1973 Charger winter makeover thread

latil · Post by **latil** » Thu Feb 16, 17 10:50 am

Going that far,I'd have had the glass out too. The area that rots the fastest and out of sight.

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Thu Feb 16, 17 10:51 am

Whilst the welding was going on i busied myself rebuilding the back bumper with the new lights i bought. I'd already rebuilt the pods, and painted them, so it was just a simple case of dropping them in the bumper...
Quite a bit of grinding and drilling new mounting holes before they would fit properly. Anyone who tells you they're just a "bolt in" fit. They're not.
Anyway, got them all fitted in and spliced into the original loom. I think they look ace. Much more attitude than the sequential type 73 lights.

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Thu Feb 16, 17 10:56 am

latil wrote:Going that far,I'd have had the glass out too. The area that rots the fastest and out of sight.

Yeah, if it was my own workshop and the time was my own, then you're right, that would be best. But we were happy that the screen surrounds are in good order and the screens don't leak.
Once the paint is on, and new clips installed i'll be dousing the area in anti rust treatment to prevent any horrors down the line.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Feb 16, 17 12:24 pm

Good to see the vinyl gone, look much better without. Are those lights from an earlier car? looks better, the '73 lights are a bit "busy". No doubt it upsets the purists but I'm quite a fan of mixing and matching parts from different years to get a cleaner look, I've done it numerous times.

Captain Chaos · Post by **Captain Chaos** » Thu Feb 16, 17 3:25 pm

Great to see so much progress,at this rate you'll have it painted next week ðŸ‘

lough3969 · Post by **lough3969** » Fri Feb 17, 17 1:10 pm

Those roof lines are already looking better now the vinyl has gone... good work

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Fri Feb 17, 17 7:25 pm

Last of the filler work today. Deleting the vinyl roof has added quite a bit more labour. Roof and surrounding panels needed quite a bit of fettling. Roof is back to metal today. I sponged on some rust eater just to be sure the tiny pock marks in the metal don't ever come back to haunt. For a purely cosmetic addition, a vinyl roof really doesn't do a cars bodywork any favors in the long run.
Rear valance came off today as well. I'd bought another to go on, but the original is so clean that we decided we're going to bash the dents out and re use it.
Went to the paint shop and bought a couple of litres of etch and half a gallon of Green Ti primer ready for next week.
I did get the first bit of primer on today though! Front valance has had a good slosh of hi build today.
Also restored the window surround trims, and they look fantastic.

ScottyDave · Post by **ScottyDave** » Fri Feb 17, 17 7:48 pm

Those trims look great

mine has the opera windows

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Sat Feb 18, 17 12:35 pm

A bit more today. Got the car running and warmed up. Started on the button.
Removed the bonnet, and got the car on the ramp.
Then some moooorrre sanding on the sills and bottom of doors. Still can't believe there's no rust in it. Just as well, as i had my weeks bill from the workshop

Thank god i'm working on it too, as otherwise it would have been double.
Whilst i was waiting for the air line, i busied myself fitting new front shocks. The old ones were absolutely knackered. No wonder it was so floppy on the front.
Top ball joints arrived from Rock Auto today. They don't really need changing yet, but the boots are all a bit mangled, and everything else is new, so i'll do them in the next bit of down time. (Then Turnip can have his socket back

)

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat Feb 18, 17 2:35 pm

Always thought the front shocks on these look ridiculously small for such a big heavy car.

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Mon Feb 20, 17 1:59 pm

Blue wrote:Good to see the vinyl gone, look much better without. Are those lights from an earlier car? looks better, the '73 lights are a bit "busy". No doubt it upsets the purists but I'm quite a fan of mixing and matching parts from different years to get a cleaner look, I've done it numerous times.

Speaking of the rear lights, Blues right those are from the 72 models...ha if you like them go with them...to many people get hung up about that sort of thing...its your own choice...
Keep the pictures coming

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Sat Feb 25, 17 1:21 pm

Scooby wrote:
Blue wrote:Good to see the vinyl gone, look much better without. Are those lights from an earlier car? looks better, the '73 lights are a bit "busy". No doubt it upsets the purists but I'm quite a fan of mixing and matching parts from different years to get a cleaner look, I've done it numerous times.
Speaking of the rear lights, Blues right those are from the 72 models...ha if you like them go with them...to many people get hung up about that sort of thing...its your own choice...
Keep the pictures coming

Yes they are. I specifically tracked a set of these down as i think they look the best out of all the 3rd gen rear light treatments. I think there are 8 types to choose from.

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Sat Feb 25, 17 1:25 pm

Prep has slowed down a bit this week, as i've had to stay away, and a few other jobs came into the shop this week.
However, the back panel has been sorted out, and the cut outs for the over riders have been welded up.
Got the car on its original steelies to roll it around so as not to mess up the magnums. Can't believe such skinny wheels were standard!

octanejunkie · Post by **octanejunkie** » Sat Feb 25, 17 1:35 pm

She's finally in primer! Several thick coats went on last night. Its come up great. It'll be left over the weekend, then a hand sand down with a 400 grit.
Hopefully that's all it'll need before some top coat.
I took several paint chits down to the paint shop today to get the original colour matched. They said they'll call me when they have some matches.
As well as the original GK6 Autumn Bronze, there is another colour which is identical, BK6 Spice from the eighties.
We'll see what they come up with....

ChrisN34 · Post by **ChrisN34** » Sat Feb 25, 17 2:01 pm

Looking good Jon, popped down Waynes yesterday and saw it, looking forward to seeing it painted. Do you not have the paint color on the fender tag?