Vega Hatch....

[oldcarnut]

That's an interesting observation.  Maybe because I'm an amateur when it comes to the Wing cars, I never noticed that difference before.

[moparstuart]

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?

robin  I think the angle of your pictures are decieving you

  check out this picture  it looks flat on the bottom and bowed on the top  

[BigBlockSam]

the pic on the right isn't a real daytona .it's also a clone

[Rolling_Thunder]

Those photos are taken on different axis...   optical illusion -

[Magnumcharger]

Your eyes are as good as mine.

[Daytona R/T SE]

the pic on the right isn't a real daytona .it's also a clone

Yeah ! My Clone

It's real to me, man! 

I've noticed the upside-down looking window thing on the Vega hatch too.

At least it looked that way to me when I was staring at a row of Vegas in the junkyard.

It was at that moment I decided I was NOT going to use a Vega hatch on my clone.

But somehow, in actual practice, you Vega-hatched cloners seem to pull off the look very well.

Disclaimer:  

No Vegas were harmed in the creation of my Daytona clone.

[ozziemoparnut]

Are there any other options in steel for the window plug??

[Magnumcharger]

the pic on the right isn't a real daytona .it's also a clone

Yeah ! My Clone

It's real to me, man!  

I've noticed the upside-down looking window thing on the Vega hatch too.

At least it looked that way to me when I was staring at a row of Vegas in the junkyard.

It was at that moment I decided I was NOT going to use a Vega hatch on my clone.

But somehow, in actual practice, you Vega-hatched cloners seem to pull off the look very well.

Disclaimer:  

No Vegas were harmed in the creation of my Daytona clone.

Yes, and IMHO...yours is the best effort I've seen here.
Not to say that others aren't fantastic...yours is fantastic-er.

Since I already have a C500 back glass, when the time comes I hope to replicate your home-brewed window plug efforts.
I think using a Janek fiberglass replica as a pattern was a stroke of genius.
How many hours did it take for you to build your window plug? And what tools did you use?

[Daytona R/T SE]

Yes, and IMHO...yours is the best effort I've seen here.
Not to say that others aren't fantastic...yours is fantastic-er.

Since I already have a C500 back glass, when the time comes I hope to replicate your home-brewed window plug efforts.
I think using a Janek fiberglass replica as a pattern was a stroke of genius.
How many hours did it take for you to build your window plug? And what tools did you use?

Thanks.

I didn't keep track of the hours, let's just say ALOT !

As far as tools, I used a cutoff wheel to cut out the pieces, and around the window openings, etc. I have a nibbler that I could have used, but 46,000 C-shaped sharp little bastard pieces of metal flying everywhere just plain sucks!

I had a local sheetmetal shop form me some strips of sheet metal into a 90 degree angle strip 1" X 1" X about five feet long, then I hand formed them to the curves necessary for around the window opening.

The same thing was used for the drip rail across the dutchman panel.

Everything else was done by hand, in my garage, by me.

The only "exotic" tool I used was my 110 volt mig welder.

After seeing all of the work that these guys put into making a Vega hatch work. I sometimes think it might be easier to just start from scratch and make one.


Links to disscussions about my Daytona clone, 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


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29685.msg324490.html#msg324490

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,32287.msg353161.html#msg353161



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56803.0.html

[hotrod98]

You can't turn the vega plug the other way because the bottom of the glass is 4 3/4 inches wider than the top. It simply won't fit the other way.
If you decide to try it, please post pics. I think it's going to look mighty strange with the top being almost five inches wider than the bottom. 

[BigBlockSam]

If you decide to try it, please post pics.

please

dayclona makes nice steel plug plus ya need the trim . both expensive .the vega plug isn't exact but it's close . plus it's affordable .

[Daytona Guy]

Your eyes are as good as mine.

Great point and I have thought about that for years. Reversing it would not work -  the glass is slightly tapered from 43" to 47". It would look really funny.

[Daytona Guy]

Yes, and IMHO...yours is the best effort I've seen here.
Not to say that others aren't fantastic...yours is fantastic-er.

