StuBBle has left the field.

[gdrill]

And a finishing touch.

 

[gdrill]

I’m fairly confident now that all 71-4 b-body roof skins are indeed the same. The difference is all in the quarters as I have read elsewhere. You can see the difference here in the length the quarter to roof in the 71 vs 74 roof I have. The drip rail is the give away.

 

[gdrill]

Oh ya. I have an electric rear defrost window now too. Probably won’t use it but it’s cool.

 

[Islandkent]

So you have the roof on right?
Just the finish work left?
That’s what I’m looking at? Big job out of the way!

 

[gdrill]

Not quite. I had to go away for the weekend to work up north. I just got back in time for supper last night. Tomorrow I will buzz all the spot welds and remove it. Then I’ll stick the old roof on that car and begin the install. Overall I think it will be a piece of cake compared to a quarter for example.

 

[gdrill]

Alrighty then. The roofs have traded places. I have some repair to do before the attaching process begins but that won’t be much. I put the old skin on the parts car to keep it dryish. I threw a few screws in to hold it down. It gets slightly windy here in Southern Alberta.

 

[Islandkent]

Like a glove!

 

[gdrill]

Like a fist in an eye!

 

[gdrill]

Ok. The vinyl roof had its way as usual. So I snipped out a piece of the parts car and fabricated a patch.

The damage on the passenger side. The driver is much less.

I don't have klecos so if I weld a patch in and the gap closes up on me, I take a small air grinder zip disc and cut an even gap along the seam. That makes for good penetration throughout.

The patch fit and mounted.

 

[gdrill]

And that part is ready for a vinyl top once more.

 

[gdrill]

Only a little ways to go before this is permanent. Kinda funny how the parts car is orange and the previous owner ended up with an orange hood.

 

[gdrill]

Driver side done. From scrap pieces I make my patches.

 

[gdrill]

Fitted. I have to take it off once more to work on a few little imperfections. Then it will get zapped.

 

[Islandkent]

Looks good
All takes time
Trial and error fit and refit

 

[gdrill]

Looks good
All takes time
Trial and error fit and refit

Yes, if you ever get lucky and something looks right the very first try.........take it off anyway! There is something wrong. LOL. Most parts go on and of at least three times. That trunk lid has been on and off three and that was just for testing and repairs, not final fitting. This skin fits well, I was told they really have no choice as to where they sit. It's true. Very little play, some, but minimal. Now that I have done this, I have a 68 Barracuda that I tucked away because it needed a skin.
Neeeexxxxxt!

 

[gdrill]

Ok. Now this will not mean much to many but will mean lots to some! It was a nice day so I stripped a bunch of the parts car off. While I was at it I functioned the electric windows. They all work! So then I get looking at the the window I’m missing. Hmmmmm. Yes. 1971 is a unique setup, but, they are similar. Ok. Let’s try it. Yup. It can be done. They used basically the same shape but just hid a bunch of the extra glass behind steel on the 73/4's. StuBBle will now get electric tinted windows. You need to take all of the 1974 motor, track and window. The glass is definitely different and the slides are as well. But the bottom of the track mounts right up like it was meant to be. The top is slightly different. Not much but enough it doesn’t bolt in. You have to modify. Pics show what I mean.

This is the 74 guide / support bracket at the top of the track.

This is the 71. It bolts in differently. It won’t quite adapt. The track it self is narrower. The 74 glass will fall off of it

It bolts in from the side a little lower than the 74. But the holes do line up with the 74 track holes. So I used a piece of threaded rod, carb air cleaner type, and mounted it. I used nuts against all sides with flat and lock washers. I may weld it up now that I know it works but I think this will be just fine and it is something everybody can do with simple tools.

The result.

Yes, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 Plymouth B body quarter glass is interchangeable.

 

[qkcuda]

Only a little ways to go before this is permanent. Kinda funny how the parts car is orange and the previous owner ended up with an orange hood.

View attachment 1449761

View attachment 1449762

I don't think I will recognize StuBBle if it ever becomes all one colour.

 

[gdrill]

I had a busy weekend so I didn’t get the skin on. But it is all ready now. I had to do some straightening since something landed on his head years ago. Or maybe he landed on his head! Regardless, tomorrow I’ll give StuBBle a new toupee.

 

[gdrill]

I got the edges all primed with weld through primer. I fit and adjusted it to where I’m happy. But it’s too late to start tonight. I have to release it and put adhesive on the braces and I don’t want to do that until I’m gonna be able to weld it completely. Tomorrow after work I’ll get at it right away. It sure fits good. They are a perfect fit. I am going to install it and then repair the front corners. I didn’t want to do it and find out the shape was wrong. It will be easy on the car.

 

[gdrill]

Well I wouldn’t say anything ever truly permanent on these cars…….but I’m never taking that off! Roughly 10 pairs of vise grips, 3 c clamps and 30 spot welds to tack it in place. There is about 90 more to go! The wife just called. It’s supper time.