The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I remember reading a past thread that dave posted, where he had to cut out and weld in small pieces of angle iron for this same particular area that I need to deal with, below the front window, especially around the screws that hold down some sort of panel that was there, which at the moment I can't exactly remember what it was. What I want to know is if Dave used a plasma cutter or a grinder with a cutting disc mounted on it.
Is this a typical trouble spot for a lot of people?

Plasma cutter? A bit technical for me that!

I did what I could with an angle grinder, tinsnips, and a coarse file.
Remove the glass and the dash pad first.

You should also remove all your window trim and clips before removing the vinyl top. The clips that the trim snaps into are screwed on with sheet metal (self tapping) screws. The clips are on top of the edge of the vinyl. You can get new clips and screws from restoration places.

How thick was the sheet metal strips that you welded in, about 1/16 would you say?

I don't know. I am not sure it matters that much. I think the metal I used was just slightly thicker than the steel in the car. As long as it is not too much thicker or thiner it should be ok.

I've repaired many e bodies in this area. use 18 or 20 guage mild steel to repair this area. there are two benefits to this. (1) you can form it easily, via bench vise. (2) using the right thickness of metal you'll get a better finish product when you butt weld it together. document all screw holes before you cut out sections for repair and later mark and drill the correct locations after the repair is done.

Hey Owner4. I take it your an auto body technician. Thanks, that information will be of a great deal of help to me.

By the way, Jeff and I were talking about you and your quick fix to the commonly shared problem of a sagging door, recently.

Oh, before I forget, I want to ask you a question. Do I have to align the posts that support the door aswell, or will the washers fix the problem by themselves?

That's why I called Tony in the first place. You don't have to move the post.

some times it is necessary to move the strikers in order to get a clean shutting door. Glad to be of some help.

This forum is a huge resource, chuck full of help tips and tricks, and people just jumping at the chance to help other owners get their cars up and running, or to get those all so irritating little problems that just drive you nuts, fixed. Its almost enough to make a grown man cry, sniffle.