Don's 69 Charger Rust Belt restoration

[mopar4don]

Notice the line representing were the bend needs to be

[mopar4don]

I put it in my vise aligning the marked line to the vise jaws.
I then hammered it over to create the 90 degree bend. (sorry no pictures)
Finally got it to were it looked pretty good!
Then welded it in!

[cdr]

keep after it DON 

[Stevearino]

I know it seems like backing up but this is all good forward movement. The satisfaction of seeing  those new and reconditioned parts going back into place is just around the corner.

[mopar4don]

Thanks fellas.
Stevo, I am so looking forward to putting new or fresh metal on!

[six-tee-nine]

Hey Don you're doing great. You dont see this as much progress forward maybe but all the small steps forward give you nice results after a year or so.
I'm testfitting my new trunk floor at this point and have more new sheet metal on the car at this point than ever since I have it and she looks better than she probably did in the last 20 years or so.
It's like pouring gas on my motivation flame....problem is my wife is whining more and more these days since I'm always in the shop....

[mopar4don]

Hey Don you're doing great. You dont see this as much progress forward maybe but all the small steps forward give you nice results after a year or so.
I'm testfitting my new trunk floor at this point and have more new sheet metal on the car at this point than ever since I have it and she looks better than she probably did in the last 20 years or so.
It's like pouring gas on my motivation flame....problem is my wife is whining more and more these days since I'm always in the shop....

Hi six-tee-nine,
I know your right! A lot of small steps over time adds up. And the members on this site help with the motivation.

I know what you mean about the wife. (It is a constant worry for me that I don't spend enough time with her)
And she is really great with me spending a lot of time in the garage. I try to keep everything in perspective.
God 1st
Wife 2nd
family and friends 3rd

Lately we have been having date nights.

[cdr]

Hey Don you're doing great. You dont see this as much progress forward maybe but all the small steps forward give you nice results after a year or so.
I'm testfitting my new trunk floor at this point and have more new sheet metal on the car at this point than ever since I have it and she looks better than she probably did in the last 20 years or so.
It's like pouring gas on my motivation flame....problem is my wife is whining more and more these days since I'm always in the shop....

Hi six-tee-nine,
I know your right! A lot of small steps over time adds up. And the members on this site help with the motivation.

I know what you mean about the wife. (It is a constant worry for me that I don't spend enough time with her)
And she is really great with me spending a lot of time in the garage. I try to keep everything in perspective.
God 1st
Wife 2nd
family and friends 3rd

Lately we have been having date nights.

YES SIR MR DON,there is no other way!!!

[mopar4don]

patch #2

[mopar4don]

Patch #3
This one was a little scary! I layed out where the bends were, then hammered the original flat.
Next I transferred and cutout a new patch (a little bigger to allow for fitment) layed out the bend lines, then put it in my vise and did some bending

[mopar4don]

Kinda hard to see were it transitions from high to low, but if you backup 3-5 pics you can see what I was trying to duplicate.

[mopar4don]

Patch #4
Similar process as patch #2

[mopar4don]

more

[mopar4don]

more

[JB400]

Looks good

[six-tee-nine]

You have waaay better skills for shaping metal patch parts than I do.....and since I found some additional pin holes in my floor pans I need to get some practice

[tsmithae]

That's some nice work there, Don!   

[Homerr]

Don, you are insane and I hope to emulate your work one day.   

[charge69]

That's an amazing amount of metal patchwork going on here and you have far more skills than I have!  The only real patchwork/metal forming that went on with my Charger was the back-driver's side part of my roof! I had thought of actually buying an AMD roof panel but my friend, who is also an artist with any type of welder or patch work, made and blended in the roof and rail for the back glass himself!
Other than that, just replacing the rear quarters, trunk floor and accoutrements, outer 3 to 4 inches of the wheel wells, tail panel and end caps were basically it.  I salute you for all your hard work and creativity!

[mopar4don]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys.

[Ghoste]

Thanks for the inspiration. 

[Stevearino]

Looks like you have a real eye for detail. Some folks would ask "Why match all the folds and bends on something that will not be seen?" Bottom line is that if you are going to do something like this properly you have to do everything as if it  WILL be seen. That discipline pays off and you will feel great knowing that you left no stone un turned.

[six-tee-nine]

It's not really a matter of anyone seeing it, its more a matter of knowing for yourself that you've done it right.

I'm cleaning my underside of my 69 with a wire wheel right now altough the floors and undercoating was 95% OK. Only to paint it and shoot new undercoating on it.
Sometimes I think to have better left it alone since no one ever sees that. But then again if I do it all over then I have piece of mind when saying I restored my car fot the full 100%

[mopar4don]

On to the drivers side.

1st, I marked and removed the quarter panel reinforcement bracket.

[mopar4don]

1st patch welded in.
The metal where the 90 bend was good so I did not have to replace this.
I let the metal extend out over the bend, then came back and welded underneath.
And pardon the crappy welds.... I am still learning!