Starting Daytona Project Finally with a 70 charger

[petercharger]

Well I finally found the car..its a 70 charger that came from Boise and it's very solid with no rust..the fenders are perfect along with the hood etc. I am selling my 69 charger and the wing is for sale..Took the car to the body shop and according to the shop it will be ready for paint in about 4 weeks..in the mean time..does anyone have a nice set of pictures and instructions on what is the best way to place the Vega plug in..I gave the body shop several past articles on how members did it..would like something more resent?? If anyone needs 70 charger fenders or a hood...I have them..will post pictures as project develops...here are pictures of the car that I picked up on Saturday...thanks for the great web site...Peter  brushcollege@msn.com   left Dane a message for one of his wings...anyone have you gotten the new hollow one's from him??

[Old Moparz]

Hey there,

Nice car, & it sounds like a great project. I don't have the hollow wing, but I bought one of Dane's solid wings a couple of years ago & can only tell you he is a great person to deal with. There are tons of topics in the Aero forum with lots of photos, you'll just have to scroll through & see what others have done. Hope the conversion goes smooth & good luck.

Keep us updated with some more photos if you can.   

[petercharger]

Thanks I know Dane, He only lives about 15 miles from me and He does a great wing..just trying to determine if hollow or solid wing would work for me..I know the weight is an issue to some..looking forward to posting more pictures..bought a 70 440 six pack motor a couple of years ago with no miles on it to be placed in the daytona...should rock

[69charger2002]

i'm putting a 70 6 pack 440 and pistol grip 4 speed in my 70 R/T(daytona clone). man that looks like a super solid 70 . congrats

[petercharger]

I have a solid 70 charger hood, and a pair on nice 70 fenders and a OK drivers spare fender...can send pictures if interested...shipping fenders via grayhound will work,but the hood can be an issue and would have to be trucked...thanks

[Magnumcharger]

Why are you selling your '70 Hood and fenders....when you're building a Daytona clone?

[petercharger]

bought hood and fenders for 69 charger, but decided to find a 70 charger instead, so this are spares...thanks 

[Howie]

I have one of Danes hollow wings and love it. It looks like he put a lot of work into it and it is a very nice quality wing. .

[nakita7]

Looks good!

[moparstuart]

Well I finally found the car..its a 70 charger that came from Boise and it's very solid with no rust..the fenders are perfect along with the hood etc. I am selling my 69 charger and the wing is for sale..Took the car to the body shop and according to the shop it will be ready for paint in about 4 weeks..in the mean time..does anyone have a nice set of pictures and instructions on what is the best way to place the Vega plug in..I gave the body shop several past articles on how members did it..would like something more resent?? If anyone needs 70 charger fenders or a hood...I have them..will post pictures as project develops...here are pictures of the car that I picked up on Saturday...thanks for the great web site...Peter  brushcollege@msn.com   left Dane a message for one of his wings...anyone have you gotten the new hollow one's from him??

why did you decide to switch to a 70 body ?  69 with 70 front sheet metal would be more accurate !  or was the 70 body just in that much better shape?

[Daytona Guy]

Look at those tail lights. Are they 69's in a 70 or the rare 70's lens (with built in reflector required by law in 70) with the chrome trim?  They put those on the cheep 70's to get rid of the extra 69 chrome but left off the complete 69 chrome that goes around the eyebrows and under the trunk. Some of these chargers did not come with upper door pads either and came with a bench seat.

[billssuperbird]

  very nice dayona project 

[petercharger]

car's in body shop and according to the shop it will be ready for paint in about a 2 week...they are working on it fast...have a fab shop lined up to do Vega plug for about 1k...I am making sure that they are not cutting corners...still have not gotten a hold of stinger..anyone know if he is on vacation or doing shows?? I can wait on the wing but want the nose here to have body shop start matching the charger..any info would help..thanks peter

[hemi68charger]

Looks like you have a great initial start there......... 

[bzabodyn]

Congrats on the find Peter - looks like a super solid body for a starting point...

Good luck on finding everything you need for your project!

BZ

[hotrod98]

car's in body shop and according to the shop it will be ready for paint in about a 2 week...they are working on it fast...have a fab shop lined up to do Vega plug for about 1k...I am making sure that they are not cutting corners...still have not gotten a hold of stinger..anyone know if he is on vacation or doing shows?? I can wait on the wing but want the nose here to have body shop start matching the charger..any info would help..thanks peter

You might want to have the fab shop check out some of the threads regarding the installation of the vega plug.
Several of us have installed them and he could contact one of us if needed.
Don't forget the 3rd gen charger dutchman panel to close out the area between the plug and the trunk opening.
I guess you already have the deck lid reinforcement closeout panel.
Keep us posted on the project as it progresses.