Since I already have a C500 back glass, when the time comes I hope to replicate your home-brewed window plug efforts.
I think using a Janek fiberglass replica as a pattern was a stroke of genius.
How many hours did it take for you to build your window plug? And what tools did you use?

Thanks.

I didn't keep track of the hours, let's just say ALOT !

As far as tools, I used a cutoff wheel to cut out the pieces, and around the window openings, etc. I have a nibbler that I could have used, but 46,000 C-shaped sharp little bastard pieces of metal flying everywhere just plain sucks!

I had a local sheetmetal shop form me some strips of sheet metal into a 90 degree angle strip 1" X 1" X about five feet long, then I hand formed them to the curves necessary for around the window opening.

The same thing was used for the drip rail across the dutchman panel.

Everything else was done by hand, in my garage, by me.

The only "exotic" tool I used was my 110 volt mig welder.

After seeing all of the work that these guys put into making a Vega hatch work. I sometimes think it might be easier to just start from scratch and make one.


Links to disscussions about my Daytona clone, 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


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29685.msg324490.html#msg324490

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,32287.msg353161.html#msg353161



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56803.0.html

That is simply amazing work

[hotrod98]

If you decide to try it, please post pics.

please

dayclona makes nice steel plug plus ya need the trim . both expensive .the vega plug isn't exact but it's close . plus it's affordable .

Mike is getting ready to make another batch of nice, solid fiberglass Superbird rear window plugs. Now might be the time to get on the list if you're building a bird.

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Yes, and IMHO...yours is the best effort I've seen here.
Not to say that others aren't fantastic...yours is fantastic-er.

Since I already have a C500 back glass, when the time comes I hope to replicate your home-brewed window plug efforts.
I think using a Janek fiberglass replica as a pattern was a stroke of genius.
How many hours did it take for you to build your window plug? And what tools did you use?

Thanks.

I didn't keep track of the hours, let's just say ALOT !

As far as tools, I used a cutoff wheel to cut out the pieces, and around the window openings, etc. I have a nibbler that I could have used, but 46,000 C-shaped sharp little bastard pieces of metal flying everywhere just plain sucks!

I had a local sheetmetal shop form me some strips of sheet metal into a 90 degree angle strip 1" X 1" X about five feet long, then I hand formed them to the curves necessary for around the window opening.

The same thing was used for the drip rail across the dutchman panel.

Everything else was done by hand, in my garage, by me.

The only "exotic" tool I used was my 110 volt mig welder.

After seeing all of the work that these guys put into making a Vega hatch work. I sometimes think it might be easier to just start from scratch and make one.


Links to disscussions about my Daytona clone, 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


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29685.msg324490.html#msg324490

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,32287.msg353161.html#msg353161



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56803.0.html

Did you use an english wheel to get the correct contour and a shrinker/stretcher to make the nice clean corners on the drip rail?

Awesome work!

[hotrod98]

"After seeing all of the work that these guys put into making a Vega hatch work. I sometimes think it might be easier to just start from scratch and make one."

I would love to have done just that on my clone but I just couldn't see paying the big bucks for the glass and then having to make the moldings. All this for a car that I may turn back into an original triple black R/T SE some day. The original parts are safely stored away.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Yes, and IMHO...yours is the best effort I've seen here.
Not to say that others aren't fantastic...yours is fantastic-er.

Since I already have a C500 back glass, when the time comes I hope to replicate your home-brewed window plug efforts.
I think using a Janek fiberglass replica as a pattern was a stroke of genius.
How many hours did it take for you to build your window plug? And what tools did you use?

Thanks.

I didn't keep track of the hours, let's just say ALOT !

As far as tools, I used a cutoff wheel to cut out the pieces, and around the window openings, etc. I have a nibbler that I could have used, but 46,000 C-shaped sharp little bastard pieces of metal flying everywhere just plain sucks!

I had a local sheetmetal shop form me some strips of sheet metal into a 90 degree angle strip 1" X 1" X about five feet long, then I hand formed them to the curves necessary for around the window opening.

