My '72 B5 'cuda Project

['cudaCruiser]

I feel like I had a productive day finally.
I straightened the rear valance to a fairly acceptable shape.
It will still need some tweaking.


And the tail light panel is closer to being right.


I separated the deck lid and will start trying to straighten it next...


...but I don't know...
...will it ever look right after the filler, primer, and paint?

[Chlngrcrzy]

 :eek7:I would probably go with a new one. But you have done some great fabricating. see what you can do with the lid.

[Travis72]

Given that the new repo deck lids are supposed to be nice... you'll have to determine how much your time is worth.  Meaning are you going to have to spend 40 hours working on the one you have to try and get it straight. 

Anyway, good work so far!

Travis
72 Cuda

['cudaCruiser]

I've still got some work to do on the deck lid...


...but the car has come a long way from where it was on it's last day on the road...


...and that's all I can do for now. Hopefully I can spend more time on the car next time.
I'm getting "antsy". 

['cudaCruiser]

It's been more than three months since I've done anything to the car.
Weather, holidays, work...
...you know, life stuff.
I just couldn't go back to work without doing something to the car
so I pushed out and turned it around. 



But I did do some piddlin' around with it. The deck lid ain't gonna work. Just too many stretched out places
for my limited skills to deal with. The picture doesn't show it very well, but it has several high and low
places that I just can't work out. So I'll be shopping for a new one.



Hammered out the trunk gutter also.

['cudaCruiser]

In an effort to continue moving forward, and make myself feel like I haven't neglected the project,
I separated the rear-end from the springs.



And the bumper is probably beyond my skill level as well.
Any recommendations on the best place to get a bumper?

[macsdaddy]

"And the bumper is probably beyond my skill level as well"

I dunno thats a pretty big hammer in the picture

[72hemi]

Year One sells repop bumpers. They work but the chrome is definitely not show quality, granted a lot of people won't know the difference. They run about 500 a set. If it were me I would take both bumpers to a good plating shop and see what they say. Nothing like original parts.

['cudaCruiser]

Year One sells repop bumpers. They work but the chrome is definitely not show quality, granted a lot of people won't know the difference. They run about 500 a set. If it were me I would take both bumpers to a good plating shop and see what they say. Nothing like original parts.

I'd rather have original. A good chrome shop can straighten it?

[73inCanada]

Hello and welcome...thanks for all the great pics...I hope to do the same oneday.

[mrob]

I've had pretty good luck with a company called Tri City Plating (located in Tennessee). Their pricing seemed pretty reasonable and the quality of their plating seemed good. What sold me on them was their lifetime warranty. I got a rear bumper for my 71 Challenger R/T from them and installed it. A few years later I noticed a few bluish spots around the bumper guards, so I called them and asked them if it was covered under their warranty. They told me that it sounded like the chrome plating may have been a little thin in those areas and they would replace the bumper. I took the bumper to Chryslers at Carlisle and they replaced it free of charge. A nice change from the usual hassle you get whenever you bring up a warranty issue.
Here's their website and phone number: http://www.tricityplating.com/  . I think the guy I dealt with was named Wayne.

[brianz426]

I'd rather have original. A good chrome shop can straighten it?

Keep up the great work, your project seems to be moving right along. You are much better off trying to restore your original bumpers then buying repros.

['cudaCruiser]

When I started this project I thought finding the money would be the biggest hinderence. Now It seems finding the time to work on it is. But I do manage to do at least something when I'm home.
The quarter panel and extension are welded in place.





 

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Good work takes time........keep it up.............

[70burntorangeT/A]

I bought repo bumpers from year one and suprisingly they were alot better then i thought they would be, however it took them 13 WEEKS to get them sent to me. I will agree that a rechromed one would be nicer, i was at a swap meet a couple of months ago and there was a company there that had the most beautiful bumpers I had ever seen, and they were selling those bumpers faster then they could unload them off the trailer, so i went over there and they had mostly chevy and ford stuff but had a few mopar bumpers too, so i took a look and they had a front and rear bumper for 70-71 challengers, 1200 bucks a set, that was if you gave them your cores, I got mine from year one for a little under 450, I got a 20 % discount somehow .  if i had the money i would get rechromes, if you are on a budget get the ones from year one, you wont be dissapointed with them.