1973 Dodge Charger Build Thread

[ramthis9501]

Here we go, we finally have started back to work on our car. This is going to be a build thread where I will update it when we do something to the car. Its going to be a long process but so cool when its all said and done.

Info on car...
1973 Dodge Charger SE
318 (5.2) V8
All original

First update...
The car is torn down all the way except the few body pieces. Roof was rusted thanks to a cloth top, so we cut it out and replacing with a brand new sheet of 16 gauge metal. Tonight we cut the roof to where the new sheet would fit and then tacked it in a few spots to hold until we go back out there to finish the welds.





When we get it pulled out of the shop into the daylight, I'll get some good pictures of it.

Hope you all enjoy this build thread! It'll be worth it because this is gonna be one sexy beast

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Awesome build.

[OklaHemi]

Since you're playing with metal.... WIDE BODY THAT BITCH

[DoubleTakeDodge]

that is gonna look sick!

[myoung84]

Looks like a fun build!

[ramthis9501]

Originally Posted by OklaHemi Since you're playing with metal.... WIDE BODY THAT BITCH

Do you know how much time that would take? No thanks... Lol

[ramthis9501]

Ok so tonight we got part of the front tacked on and the rest clamped. Hoping the metal will relax some so it will bend easier tomorrow. Theres one spot that doesnt want to go down, so we're going to have to cut a relief into the metal so it will lay down then weld it all down. Its tacked all the way around so we'll finish it up tomorrow hopefully.

Here it is so far


And the spot giving us trouble


More updates to come!

[ramthis9501]

The top is on! It is welded all the way around. Tomorrow or Monday we're going to grind it all down smooth. We got the spot down that was giving us trouble, but its still a little dented up, so its gonna be covered in bondo. We're going back with the original vinyl roof, so even though its ugly, it'll be covered up lol it feels good to accomplish something finally on this thing!

Pics

[Matt]

man i don't want to be a downer but i would do some more practicing on welding before i would weld a roof skin on that could potentially be a safety issue in a crash there is a ton of puddling with the weld where it didn't make good penetration btw if you don't want your body filler to crack work the metal with a body hammer and dolly rule of thumb you never want more than a 1/4 of filler or you're very likely to have cracking especially something that doesn't have a lot of support like a roof for instance theres quite a bit of flexing in most ... evercoat makes some of the best body fillers rage gold is the best if you can afford it .. if not z-grit isn't bad but cheap both are heads and tails better than bondo brand

[ramthis9501]

I know the welds are ugly but we're going to work with it some more and make sure its all welded tight. Like I said its all going to be grinded down smooth then we'll weld in any spots that we missed. I'll look into that body filler to. Thanks