72 Charger SE
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Nice car, looks like a relatively easy restoration from the photos, at least in comparison to others in progress on this site.
Local find - '71 Charger SE
- Thread starter Rolling Thunder
- Start date
Rolling Thunder
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Thanks. That's the original full top also, it was a $28.70 upgrade for the full vinyl top on the SE's.
Rolling Thunder
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Looks that way doesn't it lol...is complete and pretty nice but has some serious quarter rust on the ps. Drivers side isn't as bad but I think when it comes down to it the car will get two new quarters.
Cool story and car. This is more than a car to you, though. It's a memory in the making for you and your son. I bet he'll drive it to high school one day, and it'll be in your/his family for a long, long time. Have fun with it!
iraqivet01
Well-Known Member
nice
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Okay guys, need some help here. Car is literally falling apart in areas now that I am prodding on them. 1/4s shot! To include outer wheel houses and trunk extensions, rockers are shot (look solid from sides but bottoms are gone), fenders shot; ps dogleg had putty in it and is now rotted up approx 10 inches, ds fender has some rust in dogleg but worst is up front above headlights...IS GONE (was bubbled but when poked fell apart completely and now is 4x3 hole). torsion bar subframe ENDS are shot, just the ends, rest seem nice but where they meet rockers are toast. Doors have holes starting in corners, hood is solid I guess, trunk lid lip has rust but is salvageable. Crazy thing is floors and trunk pan look great. Oh yeah have found some crunchy spots under vinyl roof along front windshield area that I am sure are all the way through. Rust seems to have eaten car from inside out...under fenders is so crusty, all metal lines; brake and fuel are shot agghhhh
SAVE or Part? There is really no sentimental value with car, son located it but we have a project already that he bought and are working on. So, with all of rust damage to me it seems like a money pit that will get worse once bad metal comes off (no telling what is under it hiding). I am now rethinking saving this one...and either finding a solid body that needs what is nice on mine (interior, glass, bumpers, front and rear valences, etc) and using her for parts or just parting out and concentrate on other cars...decisions decisions.
SAVE or Part? There is really no sentimental value with car, son located it but we have a project already that he bought and are working on. So, with all of rust damage to me it seems like a money pit that will get worse once bad metal comes off (no telling what is under it hiding). I am now rethinking saving this one...and either finding a solid body that needs what is nice on mine (interior, glass, bumpers, front and rear valences, etc) and using her for parts or just parting out and concentrate on other cars...decisions decisions.
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Positive note though...found my cars buildsheet under the carpet when I pulled seats and carpet to inspect floors.
Donahue72
Active Member
if you decid to part it out let me know cause my 72 charger didnt come with the right front hideaway cover and the grill was broken. Ill definatly buy some parts off you if you decide to part it.
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Decided to save it...too nice really to just tear apart. Found some excellent front fenders for it and also found out that a buddy has a stripped out body out on his farm that I can take 1/4 sheetmetal from. Already tore off one fender and test fitting new one:headbang:
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Besides terrible ps 1/4 and wheelhouse rest I can easily replace. I needed to just take a step back and let it all settle in and realized I've fixed worse. Pulled complete interior out and floors and trunk are gorgeous. Rear frame rails are solid as well as cowl area up front and inner fender/rails.
Also, my neighbor from across the street came over and said he noticed I was missing a magnum 500 and if I wanted one. Seems he had a loner in the rafters that had been there for some time. Has a Ford center cap on it but perfect match to my other ones and I have my missing wheels cap in the trunk. YESSSSSS.
Also, my neighbor from across the street came over and said he noticed I was missing a magnum 500 and if I wanted one. Seems he had a loner in the rafters that had been there for some time. Has a Ford center cap on it but perfect match to my other ones and I have my missing wheels cap in the trunk. YESSSSSS.
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Using old front fender to repair my rear rust????
Anyone ever done this? I have some wicked rust on my passengers side quarter and after some quick measurements thought maybe just maybe I could use my front wheel opening from my clapped out fender as a patch. Noticed opposite front sides almost match opposite rear openings by mocking up wheel opening trim. Well today cut out my fenders opening and quickly fit it up against the back...mind you its off center a tad but look at the body lines and is not perfect but really close to original rears. I think with some trimming it'll work fairly well and on the cheap.
Check this out
Anyone ever done this? I have some wicked rust on my passengers side quarter and after some quick measurements thought maybe just maybe I could use my front wheel opening from my clapped out fender as a patch. Noticed opposite front sides almost match opposite rear openings by mocking up wheel opening trim. Well today cut out my fenders opening and quickly fit it up against the back...mind you its off center a tad but look at the body lines and is not perfect but really close to original rears. I think with some trimming it'll work fairly well and on the cheap.
Check this out
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Donny
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The car is nice! Not in great condition, but, then again this is a 40 yr old survivor! Save it, but there's a lot to do before you start putting metal on it. Get that baby stripped of everything; send it to Media Blasting, get the rust off it, prime it, and start building it back up!
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Well haven't done much more since last pics were taken...busy Army Recruiting and weather has locked me down. BUT the mail still delivers so ordered some new parts. Have collected both new AMD quarters, outer wheel house, rockers and trunk extensions. So when can get back out will start with ps and cut out old metal and get into the wheel house area to repair.
1968_Roadrunner
Well-Known Member
Glad to see you are fixing it! I'm guessing my RR is in about the same shape under the putty and primer. Sweet car! What motor is in it? (not sure if I missed it)
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
It has its original numbers matching driveline consisting of a trusty 318/904 combo
Going to leave it too, its got just under 36,*** original miles on it and have running like a top now after fixing the "big ole hole in the block" aka oil filter w/pin hole LOL. Was parked in early 80's due to this big ole hole by past owners father in law. Figure I'll leave the muscle to my 63 plymouth and use this one for looking good and getting good mileage.
Going to leave it too, its got just under 36,*** original miles on it and have running like a top now after fixing the "big ole hole in the block" aka oil filter w/pin hole LOL. Was parked in early 80's due to this big ole hole by past owners father in law. Figure I'll leave the muscle to my 63 plymouth and use this one for looking good and getting good mileage.
1968_Roadrunner
Well-Known Member
I would do the same.
acme rat killer
Well-Known Member
Glade to see you fixing it. With all the new sheet metal out there and new stuff coming on line all the time almost anything can be saved. I also have a car that looked better on the outside, but its coming along, and my son is learning alot. Keep pluging along.
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Rolling Thunder
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Good looking a-body there! It's not as bad as I thought, bad but saveable. I've bought most of the sheetmetal needed now for it just waiting for spring to jump on it. Way I figure for what I bought car for and with new sheetmetal and my labor I'll still be in it cheap and be able to enjoy it and let people see another one on the road versus in a scrap yard.
ramairthree
Well-Known Member
good find, great save,
and score! on the engine and sweet interior.
Glad to see someone saving another one and getting it back on the road.
and score! on the engine and sweet interior.
Glad to see someone saving another one and getting it back on the road.
Rolling Thunder
Well-Known Member
Hood fairy visits...
Seems a power bulge hood showed up over night...how'd that get there? Hood fairy...cough cough. Hope they're friends with the spoiler fairy too!
No rust but has a few dents to be worked out...those are stains in middle of hood from something not dents (I thought they were when 1st saw them).
Seems a power bulge hood showed up over night...how'd that get there? Hood fairy...cough cough. Hope they're friends with the spoiler fairy too!
No rust but has a few dents to be worked out...those are stains in middle of hood from something not dents (I thought they were when 1st saw them).
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