Building a 70 Charger from scratch Build Thread

[tnthull]

Taking the car to the shop tomorrow to do some fab work on the rear clip so I can build mounts for the rear quarters and the rear end housing. Hopefully I can get a lot done in a day

[tnthull]

Haven't quit on this. I've bought some more parts, and now should be doing some assembly soon

[nvrbdn]

glad to see your back to it.

[cdr]

keep them pictures comin!!!!!

[tan top]

interesting build you got going on here    keep the pictures & up dates coming 

[Budnicks]

Haven't quit on this. I've bought some more parts, and now should be doing some assembly soon

cool stuff  keep us all updated, we do like  car porn too

[tnthull]

ok, ive made some more progress today and since the last post. bought my fuel cell from summit. I also decided to go with a standard style rear end vs the quick change I originally planned but accidently bought an offset 9' instead of a centered one.....fail on my part for not measuring but I was in a hurry that day, that being said im trying to sell that 9' and the quick change now and I went with a chevy rear end with 3'' axle tubes. I bought weld on coilover brackets that also have trailing arm brackets (ill post pictures below of these. I cut the original shock mounts off the chevy rear end and will  be finishing the shock mounts tomorrow, the major progress ive made is building the rear clip which I build separate from the car and will also be welding this on in the am tomorrow, I spent about a week measuring and remeasuruing to make sure I had all my dimensions right before sticking it all together so heres a few pics also, will take more with everything installed. still waiting on my trailing arms, heims, and 3rd link mounts to come in Thursday, then ill just have to measure out what I need for my panhard bar and the car will be able to roll around on 2 wheels, I plan to be at that point by the end of the week and then hopefully start on the slightly more complex front clip. I also was able to get 4 double adjustable pro shocks for this car.

[tnthull]

rear clip and shock mounts

[Baldwinvette77]

Looks like progress 

[tnthull]

woke up this morning motivated, put my rear end housing up on jackstands, got it level and welded on my shock/trailing arm brackets, then I squared up my rear clip and welded it on as well. I have some more bracing to do but it stands by itself now! when my parts order comes in Thursday ill have my trailing arms, heims, 3rd link brackets for the chassis and housing. happy with progress today, I plan for the rearend to be able to be bolted in the car by the end of the weekend.

[tnthull]

Does anyone have any pointers on installing the rear bodywork. As far as what should I do first. I obviously have the roof on. Then ill do the rear quarters, but then do I need to go to the tail light panel and the rear lower valance or do the deck filler panel first?

[Indygenerallee]

Sweet, I totally forgot about this build.. Can't wait to see more progress!!

[Mike DC]

    
Do you have access to a 2nd-gen Charger to measure for reference numbers?  I think you'll need it.  The AMD outer skin panels are good, but even N.O.S. sheetmetal wouldn't be easy to get right without any other guidelines at all.  The Charger shape is full of complex curved surfaces all over it.

There is a factory set of unibody measurements.  But that's basically just the undercarriage. There's nothing specific about the bodywork on that data sheet.

 

[Dino]

Does anyone have any pointers on installing the rear bodywork. As far as what should I do first. I obviously have the roof on. Then ill do the rear quarters, but then do I need to go to the tail light panel and the rear lower valance or do the deck filler panel first?

Actually you do all of them at the same time.  The panels will likely need tweaking here and there to match up nicely so install all the panels, secure them with self tapping screws and clamps until all is arranged as it should before you even think about getting that welder out.  The holes created by the self tapping screws can be welded shut real easy. If you place them right, you can also enlarge them later and turn them into spot welds.

[JB400]

I'm no expert, but I'd get the quarters mounted, then the lower valance corners, followed by the lower valance.  Then, I'd mount the deck filler panel, followed by the taillight panel.  It may be alright on your project, but on the restorations, people have been having to modify the valance corners to get them to fit properly.  Just a heads up.

[tnthull]

I do have access but it's over an hour away and in a 8-5 shop so my time with it is minimal. I figured I'd start by taking a pinch weld to pinch weld measurement from underneath the rear quarters to get my width right and secure that. And thanks for all the help on the ideas guys. Ill try and do it all together and make sure it all fits which I'm sure it won't haha. And I think I asked this once before but couldn't find it, the rear quarter slides under the roof at the c pillar for mounting correct?

[Mike DC]

It's covered earlier in this thread.   The roof skin overlaps the quarter skin on the pillar. 


As for the rearend - I've heard that the reproduction lower valance caps are actually pretty accurate.   They just have a bad reputation because by the time a restorer mounts replacement trunkfloors, extensions, quarters, taillight panel, lower valance panel . . . everything has to be just right for the corners to go on correctly. 

[tnthull]

I see it now, not sure how I missed that, but thanks. And I got almost every part from amd except the filler panel, so hopefully it will fit with the rest of the other pieces.

[tnthull]

Finished up final welding on everything you've seen in pictures so far. Still on track to be able to bolt up the rear end to trailing arms by the end of the weekend

[Stevearino]

I have been hanging bodies on stock cars for a living the past 16 years. I don't know if you have done this before but if you haven't there is a process to it if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them. Once you have done it using the method we use it seems pretty straight forward and again I would be happy to walk you through the process.  I would definitely finish the chassis first and mock up all the suspension minus the springs with the wheels and tires you intend to run. This will give you some reference points to start your body hanging.  There are a few key measurements you will need and if you have access to a car it would be worth a field trip to take notes.

[The70RT]

Wow big job 

[tnthull]

Stevearino, I have done fiberglass bodies before, and alot of Interior tin work but never one like this. If you're open to me coming out id love to take some noted and pick your brain. Thanks for the offer on the advice. Where are you located?

[Stevearino]

I am located in the Charlotte N.C. area. If you want to p.m me on anything I can describe anything you might be interested in right here.

[tnthull]

Thanks. I'm sure ill be taking you up on that. I've taken alot of time squaring up the roof on the chassis, which was always the first step when we mounted asphalt late model bodies at the shop, but beyond that and knowing fair easily where the rear quarters fall into place, I'm very green on major bodywork

[Cooter]

I'm interested come title time. Hadda buddy who did this with a Petty kit car chassis and a 1970 Cuda shell.
Was gonna try and get it titled and inspected for the street. His had some crazy ass headers that went up and over through the pass floor.
I told him it'd be a cold day in hell when I put a sticker on a dirt track car cobbled up to look like a Cuda.
Last I saw of it, $30k and on a trailer. Might wanna check into this before ya get too far...