Author Topic: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?  (Read 4142 times)

Offline lemming303

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Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« on: February 04, 2011 - 09:10:52 AM »
I've read before that you should brace the inside of your car if you are gonna remove the rear quarters or floor pan since they are a big part of structural integrity. Where should I weld in the braces at? I was thinking from the rear door jamb to the opposite front door jamb. Thanks for the help! Also, pics would be great if you have them!
Kevin

73 Challenger Rallye - first project




Offline lemming303

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2011 - 12:25:00 PM »
I guess nobody has any idea. Well I saw some pics on Mopar Muscle Mag's site that showed it just going from door jamb to door jamb so that is what I'm gonna do.
Kevin

73 Challenger Rallye - first project

Offline Challenger6pak

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2011 - 07:17:04 PM »
Bracing the doors won't hurt.  You have to brace them on a convertible. You should be fine if you replace one panel at a time.  It is the best way to do it for panel allignment. When you cut off everything at once, the car will become unstable.  Also, make sure you are on a level surface and the car is level before welding it back together.  The old rule of measure twice, weld once, is a good one to follow. Before you do a final weld on the rear quarters, mount the rear valance, etc.  You may know all this.  I don't know your level of experience.
1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.

Offline lemming303

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2011 - 10:21:58 PM »
No, I'm actually very new to this. I need to cut both rear quarters off and the roof skin too. I guess I oughta leave the roof on. I'm trying to get as much of the bad metal out of the way so I can clean up the support structures and inside metal. Do the tires need to be aired up evenly? Because my front tires are both flat. They won't hold air for more than a day. Not sure if it's the rims but I will get them fixed if it is an issue.
Kevin

73 Challenger Rallye - first project

Offline Challenger6pak

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2011 - 12:19:40 AM »
I wouldn't use the tires.  Put it on 4 jackstands. It looks like you are on concrete in your pic.  If you are doing this in your garage, make sure welding sparks can't start a fire with anything you have in the garage. Most of the roof skin is spot welded on.  Underneath the roof skin is a frame that will keep everything together. I personally would do the roof first.  This way welding sparks won't ruin your new primer on other parts as they fall.  I think the order in which you do this is a preference thing.  There may not be a correct order.  Are your referring to the interior floor pan or the trunk floor pan? I would recommend going through the members restoration section.  You will see and learn a lot from there.
1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.

Offline Challenger III

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2011 - 10:21:28 AM »
I did my quarters and roof with the car sitting level on 4 tires. For the floor it's sitting on jackstands under the rockers and subframe rails (8 total).
Mike    Yakima, Washington

Resto Thread:  http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=66668.0

Offline lemming303

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2011 - 09:02:59 PM »
6pak, I have already gone through and cleaned the garage floor for welding. I got some time today to clean all the spot welds on the floor pan so that I will be able to cut them. As far as not messing up new primer, I haven't done any paint work at all. It is all the old paint on there now.

So you think I should do the roof first? I was really planning on doing the floor because what is in there now is badly rusted through. Then I was gonna cut the rear quarters off so I can get to the inside metal for blasting. I have decided to do the blasting myself, but it will be a few months before that. I still have to get my compressor to do that part. There is gonna be a lot of metal work. I am gonna have to replace to the tail light panel since it looks like it was rear ended.

Kevin

73 Challenger Rallye - first project

Offline Challenger III

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2011 - 09:11:22 PM »
Keep in mind the roof overlaps the quarter panels at the sail seams. If you're not removing the trunk floors, the car will still be relatively stable... enough to do the roof and quarters at the same time. I would definitely do the floor separately.  :2cents:
Mike    Yakima, Washington

Resto Thread:  http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=66668.0

Offline Challenger6pak

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2011 - 09:24:40 PM »
If the floors are worse than the roof, it may be a good idea to do them first.  This way the car will stay stable as you rebuild it.  There may be a proper order.  I seem to do cars in a different order depending on what they need. I do know that when you align all the bolt on sheet metal that you want to start at the rear of the car and work forward.  Have fun.
1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.

Offline Challenger III

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2011 - 09:28:33 PM »
 :iagree:
If the floors are worse than the roof, it may be a good idea to do them first.  This way the car will stay stable as you rebuild it. 
You can do either, then the other.  :2cents:
Mike    Yakima, Washington

Resto Thread:  http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=66668.0

Offline lemming303

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Re: Where to brace for rear quarter/floor pan removal?
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2011 - 09:07:11 PM »
OK, thanks for the info. Based on what yall have told me, I think my best route will be to replace the floor pan, then the trunk pan, then the quarters and last the roof. I'll update my resto thread when I start doing the actual work. I haven't done anything to that thread in over a year....

Thanks again for all the help yall!
Kevin

73 Challenger Rallye - first project