dilema on wether to install a real window plug or not

[hotrod98]

So...what are the plans for the clone? Is the project back on or did you sell it?

[daytonalo]

No plans , it is just sitting in the corner collecting dust . I just started an Escavating Business so I'm very busy and next up is my boat

[Dodge Don]

how rare are these 70 chargers with Gator grains  ..     

Only around 4% of 70 Chargers came with the gator grain roof so it's a fairly rare option.

[Mike DC]

 

I have one thought here -   


The way AMD is cranking out new Charger sheetmetal, I wonder if eventually they tool up a legit steel reproduction of the C500/Daytona window plug.

[Ghoste]

Interesting thought there Mike.  Perhaps some of the clone builders need to rally together and fire them off enough e-mails to make them at least consider a business plan for it.

[daytonalo]

If they did they would have to sell them for 5000 eaxh to recover tooling cost , they might sell 10

[hotrod98]

I asked about the possibility of some new parts for barracuda converts and they said "not likely".  And, there are a lot more cuda converts out there than 500/daytonas.
I think.

[Mike DC]

It's hard to know. 

Off the cuff, I don't think it would make economic sense to do a C500/Daytona steel plug either.  But 5 years ago I would have collapsed with laughter if you'd told me somebody would be repoping 1/2 of what AMD is currently working on. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Is the C500/Daytona glass itself being repop'd by anybody these days?  As long as it is, I think I'd just do whatever it takes to make a steel plug to fit it. F*ck fiberglass and F*ck the other cars' plugs. 

The big problem I see with other plugs is that modern windows don't look like that at all.  Even with the Vega or something else to use, it's probably a matter of time before even THOSE glass/steel/trim parts become so rare & worn out that you don't want the used ones anymore.  So then you'd be stuck in almost as much trouble with rare/unreproduced parts as if you'd gone after a legit C500/Daytona plug.   



Another idea:

I wonder if maybe a plug could be produced if it was stamped & sold in several smaller pieces, and then welded together by the installer?  I suspect it would kill a lot of tooling costs if the job didn't require a single huge stamping that's almost the size of a Charger's hood like the original plug.


Even just a small run of these parts would probably keep the C500/Daytona hobby supplied for years.  The install would take some metal work, but it seems like anyone even attempting this stuff has to be pretty good at it to begin with. 

And with the 40yo Chargers we're working with as raw materials, the bodies are so different in tolerances that I doubt any one single metal plug stamping would ever reliably fit without some serious "adjusting" anyway.  Those plugs fit onto an area of the car with a whole bunch of different panels coming together.   

[hotrod98]

The glass is available for around a grand, inc shipping. The moldings are not available. They have to be fabbed up from other moldings and look okay, but not exact.
As for making the plug in pieces, that would mean making four different dies at a bare bones minimun of 20-30k per die if done locally and those die sets are usually good for around 100 parts before they're too worn to use any longer. 
I'll bet that there's some sheet metal shop somewhere that would make these by hand for a grand a piece and it would probably be a better part.

[Mike DC]

I'll bet that there's some sheet metal shop somewhere that would make these by hand for a grand a piece and it would probably be a better part.

Probably true.  It might cost a couple grand, but it would still probably be the best option. 

Same with a steel nosecone. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

Every once in a while the subject of rear window plugs, glass and trim comes up on this forum.

I've been through this process. After screwing around with a fiberglass plug, considering the vega hatch alternative, and giving serious thought to just leaving the stock rear window in place, I just made my own steel plug. It took a lot of time, but technically speaking it wasn't that tough.

The nose cone and headlight install/adjustment is a much more aggravating job, in my opinion.

Some light reading on the subject for the newbies:


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,10669.0.html


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,21596.0.html

[moparstuart]

what did you do for trim ?   i am going to need some stock style rear window trim for a future project , not my current daytona vega hatch project .

[Daytona R/T SE]

what did you do for trim ? 

Stuart...All is revealed here :

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,21596.0.html

[hotrod98]

Every once in a while the subject of rear window plugs, glass and trim comes up on this forum.

I've been through this process. After screwing around with a fiberglass plug, considering the vega hatch alternative, and giving serious thought to just leaving the stock rear window in place, I just made my own steel plug. It took a lot of time, but technically speaking it wasn't that tough.

The nose cone and headlight install/adjustment is a much more aggravating job, in my opinion.

Some light reading on the subject for the newbies:


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,10669.0.html


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,21596.0.html

You ever consider making those steel plugs to sell ? They would sell quick at a grand a piece. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

Every once in a while the subject of rear window plugs, glass and trim comes up on this forum.

I've been through this process. After screwing around with a fiberglass plug, considering the vega hatch alternative, and giving serious thought to just leaving the stock rear window in place, I just made my own steel plug. It took a lot of time, but technically speaking it wasn't that tough.

The nose cone and headlight install/adjustment is a much more aggravating job, in my opinion.

Some light reading on the subject for the newbies:


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,10669.0.html


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,21596.0.html

You ever consider making those steel plugs to sell ? They would sell quick at a grand a piece. 

Larry,

I'm still trying to get my car done!

Progress has been slow

Although, late at night when I have visions of crate Hemis dancing in my head...the thought of whoring myself out making just enough window plugs to finance a Hemi for my clone DOES come to mind......


NAAAAAAHHHHHH!

[hotrod98]

Talk about slow. I finally had to move the clone to the front shop so that I could get more customer work out. I would go out to the shop to work on their cars and end up working on mine. You can't pay the bills that way.
My goal is to have the clone finished before the end of the year.

[moparstuart]

what did you do for trim ? 

Stuart...All is revealed here :

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,21596.0.html

awesome , I know your working on your endless project , but i would gladly pay you to make me a set also.
I am not in a big hurry  for it as this is a long term project . You are so skilled !!!!