72 Charger - Long Awaited Update...

[JB400]

Not bad

[72Charger-SE]

I hope to get better at the welding.  I will say the new Lincoln 180 welder has made it much easier to tack the metal....  The rotisserie makes it easier to get the tough to reach areas....  I need a better grinding solution as my 4" grinder can't get to all the small areas....   

[nvrbdn]

yea, the large grinder can make it rough.i have a very small air grinder that can get into places the large electric grinders cant.  looks like you are making progress. keep the pic's coming.

[ACUDANUT]

Quote: "Marker Lights...  Gone...I just like the look without them"

Most every state requires them. Isn't it a dot requirement too. ?  

[72Charger-SE]

I hope not... ?  Not sure... 

Well, I may create some if they are required.  I would be OK with much smaller, recessed marker lights.  I'll research..  Thanks for the comment.

[Pete in NH]

As far as I know the side marker lights and /or reflectors came in as a federal requirement for 1968 under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) #108. This standard called for lights and/or reflectors as side markers, red in the rear and amber in the front. This FMVSS was amended for  1970 to require both lights and reflectors. The reflectors used by Chrysler in 1969 no longer met this amended standard and was changed to both lights and reflectors for 1970. I would think removing them is going to be an inspection issue in most states.

[72Charger-SE]

Yep...  After some research survey says....

Side marker lights are required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards & Regulations Code #108

FMVSS - 108

Side marker lamps..................  On each side--1 red as far to the rear as practicable, and 1 amber as far to the front as practicable.


Oh well, safety first...  I am still going to 'alter' them to something 'recessed' and 'smaller'.

[CDN72SE]

Have you given any thought to the '71 style? Guess they are not very small though. Nice progress.

[72Charger-SE]

Actually, I have given thought to the '71 style marker lights.  I like the recessed look very much!   They are big but don't look like it since they are recessed. IMO.

[JB400]

You could have just Frenched the originals in to where they would be flush on the outside.

[72Charger-SE]

Tonight I decided to tackle the rust around the rear passenger quarter panel (wheel well).  After checking extensively it was decided that a complete quarter panel replacement was not necessary.  I began the tedious process of cutting out the bad and replacing the inner quarter panel areas with a couple goals in mind...  

1.) Don't cut into the Body Line on the Quarter...
2.) DO NOT CUT INTO THE BODY LINE on the Quarter!

You get the idea...

[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

I didn't like the way the first one I did looked so I took it out and started over....  This one is much better with a tighter fit and cleaner lines/edges...

[72Charger-SE]

Done for the night...  next step... outer quarter panel...

[72Charger-SE]

Last one...   I need to grind down the welds and spray with rust protector before I add the outer quarter panel pieces...

[72Charger-SE]

Updates from tonight..

My 17 year old (youngest son) came out to help me.  He did a GREAT JOB of tedious and precise grinding for a perfect fit of all eight pieces welded in tonight....

[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

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[72Charger-SE]

Final look for tonight....

[JB400]

 

[72Charger-SE]

I was stumped for several days on how to do the outside lip on the quarter panel.  This evening the LORD provided the wisdom and it all came together rather easily.
A few pics...