72 Cuda Resurrection

[Edison1970]

I got some more work done since the last post.  Stripped the driver's rear quarter almost completely.  Cut out the weak spot in front of the wheel.  Patched it.  Also had to patch the inner fender behind the patch I cut out. 

You can see the little hole in the inner fender.  I opened it up to about the size of a dime before I hit good metal.

Nice amount of rust, acorns ect.

Patch fit pretty good.

It went in good except the right side pushed in slightly when I started to weld it.  Will need a little filler.

[ourname]

I can Relate to all you are doing. I am at paint stage with my 74. Replace full panels if you can. Less chance of rust coming from the inside later.

These are a labour of love.

Keep up to the good work.

[Edison1970]

Back at it again.  Good news, my wife bought me a blasting cabinet for my birthday.  Makes cleaning up the small parts a breeze.  Before I order my new sheet metal, I thought I would be certain that I can't salvage the driver's rear quarter.  After removing more paint and bondo, I also found there is rust under the lead where the roof meets the quarter.  Any suggestions on the easiest way to remove the lead?  I was really feeling good about the progress until I started this side of the car.

The previous body man did a good job hiding this one.  Since this was a race car, I assume the smacked a wall.

Some nice holes hiding behind duct tape.  Add this to another use for duct tape.

[dutch]

remove the lead with a small propane torch. Dont grind it off, the dust is toxic.

[Edison1970]

Thanks.  Will do.  Is the panel spot welded in the door jam?  On the passenger side, I didn't see any dimples from the spot welder.  I just saw a few lumpy welds.

[Edison1970]

Used a great tool at my friend's body shop today.  It is a sandblaster that has a vac built in.  You place the cup over the spot to blast and it comes clean without the sand going all over the place.  Used it on my pass door.  It had some small rust spots here and there.  Also fixed a few dents.

Here's the tool.

Door rust spots blasted clean.

[Edison1970]

Finished the welding on the passenger door today.
Now you see it.

Now you don't.

[Edison1970]

Did some more work on the car today.  Cut out more rust on the passenger side.  I did a patch in front of the rear wheel but there were three black spots toward the rocker that I persisted to push on with a center punch and finally pushed through.  When I peeled back the metal, there was a pile of debris behind it that was causing the rust.

I then started to cut the lower rear quarter to see if the trunk drop off needed replacing.  Didn't look bad.  None of the rust was through. Just trying to decide if I am going to cut it higher to the bottom of the marker light.  The only reason I might is there is a dent just below it.  I bought a Goodmark patch.  All I could afford right now.  Not a bad fit.  The only complaint I have is the lip on the edge of the fend doesn't have the contour that the original has.  Tends to go flat too soon. 




I think most of the crud behind the sheet metal is the tar coating the factory put in that fell off.

[Topcat]

Inner quarter  looks pretty bad.  Lots of pitting

Replace it 

[Edison1970]

Made some more progress this weekend.  Fitted the quarter panel patch.  Was a bit more of a challenge than I expected.  But it's finished.  Next I am going to replace the trunk gutter and patch an area of the filler panel.

[usraptr]

Nice work!

[Edison1970]

Replaced the passenger side trunk gutter and patched the gutter that is attached to the dutchman panel.  I used a piece of the the driver's side trunk gutter to make the patch. I think it came out pretty good.  I think I'm going to replace the trunk pan next then go to the driver's side rear quarter and trunk extension.

[mrbill426]

Looking good! 

[Edison1970]

I finally got the trunk pan removed.  I found evidence of some critters.  One frame rail was stuffed with a nest and the other with what looks like nuts.  Going to get the 2 piece Year One pan fitted by this weekend.



And for your viewing pleasure, I found an old Challenger ad and a picture of my Challenger.  I think this picture was taken around 1980.  I sure do miss that car.

[mrbill426]

The critters do love Mopars, I can vouch for that. 

I finally got the trunk pan removed.  I found evidence of some critters.  One frame rail was stuffed with a nest and the other with what looks like nuts.  Going to get the 2 piece Year One pan fitted by this weekend.