hello from a french owner of charger 72

[AllerHop]

Hello,

I m a french military policeman, near 30 years old, and living near Paris.

I have a little rusty but running dodge charger 72 with a small block 318 for 2 years. I did a lot of mileage with it and never had bug . i did some upgrade like the whole brake system (was 4 drum without help). I installed disc brake at front with a new brake booster.

The car it not conforme to the origine, and don't car of it 

My problem is about the front and rear frame. They look to be really rusty, and i will need to replace them. So i wonder if a can do something better ...

So i come to look for information about doing hard frame modifications to do a convertible charger 

[tan top]

hello & welcome 

[AllerHop]

thank you Tan Top   

And if anybody know someone who did the convertion on a 71-74 dodge charger ... i will try to take contact with him



Ps : Sorry for grammar or else ... long time i not practice !

[MoparManJim]

Hi and welcome also! I think they do make frame caps or something like that. I'm not sure now to be honest.

Also about your grammer, you might want to watch out, they (afew members) already tried to slam me for my spelling disorder I have and my bad spelling an grammer . You might be next in their cross hairs maybe.

[tan top]

yes MMJ is correct !!  

these guys  make / sell them ,  these will not look factory  , but i would  be stronger ! (depending how they are fitted )


http://www.autorust.com/autorust.html
or get used frame rails , not sure if AMD make repops  
have you any pictures of the rusted areas  
     your typing /grammer , i'm always hitting the wrong key /letter etc etc  spelling  , missing the punctuation   leaving words or letters out !!  think i'm the worst on here !  : only when i re- read my post  , little while later i notice it  

[greenpigs]

Thats because of the post count.

Never seen a 3rd gen convertible, you might be the first.

[AllerHop]

And a quick photoshop pic from my car

[MaximRecoil]

In my opinion, you would lose the best looking design point of the '71/'72 Charger by turning it into a convertible, i.e., that unique looking C-pillar. You would also lose significant structural integrity of the unibody which would be difficult to compensate for.

In any event, just how rusty are your subframe rails? Have they actually rusted through or is it surface rust? Have you gotten under the car and really inspected them and perhaps tapped on them with a hammer to see how solid they are? Complete replacement of framerails is a pretty drastic measure. I would look at Auto Rust Technicians' products or other patching options first.

[Nacho-RT74]

http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ve/MLV-25926554-_JM

[mikesbbody]

Welcome  please don't make your 72 into a Convertible! I agree with the deleted sidemarker lights, (I never did like 72 and up S.M Light's) but don't make it a Convertible 

[tan top]

 convertable , not a good plan     

[AllerHop]

for the frame, yes , they are really rusted, and not only surface.

I even wonder if i have to go on running with the car like this !

And for what people likes, there will be always discussions , but, I really like the convertible !!! 

[greenpigs]

Your money

I would think conecting the sub frame together would be a must & some stiffening behind the rear seat.

Since that body was never made into a convertible it will be more difficult than just cutting off the top as your aware. But you can't make the body too stiff IMO.

[AllerHop]

I thinking of drawing a full frame rail from front to rear. They will copy the origine front and rear rail and go on under the car in the whole length.

A brother works with solidworks and i think to use him to drawing this and do some bench for mecanical stress. 

The both full rail in steel, with some renforcement, at various places have to be as strenght, even without top, as an 40 years old car with rusty sub rail ! 

[greenpigs]

Since your keeping the 318 stock I guess, you don't need to worry about a lot of torque twisting the chassis. So its possible a full reinforced frame and some stiffening will be enough.

[AllerHop]

well, any case, lot of stuff to think before really begining the project

I have to collect many information, finding solution etc.

For the seat and belt, i am looking for seat of chrysler stratus with the belt integrated ... and the seat fixed to stiffening between the rail.
For the top, i will look for convertible already existing, pick up and modify the top.
and many others stuffs to think about !

[hemi68charger]

Bonjour Allmop,
Votre Charger et Challenger sont tres "cool" (for a lack of a better French term  )

Bienvenue !!

J'ai un 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona et 1969 Charger 500. J'ai visite Paris en 1997, je l'ai aime....

Quel est votre nom?

Salute,
Troy

[AllerHop]

Hi Hemi68charger ! I am Jean-Philippe. 

there is not a lot of american car in France ! .... and there is 40% of mustang and 40% of corvette ... and the 20% who left are all the other american car ! Too many mustang and corvette .... we have to do a fire !!!

U have an awesome car !!! some car are legend in France ... like all Hémi car ... we only know 2 or 3 mopar with Hemi motor in france ! ... and don't know any Daytona ! Plymouth cuda cab are inexistant too  !

