Don's 69 Charger Rust Belt restoration

[mopar4don]

from there web site http://autotechmfg.com/?cat=6

Rust - Prep
Fast Acting Formula Kills Rust & Paint Ready in 20 to 30 Minutes!
A new twist to an old product! This fast acting formula kills rust on contact and converts it to a dry, paintable surface in 20-30 minutes, as opposed to the normal 8 - 12 hours required by other products. Also, this unique formula is actually two products-in-one: it kills/converts rust or, if sprayed on a bare rust-free panel, it etches the surface like a metal prep and creates the perfect surface for paint, primer or filler! Rust-Prep works by reacting with rust to form a chemically inert ceramic-like strontium phosphate film that becomes part of the surface. When primed or coated, adhesion to the surface is increased because the zinc strontium phosphate film is cellular and actually creates a locking effect at the paint interface thus going way beyond ordinary adhesion. And the zinc phosphate film results in superior anti-corrosion and welding conductivity.

directions on how to use: go about half way down the page. http://autotechmfg.com/?page_id=77

[mopar4don]

Then Ralph sprayed it.  Thanks Ralph

[mopar4don]

A couple of notes: I did use the rust prep on the bottom side, But I did'nt get any pics.
And the roof structure you see in the background worked really well for transporting. Just threw a couple of clamps on and put it in the truck.

[mopar4don]

So the next thing to do will be to weld on new AMD drip rails.
Has anyone put these on? Is there anything to it?
Maybe positioning to the front A-pillar drip rail?
There is a gap but the trim should cover it right?

[mopar4don]

So I was originally going to buy a core support stiffener but decided to make my own.
b5cuda did this to his car and it help me a lot. It basically boxes the core support.

I started off by making a template in two pieces

[mopar4don]

Then I transferred it to 16 gauge (.060)

[mopar4don]

Here you can see the result of rolling the edge
(just to the left of the left clamp and above the hammer) (I used a big pipe)

[mopar4don]

next I had to pull the side strap up and tack it

[mopar4don]

So I did the drivers side the same way then joined them

[mopar4don]

Here it is all mocked up

[mopar4don]

If you noticed in the previous pics I notched out for the grill support bracket.
I didn't like the way this looked. So I filled in the box and sliced the
bracket off right where it would intersect the box and welded it along the bottom

[mopar4don]

Here I am getting the stiffener ready for welding
and in pic2 its tacked in place

[cdr]

Great job Don !!!!

[mopar4don]

Thanks Charlie! (I need to get info about your wing)

[mopar4don]

Here the weld has been ground down and it is ready for epoxy primer

[mopar4don]

Core support stiffener DONE!  

On to the next thing.

STAY TUNED 

[Homerr]

Don, it's always a pleasure to read your updates and see the process unfold.

[Stevearino]

Don , this is going to be th most thoroughly restored Charger on the planet. No corners cut here. 

[mopar4don]

Don, it's always a pleasure to read your updates and see the process unfold.

Thank you. I am kinda suprised people are still following this thread. It's taking forever!

Don , this is going to be th most thoroughly restored Charger on the planet. No corners cut here. 

Thank you Steve, that really means a lot coming from you. I really enjoy your videos of your Daytona and GTX restorations.
I have learned a lot!

[cdr]

Thanks Charlie! (I need to get info about your wing)

Dane,,,, http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=151 & his son build these wings.

[mopar4don]

The next thing to do is to get the AMD drip rails on

[mopar4don]

Then weld them on

[mopar4don]

Here the welds are ground down and epoxy primed

[mopar4don]

I had to trim this rolled over edge on the quarter panel
so it would tuck underneath the drip rail
the line on the tape marks the end of the drip rail
and where it should be trimmed

[mopar4don]

So here you can see the lip just before I zipped it off.
That lip needed to be trimmed of so the quarter will fit
under the drip rail