1973 Charger winter makeover thread

[MilesnMiles]

With Ron, it's the big heavy parts that really become good value. I had iron heads shipped over and then forward carriage to my door a couple of years back. Really easy and professional to deal with.

[octanejunkie]

We started in earnest this weekend. The paint was put on really badly before, and had micro blistering all over the place. Most of the car will have to go back to metal. Luckily though, we haven't found any rust or previous bodged repairs. Aside from a few pin dents and the odd mark, the car is remarkably straight. My mate was rubbing down whilst i was feverishly removing all the trim. Having to be very careful to avoid damaging anything.
I started to rip off the old vynil roof, and was alarmed that even though the car has been sat undercover in a dry workshop for the best part of four months, it was still wet underneath. There are some suspect bits on the edge of the roof where it drops down to the rear quarters where it looks like it has been filled with something. My mate rekons that its from the factory. We'll have to dig it out and hope there's nothing awful underneath.
So far so good though.
Tomorrow the bumpers are both coming off and the remainder of the trim, fitting some old steel wheels to protect my nice shiny magnums, then its the slog to prep it for primer!

[Blue]

On cars destined to have a vinyl roof, the pillar/ roof skin joint was only very crudely finished and the roof itself got little more than overspray on it. Anyway looks pretty solid and you're making good progress.

[Captain Chaos]

Great to see all the progress you're making it's going to be a really nice looking machine ðŸ‘￾

[ScottyDave]

Looks nice and solid, are you changing the colour or leaving as is?

[lough3969]

Nice work... just paint the roof in and don't go putting any more vinyl on.

[octanejunkie]

Nice work... just paint the roof in and don't go putting any more vinyl on.

Funny you should say that, we were discussing that at some length today...

[octanejunkie]

Bumpers off today. My god they're heavy. 2 man job to lift them out and cart them about. Also removed the front valance to make it easier to paint. All the remaining bright work and trim has been removed too. Pretty much the whole car has been gone over with 80 grit now. 90% back to the metal. Looks like its had two former paint jobs in its life. Found a few dinks, but no real damage or other repairs. More importantly, no rust. Tomorrow, a few minor repairs and a little dab of filler here and there, and
hoping to get it in some primer on Thursday.

[kma176]

Looking really good - still a lot of work but will be worth it-did you say you were sticking with original colour and vinyl ??

Keep up the good work

[lough3969]

Paint the roof... live with it... if you don't like it then slap a vinyl back on

[ScottyDave]

Yeah those bumpers are heavy

[Sandy]

Now, about those horns .....

[octanejunkie]

Now, about those horns .....

Factory fit...

Seriously though, i did not fit them. I'll worry about that after the car's back together.

[octanejunkie]

Vinyl roof DELETE. Some extra labour dealing with the decision, but hopefully well worth it.
Welded up all the holes now. Few minor repairs on the rear screen surround, and some old plop to dig out from the roof seam. Luckily nothing that needed anything more than a good clean up. Filler on. Primer by the end of the week.

[octanejunkie]

Front screen surround was the cleanest i've ever seen on a classic Yank. If only they all looked like that..