Vega Hatch....

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - I am a stranger to this section as my Charger is already painted and getting re-assembled...    but I have always thought about building a Daytona Clone with another Charger if I ever had the means....      Anyway - I have found a local guy with a Vega Hatch off of a 73 (I'm pretty sure they have the gills under the window)

My question is what does your average vega hatch go for price wise ?    I'm thinking of just buying this and storing it until / if I get a 69-70 Charger carcass to clone a Daytona into...

[Aero426]

If you are buying a hatch to store, I would wait for one without the gills as it is less work.    I don't think either version takes a lot of money to buy.

[richRTSE]

I bought a pretty clean one a couple months ago (no gills) for $100.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - I just called the guy -        the guys has the trim and glass that goes with it...   seems like a killer deal So I will be picking it up ether way

[BigBlockSam]

there getting harder and harder to find . i'd pick it up 

[Magnumcharger]

I'd buy the whole Vega if I were you.
Put your Charger drivetrain into it....it'll be a whole lot faster!!

[learical1]

I'd buy the whole Vega if I were you.
Put your Charger drivetrain into it....it'll be a whole lot faster!!

and uglier!

[moparstuart]

I'd buy the whole Vega if I were you.
Put your Charger drivetrain into it....it'll be a whole lot faster!!

and uglier!

[Magnumcharger]

I'd buy the whole Vega if I were you.
Put your Charger drivetrain into it....it'll be a whole lot faster!!

and uglier!

True.

[hotrod98]

Definitely buy it. You can fill in the louvered section. It's more work, but if you get ready to build a car and can't find a 74 up hatch, at least you'll have something. We buy both types any time we can find them. As for price, If they're rust free and the glass and trim are very nice, I don't have a problem spenidng up to $250 for one. I generally pay around $100 to $150 each.
I definitely prefer to use the later syle. I can put the skin on an english wheel and get the shape better without a patch welded in.

[Old Moparz]

I agree, go get it. What used to be "a dime a dozen" is now hard to find. The vents are no big deal compared to certain other modifications that are done.

[PocketThunder]

Heck, just leave the vents in when you build it..?..??        

[dillon14]

I paid $265 for mine delivered and it had nice glass and trim.

[Magnumcharger]

OK...a question....what is an acceptable trunk drip edge (dutchman panel) donor?
(The part depicted in this picture)

[BigBlockSam]

OK...a question....what is an acceptable trunk drip edge donor?
(The part depicted in this picture)

73 charger . it's not exact but it's real close     

[Magnumcharger]

So....a '73 Satellite should be the same thing, huh?

[hotrod98]

No...71-74 Charger only.
I've been using donor 71-74 Charger dutchman panels. I cut them near the glass to get as much of the panel as possible. I bow them up in the middle slightly using gentle heat with both ends clamped down and a block in the middle. This gives them the correct contour to match up with the deck lid. Also, the end to end radius is slightly different than the original Daytona deck lid. Just account for this when you alter the deck lid. Also, you will need to account for the difference in the measurement from back to front on the stepped section when you alter the deck lid. Otherwise your deck lid closeout panel will hit the lip where the gasket sits. I make the deck lid a little longer at the front edge. The extra length is really not noticeable.
Or, you can find a good sheet metal shop that can reproduce this piece to the correct dimensions. For me it was just easier to alter the dutchman.
I've seen a few guys just make a straight piece for this and then make the deck lid front edge straight to match it. It just doesn't look right to me. It looks better with the radius.
Also, after removing the inner structure from the vega plug, you will need to massage the lower area with an english wheel to get it to lay down enough to weld in. They don't fit quite as well in this area as you would think. In fact they stick straight out.  I still have to make a couple of relief cuts at the lower corners of the glass to get the fit just right even after the massaging with the english wheel.
After installing a few, they go in faster and look better as well. You learn something every time you do one.

[hotrod98]

Correction. You know I never noticed that the part number for the 71-74 Satellite/Roadrunner dutchman is the same as the 71-74 Charger dutchman, so that Satellite part should work.

[Magnumcharger]

Correction. You know I never noticed that the part number for the 71-74 Satellite/Roadrunner dutchman is the same as the 71-74 Charger dutchman, so that Satellite part should work.

I was waiting for you to realize that....
The reason I asked, is because I just obtained a '73 Satelitte Sebring, and I remember a previous thread where somebody (maybe you?) mentioned using the Charger Dutchman panel.
Here's a shot showing a vega window installation beside that of an original styled Charger 500/Daytona.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks as if you installed the Vega window UPSIDE DOWN, it would better match the originals dimensions?

And a few shots from a current ebay auction.

[BigBlockSam]

I've been using donor 71-74 Charger dutchman panels. I cut them near the glass to get as much of the panel as possible. I bow them up in the middle slightly using gentle heat with both ends clamped down and a block in the middle. This gives them the correct contour to match up with the deck lid. Also, the end to end radius is slightly different than the original Daytona deck lid. Just account for this when you alter the deck lid. Also, you will need to account for the difference in the measurement from back to front on the stepped section when you alter the deck lid. Otherwise your deck lid closeout panel will hit the lip where the gasket sits. I make the deck lid a little longer at the front edge. The extra length is really not noticeable.
Or, you can find a good sheet metal shop that can reproduce this piece to the correct dimensions. For me it was just easier to alter the dutchman.
I've seen a few guys just make a straight piece for this and then make the deck lid front edge straight to match it. It just doesn't look right to me. It looks better with the radius.
Also, after removing the inner structure from the vega plug, you will need to massage the lower area with an english wheel to get it to lay down enough to weld in. They don't fit quite as well in this area as you would think. In fact they stick straight out.  I still have to make a couple of relief cuts at the lower corners of the glass to get the fit just right even after the massaging with the english wheel.
After installing a few, they go in faster and look better as well. You learn something every time you do one.

yea what he said

[hotrod98]

Are you saying that my vega plug would look better reversed? I don't agree. Looks fine the way that it is and as far as I know everyone else installs them the same direction.

[BigBlockSam]

looks good  from here   . ARE YOU DONE YET!

[Blown70]

Well, I have two hatches.... one I paid 35 for (thanks Russ!!!) and $250 for the other.... guess, you never know when you may need a second one... so I have told people I know keep eyes out for a vega and if they are correct to get them for me.....

[oldcarnut]

I have a 74 one I picked up before I bought the RR. I would trade around for some stuff to use on my Bird clone if someone switched to a Daytona and had extra RR stuff.  I don't see myself building a Daytona clone in the future since I barely get time to work on the RR.  I can post a pick if anyone is interested--just got to pull it out the back of the garage.  I'm in SC.
David

[Magnumcharger]

I'm not saying anybody is wrong OR right.
All I'm doing is pointing out the obvious.

The window has a curved side, and a straighter side. On a Daytona/500 the curved side is up, and the straighter side is down. The Vega hatch is the opposite.
The bottom of a Daytona/500 window matches the contour of the dutchman panel at the trunklid. The Vega setup doesn't.

What I'm asking is: Is it even possible to install the window the other way?