`71 Dodge N96 hood resto

[roadrunnerman]

gotta see the whole car when you're done matt.Love those chargers with a painted bumper.

 

[detmatt1]

Here's a look at the painted bumpers which required some surgery of there own. The original bumpers were missing when Brian got the car and I am not even sure that it had standard chrome ones at that time either. Anyway he came up with a set of originals that needed work and those obviously came with the car. They were rough though, not rusty, just beat and gouged up!

 

[detmatt1]

Each of them had dents in them that were bad enough that I had to actually make relief cuts and remove pie shaped pieces of the steel before using a 5 lb hand sledge to beat them straight. I've got some hours into these before I handed them over to one of the co-owners who's got more experience with the final smoothing and painting end of things.
The last pic was one of the major repairs after the rough work I hit it with some orange spray to get a better idea of how I did. Next step was to buzz all the paint and primer off of them and start recoating and smoothing them with elastomere repair.

 

[detmatt1]

Here's how that looked. Great product from SEM, 2 part that mixed up nicely and went on even better. Thought I had more pics with them smoothed over but can't find them. They are primed and ready for paint now.

 

[moparmarks]

Thats some nice work there Matt. I owned one of those. Yella 71 R/T N96 car.

 

[detmatt1]

Nice, sold it in `02?

 

[moparmarks]

Ya sold it to a friend along with my 72 440 Rallye. The 71, 72 and my frist car the 69 R/T in my sig all sold new here in my home town.

 

[roadrunnerman]

repairs look real good.paint should go on real smooth after that.

 

[detmatt1]

The hood is now back in one piece! Used some panel bonding adhesive then layed the frame back on to the skin, lining up all of the spot weld cutter holes and plugs that got left behind from when I drilled them out. Also made sure that the skin measured square from corner to corner and used shims between the sawhorses and the skin to make sure it stayed square while I placed the frame in and welded it up. Still have to deal with the leading edge but the sides are all welded up and the back edge is folded back tight to the frame. Next will be skim coating the visible side of the frame, filling in all the pitting and doing the top side work to get it ready for prime and paint.

 

[Donny]

Now you got a good $2500.00 hood! Looks awesome!

 

[roadrunnerman]

Now you got a good $2500.00 hood! Looks awesome!

can't say it any better than that donny.

 

[detmatt1]

Thanks guys! Taking it over to the car for a test fit this morning before I finish it up.

 

[detmatt1]

Here are the bumpers ready for paint and had a successful fitting of the hood. In other words, everything I have done with the hood up to this point is great and I will continue on it. ****!
Oh, BTW, just had exhaust put on this car last week and does it sound nice! Rims and tires and an alignment are next and ordered up all the stripes today.

 

[loneagle]

Its looking really good Matt it won't be long you'll be tearing up Detroit in her

 

[detmatt1]

Man, these things take time! Here it is August and still not finished with the car but damn close! The hood and bumpers turned out really well and we just finished putting all the stripes and hood decal on. A few more details and clean the hell out of it and it will be for sale. Probably kick it off with an Ebay auction, I'll let you know. We finished this one per the build sheet with the exception of using 15 X 7 Rallyes instaed of the painted steelies w/poverty caps and it was also born with wheel opening moldings which we will likely leave up to the new owner to add if they want. Really a sharp car and practically new from front to back!:grin:

 

[wannadrag]

Nice

 

[loneagle]

Looks great matt good luck with sale

 

[roadrunnerman]

excellent job on the hood,bumpers, and the rest of the car.

 

[TBONE]

Awesome job Matt!

 

[fatecaptured]

inspiring job Matt!