Hemi Charger Restoration thread (Updated 5/28/10 - Nearly complete!!!)

[hemi-hampton]

Has it been wet sanded & rubbed yet? LEON.

P.S. Looks good, Congratulations

[tan top]

     nice     

[hemi68charger]

More pics... talked about this issue with Jeff and he's done the same treatment on every B-body restoration (filled with seam) - I think it's one of those "better than original" things that they do....
BZ

Brandon.. I would have to disagree with their statement. Most knowledgeable Charger owners will be able to tell in a heartbeat that the rear valance has been replaced. The gap should be there. The quarter gap filled in does serve a purpose, it seals off the opening that does go into the trunk area. The rear gap, the rear valance side doesn't go into the trunk. It opens to the dead air space between the rear valance and the rear crossover support. It's not a case of THEM being happy with the outcome, but MORE importantly, YOU being happy with the outcome. Edit: if you're cool with it, again, that's all that matters....  1HotDaytona is correct

I don't want to rain on their or your parade, but you once asked me to help with details... To a Charger owner, it's a big detail. It's a REAL small detail that stands out ALOT. NOW is the time to have them adjust it. There shouldn't be any filler there, just the two panels aligned next to each other. The side seam looks great...

Again, The car and you have come such a long way and I would hate for you to have regrets later on down the line. They may say I don't know what I'm talking about, so be it... But,, shhhhhhhhhhh...... I DO......

If you want it changed, do not hesitate to ask/have them fix it.

[Charger-Bodie]

I don't think its a dead giveaway that the valance was replaced because you could put seam sealer there on a original valance too. I do agree that the seam sealer is NOT supposed to be there though. If it doesn't bother Brandon that's fine ,but Brandon if it does bother you now is the time.

[tan top]

I don't think its a dead giveaway that the valance was replaced because you could put seam sealer there on a original valance too. I do agree that the seam sealer is NOT supposed to be there though. If it doesn't bother Brandon that's fine ,but Brandon if it does bother you now is the time.

 true ,   was about to paint mine ! with the seam open , like original !   at the last minute as i was tacking it off to paint , thought i went to all this trouble new rear vallance & end caps ( 2 hours modifying to fit correctaly) , don't what water etc going in there , should i get caught out in the rain anytime , so wiped  some sealer in it , seam still visible though !!      

[hemi68charger]

I don't think its a dead giveaway that the valance was replaced because you could put seam sealer there on a original valance too. I do agree that the seam sealer is NOT supposed to be there though. If it doesn't bother Brandon that's fine ,but Brandon if it does bother you now is the time.

  true ,   was about to paint mine ! with the seam open , like original !   at the last minute as i was tacking it off to paint , thought i went to all this trouble new rear vallance & end caps ( 2 hours modifying to fit correctaly) , don't what water etc going in there , should i get caught out in the rain anytime , so wiped  some sealer in it     

the lower valance backside is open to the air, so it dries out.. It's not like a quarter panel or door skin where water can't drain or air can't get in there and dry it out. There's really no way for the water to get trapped, it's all open on the bottom. If you look, the lower rear valance never touches the crossmember except in two places, the tabs that are welded either side of the license plate. I thought all this as well in the beginning, then I noticed how it's constructed......

But, all and all, to each their own.........   

Troy

[tan top]

I don't think its a dead giveaway that the valance was replaced because you could put seam sealer there on a original valance too. I do agree that the seam sealer is NOT supposed to be there though. If it doesn't bother Brandon that's fine ,but Brandon if it does bother you now is the time.

 true ,   was about to paint mine ! with the seam open , like original !   at the last minute as i was tacking it off to paint , thought i went to all this trouble new rear vallance & end caps ( 2 hours modifying to fit correctaly) , don't what water etc going in there , should i get caught out in the rain anytime , so wiped  some sealer in it      

the lower valance backside is open to the air, so it dries out.. It's not like a quarter panel or door skin where water can't drain or air can't get in there and dry it out. There's really no way for the water to get trapped, it's all open on the bottom. If you look, the lower rear valance never touches the crossmember except in two places, the tabs that are welded either side of the license plate. I thought all this as well in the beginning, then I noticed how it's constructed......

But, all and all, to each their own.........    

Troy

yeah your right also Troy
&  also looks much better open !! at shows & the track , one of the first thing that draws my eye is the rear valance &  seam ! when i see second generations !! ,  a part of me wishes i left it open ! !!  
but  glad i sealed just to be on the safe side !! , i'm nuts like that

[PocketThunder]

Here is what my survivor car looks like.
Paul

[66FBCharger]

 

[hemigeno]

The corner-to-valance seam was left open, because the sealer was actually supposed to be applied to the INSIDE of this particular seam rather than the outside.  With road grime being slung up from the wheels, Chrysler was trying to protect that seam from the brunt of the exposure - which is not from the outside as with most of the other seams.  So, a caulk strip was supposed to be applied to the inside seam and the outer seam left open so that it could dry out.  The corner-to-quarterpanel seam was a different story... that one was sealed from the outside and the inside left open.

Besides the evidence seen on original cars, there's an engineering diagram that shows this seal application/procedure quite explicitly.

[hemi68charger]

The corner-to-valance seam was left open, because the sealer was actually supposed to be applied to the INSIDE of this particular seam rather than the outside.  With road grime being slung up from the wheels, Chrysler was trying to protect that seam from the brunt of the exposure - which is not from the outside as with most of the other seams.  So, a caulk strip was supposed to be applied to the inside seam and the outer seam left open so that it could dry out.  The corner-to-quarterpanel seam was a different story... that one was sealed from the outside and the inside left open.

