Author Topic: 71 tailpanel prep (Read 1740 times)

bb71challenger · « **on:** June 20, 2009 - 12:10:50 AM »

I am going to repaint my tailpanel and I want to tighten the 2 rivets where the pieces are put together. Anyone have any trouble doing that? I will have a pretty healthy stereo in my car and I was wondering what you guys would do to keep those 2 pieces from vibrating? I was thinking of putting some epoxy on the backside to keep everything as one piece, I dont think just tightening the rivets will do it. What I was going to do is get a piece of wood and use that as a base for the outside part of the panel and then use a small hammer and just fold the rivets in little by little like a reciprocating hammer. Thanks for any advice or personal experience you guys can give me.

Slotts · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2009 - 06:38:33 PM »

Hey Brett,

I think I would not be in favor of playing around with those rivets. It's good ole' brittle pot metal. I think you were on the right track with some sort of adhesive or caulking. Maybe 3M body sealer or silicone might do the job for you.

Not sure what music you are preping for? Maybe some Kenny G would solve the whole issue.

Slotts

bb71challenger · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2009 - 06:53:23 PM »

Quote from: Slotts on June 20, 2009 - 06:38:33 PM

Hey Brett,

I think I would not be in favor of playing around with those rivets. It's good ole' brittle pot metal. I think you were on the right track with some sort of adhesive or caulking. Maybe 3M body sealer or silicone might do the job for you.

Not sure what music you are preping for? Maybe some Kenny G would solve the whole issue.

Slotts

Thanks for the input Jim. They look to be in really great shape but I do know how unpredictable potmetal is. I would love to get rid of the seam in the middle but I think that would take away from the stock look although I think it makes the tailpanel look kinda cheap. I guess with some sillycone on there is will be pretty stable once the speednuts go on. I think even Kenny G might have some decent bass in there somewhere and that is my main concern. Love the bass, hate the resonance that it brings with it. Dont get me wrong, I love getting a free back rub and feeling the hairs on my legs and arms move I just hate how it does that free backrub thing to the car also

hemiken · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2009 - 07:08:38 PM »

Hey Brett, Just a suggestion buddy. Maybe you should just shave your legs and play Alvin and the Chipmunks, then you will have no drama at all with worrying about the base shaking that tail panel loose

just a thought buddy............

sorry, it was begging to be said......

Slotts · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2009 - 07:14:25 PM »

Brett,

Here is a tailpanel that I did not that long ago. With the black, if yours in an R/T, really hides the seam. The silver is not so forgiving.

Good luck!

Jim

bb71challenger · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2009 - 07:55:12 PM »

Dear Ken, I already shave my legs but then you know that buddy

I bet I am just catching crap for posting that youtube video of Cliff Richards

Jim, yeah its silver, I already have the 134 dollar rattle can paint from Totally Auto. I started to try and tighten the pieces but your words of wisdom made me stop after a few half hearted whacks. I will just smear some sort of sealant into the backside of the seam and call it good. The seam looks good from the front its just that the two pieces articulate more than I would want. That all goes away though when the panel is bolted down. Thanks for the comments guys. I have already gave the panel a good washing and my plan is to hit the grille silver parts and then mask and paint the textured argent last.

hemiken · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2009 - 08:04:37 PM »

Hey Brett, i did not want to start any rumours about your legs, glad it is just us that read this post

Anyway, i was thinking, if you were to re-apply paint with the textured argent when the tail panel was installed, you may be able to build that area with paint in the join to hide it better ? now it is sealed from behind ?

bb71challenger · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2009 - 08:15:18 PM »

Yeah I bet I can do that but I am afraid without the pieces being rigid that the extra paint will just flake out of the seam. I am not too worried about the seam its on all 71's and it does not look bad. I just want the panel to be solid, mkay? I guess I might touch it up once its mounted in the way you are describing eh?

hemiken · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2009 - 08:19:36 PM »

Are you talking about your legs or back on to the car ? because moistureiser would be best for them

Kidding.........

I think the panel would be solid enough when mounted that it would be sterdy with a full steel panel that it mounts too, i would not think it gets too much flex, post up once you have done it to show how it looks please.

rallye73 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2009 - 09:14:20 PM »

3m auto mix adhesive (panel bond) would work real well on the back side to hold the two pieces together.

bb71challenger · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2009 - 10:44:06 PM »

It was getting dark when I got masked off and the first coat on there. Had a few places where the original argent was scraped off but I just painted over that. I hope it was not a mistake but the areas were down where the bumper meets the panel anyway. I will see how it looks in the morning after everything dries. Thanks for the sealer suggestion John. LOL@Ken and the moisturizer comment. I will post pics only if it looks good tomorrow lol.

hemiken · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2009 - 06:53:32 AM »

Best of luck with your ~~Legs~~ i mean tail panel, still want pictures regardless please Brett, would like to see it masked up in fact

bb71challenger · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2009 - 10:05:03 AM »

Sorry Ken, I took the masking off as soon as I got up this morning. The tape took some of the silver off in a couple of places so I will have to mask it back up in a couple of places to touch it up. The panel is not perfect as it had been hurt in a couple of places over the years. They are so slight and so few that I just thought it would be best to leave it as is for 2 reasons. One is the argent although faded was in good shape. Two is the brittle nature of the pot metal. I was right in the fact that the original argent seams a bit more textured and if I had started with a blasted panel it would not have looked as good as the original imo. I will post pics later today.

wally426ci · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2009 - 10:10:28 AM »

If something happens and it seperates, it doesnt really matter b/c when you bolt it up it all tightens together.

bb71challenger · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2009 - 04:47:24 PM »

No way its going to fall apart it just has some play in the rivets. Here are a few pics I took. I just laid the Challenger emblem in there for the last one. I think it came out nice for a driver quality panel.