My '72 B5 'cuda Project

[brianz426]

Wow you are making great progress, keep going.
Thanks for the updates.

['cudaCruiser]

Drivers quarter patches are in. I hope I didn't make too much of a mess of it. Definitely gonna be relying on Bondo to finish it out.



I found something behind the dash I didn't see before. I guess that'll be the next repair.



Then I'll work on this...



Does anyone have this part? Is it a part of the drip rail? I'm really not happy with what I did to the other side...

[bandt]

Just found this thread, your doing a great job.

To minimize panel warpage try this. Once you have the fit you want, tighter the better. Tack the entire seam. Weld about a inch at a time then using an air gun blow on the weld until it is cool to the touch. Do this process until the area is done. This will almost eliminate warping. Its time consuming but you will be happy with the end result.

Brian

['cudaCruiser]

I took my time with the stitch welds letting them cool to the touch before moving along.
It actually took me two days to weld it in with all the other things I've got going on around here.
The problem with this panel was it just didn't have the right contour for some reason.
Half the seam from the rear to the middle lined up great. No problems there.
The half from the wheel well to the middle didn't. That eight inches or so of seam will need maybe an 1/8" of
Bondo build up a couple of inches wide.

[70burntorangeT/A]

I took my time with the stitch welds letting them cool to the touch before moving along.
It actually took me two days to weld it in with all the other things I've got going on around here.
The problem with this panel was it just didn't have the right contour for some reason.
Half the seam from the rear to the middle lined up great. No problems there.
The half from the wheel well to the middle didn't. That eight inches or so of seam will need maybe an 1/8" of
Bondo build up a couple of inches wide.

My challenger lower quarter patch didnt fit at all either...dont worry though, if you spend some time working it over with bondo you will never see it. My dad worked mine over and i cant see any imperfections in it at all and i even know where to look.

as far as the bottom part of the drip rail, im pretty sure i have a piece you could use for patches, but its from a challenger.

['cudaCruiser]

My challenger lower quarter patch didnt fit at all either...dont worry though, if you spend some time working it over with bondo you will never see it. My dad worked mine over and i cant see any imperfections in it at all and i even know where to look.

as far as the bottom part of the drip rail, im pretty sure i have a piece you could use for patches, but its from a challenger.

So that is what you get when you order the drip rail kit? I'll order the drip rail kit if it includes that rusted out part.

[70burntorangeT/A]

So that is what you get when you order the drip rail kit? I'll order the drip rail kit if it includes that rusted out part.

I have a used section from a 74 challenger i cut up, i dont know if its rusted out or not i would have to look. If it have it then you can have it for free, just pay shipping. It is back in Arkansas, i am in Colorado. I am going back to Arkansas at the end of May. If you dont want to wait that long on a piece i may or may not have i understand.

[Challenger III]

  Nice job on the quarter patch.  That is your roof structure that is rusted. the drip rail is just that .... the rail that the top welds to.
here's the roof structure before the rail is on (Challenger)

Here's the rail welded to the structure.

Then the top welds to the rails

Hope this helps!

['cudaCruiser]

Yeah it does help. So I guess I'll have to improvise...?
Thanks

['cudaCruiser]

Patched the hole in the cowl...




...and the rocker panel.




Inner fender battery tray location will be next.

['cudaCruiser]

Back to work!
Cut out the rust...



...replace with new!



I'm happy with it.

Firewall behind the brake booster next.

['cudaCruiser]

Patched the firewall...



...the hole behind the dash...



...and the battery tray location on the inner fender.



That takes me all the way around the car. Next I guess I'll turn her on her side and clean up the bottom side
so I can get the rear end and front end back under the car and get her back on her wheels.

['cudaCruiser]

Turned her sideways and spent hours with a wire brush on my drill.




The areas that have been soaked in transmission fluid or motor oil comes off easily.



So I will probably leave the factory under coating that is still adhering and just clean up and re-coat the
areas that need it. I can reach most of the under side with the drill and brush, but I'm thinking of getting
one of those cheap Harbor Freight spot blasters to get up into the corners and crevices.

[Challenger III]

Great patch work! You have convinced me on the rotisserie thing. I'm going nuts working under the car, my eyes are full of junk... even with goggles / faceshield! 

['cudaCruiser]

That's exactly why I have mine on a rotisserie.