Besides the evidence seen on original cars, there's an engineering diagram that shows this seal application/procedure quite explicitly.

  What he said....... 

[twodko]

Mine is the same way, no filler and its currently in for paint. I made sure they won't fill it in on my car.

hemi68charger, pardon if I've asked you this but is that Q5 on your car? Thanks

Tom

[PocketThunder]

Mine is the same way, no filler and its currently in for paint. I made sure they won't fill it in on my car.

hemi68charger, pardon if I've asked you this but is that Q5 on your car? Thanks

Tom

It used to be, he traded it for the Daytona in his picture. 

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I don't think its a dead giveaway that the valance was replaced because you could put seam sealer there on a original valance too. I do agree that the seam sealer is NOT supposed to be there though. If it doesn't bother Brandon that's fine ,but Brandon if it does bother you now is the time.

 true ,   was about to paint mine ! with the seam open , like original !   at the last minute as i was tacking it off to paint , thought i went to all this trouble new rear vallance & end caps ( 2 hours modifying to fit correctaly) , don't what water etc going in there , should i get caught out in the rain anytime , so wiped  some sealer in it      

the lower valance backside is open to the air, so it dries out.. It's not like a quarter panel or door skin where water can't drain or air can't get in there and dry it out. There's really no way for the water to get trapped, it's all open on the bottom. If you look, the lower rear valance never touches the crossmember except in two places, the tabs that are welded either side of the license plate. I thought all this as well in the beginning, then I noticed how it's constructed......

But, all and all, to each their own.........    

Troy

yeah your right also Troy
&  also looks much better open !! at shows & the track , one of the first thing that draws my eye is the rear valance &  seam ! when i see second generations !! ,  a part of me wishes i left it open ! !!  
but  glad i sealed just to be on the safe side !! , i'm nuts like that

My C500 was sealed as well... I told Greg to scrape out as much as possible with something like a dental pick.  However it turns out I am not going to lose any sleep over it... too many more important things going on in my life.  I might try harder next time...  

Maybe if it is sealed, nobody will want to relieve me of the ownership burden...     Just my   ...

[moparstuart]

I don't think its a dead giveaway that the valance was replaced because you could put seam sealer there on a original valance too. I do agree that the seam sealer is NOT supposed to be there though. If it doesn't bother Brandon that's fine ,but Brandon if it does bother you now is the time.

 true ,   was about to paint mine ! with the seam open , like original !   at the last minute as i was tacking it off to paint , thought i went to all this trouble new rear vallance & end caps ( 2 hours modifying to fit correctaly) , don't what water etc going in there , should i get caught out in the rain anytime , so wiped  some sealer in it      

the lower valance backside is open to the air, so it dries out.. It's not like a quarter panel or door skin where water can't drain or air can't get in there and dry it out. There's really no way for the water to get trapped, it's all open on the bottom. If you look, the lower rear valance never touches the crossmember except in two places, the tabs that are welded either side of the license plate. I thought all this as well in the beginning, then I noticed how it's constructed......

But, all and all, to each their own.........    

Troy

yeah your right also Troy
&  also looks much better open !! at shows & the track , one of the first thing that draws my eye is the rear valance &  seam ! when i see second generations !! ,  a part of me wishes i left it open ! !!  
but  glad i sealed just to be on the safe side !! , i'm nuts like that

My C500 was sealed as well... I told Greg to scrape out as much as possible with something like a dental pick.  However it turns out I am not going to lose any sleep over it... too many more important things going on in my life.  I might try harder next time...  

Maybe if it is sealed, nobody will want to relieve me of the ownership burden...     Just my   ...

hey allen i'll take blue thunder with or with the filler   

[xs29j8Bullitt]

hey allen i'll take blue thunder with or with the filler   

Even with the pink dots being added Stuart?      

[moparstuart]

hey allen i'll take blue thunder with or with the filler  

Even with the pink dots being added Stuart?      

 that i have to see
   oh and what  steering wheel and color are you going with   

[ionracer24]

how come u did not paint the whole roof??

[hemigeno]

how come u did not paint the whole roof??

Vinyl top car.  Chrysler never painted the whole roof on V-top cars - they didn't want to pay for all that extra paint!

[moparstuart]

how come u did not paint the whole roof??

Vinyl top car.  Chrysler never painted the whole roof on V-top cars - they didn't want to pay for all that extra paint!

and it even makes more sense now because let me tell you paint is not cheap .

[ionracer24]

yeah, but it seems as though it would rust from moisture getting under there which is inevitable

[Troy]

yeah, but it seems as though it would rust from moisture getting under there which is inevitable

Did you see the car before they started on it? Vinyl tops are a known source of rust on these cars - primarily because they trap moisture. The factory was not concerned with how well they'd hold up after 40 years (or even 5 years it seems). On a car like this that wil likely never see water again I think it will be fine.

Troy

[hemi-hampton]

Here's my Valance Corner. My car has all original paint & sheet metal. Appears sealed on 1/4 side & pretty much open at the back, except the very top has seam sealer. LEON.

[bzabodyn]

Promise this car will never see rust again!

These guys aren't playing - assembly has begun!!! Knocked out a ton for 4-5hrs in one day...

This thread is going to get exciting in the next few weeks - they are planning on having the car on wheels and the engine in its place by the end of next week!

BZ

[Troy]

This thread is going to get exciting in the next few weeks - they are planning on having the car on wheels and the engine in its place by the end of next week!

BZ

It's looking great! Make sure they remember to black out the radiator support before they get too much assembled.

Troy