Well, as mentioned in my "Dakota starter" thread I would post up some results of seeing my car at the shop. Nope, he didn't exaggerate, it's a mess back there. This is what we came up with as an AMD shopping list.
L & R - Rear frame rails
Pair - Rear footwell area floor pans
One - Rear floor
One - Upper rear crossmember/shock mount
Pair - Rear seat belt mounting brackets
L & R - Inner wheel housings
L & R - Outer wheel housings
L & R - Leaf spring mounts
L & R - Rear torque boxes (AMD doesn't have these, I'll look somewhere else)
My buddy doing the torque converter is an AMD dealer and has a US address so I'll probably get the bulk of the sheetmetal through him. The pictures don't really show the mess back there accurately.
:unbelievable: Sorry John.... looks like you have the perfect winter time project ! :wrenching:
Wow, that really sucks but it looks like it can all be done without getting into paint.
Pretty soon it could look like this.
I feel your pain, been going through some of the same issues with rear frame rail repair, leaf spring perch replace, torsion bar mount repair, and new floor pans on passenger side. With old cars and old houses it's not where do you start, but where do you stop.
Quote from: BIGSHCLUNK on September 14, 2019, 10:38:58 AM
Sorry John.... looks like you have the perfect winter time project !
I'm just taking off what I can (valance, bumper, interior, top & pump/cylinders/lines, carpet, console, etc) and paying someone to do the metal work.
Quote from: blown motor on September 14, 2019, 10:48:46 AM
Wow, that really sucks but it looks like it can all be done without getting into paint.
Yep, I'm glad about that.
Quote from: 70 Challenger Lover on September 14, 2019, 10:50:14 AM
Pretty soon it could look like this.
That gave me a laugh - thanks.
I recommend this as step 1. It will save a lot of trouble in the end.
http://www.dynacorn.com/ShowItem.aspx?item=6000WT
Quote from: RUNCHARGER on September 14, 2019, 11:56:56 AM
I recommend this as step 1. It will save a lot of trouble in the end.
http://www.dynacorn.com/ShowItem.aspx?item=6000WT
Thanks I'll pass this onto to the metal guy when I see him, but, isn't the width an issue.
PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA
Dimensions
Wheelbase 108.0 in (2,743.2 mm)[11]
Length 186.6 in (4,739.6 mm)
Width 74.9 in (1,902.5 mm)Height 50.9 in (1,292.9 mm)
Curb weight 3,395 lb (1,540 kg)
Dodge Challenger
Dimensions
Wheelbase 110 in (2,800 mm)
Length 191.3 in (4,860 mm)[2]
Width 76.1 in (1,930 mm)Height 50.9 in (1,290 mm)
I'm going through the same thing with my 71 challenger project. Just collecting parts until its time to tear into it.
Good luck with it.
Ten or so years ago this news would have possibly meant the end of the road for your car. AMD has saved a lot of :bye:. I think if it was not noticed and time went on, it would have been worse as the body could have sagged or tweaked a bit. :console:
UGGGG sorry to see this, looks expensive....
Quote from: BFM_Cuda on September 14, 2019, 01:18:58 PM
I'm going through the same thing with my 71 challenger project. Just collecting parts until its time to tear into it.
Good luck with it.
I knew this day would eventually come, Just thought it'd only be rear fame rails and not to this extent. That's why I've been collecting money. Good luck with yours too.
Quote from: JS29 on September 14, 2019, 01:24:09 PM
Ten or so years ago this news would have possibly meant the end of the road for your car. AMD has saved a lot of :bye:.
This went through my mind too. When the front was done in 1993 I had to find a donor car, I don't think AMD was around then.
Quote from: Brads70 on September 14, 2019, 02:05:45 PM
UGGGG sorry to see this, looks expensive....
Oh yeah. The parts list has come to $2,834.88
USD ($3,827.09 CAD @ 1.35%) and there's still shipping on top of that
You know what my advice would be so I'm just going to :-X but I agree with Sheldon with the one piece deal :alan2cents:
That's about how mine looks too. Actually my car could be an AMD poster child. Darn near every panel needs replacement or tweaking. Could be a long winter. :wrenching:
My other Challenger was that way. A total disaster but it's coming along. Have faith. This was a car that was truly ready for the crusher but not anymore.
John, I'd be interested to see how the guy puts in outer wheelhouses without harming the 1/4 paint. Just getting the old rusty ones out is nearly impossible to do w/o messing up the paint. It's lucky your car is white as that'll make matching easier. Good luck
PS- did you compare prices with Mopar Dave to ensure you're getting the best bang for the buck? :cheers:
Ian, I haven't got a definite discount from my guy yet other than it won't be retail but not his total discount either, somewhere in between. So, if Dave's is a better option I'll definitely check with him.