The same thing was used for the drip rail across the dutchman panel.

Everything else was done by hand, in my garage, by me.

The only "exotic" tool I used was my 110 volt mig welder.

After seeing all of the work that these guys put into making a Vega hatch work. I sometimes think it might be easier to just start from scratch and make one.


Links to disscussions about my Daytona clone, 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


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29685.msg324490.html#msg324490

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,32287.msg353161.html#msg353161



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56803.0.html

Did you use an english wheel to get the correct contour and a shrinker/stretcher to make the nice clean corners on the drip rail?

Awesome work!

Nope ! Just my Dutch/Irish fingers !

[Daytona R/T SE]

"After seeing all of the work that these guys put into making a Vega hatch work. I sometimes think it might be easier to just start from scratch and make one."

I would love to have done just that on my clone but I just couldn't see paying the big bucks for the glass and then having to make the moldings. All this for a car that I may turn back into an original triple black R/T SE some day. The original parts are safely stored away.

Larry, The way I got into this project went something like this:

I was test fitting my Ted Janak fiberglass plug, and I just couldn't figure out how to keep the damned thing from cracking. Every time I would close the trunklid, the damned plug would flex...a lot. I had already considered the Vega plug, but after that day in the junkyard, that option was out.

I then contacted Dayclona about a steel plug, and was told it would be a six month wait, and about $3000.  Having already waited seven months for the fiberglass plug and the rest of my FG parts from TJ, waiting another six months and dropping another $3K was not an option.

So I got pissed and said: "God Dammit! for 3 grand, and a six month wait- I'll just make the F&%#ING thing."

The next day I raided the sheet metal off fall rack at work and brought home a few large pieces of 16 gauge and went at it. No plan. I just did it. I only had my Fiberglass Ted Janak plug, and a bunch of photos of HemiGeno's car to go by.

At that point I had no idea if I could pull this off, so I didn't even worry about the glass, I did have the lexan window from TJ to work with.

After things started looking good, I realized the lexan back window wasn't going to get it, so I spent the $675 on the glass.

The trim cost me $20 for the RoadRunner moldings.

The metal and my time (lots of it) were free.

So I'm into this stage of the project for $695...

I don't count the cost of the Fiberglass plug in this figure...since my leftover Ted Janak parts are currently for sale  

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56075.0.html

End of short novel  

[moparstuart]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,58760.0.html


  this one has a vega plug and it is fantastic

[Magnumcharger]

You can't turn the vega plug the other way because the bottom of the glass is 4 3/4 inches wider than the top. It simply won't fit the other way.
If you decide to try it, please post pics. I think it's going to look mighty strange with the top being almost five inches wider than the bottom. 

Thanks!!

[richRTSE]

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.

So this part from AMD should work? Its a '71 plymouth piece ($199), they don't list one for the Charger. 

[hotrod98]

It looks the same as the Charger piece. Should work.
If you have already altered your deck lid, don't go this route. It won't fit properly. The deck lid has to be altered slightly different to align with the gasket ledge and to follow the slightly different radius of the 3rd gen panel.
The install is not as simple as it looks. You don't want to have a deck lid that leaks all of the time.

[oldcarnut]

Not mine but for while it's been on the topic.  Someone here maybe    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-DODGE-CHARGER-DAYTONA-REAR-WINDOW-PLUG-MOPAR-HEMI_W0QQitemZ130316050871QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item1e577121b7&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A317
For you guys that asked about the one I had send me your email address so I can send some pics.  Can't seem to find a link to add them to the messages.

[hotrod98]

That's way too much even for a nice hatch.

[Blown70]

Not mine but for while it's been on the topic.  Someone here maybe    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-DODGE-CHARGER-DAYTONA-REAR-WINDOW-PLUG-MOPAR-HEMI_W0QQitemZ130316050871QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item1e577121b7&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A317
For you guys that asked about the one I had send me your email address so I can send some pics.  Can't seem to find a link to add them to the messages.

wow, I would sell my two for that price... and they are as nice......  I agree way tooo much for a hatch....