1971 SSP Project

[farmboy70]

Here are few progress pictures.
Dave

[71bird]

The body, and engine colors clash, need to repaint it. Ha

[farmboy70]

It will have to do.

[71Beeper]

Dave, you've done a lot of work in a short time (your first post for this thread was Jan 1st) are you doing this on your own?
I've been at mine since last Christmas and are nowhere near what you have accomplished.
Tell us your secret.

[farmboy70]

No secret, I try to get something done every night . Usually work two hours after work and as much as I can on Saturday.
This car has been different than most. Parts deals and time to work on it have fallen in place perfectly so far.
Almost like it wants to be restored. lol.
Dave

[farmboy70]

Body work is almost complete and will be in primer this week.
Dave

[warnpacem]

New here, looks like your project SSP is coming along very nice. A 383 hp, 4spd with factory air is a nice combo (think is what fender tag indicated?) Nice!

[71_bronze_gtx]

It looks as though you replaced entire quarter panels. If so, I'm curious as to what brand you used and what type of fitment issues you may have had to solve.

I'm in the middle of trying to fit a new AMD right quarter on my 71. It's sitting about 1/4" too far forward at the top of the door opening but tight where the door opening transitions to door sill, and about 3/16" high at the deck filler panel.

It seems as though the flanges that sit on the rear window opening and the trunk gutter are holding it up too high, where otherwise it might rotate counterclockwise and fall into place.

[farmboy70]

Hi
These are AMD.
I have installed many AMD quarters and have to say the 71 Plymouth quarters are the most challenging.
The area at the rear window and at the end where quarter meets deck lid are the problem areas.
I have installed two sets of these and both had the same issues .

I cut the areas to fit and rewelded them.
While some rework is expected with after market quarters these had the most problems.
Dave

[71_bronze_gtx]

Just what I wanted to hear.

Can you be more specific about where/what you had to alter? Was it the quarter or the car? Any pix of what you changed?

[farmboy70]

I had to cut and reform the top of the quarter at the window seam. There was too much metal there.
At the trunk gutter I cut a 1/16 out of the step flange, that allowed the panel to sit lower and match to the deck lid.
Where the trunk lid meets the quarter at the rear, the small triangle area on the quarter was angled instead of straight across like it should be. so I cut and refitted that also.
Mostly this was on the passenger side only. Driver side fit much better and didn't need this much fitting.
The filler work in these areas is almost done so I don't think a picture will help but if you want one can get it for you.
Dave

[71_bronze_gtx]

Thanks.

I had to cut and reform the top of the quarter at the window seam. There was too much metal there.

My fitup was pretty good in that area.

At the trunk gutter I cut a 1/16 out of the step flange, that allowed the panel to sit lower and match to the deck lid.

I had a similar issue there. The part of that multi-bend flange that actually sits on the gutter was not parallel to the gutter as the bend angle was more than 90 degrees. I was able to bend it by hand to be nearly parallel.

Where the trunk lid meets the quarter at the rear, the small triangle area on the quarter was angled instead of straight across like it should be. so I cut and refitted that also.

Not sure exactly where you are referring to as the triangle, but I have no issues at the back.

Where the flange on the quarter at the window opening sits on the flange of the sail/B-pillar, it was riding high at the rear portion. I was able to tweak the sail panel a little to allow that to drop close enough so that a welding clamp pulls it into position.

The only issue I seem to have left is at the door opening - the gap is about nil at the top, and 1/4" at the bottom. It wasn't great before taking the old quarter off, but not this bad. Lifting the new quarter on this end might help some, along with tipping the door a little, but that creates a new alignment problem on the window sills. Still pondering what to to with this.

[71Beeper]

I don't think a picture will help but if you want one can get it for you.
Dave

Dave, I'd like to see some pictures, if possible as I will putting new AMD full quarters on mine soon.
Some pictures for reference would be good.

[farmboy70]

No problem , I'll get them soon.
Dave

[71_bronze_gtx]

TO 71beeper: I have taken a lot of pix of the quarter panel tear-off and am still snapping away as I fit the new panel. Not sure what you want pix of.

Probably the biggest decision you'll have to make (assuming you don't have big fitup issues) is whether you're going to put 100% of the new quarters in, or lop off the forward part where they fit to the roof. If you want to use the entire new quarter, you'll have to take off part of the drip rail. I didn't want to get into that, so I made a diagonal cut about 4" back, at the top.

TO DAVE: The SSP would have had belt moldings originally. Are you planning to put some back on the car? Also, what about rocker moldings (aka side sill moldings)?