[Andy Burke (Slump)]

My '73 is missing 2 of them, and the car isn't #'s matching. If I decide to go without them, what's the best way to fill in the holes left by the rivets?

[Dave R (Roppa440)]

I am not a body man but I would zap them with the mig welder.

[Ted S (Teds)]

yep, weld the holes shut

[Matt P (Matt)]

welding is the best way thats what i did.

[Andy Burke (Slump)]

How should I remove the remaining rivets without making the holes bigger?

[Dave R (Roppa440)]

I would grind them flush with the metal work and pop them out with a punch?

[Steve R (Rizrtse)]

I have a RTSE with moldings and I staired at the car for a year before deeciding against originality and welded the holes shut. First of all nobody has these damn things if you want them new repro or NOS and having them restored is a tough process given the vinyl rubber inserts. They look cheasy as one person told me and rob the car of its historically famous crisp body line.

[Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng]

Personal opinion contrary to many postings here, but I can think of no other car with better Body Side Moldings than the Challenger. I've got one with it on, and I have certainly noticed that many have chosen to remove them due to the factors mentioned before.

I disagree with the "cheasy" comment because when the car was designed, it was, in RTSE form the best of sporty and luxury. If it had the body stripe it made one comment, but the BSM sharpens that crisp line with an accent that no other car can reproduce from any brand. Show it off! Or, if you take it off, put on the body stripe.

[Steve R (Rizrtse)]

Point taken.I guess it comes down to personal taste. Again, I probably would have kept them on my RTSE because of the "molding happy" image this car represented but they are impossible to find in NOS or outstanding repro condition and nobody felt they could deal with the inserts when trying to restore them. I couldn't for the life of me spend a ton of time and money for a new paint job to put back on average moldings when everything else is close to new condition. I kept the body stripe off as weel opting eventually for the bumblebee and hood treatment combination. Good Luck, steve - ny

[Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng]

Personal taste and finances both are important! If you needed to replace one of those six pieces and couldn't find one that either matched or was way too expensive, I'd probably do the same thing you did. At some point you've got to draw a financial line in the sand. It was easy for me, as when I bought my car in 1979 I strolled into the Dodge dealership that sold the car to the original owner and ordered new side moldings. Even though I couldn't spell NOS I ended up with a great replacement for the damage done to the orginals. I wouldn't encourage pulling them off if they are already there, but I sure understand if replacement of any of them doesn't fit the budget!

[Steve R (Rizrtse)]

Forget budget, you just cant find them NOS any longer. Maybe at a national swap meet.