[BigBlockSam]

and remember the hatch does not go all the way to the top of the opening . there's a space on top. i've seen 2 cars done that way, looks wrong. Rene

[petercharger]

Thanks have given the information to them on the plug..they may start next week on the Vega plug..got hold of stinger and should be getting the nose in couple of weeks. question..besides having the Vega plug installed, should I hold off the body shop from painting the car until nose is complete?? reason I ask is that they body shop may want to paint the car to get it out of the shop an not wait until the nose comes in..what are your suggestions?? thanks peter

[BigBlockSam]

hey Pete
  you are no were near paint time . you have a lot of test fitting  and fab work to do . you would mess up any paint job you do now. Rene

[hotrod98]

and remember the hatch does not go all the way to the top of the opening . there's a space on top. i've seen 2 cars done that way, looks wrong. Rene

It looks very wrong. The plug will naturally fit onto the opening at about 2 inches from the roof line. I use a steel ruler laid flat on the roof overlapping the vega plug. I then move the plug up and down until the transition is smooth.
I use a piece of the vega plug that's left over after cutting it to fit. I tape up the back side of the piece, lay it over the 2" opening at the top of the plug and spray the back side with black spray paint from inside the car. Makes a perfect outline of where to cut it. Fit's perfectly the first time.

[BigBlockSam]

The plug will naturally fit onto the opening 

  ah, yep . i notched the sail panels too. some people don't do that . Rene

[hotrod98]

Makes life a lot easier cutting that slice on both sail panels doesn't it?
As soon as I made those two cuts, the vega plug fell right in.

[1meanfish]

How much for the wing?

[petercharger]

Just got back from Vancouver BC..Meet DINO who is doing a superbird with a hemi motor. I ended up buying his daytona nose, wing etc. What I am missing is the lower valance and top latch... I again emailed stinger and now answer..does anyone have at least a lower valance I could buy??? will post pictures of the progress of the car...I know the car is not ready for paint and trying to get the body parts for the shop to fit with body...thanks for all your help...also will also take pictures of the 70 spare stuff..could not post .. said to large a file..so will email all you back who have a need. thanks again peter

[BigBlockSam]

what kind of nose and wing did you get. Rene

[petercharger]

showcars

[daytonalo]

It is pretty much ones only option considering the plug is slightly wider than sail panel to sail panel ?

[BigBlockSam]

showcars   

cool, maybe you could give us a review of there parts  after you install them . Rene

[hotrod98]

It is pretty much ones only option considering the plug is slightly wider than sail panel to sail panel ?

I've heard that some guys were beating them out wiith a hammer until the plug fit.

I just meant that cutting was the simpler solution................cupcake.

[Zinc]

It is pretty much ones only option considering the plug is slightly wider than sail panel to sail panel ?

I've heard that some guys were beating them out wiith a hammer until the plug fit.

I just meant that cutting was the simpler solution................cupcake.

Wouldn't it be better to trim the sides of the vega plug down then cutting the sail panels on the charger?or is the window wider than the area between the chargers sails?I'm just curious?

[daytonalo]

Go ahead and you will having nothing left of plug !!! The area of glass channel on Vega plug is what rubs the sail panels

[daytonalo]

I wish you the best of luck , I have been building cars and race boats for 20 years, and now restoring cars full time , and to build a close to CORRECT Daytona is appearing daytona is an insane amount of work !! Now if you want a a nose that has no operating headlight doors or no plug , that would be less work , but look light poop !!

[DC_1]

Great project.....I look forward to following your progress. Lets see some pics of the nose you got.

[Zinc]

thanks daytonao, Iwas just curious thats all, I traded my Charger, before buying a daytona kit, I now have a 70 &71 sat. so I'm gonna build a Superbird, I haven't decided which car to use?how many wingcars have you built?

[daytonalo]

None !!!!!!!!! 75 % done with my Hemi Daytona clone


Larry

[BigBlockSam]

75 % done 

[petercharger]

I was told it was a showcar...the nose looks good the head light covers need some work..seem to be smaller then the opening. the wing looks fine has to wire running through it and then through the uprights..I now can see what you all are saying about the finish work..anyways here are some pictures hope they load..thanks peter

[daytonalo]

What about headlight buckets ? Do the scoops have mounting bosses ?? Grille frame ??

[hotrod98]

Okay now the real work begins. Another $2000 worth of parts and you'll be ready to get started. Been there...done that.
Good luck. This is the stage where most of the wing car projects stall out and the owner starts thinking about selling the parts and going on to an easier project.
I sincerely hope you're up to the task. I love it when a guy completes a wingcar. Don't see that too often though.

