What bodyparts to buy

[suntech]

Hi!
I have just got myself a 68 Charger. It is going to be a pro-touring car. I willl compromise on tim, but not on quality!! Who has the best quality body parts?
I would need full rear 1/4´s, front and rear valance, and trunk floor. I would rather change parts, if i can get good stuff, and not spend time on hammering and bondo!! I looks to be a nice starting point, but i would like a 100% body, to avoid problems further down the road on the project. Any pointers guys???

[suntech]

What i mean, is there are many afrtermarket parts to get, but i have no experiance with who makes parts that really fit?? I am a fairly experianced welder/ sheetmetal worker, and if i can get nice fitting parts, i´ll rather change parts, over spending a fortune in a bodyshop.

[69RTSEV88]

Most of the parts available for Chargers are made by maybe 2 or 3 different manufacturers and then sold through about a dozen different distributors.  The parts that were labelled as "made in Taiwan" seemed to be, and I really hate to say this, of better quality than the parts made in the U.S.  I know that the qtr skins, and valances are stamped in Taiwan,  the trunk floor and extensions may be U.S. made.
There are 2, maybe 3 options on rear quarters;  #1 is the qtr skins that are readily available and relatively inexpensive from most of the restoration catalogs/websites (Yearone, Paddock, Sherman, Goodmark etc.)  These are decent quality but they only extend up to the cars upper belt line (the sharp crease by the fuel filler opening) and not up to the C-pillar which is where the full factory qtr extends to.  These generally do look good when installed properly but they require work around the rear valence corner section and of course will require body filler to go over the seams where they are welded in.  #2 is the new full factory style qtrs available (supposedly) through Hardcore Racing in MI.  They just released these and I'm not sure if anyone has seen any of them in person much less installed them yet.  I would contact Hardcore www.weracehardcore.com to find out more.  They are full factory style that extend all the way to the C-pillar and they are licensed by Mopar, but the kicker is that they cost $2500.00 each, thats right, left and right will set you back $5000.00 plus shipping, but if you don't want to compromise on quality and don't want to use a lot of filler, this may be your only option.  #3 is probably all but non-existant anymore by finding used cut-off rust free qtrs from a donor car.  Even if you were to find a good cut off qtr you'll probably pay through the nose for it anyway.
The front and rear valences are available from the same sources and seem to be of good quality.  The front bolts in place, and the rear is welded in.  If you're replacing qtrs and the rear valence then you will most likely be replacing the valence corners as well because these are tied into both parts and are usually rusted/damage if the valence and qtrs are as well.  The repro valance corners are kind of crappy in my opinion and ususally require a good amount of modification to fit like factory parts.
The trunk floor and left & right extensions are also available from the above company's but be advised that the repro trunk floor is a 2 piece design with a seam down the center.  This is because when the cars were assembled at the factory the trunk floor was put in b4 the qtrs were put in place so size wasn't an issue.  With the car fully assembled it would be impossible to fit a full trunk floor through the too small trunk opening.  Overall, I thought the trunk floor was a good quality piece (or pieces) even with welding the seam down the middle.  The trunk floor extensions however are kind of crappy and did, in my car require extensive mods to make them fit.
It will be impossible to replace these parts without doing some mods and using some filler.  That's how the factory did it back then, and that's how you will have to do it today.

[suntech]

Thanks a lot for the info! I am from Norway, and i went over to to Chicago area to pick up the car, that had been sitting with a friend of mine for a couple of months. On my way to PA, there the car is now, i was up to see the guys at Hardcore Racing, and i have seen an touched the rear1/4´s they make, and they are awesome!!!
There are new year one quarters on it now, but very bad craftmanship done to put them on, so they have to go back off, and i will get new Hardcore quarters. They are also in the process of making new doors and front fenders, so i think i will get that too, even if the ones i have are pretty good. They might come up for sale, if i do so. Posting a picture of the car, so you have an idea of the shape it is in. The guys at Hardcore are also going to stamp out other parts for the car, but since i am unsure about the timeframe, i am looking for alternatives, just in case. I know that i sound like i am on drugs, janking off good parts, to replace them with new, but my intention is to have a body that is in PERFECT shape, with no hidden disorders, and i rather buy more than i need now, and resell stuff, instead of missing out something, and have to pay for shipping over here at a later stage. To ship a full rear quarter to Norway does´nt come cheap!!
Will also get the level II XV front suspension and brakes to come over with the car. Engine and tranny has to wait a year, since bodyparts and suspension/brakes adds up to a substantial amount of money!!

[Mike DC]

 
I saw the Hardcore Racing "full" quarter panels in person last month.  They do exist, and the quality was absolutely second-to-none.  Steel quality & thickness felt truly "original grade," the panel creases & edges were shaped correctly & crisp-looking, etc.  I didn't see them laid onto a car, but I doubt they'd go to the trouble of making something so above & beyond in all the other areas and then have an obviously bad fitment.


But Hardcore is advertising these pieces at over $4000 for a pair, and as of right now I don't think any customers have actually taken delivery of a panel yet.  So the jury's still out on whether you wanna pursue this option.  They'll probably drop in price over time but not at first.

 

[NorwayCharger]

Hi!
I have just got myself a 68 Charger. It is going to be a pro-touring car. I willl compromise on tim, but not on quality!! Who has the best quality body parts?
I would need full rear 1/4´s, front and rear valance, and trunk floor. I would rather change parts, if i can get good stuff, and not spend time on hammering and bondo!! I looks to be a nice starting point, but i would like a 100% body, to avoid problems further down the road on the project. Any pointers guys???

Hei Rolf 

Her er linken til det jeg pratet om http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,30067.0.html
Ser veldig lovende ut 

[hemi-hampton]

Buy yourself a Solid Rustfree car. Simple as that, All your problems solved. LEON.

[suntech]

Hehe! I did, but nobody is going to tell me that a 40 year old car has no hidden disorders, when i start to pull it apart, and dip it!!! I just want to be a little ahead of the game. I live in Norway, and shipping would be a big part of the expence, so i will buy all that i might need of  bodyparts, and ship with the car. Will rather have 2 K worth of parts that i don´t need, than pay that money in shipping later!!

[Hemidog]

Hey Rolf

Can't wait to see that car in the works, and taking those fenders and doors off your hands