The Dodge Challenger Message Board

We managed to get the fenders and grille section installed, although there are some issues with alignment (the guy who put on the stripes was off!). The trunk is now completed as well.
At this point, I'll be happy just to get her on the road and live with the stripes being off until I decide to repaint her. Windshield goes in next, then the hood and then it's on the lift to get her under belly finished.

This bit needs to be painted black on the front facing side up to the underside of the top.

Thanks Dave.
So, it's just the front facing side then? the back side and top remain body color?

The factory didn't like those parts showing through the grill. They very sloppily blacked out the front of the car to hide things. Someone was standing in a pit and sprayed black paint up at the rad support. The paint would have faded out as you got closer to the top. So, the very top of that plate should be body color. Underneith should be black that fades out to body color as you get to the top. Only black and dark blue cars didn't get the blackout...even then, some black and blue cars have been seen that DID get it.


You're doing a good job. I'd focus on getting the car on the road. After that is accomplished, I'd go back and do some detail work. You can mark the location of the hood latch, then remove it for refinishing. Same goes for the popup spring. Those were never body color from the factory. It's little details like that, that really make a nice car stand out. When I see those parts painted...along with the door strickers and door latches, it really looks like someone cut corners. Then I start wondering what other corners were cut.

Yes I don't think the hood latch and spring got any paint at all did they? They were fitted after painting.

I've seen a couple survivor 74 Cudas with body color popup springs but all others have been natural...unpainted. They may have been phosphated originally.

The spring isn't painted and it'll remain natural. I'll remove the paint from the hood latch, as it makes sense to be natural as well.
I'm going to "black out" the rad support this weekend. Makes total sense that you don't want to see that orange poking through the grille.
As much as I want to drive it- like tomorrow- I really want the small stuff like this to be done so I'm not having to go back in again and again to modify or change stuff. My OCD kicks in and I find another area to work on every time!