70 Challenger replacement cowl piece

[outofcadence]

   I power washed the car this weekend and found an unpleasant surprise in the cowl on the driver side.  I pulled out an old T-shirt and about 10 square inches of metal.  This is a bit beyond my limited fabrication and welding skills and I can't find a replacement online.  It looks like I need to cut out the inner fender brace and then remove the cowl, but I would like to find a replacement rather that build it myself.

Any recommendations for this piece?

[360 'CUDA]

Sorry to hear about that OC.  That is one of the hardest fixes in the hobby.  Moparclown is great at that fix and he has a thread about it..


http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=25606.105

[Top Banana]

  I power washed the car this weekend and found an unpleasant surprise in the cowl on the driver side.  I pulled out an old T-shirt and about 10 square inches of metal.  This is a bit beyond my limited fabrication and welding skills and I can't find a replacement online.  It looks like I need to cut out the inner fender brace and then remove the cowl, but I would like to find a replacement rather that build it myself.

Any recommendations for this piece?

There's one on ebay right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300123895820&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

I've got a replacement for mine, because I have similar problems, but it's a 70 Challenger U code convertible and probably worth the effort!?!

[Lunchbox]

I've got a replacement for mine, because I have similar problems, but it's a 70 Challenger U code convertible and probably worth the effort!?!

They are all worth it 

Lunch

[Challenger6pak]

To start with, don't panic.  Your car won't fall apart.  If you look on the other side of the brace you will see a drain hole for the cowl. Your rust is just inches away from the drain hole.  Until you can fix it you have an extra drain hole.  Until you can fix it you need to treat the rust with some type of sealent to keep the rust where it is so it doesn't spread.  If that is the only rust hole you have it is an easy fix and you won't need a cowl. If you want to drive the car for awhile and the hole bothers you take a piece of Scotchbrite and soak it in fiberglass resin.  Before the resin hardens put the Scotchbrite in the hole.  That will work as a temporary fix.  I am approaching this as a driver with a temporary fix.  To properly restore your car you will need to remove the rust area and weld new metal in place of the old.

[360 'CUDA]

There's one on ebay right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300123895820&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

The guy with the ads should have at least put the word Cowl in his Item Title 

He's losing money if he doesn't

[moparclown]

 360cuda Thanks for the compliment
This one arrived today so I had to take it apart--wooooo hhooooo

[Challenger6pak]

I would find out what that guy means by a $50 package fee.  It's not like he is boxing a grill.  A box built with a double wall cardboard refigerator box will work fine.  I will charge $5 to get materials and build a large box.  $50 is way too high. 

[Top Banana]

This is the replacement I bought off ebay last month for $332.  It came with a few extras. {:>)  Up until that time, the best price I got for just the cowl and firewall was $1,500!!!!!  This one did cost me $75 in diesel fuel to pick it up. 

[360 'CUDA]

This is the replacement I bought off ebay last month for $332.  It came with a few extras. {:>)  Up until that time, the best price I got for just the cowl and firewall was $1,500!!!!!  This one did cost me $75 in diesel fuel to pick it up. 

Do you mean $332 for the cowl or the whole car ?   

[outofcadence]

Thanks for the quick response. THis is the only rotted out area in the cowl and overall it is very clean.  The shot above is the worst spot on the entire car.  I am looking for a fix that will be relatively permanent.  This car is garaged in AZ and not a daily driver, so if I can stop the spread it should last for a long time.  What you can't see is the the other hole going into the interior, so if it do get caught in the rain, I really do have extra drain holes (but I will need wear my hip waders while driving ).  I may cut the rotted metal out, treat with a rust blocker, and use a fiberglass patch to seal in the holes.

At some point, I may tear back into this area, but other pieces may take priority... 

[Challenger6pak]

It would be best to fix it properly.  If the rust spreads you can end up needing a cowl.  It is hard to judge without seeing it in person. Either way you do need to stop water from comming in.

[Top Banana]

Do you mean $332 for the cowl or the whole car ?   

All of the car you see in the picture. 
 

[360 'CUDA]

All of the car you see in the picture. 
 

That's what I thought 

[miketyler]

yup - I got mine from a Challenger, I think it was around $350 shipped for the top cowl and firewall complete and cut large to ease separation.     Took me several months to find it.

$1500 for a top cowl is crazy talk.