1969 charger roof replacement

[MsMopar]

Hi all, getting the bug again to start working on another project. For those that have done it which is easier, replacing a roof skin or installing a whole roof from another car that includes all the braces underneath? MsMopar

[Mike DC]

   
Whenever somebody says they replaced the whole roof (structure) I get queasy.  Those pillars/channels are several overlapping layers of sheetmetal.  What about the underlying stuff that isn't easy to reach?

The roof skin is available from AMD.  If you only need the skin then just replace that. 

 

[MsMopar]

Yes. I've got a long shopping list from AMD. How well do their full quarters fit?

[NHCharger]

Generally their stuff is the closest to the original parts compared to other brands. Just remember your Charger has survived 50 years of abuse and is not the same car that rolled off the assembly line (unless you have a 20k mile survivor). No part will fit without some tweaking, pounding, etc...

also- do not buy direct for AMD. you get better pricing elsewhere. I buy all my sheetmetal and other body parts from Autobody Specialties, located in CT.

[JR]

If there's no serious rust or damage to the inner door structure, just replace the skin. No risk of serious structural issues that way.

[MsMopar]

NHCharger, good point about not buying direct. Same with Legendary interior parts, they are cheaper through year one. MsMopar

[AZMoparboy]

Hi MsMopar, I , most of the time sit on the side lines here on Dodgecharger, but why I joined was to get different ideas.  I thought you might like to hear what I did with my 1971 Challenger roof. I'm an amateur at car restoration but I'm an aircraft mechanic. The thing's I've done to a aircraft would amaze you. So back to the Challenger.

The Challenger's roof and under structure was very compromised with corrosion and as I dissected the structure it became very evident that grafting an entire roof structure as the best route for my situation. If you had seen this project you would have said why but that's just me.

Before starting this job, I made a Metal structure underneath the car to hold it perfectly in place so when I removed the roof, that being a integral part of the structure of the car and it could have moved, I cribbed the whole body up to hold it perfectly . I separated the old structure at the factory spot welds in the rear sail panel area very carefully. Then cut the front pillars at or near the factory assembling tool notches giving me a good hard measurement to accurately cut and then splice the pillars to the correct dimension double and triple checking everything before cutting. Yes this job is not for the faint of hart. My donor roof structure was almost pristine. Thats what made me come to replacing the entire structure.

So, this is just one option to contemplate, either it will discourage you or it will give you encouragement. I do like very much watching the other members bringing  their projects together and that too is so much encouraging for my cars.

Good Luck
Steve

[MsMopar]

AZMoparboy,
Cudos on taking on the task of saving a Mopar that some would say is too far gone! My 69 500 was also such a case.  Now that it is on the road again I would like to start working on my RT/SE which I have owned as long as my 500. It too is a basket case but I tend to look at rusty Mopar muscle cars as diamonds in the rough. I would love to just send the car down to AMD and have them replace the sheet metal it needs then pick it up for reassembly. Drilling out all those spotwelds and lining up the panels sounds like a daunting task to me. MsMopar