73 charger question

[fla 66 cuda]

We are redoing a 73 charger it was bought as a basket case i'm in the process of hanging the sheetmetal for alignment purposes and the passenger side came out fine but i have reached a possible problem take a look at the photos and see my issues.My question is were the fenders in this area different between 71/2 and 73/4 i know that there are differeces in other body lines between those years. I'm thinking i have a 71/2 fender [or door] i'm unsure what to do there is no room to move the fender back the gap is almost gone,did give some thought to building up the corner to fill in the shortcomings in both areas. Any sugesstions?

 

[YY1]

Yes the 71/72 and 73/74 fenders are different, but I always thought it was only in the circumference/radius of the wheel opening area.

I've seen cars advertized as having the wrong year fenders, and never noticed the gaps you show.

I'm in the market for a 72 driver's side fender if you find a 73/74 fender to use

In fact, I don't know what kind of shape they're in, but American Auto salvage in De Bary has both fenders on the 73 Charger they have there- at least they did last time I was up there. They will swear it's a 72, but take my word- it's a 73.

IIWY (If I were You?) I'd measure the wheel well opeing on both sides.
If it's different, I'd suspect different year fenders.

 

[loneagle]

Door is right fender is 72 charger and 71 is differant then them both

 

[fla 66 cuda]

That was my first thought i knew from [you i beleve] that there were differences in the wheelwell openings but never heard anything of the door area,i'll have to look at the openings and we may have to road trip to de bary i also got a line of a charger around 41 and 52 in a yard. Thank you and if i find some thing i'll let you know and we can work out some thing for the one i don't need.

 

[YY1]

That Charger is starting to look nice, even unfinished!

I like the way the back wheel and tire fill up the wheel well.

Too small a combo makes them look bulky and odd.

Boy, wheel and tire selection and a "stance" sure can change the whole look and atitude of a car, eh?

 

[fla 66 cuda]

Thanks, we are gonna go with ralleys or steeleys i think [rears are 225/75/15s on 8" wheels now] we are gonna lower it it sits too high in my opinion,the body is coming along as good as a non bodyman can get it [but it was never gonna be a show car anyhow] it has come along way since we got it and has a long way to go.

 

[Ron 73]

Your Charger is looking great!

 

[fla 66 cuda]

Thanks, well this fender is the orignal fender for this car i scrapped off some paint last night and the orignal color is underneath so i studied it and it seems that i have to move the door back and then everything will line up [i hope]. I don't know what happened to the point in the gap, so i'm gonna make a sheetmetal replacement [at least that's my plan] to fill up the gaping hole and form it to fit. I still have to fix my lower leg rebuild i made it too long and can't flush up the surfaces between fender and door/rocker. I made this piece too long where it bolts to the body [on purpose,you can always shorten it] by about 1/4 inch.

 

[YY1]

The fender that's on the car in the pics is the original or you had another one somewhere that turned out to be the original?

 

[fla 66 cuda]

The one on the car i'm gonna take it off this weekend and look at the underside of that area it looks like there may have been some damage/rust and some one did a goodenuf repair at one time. I know the passenger side was replaced cause there is an area that was repaired at the very front of the engine bay inner fender so i'm sure that fender was replaced.