Body Repair Question..
 

Hi,

I've got a 74 Charger SE that's got a lot of Rust. Roof is bad round the sides, floor boards gone, 2 big holes on inner fender wells facing the cab ect... What would be the Easiest way to get started if i do take on this project? My biggest issue is that its outside uncovered.

Find a donor car? Buy a qwanset hut to get it out of the weather. Do the doors still shut? How are the body lines and gaps? I'm thinking the structure may be compromised.

Yes doors still shut fine. Structure looks ok from bottom end just a lot of surface rust on there and inside. Will get pics up soon. I hate to chuck it but dont know yet.

RW -

Confirm the rails are solid.
While a donor car is a great option, finding one with a really good/workable body for a decent price may be tricky. The other option would be contacting AMD for replacement parts.

Building a structure around it would be great, if you can do it. Otherwise it's a good car cover, properly lashed down and hope for the best.

Archer

K cool. When repairing Holes in the Roof, would it be best to have a donor roof or just sheet metal it? I've got 2 Rusted holes on each side above the door.

Find a good body shop... I have seen so many people try to fix cars themselves and totally ruin them from lack of knowledge.. Unless you are a professional body man and if you were you wouldn't be asking, leave it alone and get it done by a professional

K, thanks for the help you guys.

1 more question, say get all the body work done but wanna leave it at Bare Metal permanently? can I do that? Could u do 1 section/piece at a time?

RW -

Most honest body guys will say no.

The AMD stuff comes with a black protective coating. Under that, the bare metal, like the factory stuff will start rusting (microscopically) almost immediately without protection.

You will also have to (or should) cover the seams with filler.

If you want that look, you would at least have to clear coat it and yes, a rattle can will do.

Archer

K cool, just curious in case I wanted to go the Rat Rod look. It's just a project car...

Lots of knowledge need for that task....

RW -

74 Charger SE as a rot-rod?
I'm starting not to like you ...

Archer

Sorry bout that, just throwin it out there.

HAhahahahahahahahaha... Funny Chit rite there...:laugh:

I had this guy pegged right from the get go. A young guy with no clue about the muscle car era. His daily driver is a Honda civic with a Fart can exhaust which makes it a muscle car.... Get real....Bill

No civic just a stock mazda. I've mostly owned SUVs/trucks ok. I looked more closely at the floors and its rusted/rotted through the side of the middle crossmember that separates the front & rear floor boards. Basically it's not connected to the side of the car anymore.

You can still get the stuff from Year One, Classic industries, AMD and maybe one of the site sponsors...

K, I'll get some pics up today and let you see what I see. Again, Thanks for your help.

Cross member and torsion bar mounts is the most concerning part....

Here's Some Pics...

http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/ro...?sort=3&page=1

inho not worth saving

Would the Complete Floor be replaced easily if the Crossmember & Torsion bars are ok? I've seen prices for the whole floor $450-600 but how could the holes in the inner wheel well be fixed? Just curious.

http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/ro...?sort=3&page=1

Sure... Buy the pieces you can and then fab the rest..

I really like this saying...
http://images.cdn.bigcartel.com/bigc...build-Jpeg.jpg

Do they make the parts for the inner well holes or will those need custom work? I guess the roof work would be easier to have a donar car right?

Robert -

Fixable, sure - but it's going to be a project and that might include some fabrication. The rear wheel wells can be tubed if you hand to.

I would take a lot of pictures and talk to a resto place and get their take on it. A lot is going to depend on if you have the bucks for a full resto, which is what it really needs or the skill and time to do it yourself.

Archer

k thanks. Its a waste of time if it sits outside uncovered though right?

Your just have to work faster if you leave it out doors.... Rust never sleeps... You Really should get something to help protect your project.
Im not sure what inner wheel holes are.... But I'm think you mean wheel wells... Might be a challenge to find...But after market wheel wells are available to fab in...

cool, the awkward pics are the wheel well areas I mentioned.
http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/ro...?sort=3&page=1

Robert, I would honestly get away from that car. Parts for the Gen 3 Chargers are hard to come by. I wouldn't know where to begin looking for an aftermarket roof. The floor pans can be replaced, but the rust in the wheel wells worries me. How do the quarter panels look? any rust? are the fenders is good shape. (those are a monster to repair!) If you try and find a donor car you might find one that is in better shape than the one you have. If I had to fix that car I would rip out the floor pans, order new ones. I would cut out the rust in the wheel wells and patch it up, provided that the frame rails are still in usable shape. For the roof you could make your own patch panels but it would take some doing to get them fitted right.

If you are going to fix it get a good wire welder and learn how to use it well. Other wise see if you can hold out for a project in better shape. They are around.