Thanks for the tip on the wheelhouses and paint, I'll have to ask him about that.
this rear floor section fit both CUDA and Challenger, the footwell are is not included. Rosevillemoparts can supply the torque boxes and all of the metal.
I would recommend the one piece rear assembly as they would same a ton of labor over the part cost. rear floor assemblies are in stock. If your wanting all AMD and piece that together. Members get 20% off on AMD. Give us a call if interested.
dimensionally they are the same, but the cutouts for the fuel filler neck would be different between Barracuda & Challenger (shown is Challenger)
is Barracuda also available or are the cutouts "not cutout" as pictured?
If using this one large piece in your convertible, you would have to move the spare tire hold down bracket as well. :alan2cents:
Quote from: MoparDave on September 16, 2019, 05:10:19 AM
Members get 20% off on AMD.
That's awesome Dave thanks. So far I have the torque boxes and the pair of seat belt mounting brackets in your shopping cart. As for the "one piece", I'm going to leave all that up to which ever metal guy I go with.
Quote from: 6bblgt on September 16, 2019, 05:21:41 AM
the cutouts for the fuel filler neck would be different between Barracuda & Challenger (shown is Challenger)
is Barracuda also available or are the cutouts "not cutout" as pictured?
I saw that too and was wondering the exact same thing.
Quote from: anlauto on September 16, 2019, 05:48:18 AM
If using this one large piece in your convertible, you would have to move the spare tire hold down bracket as well.
Thanks for the tip. I "think" there's some power top motor/pump bracket that has to be moved too.
Quote from: 6bblgt on September 16, 2019, 05:21:41 AM
dimensionally they are the same, but the cutouts for the fuel filler neck would be different between Barracuda & Challenger (shown is Challenger)
is Barracuda also available or are the cutouts "not cutout" as pictured?
old picture. but there is NO filler tube hole in the floor pan. so either way it will need to be cut for either E body
John, don't abdicate your responsibility to make your old gal the best she can be by letting whichever "metal guy" you choose, talk you out of doing it right; and it'll be damn hard to make the bottom of your 'vert look and function better than these one piece panels will! Factory welds, ecoat primers and no-guessing parts locations and less time, by far, in bodywork jail, too! Tell your prospective repairers that this is the way you want to go and that they should predicate their estimates accordingly. If they tell you that it'd be better to piece it together, find another repair shop. Just my :alan2cents:
Just my opinion but the pictures don't look that bad to me. This thing is going to snowball if you take it apart to fix that stuff. If it were mine, I'd just drive it and enjoy it.
Ian. I met with a "metal guy", he's doing a 71 RR Petty tribute car right now and has already done everything to it that mine needs. He's been touted as the best/talented/skilled guy in this area. Seeing his work was believing.
Quote from: Burdar on September 20, 2019, 05:53:15 AM
Just my opinion but the pictures don't look that bad to me.
Yeah, it's really hard to tell from those pictures. Could those drive shafts marks be just from weak leaf springs? I know for a fact that the frame rails are pretty soft. I was going to put a rear sway bar in but abandoned that just for that reason.
John, who and where is he? I know or knew most all of the good ones over the years and can ask around to verify your assessment and help make sure you get the best bang for the buck. :cheers:
Quote from: jimynick on September 22, 2019, 09:33:37 PM
John, who and where is he?
I'll ask him if it's okay to make him public on here or if he'd prefer to fly under the radar. As far as I know he doesn't advertise either, all his business is through word of mouth.
Still waiting for my turn, was told I'm the next one in line. The Dynacorn piece is there already, the rest is in my rec room.
Following along on this one.
When it comes time to your quarters (I assume they need work?), please take the time to show how you (or your metal guy) repair them - either thru skins or modifying hard top ones to fit. This step/info is illusive on the vert resto threads.
I have a 71 barracuda vert in need of quarter panel work.
I don't have the coin for Ken's reworked AMD hardtop ones, though they look sweet.
Quote from: larry4406 on December 28, 2019, 09:17:40 AM
When it comes time to your quarters
Sorry to disappoint, but the quarters were already done in the winter of '92/'93, along with an OEM tail panel.
Quote from: Jay Bee on December 29, 2019, 08:48:01 AM
Quote from: larry4406 on December 28, 2019, 09:17:40 AM
When it comes time to your quarters
Sorry to disappoint, but the quarters were already done in the winter of '92/'93, along with an OEM tail panel.
Ugh....
I assume then you don't have pics from back in the day....
I'll be following along on this one too, please keep the updates and pictures coming.. :)
Quote from: larry4406 on December 30, 2019, 05:07:21 AM
I assume then you don't have pics from back in the day....
Yup, you assume correctly.