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E-Bodies Cuda & Challenger (sponsor: ROSEVILLE MOPARTS) => Your Restoration project (ROSEVILLE MOPARTS) => Topic started by: Shawn on August 23, 2018, 09:40:35 PM

Title: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Shawn on August 23, 2018, 09:40:35 PM
This car had sat for over ten years, nearly finished, after previous owner died.
I started this restoration Nov 2017.
This is how it looked when we received it.
Quarters, jams, inside trunk, engine compartment and interior compartment nicely painted in a base / clear.
Fenders, doors and hood in high build primer with rust starting to fester.
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Cuda Cody on August 23, 2018, 10:36:19 PM
  :popcorn:   :)
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: 6bblgt on August 23, 2018, 11:43:38 PM
 :welcome: & tell/show "US" more
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Morty426 on August 24, 2018, 01:14:47 AM
This thread needs more posts
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: dodgemania on August 24, 2018, 03:02:08 AM
 :welcome: to the site.  :cheers:  and yes tell us more about it..
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: JS29 on August 24, 2018, 07:28:35 AM
 :welcome: From central New York! Inquiring minds want to know.   :needphotos:
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: RUNCHARGER on August 24, 2018, 07:41:11 AM
Looks interesting all right.
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: BIGSHCLUNK on August 24, 2018, 09:15:06 AM
A 'vert w a HEMI and a SHAKER.... what's not to like?   :ohyeah:
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Shawn on September 20, 2018, 09:37:49 PM
Sorry been busy, time to add to this post.
The festering primed panels were removed and stripped with 36 grit stick-it discs on a 8 inch air polisher, and then blasted with glass. Some hammer and dolling, welding of cracks and previous attempted welds ground back and re-welded.
The quarters, deck lid filler panel, rockers.... basically, the rest of the car was stripped and glass blasted to revel a lot of WTF! Horrible patches, rust holes and attempted welds over leaded seams. It was a mess! Lower quarter panel interior and exterior panels from AMD were welded in behind the rear wheels. In front of the rear wheel AMD doesn't make a panel for the lower quarter, We purchased the DS lower quarter in front of wheel (PS was out of stock), from Sherman, what junk! After much cutting and reshaping it was welded in. PS we just made our own panel from scratch. Then x2 coats of epoxy prime over entire car. Then it was taken off the rotisserie and put on a roll around table.
The fenders, doors, hood, deck lid and new AMD front and rear valances were put back on the chassis and hours of alignment, proper panel fitment was achieved, discrete index holes were drilled to get these panels back exactly as aligned after they are painted off the car.  Then the filler and putty work commenced. I'm not fast at filler work, but I'm good. After many hours and hours, it was blocked down with 80 grit then 150 grit. Then x3 coats of spray-able filler was applied to exterior panels and blocked down with 150 then 220 grit. Doors, fenders, valances, hood and deck lid were removed, and each panel was sprayed with x3 coats of high build, all jams and the truck floor too. Jams sanded with 320 then finished with 500 grit.
The chassis was put back on the rotisserie, the underside was undercoated (sorry purists it's how I like it) with 3M body shoots, and the passenger compartment floors were also undercoated to add sound deadening.
Put the chassis back on the roll around and reinstalled the exterior panels (love those indexing holes!). Exterior panels were blocked with 320 then 400 wet sanded. Etch primer sprayed over any small spots that blocked through the primer.
I'll post pics when whatever glitch that's preventing me from attaching pics is fixed.
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: RUNCHARGER on September 21, 2018, 07:20:47 AM
Tons of gruntwork that feels like it will never end.
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Shawn on September 21, 2018, 06:25:48 PM
Some of the crap found under the painted quarters.
Rust holes just covered with filler.
Horribly formed and welded patches.
Attempts to weld over leaded seams.

Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Shawn on September 22, 2018, 06:47:06 PM
The glass blasting was finished, patches welded, dents pulled, and all the hammer and dollying done. The entire car is sprayed with x2 coats of epoxy primer and remaining low spots marked.
Filler and putty work in progress.

Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: nsmall on September 23, 2018, 01:26:34 AM
Good thing you double checked whats under the primer.  Glad to see you are correcting what you find so you dont have do it again.  Nothing worse then doing the same job twice.
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Morty426 on September 24, 2018, 08:57:12 PM
Quote from: nsmall on September 23, 2018, 01:26:34 AM
Good thing you double checked whats under the primer.  Glad to see you are correcting what you find so you dont have do it again.  Nothing worse then doing the same job twice.

Ain't that the truth
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: Chryco Psycho on September 24, 2018, 10:08:48 PM
looking good , glad you found the poor repairs under the paint  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: anlauto on September 25, 2018, 04:02:21 AM
Man if I only had a nickel for every time I found crappy repairs under nice paint...good decision  :twothumbsup:
Title: Re: 70 Challenger RT convertible 426 tribute build
Post by: RUNCHARGER on September 25, 2018, 07:14:45 AM
Ha! When I see projects in primer and billed as ready for paint or ready for final blocking I cringe. You know you have to strip all the primer off to see the real story.