reason I want to salvage the bracing from the Charger.


Last 2 pics, A-pillar joints. Charger is 1st, RR is second.

 

[streetwedg]

I did this already. I used a 71 satelite roof skin with factory sunroof on a 72 charger. Some of the inner braces above side glass was different but I found no difference in the skin. It worked great for me.

 

[Chase383]

I did this already. I used a 71 satelite roof skin with factory sunroof on a 72 charger. Some of the inner braces above side glass was different but I found no difference in the skin. It worked great for me.

Awesome!

 

[moparmarks]

A-pillars are the same for 71-4B 2-door as are the roof Skins. The drip rails are different between years and models. The drip rails on the A-pillars are screwed/glued on and the rails on the roof are welded on.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Amd for God sake!!!!!!!!!... 71/74 b body 2 doors roof skins!!! Maybe 700k cars used that same skin!!!

 

[YY1]

I believe the "steps" referred to in post #14 are on the quarter panel and not on the roof skin.