Desert resurrection! 1973 Challenger - Updated pics! 4-16-2012!

[DMZ73]

MOre work today- I managed tot get the passenger Xtension panel bonded, as well as the passenger quarter panel. Word to the wise- Work efficiently as possible. have everything set up, and plenty of clamps.
I spread that adhesive out, and set the QP in place, and started clamping like mad. Before I got to adjusting the in/out by the latch, It was already roughly set. Its so close, Ill work with it.
The resto fo it is all good.
Pics to come.

Dan

[DMZ73]

Here are some shots from today's assembly.






Just a few clamps 



This stuff works pretty darn fast. A little too fast if you are not careful.
Its all good.
2 panels on, 2 to go.

Dan
Dan

[Topcat]

Looks great. Coming along nice. 

That's alot of Harbor Freight clamps on the wheel well?
Did you glue the outer wheel well edge on or weld it?

If I were to ever do a Quarter again, I would glue the wheel well lips togehter. Avoiding heat going up into the quarter.

Edit: Nevermind I read right after I posted you did adhesive them. Right on.

[DMZ73]

Just a nice shot of all the little clamps..




Dan

[DMZ73]

More pics: Driver's side Quarter Panel install. Panel bond in 90 degrees-Highly not recommended. It was setting up as I put it on the car. THAT'S TOO QUICK!!!

Pulled off the QP after everything was test fitted on and off a dozen times.


An overall shot


Some Rust mort applied and then some primer


Its on like Donkey Kong!


A little detai of the C pillar



now time to clean off the roof structure and treat the surface rust.


Both A pillar corners are pretty dirty. Looks like Im gonna wear this dust.


Overall, you can see how clean the floors are.
I need to do some cleanup on the roof skin, a little planishing and CAREFUL metal work. Then, at last, i will have a unibody after 5 years of cutting, fabbing, welding and grinding.

Dan

[EB3-GranCoupe]

fresh, new rear quarters!  very nice!! 

[Aloid]

Amazing work... scary to even think about doing what you guys are doing... impressive.

[whitesatinmopar]

  Looking good Dan, keep the updates comming.   

[ShelbyDogg]

Dan,

I was watching Spike TV's Muscle Car show.  They were bonding a roof on and selected a panel Bond adhesive that had a 45 minute "work time".   Didn't mention the brand.

That's just like me and bondo, with the hot temperature these days I try not to add alot of hardener.  After I get it all mixed up and start spreading it, it seems to firm up after about 20-30 seconds!    With a quarter panel and c-clamps like you are using, I would need about 20 hands to put them all on.

Nice job!!

[burdar]

I just went through this thread from the begining.  The car's comming along nicely.  Looks like your doing good work.

I was looking at the first picture you posted of when you got the car.  Do you think the Challenger emblem on the quarter is in the factory possition?  I've seen some cars where the emblem is centered over the side marker light...and I've seen some that are more to the rear like in your pic.

[DMZ73]

thanks for the compliments guys!
This is 5 years to date that I have been working on this car.
 
Bonding the panels on (with the 3m Panel bond) has been a great experience. The passenger went on without an issue- It was 70 degrees outside, and not real humid. Easily 45 minutes of work time.
The Drivers side was a little more intense. It was 90-95 degrees in the garage, and as I was a bit more than 1/2 way out on applying the bonding adhesive when I ran out of adhesive. I reloaded as fast as I could and got the rest applied just in time.
I think in total, I might have had 15-20 minutes tack time at best.
Very nerve racking.

When I do the roof skin this coming week, I will have another set of hands.
before I get to that point, that roof skin needs to be as good as I can get it. I wish I could just get  a new one. The one I have has a few dents, dings and some fab work on it, and makes me nervous, but should not be an issue.

"I was looking at the first picture you posted of when you got the car.  Do you think the Challenger emblem on the quarter is in the factory possition?  I've seen some cars where the emblem is centered over the side marker light...and I've seen some that are more to the rear like in your pic."

As far as I know, The position of the emblem on my car was original.
Dan

Dan

[torredcuda]

Nice work,I`ve never tried the panel bond route but looks like it worked good for you.

I also went back thru some of you old posts and noticed a pic of your caliper mounted upside down-shouldn`t the bleeder screw be towards the top otherwise you`ll never get the air out.You need to swap the calipers left to right me thinks.

[06Daytona]

Wow. The car is looking great. I may have questions when I get the paint off my quarters and see if they need replacing

[DMZ73]

jeffJeff,
yeah, I had the rotors on upside down, then flipped them to the correct position.
Thanks for the compliments.
I just whheled off the whole inner structure this morning, and coated it with a mild rust preventative. It's been fine for 40 yrs, should bevfibe forcanotger 40 when I'm done.
I'll prime it tomorrow, and then prep the underside of the roof skin.
Looks like I have a little metal work left to do on the skin before I can attach it.'
dan

[wagesofsin]

jeffJeff,
yeah, I had the rotors on upside down, then flipped them to the correct position.
Thanks for the compliments.
I just whheled off the whole inner structure this morning, and coated it with a mild rust preventative. It's been fine for 40 yrs, should bevfibe forcanotger 40 when I'm done.
I'll prime it tomorrow, and then prep the underside of the roof skin.
Looks like I have a little metal work left to do on the skin before I can attach it.'
dan

were you loaded when you typed that zimmerman?   

 
car is looking great , cant wait to see it finished , hope i live that long....
maybe my granddaughter will swing by the old dirt nap site with a pic