There is some charger 69 (sometime it's 68 or 70)... Orange with a confederate flag on top and a 01 on door  . Please don't send anymore like this

Please, come to live here  LOL

[hemi68charger]

Please, come to live here  LOL

Je travaille pour la famille de Schlumberger, >>> transferring to English >>> so who knows, maybe I could get relocated there one day. I think it would be very hard to move to Europe, maybe not..... But, I do love it over there...

[CDN72SE]

Hello, and welcome to the site.

[AllerHop]

i joke hemi68charger, don't come here ! u will be too disapointed !

All friends who came to USA fall in love with the country and people, and was to sad to return France. All of them dream to go back USA  

[hemi68charger]

i joke hemi68charger, don't come here ! u will be too disapointed !

All friends who came to USA fall in love with the country and people, and was to sad to return France. All of them dream to go back USA  

Yeah Jean-Phillip, we'll just visit...................... Maybe if I win a couple of million dollars, I'll ship the Daytona over there and tour Europe...  If you're ever in Houston, Texas, look me up.....

Cheers,
Troy

[bull]

Based on the photos in this thread I'd have to say a convertible 3rd gen looks a lot better than a convertible 2nd gen.

[DustinSimmonds]

Yea, I would be proud to drive in a 3rd gen convertible. The 3rd gens just seem to be able to pull that off. I've said it before, but I would love to see a T-top 3rd gen! 

[rarefish]

i joke hemi68charger, don't come here ! u will be too disapointed !

All friends who came to USA fall in love with the country and people, and was to sad to return France. All of them dream to go back USA  

The impression that we get from reading newspapers and watching TV network news broadcasts is that most people in foreign country's generally dislike Americans. It is refreshing to hear that maybe that information is not all true. 

[mikesbbody]

American's are not disliked where I'm from (New Zealand) or Australia I always thought it was just the Middle East? (and not all of the Middle East) sorry to get off topic but...I do recall seeing a convertible 71 or 72 it didn't look good IMO.

[AllerHop]

i strongly believe 3rd charger generation are much pretty in conv than 2nd gen ;p

[myaerocars]

I think this website has a picture you are looking for...... a 1971 Plymouth GTX convertible... none made from factory but nice looking! Gives you some ideas as to what they did to get a really cool looking 3 rd gen.

http://www.71wingcars.com/view_item.aspx?page=4&id=83

IF the link does not work just got to www.71wingcars.com and look around. 

Oh, and welcome!

Godpseed,
JON 

[TX9H6E4CUDA]

Welcome from one law enforcement officer to another . If you get time you should post pics of the frame that has rust damage so maybe you can get a plan of attack from all of us that have torn these cars apart and have first hand knowledge of these mopars.

I have a couple of questions about your charger if yo don't mind?
Does this car have any export tags on the inner fenders?
Does it have a standard vin tag on the dash?
Was this originally delivered to France when it was new or was it a U.S destination car later imported?
does it have a kilometer dash in it or standard?
Does it have rally gauges?

Neat car and if you are really serious about the convert idea look in the "mopars in nature" thread and there is pic of a 72 made into a convert and to be nice its very interesting. I would put a sliding factory sunroof in.

[440]

A couple of things. I'm currently living in Australia and I think the perception of Americans is mixed, I believe it would be the same for most free countries. Half don't like the fact that they are becoming more Americanized through US influences. Remember Australia was mostly influenced by Europe.

I like the red slots in the Kidneys of your wheels AllerHop. Not many people venture outside of the box to paint them a different color. I have a similar type of wheel where I painted the kidneys white.

Good luck with your project.

[Charger´69]

Based on the photos in this thread I'd have to say a convertible 3rd gen looks a lot better than a convertible 2nd gen.

I think so too!  

AllerHop: Welcome and do just like you want to do, it is your car 

[AllerHop]

thank you all !

Thank you too for link ! i will study them This weekend i will have some free time, i have to swap my master cylinder so i will try to take some picture of the frame.

Have a nice day !

[AllerHop]

I have a couple of questions about your charger if yo don't mind?
Does this car have any export tags on the inner fenders?
Does it have a standard vin tag on the dash?
Was this originally delivered to France when it was new or was it a U.S destination car later imported?
does it have a kilometer dash in it or standard?
Does it have rally gauges?

The vin tag is a standard, this car was imported about 2005 from américa (forget which state, i have the américan papers but not here ...). So it haves the rally gauges in miles.

At the origine, the car was something like gold with black vinyl top, a 318 ... maybee is the right motor,never swap ! i will see when i will desassemble the motor.

there is near any option, only the concealed headlamp and the opening of the hood from the interior.

U know, in France, we take all the creppy car u don't want ^^ many slant6 or small V8 ... And the liter of petrol are at 2.16 dollars in france .... gloups ...