73 Challenger restoration

[Montana13]

Well I've been working on this car for almost a year now, and have some photos to show. Out of order. New to Mopar's, so I'm learning.

When I got the car, the previous owner had started the restoration but did a poor job and left it out in the weather to rot. Going with a 5.9 magnum roller block and Tremec 5 speed. Have new EQ heads, Comp cam and Edelbrock manifold. Wheels are off of a 2015 mustang, (off course the emblem will be removed!).

Car was originally a 318 automatic, so I had to install the clutch and brake pedal assy conversion, in addition to the floor shifter tunnel. Since there is so much rust and it's not a rare E body, I'm doing a resto-modified.

Lots of replacement sheet metal installed, including rear quarters, trunk pan, drop downs, outer wheel well housings, rear frame rails and drivers side front pan. This is my first attempt at replacing this much sheet metal, but have a good background in aviation maintenance.

[Montana13]

More pictures. I corrected the rear valance out of position, initially it was off when I first located it. Wheel offset required some 2"spacers, will be changing out the rear axle later to go together with a coil over set-up.

[Montana13]

More pics. The car was sitting outside in the rain and mud for months, and rusted quite a bit in a very short amount of time. New rear rails.

[anlauto]

We're going to nick name you "The Cleco Kid"

It's looking good

[Montana13]

Hah! I hear ya. I like cleco's because I can use them to totally position and hold the pieces together prior to final install.

[brads70]

Looking great!  I use cleco's quite a bit too when I'm working with sheet metal.

[soundcontrol]

Nice work! I just got a rusty -73 myself, as a second project. Gonna be doing all that later. Newbie to bodywork, what is Cleo's and exactly how are they used? (I basiclly see how, but what is the advantage to using screws? Can you reuse them?)

[YellowThumper]

Nice work there "Cleco Kid".

Soundcontrol.
Yes, they are reusable. Sure there are different styles but the ones I have are a split shaft with a spring loaded wedge in the center. Drill a small hole. They are installed using a clamp similar to pliers to compress and release the tension. Insert and release pliers. The spring then draws the center wedge in and pulls everything tight.

[brads70]

Nice work there "Cleco Kid".

Soundcontrol.
Yes, they are reusable. Sure there are different styles but the ones I have are a split shaft with a spring loaded wedge in the center. Drill a small hole. They are installed using a clamp similar to pliers to compress and release the tension. Insert and release pliers. The spring then draws the center wedge in and pulls everything tight.

  its like a temporary rivet that can be reused over and over...  They come is different diameters and also in clamp form...

[Rdchallenger12]

So do you just weld in all the holes that you drilled then?

[soundcontrol]

Smart little helpers! For example, the pictures of the quarters, how do you go about it if you wanna buttweld, do you cut thru both panels in the line of clecos?

[brads70]

So do you just weld in all the holes that you drilled then?

Smart little helpers! For example, the pictures of the quarters, how do you go about it if you wanna buttweld, do you cut thru both panels in the line of clecos?

Just weld thru. If you have access use a piece of copper behind it to get a nice flat surface. They originated from the aircraft industry as temporary rivets.
 

[cudamadd]

Great job should look good 

[Montana13]

I'm doing a different approach to the new sheet metal panels. Since I work in the aerospace industry, I know about the strength of epoxy bonding and rivet's. I didn't do any welding, all of the pieces were bonded using 3M panel bond adhesive. This is modern technology that is used in current manufacturing of cars, plus some additional fasteners and rivets to add insurance on the frame rails and quarter panels.

Panel bond adhesive also seal the joints, and prevents any possibility of moisture getting in there. The cleco's allowed me to fit most all of the panels in place and then attach them. Check out the link.

http://3mcollision.com/3m-panel-bonding-adhesive-08116.html

[Rdchallenger12]

I'm doing a different approach to the new sheet metal panels. Since I work in the aerospace industry, I know about the strength of epoxy bonding and rivet's. I didn't do any welding, all of the pieces were bonded using 3M panel bond adhesive. This is modern technology that is used in current manufacturing of cars, plus some additional fasteners and rivets to add insurance on the frame rails and quarter panels.

Panel bond adhesive also seal the joints, and prevents any possibility of moisture getting in there. The cleco's allowed me to fit most all of the panels in place and then attach them. Check out the link.

http://3mcollision.com/3m-panel-bonding-adhesive-08116.html

Ah! Very good. That's actually what I am using to replace my inner trunk extension.... Just have grown a big enough pair to cut the old one out for fear of cutting into the quarter panel.