I am currently working on a 1973 dodge charger and I am in search of a few pieces. I have found some sources online, but not sure what companies make the best parts for these cars. Parts I am looking for are the Passenger Qtr panel, rocker and inner door jamb. I searched over at AMD and found very little for these cars. I'm not afraid of Sherman parts, but I question the quality of fitment. Not afraid of some work, but if spending a little more money on a better part will save me time an aggravation then I'm all about it! The car is was purchased out west years ago and overall is a pretty clean car. The damage is from an accident and not rust luckily. Here are some pics of what I am working with. You can see where they just body worked right over the factory sticker! Its pretty gross what they did, but nothing uncommon.

 

OJ -

I've had good luck with AMD parts. Decent metal and fitment.

If there's isn't a lot of rust, would it be possible to knock off all the old mud, and just do the metal work followed by a proper skim coat to smoothing things out?
Certainly more labor intensive, but might be do-able.

Archer

 

The panels already have some patches, the crash was a decent one. AMD doesn't really offer much for this year charger. I found the quarter and rocker outer, but still need the door jamb lock pillar. I was hoping it may have been a common part for a few different vehicles. I'm not terribly familiar with Mopars to be honest. I'm just the painter on this job.

 

OJ -

Other option, which you already know, would be a donor car.
There are a few Mopar graveyards on the web, in the US and Canada.
The 74 Charger is identical, and 71/72 should be pretty close,
Can't speak for those parts on other Dodge/Plymouth B-bodies.

Archer

 

Also Check Year One and Classic Industries...
That is a bit much to a patch job.... Daaaaamm !!!!

 

To be honest, I'm an idiot and didn't even think about a donar car! I just called a few places and I'm waiting on a few calls back!

I'm in Michigan and I automatically think everything is rusted out!

 

Wow, just a little mud.

 

I think one of the body guys on here worked on that car.... Wink, Wink, Just saying !!!

 

That bodywork was done by a mechanic Bob.

 

I like the looks of this car.... I would never do something like that here in SO-CAL.... Now Iowa, That another story....
" A little bit of bondo will fix it rite up!!!! ..... If not, Put a lot of bondo and Sculpture it !!!! "

Hope you get it fixed up O.J. !!!! Love that body style !!!!

 

Ok gentlemen this is where i need some assistance. I have located the parts I need from a salvage lot down south(Desert Valley Auto Parts). The car I am working on is a Rally car and the parts they have are from an SE. Is there any difference in the quarter panel?

Ryan

 

Ryan -

Not in the parts you need.
Even with the SE opera windows, the vinyl roof covers std rear windows cutouts.

Archer

 

The top half of the quarter and door are different on yours than a SE car but you may be able to make them work.

 

And the search continues!

 

They look so close. I'm completely out of my comfort zone looking for parts for this car, lol.

 

I'm not against using aftermarket parts, Ill have to get the door jamb part regardless as that is not produced by anyone. i just really wanted to put an entire quarter on rather than splice it in above the bodyline.

 

Correct me if I am wrong here but there are 2 different style quarters correct?

 

Back this topic again. What year doors fit the 73? Are they 73-74 only?

 

OJ -

71 - 74 doors are interchangeable.
Years ago I sold a friend a pair of 71 R/T doors for his 74 - no problem.
Inside door panels did change over the years.

73/74 quarters should be identical and you should be able to convince 71/72s to work.

Archer

 

While Im waiting on the sheet-metal to arrive I decided to just slowly take the car apart. I knew the door was junk, but god damn this mudwork is kind of impressive!

 

Just keeps getting better and better.

 

You will be able to push some of that out after you get the quarter off.

 

O.J. 86.... I might have just come across of a contact in AZ for some used parts if your in need of some..

 

I have about 90% of the metal coming from Desert Valley auto parts. I will have to order some new floor pan sections.

What I am looking for though is possibly some information on measuring points on the frame. My fear is that this car will have to go on a rack and be slightly pulled. The hit was pretty low in the rocker and the roof doesnt appear to be buckled. but there was some major butchery on this repair as you can see in the images.

 

Those are a great group of folks..... https://www.dvap.com/our-inventory/..... Can get you out of a jam some times....
I think you can still get the info from "Mitchells Manuals" or Maaaybe I-Car might have something....
Iowan might have a better recommendation?
But a Classis Body shop should still have what you are looking for...

Your looking for something like this.... https://www.mitchell.com/products-se...cle-dimensions

 

I might have what your looking for but its going to take awhile.

 

I guess Ill throw an update in here. Again let me stress I am not a metal guy, I am just a painter! So with that being said, this process takes a little longer for bums like me! I got the metal from Desert valley parts, everything showed up as expected, I took the parts immediately to the blaster and then I had to dissect them carefully. That was a painful process. But here is where I am t so far. I located all of the frame dimensions and I got the rear frame rail back in place with the magic of my porta-power and my oak tree out front!

I ended up having to order a new Outer wheel House. The original was crushed and the one from the donor parts had too much rust. The AMD piece fit ok, there is some work that still needs to be done in that area.

Nothing is welded in these pics, clamps and screws. Hoping to have most of the welding done this week once I get it all situated.

Now the dimension I am looking for is the center of the floor to the rocker lip edge. Also I would love the dimension from the door striker to door striker centers. If anyone can help with these that would be awesome!

 

I thought I might have the dementions for you project but my books only go back to 1978 never the less it's looking great 👍

 

... Thats looking awesome...

 

Guess I toss another update in here. Got the donor parts all installed. Had to send the decklid out for blasting(curious if anything will be left). Got the red of the car stripped and ready for bodywork to begin. Found some cancer on the drivers side lower quarter. Searching for parts now.

Cannot believe nobody makes patch panels for these cars yet.

The hood on this car is an AMD piece, the molding fits terrible but I checked it on a stock hood I have in the garage and it fit the same?? Is that just how these are?