Progress report, Junkyard Dog

[detmatt1]

Yes, parts for BBQ sauce...it's my new business adventure..LOL. Thanks for being cool about the thread walking.

Question for you, I did get in a new upper cowl in. The old one is not too bad but the vent slots are all mangled up and is dented up where someone used a screwdriver or pry bar to remove the wiper arms. Is this a pretty hard part to remove? Any tricky areas? As far as installation, can I expect fit up and alignment to go pretty easy or should I start taking key measurements and make up some templates?

Thanks for your help

Hey Will, removing the upper cowl is a bit of a pain, be careful of the lead at the base of the A-pillars, under the lead it is not spot welded, another spot they used peanut butter in the factory.:rolling: No special jigs or measurements necessary, this piece has enough bends and contour to it that it will basically locate itself when you set it in place.
I have been redoing the interior in my dads `71 Challenger convertible over the last week or 2 so I am a little behind my schedule on the "DOG". Maybe a new thread on that one as I don't want to hijack my own thread!:grin:
The green cowl is the one I am in the process of installing, the gold one was the one I planned on using until I realized that to much of the A-pillar base had been cut off by the guy I got it from. If anybody is looking for a nice useable cowl the gold one is now an extra and is avaliable.

 

[Propwash]

I appreciate pic's and the advice Matt. I take it the lead needs to come out, then be applied when the replacement outter cowl is installed or is the does the lead just tie in the inner cowl? As far as if the lead needs to come out, does a guy just treat the lead like on a quarter and just torch/propane it out, or is warping going to be an issue?

 

[detmatt1]

I appreciate pic's and the advice Matt. I take it the lead needs to come out, then be applied when the replacement outter cowl is installed or is the does the lead just tie in the inner cowl? As far as if the lead needs to come out, does a guy just treat the lead like on a quarter and just torch/propane it out, or is warping going to be an issue?

Lead needs to come off to seperate the upper cowl, no worries about warping with so much detail in the metal there, should worry though about the hazards of burning the lead off into the air as it wafts into your face. I'm not saying don't do it, just take some safety precautions, I understand you guys from Christmas Island are on the endangered species list and I would hate to see your kind cease to exist over a `69 Road Runner, a`68?, maybe!.:grin:

 

[Propwash]

I ate tons of lead paint chips when I was a kid, so the lead smoke,no problem....LOL j/k Thanks for the precaution and the info.

Ah yes, very few of us left, but all the other clowns that croaked were chevy guys anyway!! Geez...I don't know....A 68'...I heard they were made in China that year...hehehehehe

How is your dad's Challenger coming along by the way?

 

[detmatt1]

Dad's Challey is good, just put new carpet and Legendary skins and foam buns on the seats, along with a few odds and ends. I'll post some pics here when it is finished and probably start a thread over on FEBO.

 

[Propwash]

Matt,

Do you know if the upper cowl needs to be leaded back in or can I weld in? Also, when you riped out your floor pans, did you have any issues with removing the pan from the torsion bar mount crossmember, or did it come apart pretty easy?

Thanks-Will

 

[Propwash]

Thanks for the call Matt, I appreciate it. Nice talking to ya! Have fun in the islands Mon!
Watch out for the rum...Yah...ho...ho...and a bottle of.....

 

[detmatt1]

Thanks for the call Matt, I appreciate it. Nice talking to ya! Have fun in the islands Mon!
Watch out for the rum...Yah...ho...ho...and a bottle of.....

No problem Will, it was great to talk to you again. That conversation would have taken 3 hours on the computer, the way I type:comp26:
You better believe I will have some rum, I mean fun, in the islands:GirlsOnBeach:, I'll start a new thread when I get there, on that project.:grin:

 

[detmatt1]

I removed the upper cowl on my doner piece, it is a pita to remove, but I will be glad that I did it because now it will get media blasted and protected with a coat of primer and I am thinking I will want to go body color on the inside of the plenum. That way when you look through the vents it will be nicely finished, a detail they didn't worry about at the factory.:grin:
I also started to cut the base of the a-pillars to fit to the doner section and the cowl is actually in place now. Alittle more trimming to get them ready to weld and the test fit will be complete. I still have some more prep to do before I can weld it in so it will come back out so I can finish that. Just some more spot sandblasting and prime to protect the joints.

 

[moparstuart]

wow just wow

 

[Bens69PlymouthSatellite]

I think wow and a holy shite! U are a brave man!

 

[Propwash]

Impressive! :wtg: Looks like a really nice fit up. Keep up the good work Matt.

 

[detmatt1]

Houston, we have a problem!, it seems as though the a-pillars on a 4-door are different, but thankfully just the a pillars. The rest of the cowl can stay. I was actually having troubles getting the a-pillars to line up right and the more I looked at it , the more it looked like it couldn't line up. That is when it dawned on me that I was dealing with a 4-door cowl section and maybe something was different, sure enough after a few well placed calls, it was confirmed, the windshield is at a steeper angle than the 2-door. Any way, I will continue with the installation of the cowl and I put the feelers back out for doner a-pillars, once again this site has some Great and generous members, very humbleing. I hope I can still meet my deadline before I leave, I would be so bummed if no progress was being made on the car while I was gone. I know I should keep it in perspective, it is only 3 weeks, I took more time away from it than that over the winter, but I am starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel and I just can't wait to drive it!:car flipper:

 

[Donny]

Yup, you could have asked me!!! haha, I cut off the donor A Pillars (won't work), 4 dr car donor. Just look back on my pics in GTX thread.

 

[Propwash]

Wow, that stinks! General has a parts car that he cut a chunk of inner fender out for me. Real nice guy! Maybe he could help you out?

Same with rrunner:
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=9028

Good luck

 

[detmatt1]

The cowl is sitting in place, not welded in and no a-pillar bases, so I'm not going to weld it in yet, but It is located where it needs to be. also did a little patchwork that needed to be done as well as tied up some other loose ends on the "DOG", man I hope I get those pillar parts I need SOON!.
For those that haven't checked out the first half of the restoration, just click on my photo albums to see it, I forget that this thread didn't start at the beginning of the project.:grin:

 

[roadrunnerman]

wow!!! you guys are doing more on your cars then i would even have dreamed of doing on any of mine,but now i'm going to have to seriously take a look at mine b4 i start on it.

 

[dantrap]

Wow!! you sure got a lot of hours into this one. I give you a lot of credit for this undertaking. i bet it gonna turn out great. Are you part of the Unlawful Racing group? If so what ever happened to that f.a.s.t. 69? Regards, Dan

 

[detmatt1]

Wow!! you sure got a lot of hours into this one. I give you a lot of credit for this undertaking. i bet it gonna turn out great. Are you part of the Unlawful Racing group? If so what ever happened to that f.a.s.t. 69? Regards, Dan

I know Jack Irons, he bought some door parts off of me for Randy Bolig's Bee project, at that point he invited me to join there forum. We are also in the same Mopar car club along with some of the other "Unlawful" bunch.
I know there is a bigger story behind the whole thing and I admittedly don't know much about it, YET.:grin:

 

[detmatt1]

On to messing with the doors and fenders while I wait for a-pillar sections (thanks to Generaljmlee!). I dissassembled the doors that I am using to the shells so they will get blasted and primed as well, they are very clean and will need only minor work. The fenders will need lower patch panels installed and I will start on that today.