Help me save my 69 (pics)

[Rayzor]

A drunk driver is responsible for this..... Anyways, Were do I start? I does not appear to have caused any frame damage as the 1 ton that smashed into it hit higher up then the lower rocker. Need some help/advise on what to do with this. I have plenty of tools and a mig, have done a fair share of body work and small rust repairs. Quarters and beyond are new news though. HELP!!!

[Rayzor]

I can take more detailed photos if anyone needs to see another area a touch more clearly. Thanks for any help

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

id say basically u need a parts car and a new quarter and rocker panel probably drivers side floor as well-MATT

[terrible one]

id say basically u need a parts car and a new quarter and rocker panel probably drivers side floor as well-MATT

Yeah, that'll buff right out of the door lol.

I'm no bodyman, but seems to me you will need quarter panel, possibly rocker, door, window, and window tracks

So how did this happen? I'm curious. That really sucks man...

[Rayzor]

surprisingly the floor and anything under the rocker does not have any visable damage. Its the post were the door latch was has me really freaked. Even parts chargers are 5 grand it seems these days to. Would a cornet or satellite center post be the same? I can get a new quarter skin easy enough. 

[terrible one]

Yeah, the post is scary. You are going to need a nice hearty piece of a minor-rust parts car. That's a lot of money

[694spdRT]

I don't think the repo quarter skins are going to fix everything that is damaged. They only go to the top bodyline and your original top section is bent up pretty bad as well. You might have to find a parts car with decent upper section and then weld a repo to that.

If insurance is involved try to find a complete rust free cut off quarter and have it shipped in. They are still around but, expensive. Sorry about the damage....did you make it through OK?

[Rayzor]

Yea the top part of the quarter is pretty tweaked up.  I have been thinking of carefuly drilling out the remaing spot welds that attach the outer quarter to the center post. And using a cut off to take out the most damaged section. This would allow me to pull out the inner sheet metal and rear passenger window area hopefuly back as close as possible. I still have my 68's here so I was also thinking of making some templates to reshape the upper section off them. I really doubt this car will ever be a looker again with my skills and bank account, but if I can at least keep it going without taking the easy route and parting it out or whatever I will be happy. I plan on using it as my fun/drag car anyways. I just dont have the heart to cut it up to throw away. Its a rainy night in oregon.......

[tan top]

Yea the top part of the quarter is pretty tweaked up. I have been thinking of carefully drilling out the reaming spot welds that attach the outer quarter to the center post. And using a cut off to take out the most damaged section. This would allow me to pull out the inner sheet metal and rear passenger window area hopefully back as close as possible. 

    also looking at the photo closely check the -wheel/tire for damage /buckled wheel ,bent half shaft etc, /bent spring hangers , aliment, it is probably unlikely though , because mopars and cars in general from the 60s/70s are stronger in that area than modern stuff.

[Drop Top]

Take the car to a good reliable frame shop before you do anything. I have fixed much worse then what you see here. But after a hit like that it needs to have a go on a frame machine. Then you can start to replace the 1/4 panel. The door post will need some attintion with the frame machine also. It can be saved but it should be done by someone with experance in retorations.

[bull]

Hey Rayzor,

The outer skin is the least of your worries, and the easiest part to fix really. You can get them from a dozen different sources. Like Drop Top said, a frame rack will help you figure out a lot of what's going on underneath and inside and tell you what all you're going to need to buy. Is the guy's insurance going to pay for it? Remember, you can take your car to ANY shop YOU want to to have the work done so I would reccommend taking it to a restoration shop rather than a 'body shop' if you know what I mean. East Portland Auto Body (503-253-6133) can do the frame work for you if they're not too backed up on work. I know it's a ways up here for you but if you call Bill he can probably reccommend someone down your way if you don't want to drag it all the way up to Portland. Bill really knows Chargers. There are plenty of Charger parts cars out there you can still get odd stuff off of without having to buy the whole thing. I would guess you'll be needing a new window register on top of it all. Yours is probably all bent up. Did the 1/4 glass break? Check out this '69 SE parts car below. I got the package tray off of it from Pocket Thunder who owns a Sawz All. If you need any parts it looks like it's all sitting right there and Pocket is a great guy to deal with, but I'd go with the frame rack first before you worry too much about parts. BTW, Drop Top is the MAN. Always good advice. Always.

[Blown70]

I may in a month or two have some parts but I do not know if you want to wait that long.  I will have a pretty rust free shell but, the passenger 1/4 is not good the other parts may work.


Tom

[Rayzor]

I agree on the frame machine check out, That seems like the best place to start.  Yes the quarter window is broken. And the back window popped out and flew about 50 feet but strangly enough did not break. Bull, thanks for the numbers and pointer to the parts car. I will see if I can get ahold of Pocket Thunder. That looks like a perfect parts car to raid for the sheet metal if the frame is not bent beyond repair. Blown70, the bad quarter your speaking of, is it just wheel well rust or smashed etc? I am paitent enough to wait for the right parts and this is not a quicky scuff and shoot project anyway worse comes to worse I can take a pic of the good side and send it to that HLpag guy. Sell it with the understanding the car is mint with the exception of a slight door bang that nobody would notice. A real daisy..... 

