Lookie what $5000 buys you....

[Kern Dog]

I started cutting.

I am going to lay the new panel on the inner flange of the frame rails, atop the rear bumper support at the back and at the factory seam on the axle hump at the front. This will allow the panel to fit through the trunk opening and if it goes as planned, it will look original.

 

[Kern Dog]

I figured that I would post the measurements here in case my phone lands in a jobsite porta potty and my computer craps out. Here, they are safe for sure.
Also, a member asked about the locations of these brackets a couple of days ago.

 

[DeltaV]

Maybe take some diagonal measurements from the trunk latch hole area (or tail light openings) to some of those forward features?

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah, more info couldn't hurt. I am in for the night though.
The trunk pan is pretty good size. I'll be trimming from the sides.

Funny thing though. Those two holes over the axle hump: In the AMD panel they are far apart. On my car they are close together.

It doesn't make a difference to me. I just wonder if the 68 or 69 models had the wider spacing and if they just standardized the spacing.

 

[HawkRod]

Those two holes over the axle hump...

Kern, I think those are for the gas tank vent line? I was unaware that they changed them - guess I learn something new every day!

Keep of the good work!!

Hawk

 

[joseph p.]

Congratulations , Kern dog,,I love it.

 

[Kern Dog]

THose plugs have no holes in them. From above or underneath, I can find no function for them. The 1970 Charger had a different tank ventilation system. See tube near right wheel tub:

From underneath, 4 lines run from the tank and to the tube.

Not sure if you'll be able to see them in the picture:

 

[HawkRod]

My 70 Road Runner had that too, but it was a California car. I think that was a California only option due to emissions. Non California emissions just had the vent lines above the axle.

This is not a great picture, but here is my trunk before I restored the car.

 

[DeltaV]

The only holes on my non-California '70 Charger are for the fuel filler tube and the tiny vent line. Mine doesn't have the large tube next to the right wheel tub.

 

[DeltaV]

FWIW, those two large holes and smaller holes on the outboard sides are placed/spaced like mine.

 

[joseph p.]

Good help guys,

 

[Joske2]

THose plugs have no holes in them. From above or underneath, I can find no function for them. The 1970 Charger had a different tank ventilation system. See tube near right wheel tub:
View attachment 955749
From underneath, 4 lines run from the tank and to the tube.

Not sure if you'll be able to see them in the picture:
View attachment 955750

View attachment 955751

Yep, N95 emissions control, 70 to 71. My 70 roadrunner had that also, exclusive to California cars.

 

[Kern Dog]

The only holes on my non-California '70 Charger are for the fuel filler tube and the tiny vent line. Mine doesn't have the large tube next to the right wheel tub.

View attachment 955937 View attachment 955938

Huh...Really ? This is the first '70 that I have seen that didn't have it. Interesting.

 

[Kern Dog]

FWIW, those two large holes and smaller holes on the outboard sides are placed/spaced like mine.

I was just rereading the last few posts and saw this. I must have glossed over it but you wrote that the spacing on your body plugs matches my car. This hobby is interesting how some cars are identical and others have slight differences. I'll have to look at the red car to see if all three match up.
Again, the wider spacing does not deter me, this isn't going to be judged at Carlisle!

I got a little done today. I removed the spare tire brackets.

Check out the superb weld quality.....

I got a little more cut away.

The cross support brace is in better shape than it looks. It will clean up. It is solid.

The rear is getting cut along the rear bumper support bar. I need to cut a little more to clean it up.

On both sides I nicked the wire to the backup light! I have a little soldering to do as well.

 

[joseph p.]

Hard work pays off

 

[Kern Dog]

It was a little cooler today so I was back out there getting to it.

The rearmost edge had a lot of seam sealer on it. I took a chisel and a screwdriver to it along with a wire wheel. Holy smokes! That stuff comes off like silly string.....It goes everywhere and sticks to everything including my hair.

Using a 4 1/2" angle grinder, a Sawzall, an air powered 3" cutoff wheel and some hand tools.

I cut the majority of the panel out and am leaving the rest in place to be cut out after drilling the spotwelds.

There is a lap seam on top of the axle hump. Spotwelds hold it together. This is where I'll stop the replacement panel so with seam sealer, it will look undisturbed.

 

[Kern Dog]

I broke the tip off of my spotweld cutter so I had to close up shop earlier than I had planned. With any luck, I might be able to get all the old metal out, the edges prepped and start fitting the new pan tomorrow. That is the fun part but it is also a bit nerve wracking because of the multiple times the panel will be in and out making cuts and adjustments.

Below is the right side. I had hoped to keep the new pan resting only on the inside edge of the frame rails but with the pitted metal seen in the picture, I am going to run the new pan wider for a short section.

 

[Kern Dog]

I finally ordered pistons and rings and a cam kit for the 383.
The preliminary numbers for the build spec out to 9.2 to 1 so I went with a Comp Cams hydraulic FT 280/480. This is supposed to be similar to the Mopar Performance 280/474 which was a decent performer in my first 440 build I did in 2001. I know that I could have gone with a wilder cam but I wanted something that should deliver reasonable street manners and have some pep.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I finally ordered pistons and rings and a cam kit for the 383.
The preliminary numbers for the build spec out to 9.2 to 1 so I went with a Comp Cams hydraulic FT 280/480. This is supposed to be similar to the Mopar Performance 280/474 which was a decent performer in my first 440 build I did in 2001. I know that I could have gone with a wilder cam but I wanted something that should deliver reasonable street manners and have some pep.

Considering you've had 2? 3? Comp cams go flat I'm surprised your gonna try that again...

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah... It isn't entirely fair to throw them under the bus entirely.
I lost 2 in a row in 2006. That was when the knowledge of oils and zinc was out of my reach. Since then I have not wiped a lobe. Yeah, I've used a Lunati and 3 MP cams since then with no failures. If this one fails, I'm humble enough to admit a mistake.
I've made sure to use proper break in lube on the cam, the bottle of supplement and a quality break in oil since then. Beforehand, I just used off the shelf Castrol along with the lube on the cam and lifters.
Don't jinx me, man!