Don's 1969 Charger Restoration

[b-body-bob]

Don I like that new idea on how to de-hump that well. I was skittish on the other way because it ends up looking kind of like it was Frankensteined together.

On the hammering, did you consider trying an air hammer to speed things up some (and give your arm a break)?

 

[mopar4don]

Don I like that new idea on how to de-hump that well. I was skittish on the other way because it ends up looking kind of like it was Frankensteined together.

On the hammering, did you consider trying an air hammer to speed things up some (and give your arm a break)?

Thanks Bob, I wanted to do it this way to keep it looking stock.
The hammering was not a problem, I used light body hammers and a dolly.
I kinda eased into it, not knowing how the metal would react.
But hey if your good with an air hammer I suppose it would work.

 

[conv67bdere]

When at first you don't succeed . . . . try, try again . . .

Between the two of us, we're approaching Tomas Edison's famous quotes . . . I know of 1000 ways not to de-hump our wonderful Mopars ! ! !

Nicely done Don . . . did you see that I've got mine in primer and my quarters done and in primer too ? ?

 

[mopar4don]

Drivers side de-hump

Continued with the slicing and hammering.





Here you can see how the metal is puckering when it is hammered out.
I sliced the metal horizontally to help this situation





Then I started welding it back together.
Here you can see the copper spoon I used as a backer.








The profile looks pretty good




Some of the gaps opened up quite a bit from the hammering


My good ol trusty copper spoon!










ALL DONE with this side and I am very pleased with the results!
If I were to do it again, in my opinion making vertical (up an down) slices and hammering out the crease is the way to go!
Now I need to go back and finish the passenger side..........

 

[747mopar]

One things for sure..... This forum is never short on ideas! Looks great Don

 

[Ron 73]

Your doing some fantastic work Don, Everything is looking great man, keep going soon it will have some color on it, sometimes i see the color on mine and i have a long way to go! Watching you guys are some real inspiration, im in the slow mode until winter but seeing the work here makes you itch to get going

 

[pat1969charger]

Any progress updates Don?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Makes you wonder why they put the hump in to begin with?

 

[mopar4don]

Any progress updates Don?

I have been working on the floor in between a couple of weddings and camping trips. And the birth of my 3rd grandchild.
Yup been really busy..... Have a few more things to do around the house before the weather sets in. Then I'll be back at it!

Makes you wonder why they put the hump in to begin with?

Sure would have been easier for me

 

[747mopar]

Makes you wonder why they put the hump in to begin with?

All you have to do is look at the tires they came with....... which then makes you wonder why they gave us a 14" wide well???????

 

[pat1969charger]

Congrats on the new grand baby! I'm a little (long I hope) ways away from any of those. My son is only 14 months so it better be 25 years before I have any lol. Good to take some vacations and do some things away from the car to keep you mind clear. Looking forward to the updates when you do it.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Looks really good Don. I'm a big fan of my copper welding spoon too !!!!!!!!! LOL

It sure makes it easier to weld in the gaps for sure. Your making some great progress here. I really like your table / jig fixture you made. I'm sure I'll have to build one like it when it's time to start work on the 70 Challenger.

Congrats on the Grand child.

Please keep us posted !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[conv67bdere]

Makes you wonder why they put the hump in to begin with?

Why . . . Because we need some more obstacles to contend with while we're working on these cars . . . what else ? ?

 

[mopar4don]

Update on Halloween

It's been a couple of months since I last updated, so here goes.

I primed a few more parts


I Painted the bellhousing with this VHT hemi orange paint. I plan on using this for the engine block when it comes time. Hope it's the right shade.


I reached the point where it was time to remove most of the bracing.
Now you see it


Now you don't
It's ALL gone!
And WOW does it look different!


Left this bracing in to support the back half of the roof
It will stay untill I get the wheel wells welded to the rockers


With the bracing out of the way I could start work on the floor




This needs a new section as well as the driver side

 

[pat1969charger]

Looking good Don! Must feel better starting to lock things down!

 

[daytona kid]

Nice work.. Thought for a minute that you were putting in some kinda new fangled angle iron roll cage..lol..
My theory on the wheel well subject is that they designed the 2nd gen charger/b bodys, and others maybe earlier, with nascar racing, and drag racers in mind. Knowing that everyone or a lot of guys would be putting big tires on them they made the wells wide. But as for the hump, I think that one of the designers was thinking that the well needed more strength there and figured that a step or hump would make it stronger., not really worrying about tire fit. Most guys in those days jacked the rear way up anyway to where the hump didn't really rub big tires.

 

[Homstead]

Some good work going on here! Keep it up!

 

[mopar4don]

Looking good Don! Must feel better starting to lock things down!

It's been so long since I have worked on it It's kinda hard to get going on it!
But I'll get over the hump and be back at it soon.

Nice work.. Thought for a minute that you were putting in some kinda new fangled angle iron roll cage..lol..
My theory on the wheel well subject is that they designed the 2nd gen charger/b bodys, and others maybe earlier, with nascar racing, and drag racers in mind. Knowing that everyone or a lot of guys would be putting big tires on them they made the wells wide. But as for the hump, I think that one of the designers was thinking that the well needed more strength there and figured that a step or hump would make it stronger., not really worrying about tire fit. Most guys in those days jacked the rear way up anyway to where the hump didn't really rub big tires.

"new fangled roll cage"
Now thats funny right there!
I like your theory, it's better than the one I thought of!

Some good work going on here! Keep it up!

Thank you sir.......... move to come

 

[Avantguy]

I agree. Don has the patience of Job. Well done.

 

[SGTPaul]

Nice work Don!