70 Challenger Conv. Restomod. 6.1 Hemi

[larry4406]

Keep it coming!

Watching for details on the quarter panel skin installation...

[soundcontrol]

I will move slow, still working every day of the week. Next step is to testfit everything, then weld in the trunkfloor with extensions and outer wheelhouses.

[soundcontrol]

Finally got some welding time in today. I put the trunk floor braces in place. That was more work than I expected, I painted them inside, and the trunkfloor area that they cover with primer and a top coat, then copperbased weld primer on the weld areras, it will not rust in my lifetime. I suspect I made the holes for the plugwelds a little bit big, 6mm (thats close to 1/4"), next time I'll try 5mm (3/16"). But its a good area to start with since I have not done any other plug welds with my new MIG yet.

I'ts probably overkill to grind the welds afterwards since its gonna be completely hidden but I did, gotta try out my nice new beltsander...

[JS29]

Nice welds! Grinding the welds relieves some stress off the welds, so it's good to do it.   

[RUNCHARGER]

Good progress.

[HP_Cuda]

Keep at it!!!

[YellowThumper]

Looks good. Keep it going.

[soundcontrol]

The wheelhouses come together in the rear with a flap that I think is spot welded, and there is a big opening there covered by seam sealer by the factory. Mine had rust there, both sides, and all my other e-bodies I owned had rust there. I decided to weld it shut, must be a better solution for the area, and I don't care about it looking stock there.

Then I prepared the trunkfloor for welding, drilled holes for the frame plug welds, bought a hole punch for the flanges, (that was a nice tool! )
Put copper based weld prime on both sides of all flanges and weld surfaces.

Now, I made a new rear crossmember, the one that connects the two framerails behind the bumper, should I put that one the rails before I weld the floor in or can I do it after?

Edit: Looked at how MCR does it, I better install the crossmember before the trunkfloor.

[soundcontrol]

Wow, over a year since my last update! Well, work is slowing down some, only 50-60 Hrs/week now, feels like I'm on vacation...

I did get the trunk floor in this summer though!

Getting back at it, gonna get the quarters on, so I took the advise of the pro's here and dug up the fenders and hood, so I can check all the gaps and fitment of panels before I weld. Fender to rocker, second pict, is there supposed to be a gap there to match the door gap or should it be tight to the rocker?

[CincyCuda]

That looks good, you don't want it touching the rocker.......great project, It looks very similar to my own

[YellowThumper]

Factory original placement on a 74.
Yours looks correct.

[soundcontrol]

Great! thanks guys, my door is a little off now, gonna get everything as good as I can before welding quarters now.

[nsmall]

Its about time soundcontrol.  Thanks for giving an update.

[RUNCHARGER]

That gap looks good. Exciting time in the build!

[soundcontrol]

The 1 piece trunkfloor fit well! I screwed it down, (after this pict) not welding anything until everything fits.
I forgot to order a new rear crossmember so I made my own, just moved all weldnuts from the old one.