converting a 72 challenger to a cuda ?

[72bluNblu]

I assume you got a 70 challenger grill....thats a good price if its in good shape!  the 72 fenders are totally different inside where the headlights mount up...there are several things you have to do including welding the 70 headlight bracket in...and finding the brackets to mount it.....good luck...I just bought 70 fenders because it was cheaper to buy a nice set of used fenders that it was make the 72 fenders work   72blunblu talked about it on the first page.....

Well, I wouldn't say the fenders are totally different. The only thing different is the headlight bracket. The inner structure of the fender is the same. There may be a few mounting holes missing from the '72+ fenders, but the structure is all the same.

Here's a picture of my '72's fender...


And here's a '70/'71. This is the headlight bracket and inner structure that was removed from the fender. You can see the inner structure behind the headlight bracket is the same, the headlight bracket just spot welds to the inner structure.



This is the other side from the bottom, you can see how the headlight bracket is spot welded into the inner structure.


So really, all you need is a set of headlight brackets like the one's BEA sells that I linked on the first page. They're not an exact match, you can see on the originals there's a long tab that extends forward, but it's not mission critical. The BEA parts bolt in too.


To that end, I actually removed the headlight brackets from the inner structures I had and sold them separately, putting them up side by side with the '72 and '70/71 fenders made it fairly obvious that the headlight brackets are the only major difference. Some of the holes for the latch panel and such will have to be drilled, but the metal is there.

[soundcontrol]

This is very good info 72bluNblu!

[72Fishy]

Thanks great pics too this will help a lot as I haven't found any pics like this of the 70 fenders to even see how it's made  . I called the manufacturer about those headlight plates BEA and he said they were for cuda's and has never seen them put in a challenger ! Why wouldn't they try as that's a hole other car they could market too. 

so to be clear 72bluNblu have you, or anyone ever put those head light plates on a challenger and if so how was the result?  Just trying to make sure it wont look like an abortion. It looks like everything will go together, but without having the parts in hand you don't know!

[OooohBarracuda]

Just toss a couple of Cuda badges on the Challenger, and see who believes it.

[72bluNblu]

Thanks great pics too this will help a lot as I haven't found any pics like this of the 70 fenders to even see how it's made  . I called the manufacturer about those headlight plates BEA and he said they were for cuda's and has never seen them put in a challenger ! Why wouldn't they try as that's a hole other car they could market too. 

so to be clear 72bluNblu have you, or anyone ever put those head light plates on a challenger and if so how was the result?  Just trying to make sure it wont look like an abortion. It looks like everything will go together, but without having the parts in hand you don't know!

No, I myself have not used those plates. I think there was someone on here that used them on a Barracuda as part of a clone to a '71 model year, but I can't seem to find it at the moment. I don't see why they would be a problem, all they do is hold the headlights in place and once the grille is installed they're not visible. As long as they were mounted solidly they should be fine. I would do a test fit with the grille before I finalized all the mounts to make sure everything lined up.

Just toss a couple of Cuda badges on the Challenger, and see who believes it.

Based on the number of times that people ask me about my "Charger" when I'm driving my Challenger I would have to say most people would believe it. Most folks would have no idea at all.

[72Fishy]

Well it looks like new fenders, quarter panels and tail pan are on the horizon. I tried to order from the US but to get it back to Canada the cost was three times the cost of the parts!!!$3200 cdn and not amd! I'm looking for some contacts, suppliers in Canada with reasonable rates I have the local guys but as my budget and income dictate I need to be patient and hunt for the better price! and help ,leads or suggestions would be great !Thanks 

[73sixpack]

Based on the number of times that people ask me about my "Charger" when I'm driving my Challenger I would have to say most people would believe it. Most folks would have no idea at all.

Have a friend who had a 70 Plum Crazy, 440 Mag, Challenger in the early 70's, and he was always calling it a Charger! He sold the car in the mid 70's, and to this day he refers to it as a Charger.

[ec_co]

Well it looks like new fenders, quarter panels and tail pan are on the horizon. I tried to order from the US but to get it back to Canada the cost was three times the cost of the parts!!!$3200 cdn and not amd! I'm looking for some contacts, suppliers in Canada with reasonable rates I have the local guys but as my budget and income dictate I need to be patient and hunt for the better price! and help ,leads or suggestions would be great !Thanks 

check with anlauto and maybe a couple other Canadian guys, you should  be able to get better pricing I would think

[72Fishy]

I looked it up is it a auto wreckers?and do they get new parts too! Thanks Anthony

[rUNCHARGER]

I don't know what part of Canada you are from but if you are near B.C. I know a guy that deals in AMD.

Sheldon

[72Fishy]

I live in Ontario hour and a half north of Toronto.