70 Polara convertible rear wheel well question

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

what are the differences between the rear wheel wells of a convertible vs a 2 door coupe? My bodyshop guy is saying my convertible has an additional piece that the coupe donor car didn't have. And of course the pieces in my car are rotted away. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Samplingman]

If you are referring to the inner wheel wells, they are totally different. For one thing the tops are flat on the convertible and more rounded on the coupe. The trunk torsion bar hinge mounts are also different, and the torsion bars are longer on the coupe.

 

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

is there anywhere I can get a diagram or pictures of the wheel wells? I did look in the FSM under the body and frame section but didn't see anything.

 

[polara71]

If you are referring to the inner wheel wells, they are totally different. For one thing the tops are flat on the convertible and more rounded on the coupe. The trunk torsion bar hinge mounts are also different, and the torsion bars are longer on the coupe.

I never paid that close attention to the torsion bar setup.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Here is one of my 69
If that piece is not damaged then a good body man should be able to transfer it.

Alan

 

[Samplingman]

I never paid that close attention to the torsion bar setup.

I'm dealing with this part of the build now. I was surprised to see the number of differences. I can try and get some pics. I have a Chrysler, but I'm sure the Dodge C is the same if not similar.

 

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

I'm dealing with this part of the build now. I was surprised to see the number of differences. I can try and get some pics. I have a Chrysler, but I'm sure the Dodge C is the same if not similar.

Send what you can please. My guy specializes in vettes, but does all cars. As most he hasn't come up against a dodge c body before, especially a convertible. Now that the donor has been disassembled its time to start the work on my car and this has him scratching his head a little. Thanks for whatever you can provide.

 

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

Here is one of my 69
If that piece is not damaged then a good body man should be able to transfer it.

View attachment 479161


Alan

So the black rounded part, is that a separate piece from the wheel wells you see from underneath the car or connected to them? Or its all one piece?

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The wheel well is three pieces, inner, outer, top.
I bet the inner/outer from the hardtop could be used, just would need to cut to fit the top. (I'm speculating)


Alan

 

[Samplingman]

Here are a few views of the coupe vs convertible.

Notice the hinge bracket is straighter and the torsion bars sit up against the Dutch panel in the coupe. As I’ve said, those torsion bars are a good 4 inches longer than the vert.

Here is one outside of the car. Much rounder than the vert’s three piece unit. The dimensions around the base for the trunk and the wheel well lip are the same, so yes a good metal man could modify.

Here is the vert by comparison.

Hope that helps. Unless yours are completely rotten from top to bottom, I’d just repair where needed using pieces from the coupe. My 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

 

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

Here are a few views of the coupe vs convertible.

Notice the hinge bracket is straighter and the torsion bars sit up against the Dutch panel in the coupe. As I’ve said, those torsion bars are a good 4 inches longer than the vert.

View attachment 479162 View attachment 479163

Here is one outside of the car. Much rounder than the vert’s three piece unit. The dimensions around the base for the trunk and the wheel well lip are the same, so yes a good metal man could modify.

View attachment 479164 View attachment 479165

Here is the vert by comparison.

View attachment 479166
View attachment 479167 View attachment 479168 View attachment 479169

Hope that helps. Unless yours are completely rotten from top to bottom, I’d just repair where needed using pieces from the coupe. My 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

Thank you so much, that really helps. I just need to login to the computer at my bodyshop guy and show these to him. The convertible is a 3 piece unit then. The plan has been to modify the inner and outers, but he is telling me that the tops are shot. He was wondering where we could get new ones and I laughed (or\and cried). I am stopping by the shop in the morning to take a look.

 

[Fratzog]

I'm assuming the differences are to make room for the top when it is down? If so it would be good to leave lots of room for it. I know you mentioned the the convertible top 3rd piece was shot but your body guy should have enough left to get the dimensions he needs to make the necessary mods. Nice to see another convertible being saved

 

[Mr onetwo]

Murray Park may have a couple

 

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

Maybe I need to look closer, I don't know if these are shot. They just need to be patched?

 

[Cags70PolaraConvert]

At what point does discouragement set in?

 

[Samplingman]

At what point does discouragement set in?

I have been at mine for 11 years. It all depends on what your goals are. I set out to do everything myself, pledging to make a driver. Many times I thought of hanging it up, especially when I found out the Dutch panel was an old repair where a piece of metal was simply riveted to a rusty piece of metal. Now I'm finding that all the repairs are simply riveted and "Bondoed" over, but at this point I have too much time invested and am too stubborn to turn back now.

The questions you need to ask yourself, "can I find a better example?", "how much money do I want to spend on repairs", and of course, "Am I having fun figuring this stuff out, or "do I just want to polish and drive to the cruise nights?"

Back to the topic, those tops look reparable, much easier than trying to fashion something out of new metal. Looks like you have a decent base to work with. Fortunately, most everything else on the coupe parts car will fit the vert, I would push on, IMHO.

 

[Fratzog]

Ditto what that old man with a hat wrote about forging forward.