Custom Work

[Hud]

Does anyone know someone that is truly a master of his or her trade in metal shaping?  I want to spice up my 73 charger a bit with a challenger rt or ralley model hood, but know that charger hoods are significantly larger.  I dont want fiberglass, and want to keep my current hood in tact.  Im pretty sure if you you can dream it you can do it.  I also need help with finding someone that can make hideaway headlights to fit a 73.  I have seen this done but dont have any resources or contacts at this time. I can handle installation but need a starting point.  If you have anyone out there that can help let me know, and I will entertain their quotes.

Cheers,
Hud 

[E5 Charger]

I can't help you with someone that can do it, but thought you might like this photo. I found it on another forum.

[Charger-Bodie]

I'm not going to say it would be easy,but It is a very doable project if both donors are nice and clean.

[Hud]

That picture is almost exactly what I was talking about!  Thanks Ill hold on to it because everyone things Im crazy!.  Im starting to thing that I may be able to take a challenger hood (already located) and cut it out and mold it over a charger hood.  I could be way off base with this idea but the way the charger hood goes all of the way to the front of the car in the middle I think it may work with a good weld and grinding.  As far as the hide away headlights go my bumper is painted the same color as the car, and Im starting to think that as much as I want it done, ill probably have to strip the paint and have them re-dipped for it to look right.  I appreciate both of your responses.

[NoGL]

you might check out Don Currie   from Unique movie cars and prop's   he's reasonable

http://www.islandserve.com/~dc99/

[Daytona R/T SE]

I did it to my '72 back in '97 or '98.  

You'll be surprised at the similarities between the Charger and Challenger hood frames.  

I'm NOT a master metal shaper... and no, I don't play one on TV...

I'm just a Big, Dumb Redneck with a MIG welder and a hammer...

[Hud]

Thats a pretty cool sight NoGL, and daytona, yours looks perfect.  My father is one of those rednecks maybe we can devise something.  On yours did you do it with a challenger hood or do what I was talking about, cutting it out and putting it on an existing charger hood?  Your pictures look like you bought it that way, very nice.

[Hud]

excuse me father in law

[Daytona R/T SE]

Yep, I bought a junk Challenger hood for $40, stripped the skin off and grafted the skin to the existing charger hood. I did cut a huge hole in the charger hood to take advantage of the "Dome" of the challenger hood skin...(Think air cleaner clearance)

It's really not that tough...

Just take your time...

Now...

Get Busy!!!  

[Hud]

thanks man I appreciate it!

[Wicked72]

Dont rush it! but if you can just throw it together and just make the top look perfect and get a good finish paint you can use it as a mold maker and make a completely fiberglass hood out of it. so you can just dump a ton of filler to make it look nice just for that purpose and bam you gotta super light hood for cheap. And a mold you can either make more or sell

[Hud]

That sounds cool, but what am I suppose to do about reinforcement on the lighter fiberglass hood if I do infact make a mold of the completed hood.  Can I basically just mimic the metal framing. I suppose that would work.....

Also I found a challenger hood for $60 dollars that I can butcher but I cant find another charger hood at all, and I dont wanna destroy mine.  Maybe Im just impatient.  I just dont get many breaks from work and I getting ready to ship off overseas in coming months and would like to at least get the hood done before I go.  Im also in another delima.  I found another 73 for 4k and its a SE but I dont wanna be that guy that has two 73's for no reason.  I ultimately wanna end up with a 70, and it doesn't even matter if its a R/T but I don't know if I should snag this up or keep walking, its more than I paid for my 73 and is in worse shape, doesn't run, the block is cracked but around here is still a decent price. Any thoughts?

My blue 73 is solid runs and drives and only cost 3k.... hmmmm

[Patronus]

I had always wanted a 69 charger/Cuda buldge hood..I can remember seeing a fiberglass place online with one. They were pretty old school with a catalog with sketches in it plus pics, ...crazy.  They had all kinds of parts. Wish I could find that pic...

[Patronus]

I found it! I love this hood...!
(thank you body parts unlimited)
http://www.showcars-bodyparts.com/charger.html

[The70RT]

The other car sounds high, hold out for the 70! 

[TexasStroker]

Sweet shots!  I love seeing things like that done...I've always like the 'Cuda styled hood as well...nearly bought one for my truck years ago, the design looks pretty good on 94-01 Rams...imo anyway 

[Daytona R/T SE]

Also I found a challenger hood for $60 dollars that I can butcher but I cant find another charger hood at all, and I dont wanna destroy mine.  Maybe Im just impatient.

Flat 71-74 Charger hoods are cheap.

Dirt cheap.

I've thrown a few away over the years.

They also make good jump ramps if you've got a go-cart ...

There were a couple in the classifieds on here for free recently.

Post a wanted ad in the classifieds here, and I'll bet you can get one for hauling it away...

[Wicked72]

You have some options. You can glass in some studs and bolt or glass in some aluminum for reinforcement which would keep it very light. Or you can use the entire bottom reinforcement from an original hood and glass/stud it. In either case i would find a way to lower the spring tension on the stock hood hinge setup if your not looking to make a lift off. I am most likely going to make a custom glass hood and I am thinking of using some tailgate lift shocks in place of the springs.