Manky Monkey
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« Reply #420 on: April 03, 2009, 08:33:55 PM » |
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The chassis cross member, running across the car under the bulkhead, was twisted by the front end damage. We were warned it might need replacing but fortunately it now sits perfectly straight & true. From there, Andy chopped out the original bulkhead & the inner front wings. Various attempts to cut 'n' shut the panels to make the wings, bonnet etc fit, have made things worse, not better. The bulkhead has been cut & stitched up again, trying to get things to line up. Throwing it away & fitting our spare was the best option. We've agreed with John that it'd make sense to fit a new floor pan while the car's on the jig, so next job for us is to get in touch with Jack's Autos in New Jersey, the guys we bought the rest of the new panels from, & order one up. John has said he'll store the Charger for free until it arrives. Yeah, the car looks worse now than when we took it in, but believe us, it's way better. Honest.  |
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On the last freedom moped out of Nowhere City.
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #422 on: April 04, 2009, 11:05:03 PM » |
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 You'll probably be able to read this thread in 45 minutes when it's fnished, so we can do as good as him! What we've got...
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #423 on: April 04, 2009, 11:05:56 PM » |
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...and what we're aiming for. No reason why ours can't look as straight as this.
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #424 on: April 04, 2009, 11:07:21 PM » |
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A couple of the non Mopar cars at JC Restorations at the moment.
The mark 1 Cortina behind the Anglia belongs to the recovery truck driver who ferried our car to the workshop.
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #425 on: April 04, 2009, 11:09:39 PM » |
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #426 on: April 04, 2009, 11:12:12 PM » |
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This is the good side of this Plymouth -the bodywork on the other side came back from the shotblasters looking like it'd been blasted with a shotgun -peppered full of rust holes that all need repairing. We don't actually think ours is as bad as we first thought any more!
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« Last Edit: April 09, 2009, 01:02:29 PM by Manky Monkey »
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #427 on: April 04, 2009, 11:22:05 PM » |
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This is Taz's front "clip", the front suspension/steering unit.
Chargers had power steering & as we've only just discovered, some models also had disc brakes. We'll check this is undamaged then overhaul it with new suspension bushes & a coat of gloss black powder-coat. Aftermarket disc brake conversions are apparently cheaper & better than the original Dodge ones, so we'll be fitting a set up front before it hits the streets & maybe on the rear too at a later date.
Oh, that's the rear wheel arch of a Camaro by the way.
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« Last Edit: April 09, 2009, 01:03:27 PM by Manky Monkey »
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #428 on: April 09, 2009, 01:10:10 PM » |
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Back to JC's today to see boss John.
We'd had an email from him saying he needed to talk to us about the Charger, so arrived expecting more horror stories -maybe we'd bought the wrong bulkhead & they'd cut the old one out & found the new one was from another car entirely.
Wasn't as bad as we'd imagined. Not cheap, but not bad. Maybe that's just clever physcology on John's part. The new bulkhead's in & seems to fit. Just tacked in place for now. The straightened chassis legs have been opened up & all the lumpy bumpy bits replaced with fresh straight steel, (the grey primered bits in the photos).
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #429 on: April 09, 2009, 01:12:34 PM » |
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Wonderful to see real metal in the A posts, (the bits the doors hinge on), instead of jagged rust holes.
The round hole in the A post between the hinge mounts isn't standard -maybe a wiring hole or for Waxoyling the inside of the posts, or even for access to try & repair the damage. Who knows. John says he'll weld it up.
The large hole in the bulkhead, (nearest Taz), is for an air conditioning unit, which our car isn't fitted with, so will also get plated over.
Amazing to think this bulkhead was built in America, fitted in a car that ended up in Belgium & now found a new home in another car in Britain!
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« Last Edit: April 09, 2009, 01:24:44 PM by Manky Monkey »
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #430 on: April 09, 2009, 01:22:27 PM » |
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John called us in because, having started work on the bulkhead, it's become obvious that the left side sill needs replacing, (the bit under the door). It's all squished out of shape by the front end damage & has rotted underneath. While we're ordering a new floorpan from the States we may as well buy a replacement sill too. At this rate we'll be starting at the bulkhead & ending up in the boot.
We've got new rear quarters, (the rear wings), & will replace the boot, sorry, "trunk" floor ourselves, so fingers crossed there's no more mullered metal.
Cash is the deciding factor on just how far we take this. John & his team are happy now that the car's straight & safe, which is a huge leap forward from where we were a few weeks ago.
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« Last Edit: April 09, 2009, 01:25:22 PM by Manky Monkey »
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #431 on: April 09, 2009, 01:27:04 PM » |
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Oh my God -how much?!
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Mr_G
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« Reply #432 on: April 09, 2009, 05:40:56 PM » |
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Some real good progress there then! looking good!
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"Gentlemen, pray silence for the President of the Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things."
My time machine is broken.................It was working fine tomorrow!
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Firery Fred
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« Reply #433 on: April 09, 2009, 06:16:09 PM » |
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Hope Taz ain't crying there Andy  |
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It's better to have a gun,(welding),and not need one than need a gun and not have one
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tazet
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« Reply #434 on: April 09, 2009, 08:14:00 PM » |
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No not yet but I may do when we get the bill. Think I was just rubbing my face and it was just good timing for the photo.
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