[Blown70]

I agree on the frame machine check out, That seems like the best place to start.  Yes the quarter window is broken. And the back window popped out and flew about 50 feet but strangly enough did not break. Bull, thanks for the numbers and pointer to the parts car. I will see if I can get ahold of Pocket Thunder. That looks like a perfect parts car to raid for the sheet metal if the frame is not bent beyond repair. Blown70, the bad quarter your speaking of, is it just wheel well rust or smashed etc? I am paitent enough to wait for the right parts and this is not a quicky scuff and shoot project anyway worse comes to worse I can take a pic of the good side and send it to that HLpag guy. Sell it with the understanding the car is mint with the exception of a slight door bang that nobody would notice. A real daisy..... 

No some retard tried to torch off the 1/4 but around the door and lower is good.  Just kinda warped and kinked.

Tom

[PocketThunder]

Hey Rayzor,

The outer skin is the least of your worries, and the easiest part to fix really. You can get them from a dozen different sources. Like Drop Top said, a frame rack will help you figure out a lot of what's going on underneath and inside and tell you what all you're going to need to buy. Is the guy's insurance going to pay for it? Remember, you can take your car to ANY shop YOU want to to have the work done so I would reccommend taking it to a restoration shop rather than a 'body shop' if you know what I mean. East Portland Auto Body (503-253-6133) can do the frame work for you if they're not too backed up on work. I know it's a ways up here for you but if you call Bill he can probably reccommend someone down your way if you don't want to drag it all the way up to Portland. Bill really knows Chargers. There are plenty of Charger parts cars out there you can still get odd stuff off of without having to buy the whole thing. I would guess you'll be needing a new window register on top of it all. Yours is probably all bent up. Did the 1/4 glass break? Check out this '69 SE parts car below. I got the package tray off of it from Pocket Thunder who owns a Sawz All. If you need any parts it looks like it's all sitting right there and Pocket is a great guy to deal with, but I'd go with the frame rack first before you worry too much about parts. BTW, Drop Top is the MAN. Always good advice. Always.

I was just about to offer up my parts car to Rayzor.  Good thinking Bull. 

Rayzor i can chop off anything that you need.  I'll be at this car tomorrow night and i can take some more pictures of what is there if you'd like. 

[Rayzor]

Pocket Thunder,  Yes I would like some pics if possible. Where are you located anyways? I am going to take some more detailed photos also to post up. A burning bush just spoke to me and said really loud, THOU MUST RECONSTRUCT THY PILE OF CHARGER. So now I am on a mission.

[bull]

So I gather the drunk a$$hole that hit you has no insurance, or skipped out on you? Too bad if that's the case. You could really get it done right if you had about $10k of this guy's insurance money to play with.

[MOPARHOUND!]

That's a bummer Rayzor.  Brings tears  to a tough guy's eyes.

Hope he has insurance, and they don't mess you around.

We're pullin' for ya'.

Sorry for the worn out cliche', but "Inch by Inch it is a Cinch, Yard by Yard it is Hard".

Keep the spirit up.

[Rayzor]

Nope no insurance money and a stolen truck make for a nice free screwing. But, It could be worse. I could not have the car at all.

[PocketThunder]

Pocket Thunder,  Yes I would like some pics if possible. Where are you located anyways? I am going to take some more detailed photos also to post up. A burning bush just spoke to me and said really loud, THOU MUST RECONSTRUCT THY PILE OF CHARGER. So now I am on a mission.

I'll get pictures for you next Saturday the 18th. 

And i am in St. Paul, MN  ..............high of 50º tomorrow!  woo hoo!!

[SeattleCharger]

ouch, crunch,that looks like a major impact,   

[Rayzor]

Pocket Thunder,  Yes I would like some pics if possible. Where are you located anyways? I am going to take some more detailed photos also to post up. A burning bush just spoke to me and said really loud, THOU MUST RECONSTRUCT THY PILE OF CHARGER. So now I am on a mission.

I'll get pictures for you next Saturday the 18th. 

And i am in St. Paul, MN  ..............high of 50º tomorrow!  woo hoo!!

Ok sounds good. Wouldnt want you to be sweating all over the parts car

[Mike DC]

             
One more vote to get it onto a frame machine right away and see what you're dealing with.  I'd bet ten bucks the car is more bent than just the obvious stuff.

You could start by just tape-measuring things yourself.  Do diagonal X-checks all over the car's center cabin structure.  The framerails may still be solid, but it's not hard to slightly distort the car's entire shell with a hit like that.  That's one of the worst ways to crash a unibody.

                     

[ds69rt]

the frame pull is the first thing to do before you cut off anything. if the right pulls are made,you may be able to save  more than you think.

[jerry]

what about your insurance?