Don's 69 Charger Rust Belt restoration

[mopar4don]

The left side required some help.
You can see how its a bit out of shape compared to the patch (in front)

[mopar4don]

more showing metal out of shape

[mopar4don]

I did try to hammer and dolly it, but it didn't take long to figure out my best bet would be to section this in.
Here you can see I drilled out the spot welds around the bucket, getting it ready to section

[mopar4don]

Then sectioned the piece being removed and the piece going in

[mopar4don]

Then weld/grind/file repeat, weld/grind/file repeat
Yes I use a file to finish. I find that I get myself in trouble really fast with grinding disk.
I prefer to add a few weld dots, then file them in!

[comet_666]

My old panel was so bad it came out in 2 pieces. I actually found one on ebay about 6 years ago that was OEM, this was before they started re popping them again, it had the original shipping tag to a Dodge dealer in Wyoming. When I had the car painted we saved that spot so you can still see the tag.

[cdr]

Don you are doing a great job !!!!!!!!!!!!   

[mopar4don]

I was going through my pics and found this so I thought I would share.
This is how I straightened the louvers on my cowl.

1st I cut a shim till it fit inside the louver from the backside

[mopar4don]

I layed a straight edge across the louvers and checked to see which ones needed to be pushed up

[mopar4don]

Here you can see the gap on the louvers that are marked

I would then gently push up on the shim from underneath, then check the gaps, and repeat. This worked really well for me.
(Just so ya'all know, the pitted up cowl in these pics, was not used, I ended up using the cowl from the 4 door coronet parts car) (I just got back from South Carolina and now I'm talking / typing like them )

[MaltFalcon777]

I am speechless.

You are just getting back at where I am going.

Holy Cow, this thread is absolutely priceless to me.

It will take me hours to review, take notes and really try to understand the incredible job you have done.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

I thought I had a lot to do,  I didn't even have a clue of this much detail to task.

[fy469rtse]

Great attention to detail,
Don simply amazing work 

[mopar4don]

Took all these parts and blasted them.
It took me about 4 hours

[fy469rtse]

  

[Baldwinvette77]

Its like a big charger model car kit 

[JB400]

Hope you remember how it all goes back together

[Ghoste]

That blasting can be tedious work too huh?  Better than hand stripping but still tedious.

[mopar4don]

Its like a big charger model car kit  

I always did like models as a kid!

Hope you remember how it all goes back together

ME TO! That and not loosing any pieces!  

That blasting can be tedious work too huh?  Better than hand stripping but still tedious.

It can be tough on ya. Especially trying to hold those small parts.

[Nwcharger]

I like how your tackling your restoration. Great pics  what's your plan with the body jig when your finished?

[mopar4don]

I like how your tackling your restoration. Great pics  what's your plan with the body jig when your finished?

Thanks Nwcharger,
Not really sure what I'll do with it.
Might keep it for the next one

[mopar4don]

Here are all those parts in epoxy

[Pat1973charger]

Looking awesome don! I wish I had the time and energy (crazy at work) to start my charger!

[mopar4don]

I have been really busy to Pat, but I did manage to attend The Lane Automotive car show this past weekend!
The say it had 1700 cars there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cebzUDXHocA&feature=youtu.be

[keepat]

Look like a big car show but no chargers in the video, did you see any there?
Thanks
Pat

[Pat1973charger]

Looks like fun don, gotta love car shows! We have one coming up near me on Father's Day that has a few hundred cars in it (not bad for rural Nova Scotia lol). My dad and I usually try to get to as many as we can, this year I'm going to take my little guy, he is only 9 months but gotta start em young lol!