The Dark Horse project

Author Topic: The Dark Horse project  (Read 71043 times)

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #120 on: May 10, 2009 - 01:27:41 PM »
More work on the tail panel area.


Section removed (passenger side).




Section removed (drivers side).



Here's that whole section (will compare against template I made earlier to make sure things look ok.




I also removed the bottom 1 inch or so of the tail panel to get rid of the rusty area.




I used some phone line stretched between the tail panel mounting holes to keep the cut level. Didn't turn out too bad!  :thumbsup:



Next item of business: fab up the lower section of tail panel from scratch and weld it on. I'll be doing that for the next couple of hours (awesome birthday present for myself!). Then I can fab the joining area between the tail panel and trunk floor.
Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500




Offline 71_340Challenger

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #121 on: May 10, 2009 - 01:46:23 PM »
 :worshippy Amazing work. Keep it up. I know it is an inspiration to me to get out and start fabbing up some repair panel for my 71 Challenger. 
1971 Dodge Challenger                
2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, 6 speed manual
2009 Dodge Charger R/T w/ Road & Track Package
1995 Ford F-150

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #122 on: May 10, 2009 - 11:44:22 PM »
:worshippy Amazing work. Keep it up. I know it is an inspiration to me to get out and start fabbing up some repair panel for my 71 Challenger.

Just keep at it! I took my own inspiration from others on the board, so I know what you mean.

And speaking of fabbing... :) Here's the rest of the work from today.


Nice shiny new metal to fab stuff from. :)




First half of the fabbed section in. Just tack welds for now till both sections are in place. So far, so good!

Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500

Offline fantum

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #123 on: May 11, 2009 - 01:33:01 AM »
Nice to see you back.  I was watching your project enjoying your progress, and then - all of a sudden - NOTHING!!!!  I was going through withdrawals. Now, maybe things will get back to normal.

Hope to see more of your project.


MIKE
Mike

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #124 on: May 20, 2009 - 10:38:43 PM »
Nice to see you back.  I was watching your project enjoying your progress, and then - all of a sudden - NOTHING!!!!  I was going through withdrawals. Now, maybe things will get back to normal.

Hope to see more of your project.

MIKE

Thanks Mike! I was going through withdrawls too!  :lol2: So far I'm doing pretty good for updates, hopefully we can keep em rolling along smoothly!
« Last Edit: May 20, 2009 - 10:40:23 PM by rtgambit »
Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #125 on: May 20, 2009 - 11:04:58 PM »
Oh ya, updates. I knew I was out in the garage for a reason. :)

Finally got back out to finish the lower rear panel. I swear the honey-do list is never-ending! :)


Nothing too drastic today, just finish up the welding job I started a couple Sundays back. I started with spot welds about two inches apart and finished the rest of the seam on them.




Getting better! Still not perfect, but definite improvement over my first attempts at welding.




I guess doing the stitch method does help prevent warping. Check it out!



Next I'll be tackling the rear panel to trunk floor section. Looks like I'll be doing a bit of fabbing for this! :woohoo:

Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #126 on: June 11, 2009 - 01:15:13 AM »
My resto schedule got a bit of a shock over the last couple of weeks. But I've settled onto the new shift at work, so I'll get some work in almost every day during the week when I put Abby down for her nap.

First bit of work is putting the template of the old section down and tracing it out.




I can only do one side at a time (sheet metal wasn't long enough to go all the way across). Here's the first part cut out and marked where the bend needs to happen.




I call this the poor mans sheet metal brake. I really need to save up to get one someday. Hopefully before I finish the car.




I've checked this first piece on the car and it looks good! Just a little bit of trimming and I can tack it into place. The second one should be just as easy!
Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500

Offline fletch

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #127 on: June 11, 2009 - 05:54:20 AM »
Great resto thread Matthew.

Good to see your'e getting back into it.I've got a similar amount to do on my 70.
Gives me inspiration to get started on it.

Keep up the good work. :2thumbs:


Craig
Craig
1970 Cuda
1970 Challenger
1970 Mustang
2004 Falcon Ute

Offline Mr. 440SixPack

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #128 on: June 11, 2009 - 04:51:24 PM »
I've read this topic and i am amazed how much will you have to do a restoration like this... :worshippy :worshippy :worshippy
I am being sick and hopeless just looking at all that rust on the photos. :eek4:

Keep up the good work!
My dream: 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda 440+6 Pack/4 speed Pistol Grip/Dana 60 rearend/PS, PB/Lime Light/Shaker hood/Rallye dash...


Offline DMZ73

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #129 on: June 11, 2009 - 08:54:16 PM »
 :working:
Welcome back Mathew! Geez, I had to go back and re read the whole project.
I know how tough it is with young kids and a job. The wife lets me work on the car when the kids are asleep. Just no loud work... :nono: my kids are now 3and 5 and getting a little more self sufficient, this giving me more time.
Glad to see you are back at it. You have done an awesome job thusfar. You should post a pic of the parts car. Keep up the good work!
Dan
One E body saved, 7 years and counting.

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #130 on: June 12, 2009 - 04:38:31 PM »
I've read this topic and i am amazed how much will you have to do a restoration like this... :worshippy :worshippy :worshippy


Trust me, it's much easier when you don't realize how much work you have cut out for you.  :lol:
Thanks for the compliment!


:working:
Welcome back Mathew! Geez, I had to go back and re read the whole project.
I know how tough it is with young kids and a job. The wife lets me work on the car when the kids are asleep. Just no loud work... :nono: my kids are now 3 and 5 and getting a little more self sufficient, this giving me more time.
Glad to see you are back at it. You have done an awesome job thusfar. You should post a pic of the parts car. Keep up the good work!
Dan


Yeah, it's much easier now that Abby will be 3 in August. Her afternoon naps are definitely gonna give the project a big boost, along with my free Fridays.

I don't know about "awesome", but I've been trying the best I can (with what I have). I'll see if I can find the leftover bits of the parts car to take a picture of.

Overhead view of the replacement section.




I tried to match the bends from the factory panel. I think I came pretty close.




First spot welds joining the panels together. Not bad!

« Last Edit: June 13, 2009 - 12:17:25 AM by rtgambit »
Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #131 on: June 13, 2009 - 12:17:48 AM »
I went back out and did some more drilling and welding. It almost looks like factory spot welds! (almost...)




In the trunk view of the finished section.




An under-view of that same area. The second half awaits!

Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500

Offline DMZ73

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #132 on: June 13, 2009 - 02:40:15 PM »
NIce Fab work!

Keep it up. If you are interested and need them, I have from the frame rail to the e trunk extensions, leftovers from my floor pan install.

Lemme know.

Dan
One E body saved, 7 years and counting.

Offline burnt orange

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #133 on: June 14, 2009 - 12:50:16 AM »
What a great thread.  I am just starting to do a driver-quality resto on my 70.  I am so relieved to see what an amateur (no offence) can accomplish.  It gives me hope that perhaps I am not in way over my head!   :22yikes:  I hope I can do somewhere near the quality that you have done on yours.  :cheers:

Keep the pictures coming.
< ° ) ) >< 

Offline rtgambit

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Re: The Dark Horse project
« Reply #134 on: June 15, 2009 - 12:37:02 AM »
NIce Fab work!

Keep it up. If you are interested and need them, I have from the frame rail to the e trunk extensions, leftovers from my floor pan install.

Lemme know.

Dan

Thanks Dan, but I've got them taken care of already.

Oh, you were asking about the parts car - I'll post pics of it when I get back on later on today, too. I hadn't realized how spread out it is now. :)
Matthew
1967 Dodge Dart GT
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
2014 Ram 1500