Progess on the Chilly-Challenger!!

[e-tek]

I welded on after market quarters to my Challenger, crimped 'em nice, finished them in and out with VERY little filler and THOUGHT everything was fine....until I went to re-install the rear valence. %$&(@!

Now I know aftermarket/jobber panels always need some tweaking, but this is rediculous!! The panels don't line up to the valnce at all! The areas for bolt/clip holes are different on both sides and one side didn't even HAVE holes!. So I'm trying to re-fabricate the %$#^ quarters including welding new tabs, drilling holes and more!

The second thing is, as I was fitting the rear bumper, I noticed it sure sits far from the body. It has rubber filler panels that take up all this room, but I had thought of both smoothing the bumper and tucking it closer to the body and eliminating the fillers.

My question Is: has anyone reading done either? Do you have any pics - either in-process or finished of this type of work? Even if it's a different vehicle - any bumper-tuck or smoothing pix would be great!

Here's what I have now:

 



 


Thanks for any help!!!

[rusty dodge]

Bumper = 70-72 brackets and a same year repo bumper will work. Cutting your bracket to move it in - never saw a post that someone has done that and made it work. Easier to get the 70-72 brackets. The 70-72 brackets won't match up to your bumpers holes, but if your intent is to paint your bumper, then you could weld it on to the bracket - or drill new holes - patch the old ones.

Valence = How about just welding it onto the quarters directly, Cut off the screw flange and fit it to the quarter. Worked good for me. If you do that, 1st make sure your rear leaf spring hangars are new. Will be difficult to hammer off the old ones. Also, the gas tank will come in-out with the vallence there, just slightly more difficult.

[73Chally]

Is your car a 73 or 74?  I just finished a resto on my 73, and did everything that you are doing, without any problems.  My body guy put on 2 new repro quarters and a new rear valence, and had very little trouble matching them up.  He had to do a little bit of tweaking, but nothing at all like what you have, so unfortunately I can't help you there.  Could it be possible that there was some frame damage from before that would cause the quarter panel alignment to look right, but still be off?

As far as the bumpers, I bought a set of 70 rear brackets, and the holes matched up with my original 73 bumper just fine.  The only thing I had to do was get the 2 holes where the bumperettes bolt on on the top of the bumper filled.  I got the bumper rechromed anyways so that just cost $20 I believe extra.  If you have a 74 bumper then you might need a 70-72, but I'm not sure about that.

Here's a link to my resto thread where I have some decent pictures of it going together.  http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=41828.0

[bb71challenger]

did you use the valance while you were lining up the new quarters? I would think that might help a bunch as a secondary backup to your measurements in making sure it all lines up right.

[73Chally]

did you use the valance while you were lining up the new quarters? I would think that might help a bunch as a secondary backup to your measurements in making sure it all lines up right.

Good point.  Now that you mention that I remember Craig saying that he left the back part of the quarters hanging, then put on the rear valence, and with it on and everything lined up, finished the welding on the quarters.

[e-tek]

First off, I noticed I posted this in two places - sorry!
Secondly - great comments, thanks for the help!
I lined up everything before hand, but as I said in my other (!) post, I had to make some compromises to get everything to fit and I was more concerned with the door and TL....now I have to dick around back here...
Rusty - I like what u did with the valence welded on, except I was wanting to keep the body lines - just might no be able to now - but like I say, yours looks good!
What I'm most peed about is how different the ends are that bolt to the valence I guess...but I'll get er. I'm going in now and I'll post up when I'm done. I'm gonna try and cut the brackets before buying new  - so maybe I'll be the first to post this fix! But first, I'm gonna check out 73Chally's build.
Cheers.

[bb71challenger]

I can tell you from personal experience that for some reason the YearOne dual cutout valance for Challengers has a totally different crimp on one side compared to the other. I have talked to a couple of people who had the same problems I did in getting the seams to align right on one side.

[e-tek]

OK, here's the update:

The difference is in the quarters - they are stamped totally differently where they each meet the valence - but it sounds like you can get a valence from YO that's different on both sides of the same piece! I'm not sure if that makes me feel better...






And here's my attemp to cut down my brackets to suck the bumper closer to body. I'll weld it up and try a fitment tommorrow.









Here it is - all cut and bent to fit. I'll weld it up, making sure it's level with the rear of car to minimize shimming.

 

[tactransman]

 

[e-tek]

Back after some fun and rewarding thrashing in the shop (off early Friday!!). Got the brackets welded back up and attached and the tiral fit was pretty dang close...or so i think - I'll let you be the judge I guesss (be kind...)









Now I just gotta fill the holes from the original rubber filler and finish it nice 'down there' where it would have been hidden by same. I'll also fill the bumber jack and bumperette holes in preparation for painting. I think it looks WAY better than when it was 4-5 inches from the rear end. Also saved myself about 120bucks and a couple weeks waiting on parts.
Cheers.

[ksierens]

Nice job, looking great!

[nivvy]

looks close to me...... welcome to the site. let me see if i got pics of my 72 somewhere...... 

[e-tek]

StoKer - not sure what I like more - your car with the body-colored bumpers....or the model under your name!! If there's more of either (hopefully both), I'd LOVE too se them!

[troutstreamnm]

Fab work looks great!  Good job solving that problem 

[e-tek]

Thanks guys - now I just need to finish up these quarter bottoms where they meet with the Valance - plus I wanted to fill the bumperette holes and make cut-outs for exhaust. I'll do some work on it this week and post up. I think what I'm gonna do, is make the R. qtr look like the left, which means rolling it under and creating a body line that's missing, so as to mount the valance.
I really want to get it ready for paint here.  I normally get it 100% ready, paint the inners, wet sand that, then have it painted at a shop nearby, but I think - since I set up my shop so nice lastyear! - I'm gonna attemp my first Base-Clear at home. Any advices? (as Arnold would say)...