Even as talented as daytonalo is, his projects only 75% completed. Huh cupcake? 

[daytonalo]

Your correct , problem is I'm always making new parts .

[BigBlockSam]

75% completed 

[daytonalo]

If I was a guy who was not into super high standards , my Hunk of shit would have been done long ago

[hotrod98]

You do know that I'm on your side...right? 

[moparstuart]

You do know that I'm on your side...right? 

You have to speak slower and in smaller words for cuppy .     

[69charger440]

Yeah, that is a nice car, I went to Idaho to look at that car. Looked great with no primer, Now it looks awesome with primer!! I am glad some one on here got it. Cant wait to see some pictures after you get to tear into it!!

[hotrod98]

You do know that I'm on your side...right? 

You have to speak slower and in smaller words for cuppy .     

You mean like the episode of Taxi where Jim is taking his driving test and asks what a yellow light means and Alex says ..."Slow down" 
Jim says...  whattttt.....doessss...aaaaa...yellowwww....lighttttt....meannnn. 

[BigBlockSam]

Jim says...  whattttt.....doessss...aaaaa...yellowwww....lighttttt....meannnn.   

hey cuppy if your car was painted and had a drivetrain and suspension done I'd say it was 70% done
you would then still have to do the final assembly interior and wiring .
stay focused my friend cause you still got a ways to go. Rene

[BigBlockSam]

This is the stage where most of the wing car projects stall out a

your so right. I've seen a good 10--15 wing car projects get started and never finished . off the top of my head , Danes car is the only one I've seen finished. hopfully mine will be next. can you guys think of any other ones that where finished from this board? Rene

[petercharger]

Car just got prep ed and is going into the fab shop to start on Vega plug..then will be back in body shop to have nose started on...did a trial fit and I now understand the work that will take just to make everything fit..have enclosed pictures of ABLE who has done 3 chargers before mine..will post pictures as the project continues..thanks peter

[BigBlockSam]

Able looks kinda like my body guy. thats pretty funny.
hey Peter you did good with that body . man! that looks solid. Rene

[daytonalo]

Just a thought , wouldn't have made sense to have modified front fenders and rear window, decklid and fabricate the shit load of other things that need to get done prior to primer ??


Larry

[BigBlockSam]

and do your trunk lid first before you install the window plug . that will tell you where the plug will go. Rene

[Charger-Bodie]

Just a thought , wouldn't have made sense to have modified front fenders and rear window, decklid and fabricate the shit load of other things that need to get done prior to primer ??


Larry

there is nothing wrong with squirting some epoxy on right after its stripped to avoid flash rust. You can always just reshoot a couple areas after the rest of the metal work is done. 

[petercharger]

so do the lid first and then work up with the Vega plug..is that the best way to do it ?? I have a spare lid in case that does not work...thanks for the information. peter

[hotrod98]

I. Alter the deck lid and install making sure that it's aligned in the opening
2. Install hinges and deck lid hinge brackets
3. Cut the sail panels, both sides
4. Install the vega plug, including the headliner retainers and filler to package tray
5. Fill the gap between the plug and the roof
6. Cut the trunk opening slots on the sides and install the dutchman panel
7. Re-install the back glass and moldings
8. Install the headliner, back window trim and package tray liner

What am I leaving out?

What type of closeout panel are you using on the deck lid?
Here's a pic of the deck lid with the steel closeout panels that I use.

[BigBlockSam]

Here's a pic of the deck lid with the steel closeout panels that I use. 

hotrod did my trunk lid for me. i sent it to him in the mail and he altered it. did a great job too. Rene

[moparstuart]

  This is the stage where most of the wing car projects stall out a

your so right. I've seen a good 10--15 wing car projects get started and never finished . off the top of my head , Danes car is the only one I've seen finished. hopfully mine will be next. can you guys think of any other ones that where finished from this board? Rene

as soon as i get a top on my convertible bird you can stick a fork in it

[daytonalo]

C channel from bottom of plug to package old package tray . It does three things , ledge for daytona package tray , a ledge to install lower windowtrim and last but not least , the channel itself will strengthen the lower window area of plug !!. Should only take about two weeks to do entire conversion 


Larry

[BigBlockSam]

as soon as i get a top on my convertible bird you can stick a fork in it   

[daytonalo]

I hope when he really sees the amount of work involved he doesn't quit !! If he is paying someone to do it , oh boy !! a recipe for Disaster !! Good luck Grasshopper !!!

[petercharger]

larry since I am new to this..do you have any pictures of your completed cars and current projects..would like to see...thanks peter