From the "Like I really need another project car" department...

[YY1]

Well, I've been re-evaluating my 74 project and what I thought might be my savable parts car...and decided they are not worth both quarter panels, and cowls, plus frame repair.

I was thinking I might like to have a 72 Big block car, and one just about dropped in my lap.

72 SE Brougham WP29P2A

400- 4 barrel car (now has questionable small block with iron 4 bbl intake)
A/C
Hidden headlights
8 3/4 axle (don't know gear)
Front and rear sway bars
Rallye cluster with clock
Was bench, but has buckets with correct tracks
Was Dark Tan Metallic- repainted Plum Crazy (including underhood and jambs)
Was Tan interior but has been swapped to black

Unibody/frame rails are solid
Doors shut nice.
Cowl is solid including vent tube (minor issue on DS hinge pillar)
Quarters will need patched behind wheels
Trunk is solid
Front floors have soft spots
Deck lid is a B+
Hood is not as bad as it looks
DS fender is wasted, but "dog leg" is good (surprise)
Has 73/74 Tailights but I have a set of ralley lights (and a rallye hood)

Worst part of car is bubling rust under vinyl by drip rail and around top of windshield.
I peeled top and picked at a few spots with a screwdriver and none went through...but that don't mean it's all good.
I do have a great roof with a factory sunroof if it comes to that.

I have 90% of what this car needs and it's a Magnum big block car with handling options

 

[YY1]

... the 71 is a 383 2 bbl car and is in MUCH worse shape.
Doors and hood are good body wise, but that's about it.
Bad spot in T bar cross member, lots of bondo layers and bad cowl and quarters.
It does have a big block, and hidden lights/ralley taillights (rear lights possibly from 72 car).
...and no title.

I paid $1225 for the 72 (with title) and the 71 went for $1275.

I know this is gonna sound strange, but aside from being painted, wrecked, rusted, having the interior swapped out and having the engine swapped out.....it's pretty "unmolested" elsewhere.

 

[Ron 73]

Reading your posts and seeing the knowledge you have with these Chargers and you have 90 % of all the parts even the good stuff like the rally lights and rally hood this will be a great car! Price seems reasonable enough, I would have a hard time giving the vinyl top up though, IF you find it needs a new roof and you cant have it with a sunroof for whatever reason..

 

[YY1]

Well...it turns out this may be a parts car too

Under that vinyl, the roof is absolutely cooked.
...and that's why I'm not a fan of vinyl tops.

This car will need both quarters, the dutchman panel, and a roof.

I had originally thought patch panels, but it seems one quarter has already been replaced, and although most of the metal is good, the attaching points are poorly done. The roof had been bondoed over once before as well, and the second generation of moisture trapped under that vinyl was brutal.

I reeally thought it was in better shape, but I believe I can still get my money back in parts.

I did find a tag on the axle that says 3:23, but haven't checked for SG yet.

It's still a better builder than the others because the frame rails and cowl area are much better and quite solid. Puus it's got all those factory perfomance options, making it a more desireable car.

I was hoping I could swap in my running 318, or fix what appears to be a late LA 360 that's currently in there (turns over and has clean oil and water), and drive it between fixing the quarters.

Now I'm faced with that same old problem- long term project, or part out.

I may start disassembling the 74, because besides the roof, it's in the worst shape needing a frame fix, an inner fender, cowl work, rear floor pans etc.
Then I'll see if I have enough parts to put the 73 back together as well.

Wow, I think I just wrote a novel.

 

[Ron 73]

The good things about this sounds like it out weighs the bad to me..
2 Quarters... Roof...Dutchman panel... Time and a lot of work..
The good..
90 % of parts, Roof with sun... frame rails cowl area good solid.. rally lights, hood..
323 differential, and if SG big plus.. Good engine to put in and possible 360 that would be better yet.. You do have the room to keep such a project and definitely the knowledge..
It might be a long term project as you say but when done a desirable car.. I do believe you could get your money back out of it, and its just my opinion but there seems to be a lot of good in this IF you have the time and what finances it would take to do it.. Saving and then selling all the other cars for parts would be a great way to maybe bring in some money where you could start storing the parts where the cars kept so when ready, I understand your meaning about those roofs, but there so great looking and if your doing it yourself im sure if you could save it, it wouldn't do this again, when new they did not put a good protection under them like should have been done.. This is just my 2 cents on the car, im kind of partial to the sleek design of these and especially with the 71-72 for some reason. and im not trying to make your mind change any, and i forgot about the hide away head lights that would be on it.. Id have a hard decision on this one but there's more good to it then bad. MHO...

 

[YY1]

Stay tuned, it gets better...

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?p=909740147#post909740147