1974 Roadrunner Re-Paint and Some Upgrades

[RR Fan Dan]

I’m also at a dilemma about the my sunroof. I have never been able to make it fit or work correctly and I can’t get parts to fix it. I’m thinking about patching it over and filling it in. It is a real sunroof car, but I can’t prove it because the fender tag is gone. You would still see the sunroof from the inside of the car. What do you all think. What would you do?

 

[YY1]

AMD used to.

Used set might turn up.

Was half the wheel arch from 12 o'clock back to IIRC the bumper, OK not quite the bumper.
Too bad as the top rear corner is a high rust area.

Looks like the last run was around 2021.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

AMD used to.

Used set might turn up.

Was half the wheel arch from 12 o'clock back to IIRC the bumper, OK not quite the bumper.
Too bad as the top rear corner is a high rust area.

View attachment 1936387

Looks like the last run was around 2021.

Those bastages. Why they stop? Probably not a good seller.

 

[toolmanmike]

Does anyone know where I can find lower quarter and fender patch panels for a 73/74 satellite/ road runner. Or is there another model that will fit that can be trimmed to work? Not wanting to fabricate these.

I see quarter panel skins in the Layson's catalog. $400 each. They also have quarter panel patches (Rear of wheel opening) $189 each

 

[YY1]

I see quarter panel skins in the Layson's catalog. $400 each. They also have quarter panel patches (Rear of wheel opening) $189 each

I sure can't find them on the website.

When I select 1973 and Roadrunner, there's not even a "body" category.

When I keyword search "quarter", I get 179 results at about 16 per page, starting with emblem letters.

 

[DeltaV]

Let's hail an FBBO sponsor for assistance

Rick@Laysons

@Rick@Laysons

 

[toolmanmike]

I spent the $20 and bought a catalog. 600 pages of Mopar parts. I'm not a fan of their website.

 

[DeltaV]

Try calling Stephens...

Stephens Performance - World's largest vintage Mopar Salvage Operation

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Okay, I just heard from my paint and body guy and he found that a Suburban lower doors that he has in is yard may work for lower quarter skins

Suburban

Roadrunner

 

[RR Fan Dan]

We believe this will work with some adjustments at the rear and roll the bottom edge of the panel for hard turn.

 

[#41]

Dang, that looks like a mess.

 

[HawkRod]

Unfortunately, I have found that once you start digging into these old cars, you discover lots of things you didn't want to see.

When I bought my 70 Road Runner it was yellow - it had been changed from the original Limelight. Under the paint was a crease on the passenger side all the way from the front of the door through the quarter panel from someone hitting something. In typical fashion, holes were drilled every 1.5 inches and then the crease was "sort of" pulled out and then bondo did the rest. That cost me a door skin and quarter panel where otherwise the minimal rust could have been patched. In the end, my "minimal rust" California car ended up with 2 new door skins, 2 quarter panels, trunk floor, extensions, and more.

I am sorry to see all this damage, but the only way to address it is the way you are doing it. Make the proper repairs and move on. You will have a harder time that I did since replacement metal is hard to find for a 74.

Good luck and keep moving forward!

 

[WileE]

Unfortunately, I have found that once you start digging into these old cars, you discover lots of things you didn't want to see.

Truer words never spoken. From anyone either the first time or from decades of experience. Don't feel bad Dan, I recently learned from a friend an all-too-similar situation. A gorgeous 69 Z-28, stunning show-quality gem. He got a dent on the upper rear quarter panel. Shop decided to take it down to the roof and other qtr, since it was custom paint. What they discovered was just as bad as yours. They went further. Needs both quarters and a door ! The rust holes were incredible. A dent the size of a small bowl turns into a full-blown body/paint resto. That's why I came up with the idiom " where there's rust... there's more" forty-somewhat years ago !

 

[RR Fan Dan]

For those interested. 2003 Suburban doors look like they will work for rear quarter lower patches.

 

[Rick@Laysons]

Unfortunately, for the 73-74 Plymouth B-body, we do NOT have any listings for quarter skins, full factory-style quarter panels, or any of the lower quarter or wheel opening patch panels.

We do have listings for the 71-72 models, but I don't think they have the same shape on the wheel openings as there are different wheel moldings between the two......

Don't think we could do you any good for the 73-74 stuff.....sorry.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Fortunately my shop guy is a gem. Been doing this since he was a kid and charges unbelievable prices.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Unfortunately, for the 73-74 Plymouth B-body, we do NOT have any listings for quarter skins, full factory-style quarter panels, or any of the lower quarter or wheel opening patch panels.

We do have listings for the 71-72 models, but I don't think they have the same shape on the wheel openings as there are different wheel moldings between the two......

Don't think we could do you any good for the 73-74 stuff.....sorry.

How about fender patches?

 

[Rick@Laysons]

We have listings for the 71-72 lower front fender patches, but nothing for the 73-74......

 

[RR Fan Dan]

So my paint and body guy was cutting the lower rear quarters to prep for the new metal from the Suburban and got sprayed with water. The sunroof hose drains were pinched. The last shop I had the car at to fix the sunroof was supposed to snake the drains and verify they were draining, which they said they did and charged me. Liars.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

No inner rocker support. It's cleaned up, and closed some larger holes up and added welded through primer everywhere in closed areas. Next , the seams will get seams sealer with a brush. Going to use the original panel removed. It's cleaned up and added welds where needed. Cut it straighter and addressed the holes at the backside of the panel so it would not overlap each again. That's just wrong. No band-aids