Different sheet metal / body shape 73´Dodge Charger SE and other 73´Charger

[Stagepirat]

Hello.
Due to the fact, that I´m facing a lot of problems getting the correct parts I wonder if the metal body of the Chargers in the year 73 are slightly different.
I thought only to reduce production costs they would have used the same sheet metal on all models. But it seems, that there are differences. Especially in the space around the doors and the rear windows.
Does anyone here know more details?

Thank you.

[randy73]

Here are the differences I know of, there maybe more.

1) Grill
2) Quarter windows on SE will not roll down and trim and cat whiskers, along with chrome drip rail are all different on the SE
3) The interior has the SE on the dashpad and has the rallye dash with out the tach (not sure if tach was an option on SE)

All body panels (doors, Qtr panels, fenders, trunk lid, etc ..) are the same, except SE's could not get bulge hoods.

[Stagepirat]

Thank you.

I´m asking, because I think, that the sheet metal on the SE models is bended different in this part.
And I´m wondering why? For Chrysler this should only cause more costs. But U-Jambs from a Hardtop don´t fit on a SE.
And all U Jambs I can find anywhere are ONLY Hardtop not SE. So there must be a difference.

[randy73]

It is not hardtop vs SE, but rather SE vs everything else. SE's did not allow roll down windows, what are you trying to do, convert an SE to have roll down windows?

[Nacho-RT74]

yes he is

just thats a difference, aside the drip rail lenght... rest is the same body

aaand welcome! didn't you want become your SE onto a Hartop ? LOL... well you are now on that boat.

You got however the hardest part of everything! get all the quarter glass parts for the conversion! rest is just slight body job mods can be home made.

Dunno if you also got interior parts, which are also different. Upper panels matching your front door panels ( I guess you have brougham interior... hard to find brougham rear panels for hardtops ), Sail panel ( C pillar ) which is really HARD to find

I think is easier try to get all 4 upper panels from a hardtop with the wider woodstripe , non brougham

and dunno if you also got the hardtop/coupe roofrail molding which is needed for the weatherstrip attaching

[Stagepirat]

Yes. And until now everything fits.
But when it comes to the roll down windows it seems, that the u jambs don't fit at all. Not only the missing gap for the roll down window. The whole  bend of the metal seems to be different....
Does anyone know where I can get the u jambs for a SE?

[Stagepirat]

What is the:
"Sail panel ( C pillar )"?

and the:

"hardtop/coupe roofrail molding"?

Maybe I already have it, but don´t know how to name it....


Otherwise, thanks to a donor car I think I have everything together. Glasses and mechanics work. Just trying to change them to power windows right now....
Interior parts are also here and now all colored in a happy black.

[Nacho-RT74]

once again you don't need any "U jams for the SE" you need to cut/modify the sheetmetal ( if some aside the U cut ) and fit the U jam seals for a HARDTOP! FORGET ABOUT SE parts from now.

Roofrail mold is the mold where you fit the roofrail weatherstrip:
this vid is not from a Charger, but same roofrail mold idea. The door glass and quarter glass seals againts this seal and mold once glasses are up to the roof

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J-b_Zvv2g0

your SE had that, but they got down on the B pillar instead run all over up to the rear glass from the A pillar

Sail panel ( C pillar panel ):

Interior plastic trim



your car had a cardboard panel covered with the headliner material... that's not anymore like that on Hardtops/coupes, but a molded plastic piece VERY FRAGILE easy to break after all these years... this one is in fact broken on top front end

OH and needs the headliner side molds

[Nacho-RT74]

rear upper panel for hardtops... you notice the wide woodgrain vinyl stripe... won't match front panels tipcally SEs got as brougham

[Nacho-RT74]

Otherwise, thanks to a donor car I think I have everything together. Glasses and mechanics work. Just trying to change them to power windows right now....
Interior parts are also here and now all colored in a happy black.

power windows setups get a non opened hole on upper rear panel. As far I know regulators are different too so you will need to hunt for the full regulators assembly once again. Some time ago there was a member selling these, but I think he already sold ( the thread about his car mods is on Gen Tech section ). Front door lower panels are not a problem since just need to cut the panels for switches which matches the crank hole. Rear Lowers needs to be cut too... not a problem. All lower panels have the marks behind to be cut. BUT upper panel will need to be fixed to the crank hole.