Trunk Floor Replacement - AMD vs. Classic Industries - Opinions Needed Please!!

[70_440-6Cuda]

Hi All -

OK, go the car to my friend's shop and we of course uncovered additional issues - drop offs need to be replaced as well as the center section and there is rust and bondo where the trunk floor meets the tail panel.

Fabricator says to replace the trunk reinforcements, lower crossmember and trunk lock support.  He says it is less money to replace than to try to salvage what is there due to the labor of cutting off every spot weld and patching existing damage.  Someone did some crap work slapping some bondo, angle iron and giant sheet metal screws all over everything.

2 Questions:
1. Would you try to salvage the original sheet metal or just move on with aftermarket?  This are will be the only sheet metal getting replaced on the car
2. Anyone know if the AMD vs. Classic Industries parts are the same manufacturer?  If so I can pick up at CI locally vs. shipping AMD parts, but can wait if there is any quality difference.

video link:
Trunk floor walk through

[Mopar5]

Personally I would definitely replace the truck pan and  possibly try to salvage the support (But why time wise?). The metal and holes in that pan looks really bad, by the time you fill them and grind them down (if you can) the metal will be paper thin from grinding and your welds will be full of porosity from all the rust. I can only speak for the  AMD trunk pan I received but the quality of the pan is great in my opinion.

[ec_co]

Classic Industries offers both the AMD pan and another brand that isn't quite as accurate, I would stick with the AMD one, it's what I put in and the fitment is good. Hold on to the remnants of your old pan for a minute until the new one comes in so you can duplicate a few of the holes, especially where the exhaust hangers are. Make sure the pan you get is for 1970 with the shock access holes on the top

[Mopar5]

Personally I would definitely replace the truck pan and  possibly try to salvage the support (But why time wise?). The metal and holes in that pan looks really bad, by the time you fill them and grind them down (if you can) the metal will be paper thin from grinding and your welds will be full of porosity from all the rust. I can only speak for the  AMD trunk pan I received but the quality of the pan is great in my opinion.

Here a few photos of a 2 piece pan I installed I kept the old extensions and latch assembly

[tparker]

I replaced my challenger trunk a while ago and was the one piece I butchered. I think I used classic industries but can't swear to it. The trunk has differences from the original.

Some thoughts from my build. A full pan is too big to get in unless you remove the rear from the frame and other stuff to slide it in. That is a lot of work. The two piece has to be welded together. They overlap and I stupidly decided to overlap them and it was terrible. I would probably save as much original metal and buy a full pan that I would use to cut out patch panels. But that depends on  how much you have to replace.

[70_440-6Cuda]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear at first-  I have the AMD full trunk pan and drop offs for each side

He doesn't want to salvage the supports because of the time it takes to remove all the existing spot welds, and the video link shows the rust and bondo on the rear lower panel

He said for the amount of time to salvage the rear panel and trunk supports I could buy those replacement pieces

[RUNCHARGER]

I would say your friend knows what he's doing, I would do as he suggests.

[70_440-6Cuda]

thanks @RUNCHARGER - I think I get hung up on trying to salvage every original piece of rotten sheet metal!

I spent 2 years collecting factory body work because the AMD fenders were so thin in comparison to originals - hunted down a couple of good header panels, a front valence, some really nice original headlight bezels and valence insert - probably overthinking at this point!

[Mopar5]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear at first-  I have the AMD full trunk pan and drop offs for each side

He doesn't want to salvage the supports because of the time it takes to remove all the existing spot welds, and the video link shows the rust and bondo on the rear lower panel

He said for the amount of time to salvage the rear panel and trunk supports I could buy those replacement pieces

Yes those parts look a bit hammered and new parts will look great and be nicer. But Im confused you will still have to take the time to drill the old spot welds to get the old parts out and prep the area for new metal or am I missing something here? You might save a little time on the supports but you still have to drill the pan spot welds to frame rails and a bunch of other spot welds.