Ok folks, the SE tail panel is wider on the right side than it is on the left side, and as you can see, the right side sticks out past the end of the body.

[img]http://s771.photobucket.com/user/1Zeke7/media/SE%20tail%20panel.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0[/img]

I paid a small fortune for the SE tail panel and am wondering if any of you have experienced something similar or have some ideas as to how the right end can be "reshaped" without destroying the anodized aluminum? The left panel is the left side, the middle panel is the right side and the right panel is the right side but looking from front to back.

Thanks [img][/img]

Original qtrs on the car?, or have they been replaced?


Is the SE finish panel an NOS/original/repaired/restored?, or an early Metro repro?


Either way your looking at an expensive fix

If it were me, I would check the gaps between the SE panel and the trunk lid trim. Proper gaps here, indicates quarters too close (as Dayclona stated above) . How are the trunk lid side to quarter top gaps? If the body panel gaps are correct, measure distance between SE panel ends (where they meet trunk lid trim) and compare to known good fitting panel?? Just my .02

Jess

the SE panel was an original that was restored, I sent mine in as an exchange because I was told to repair mine would be just as expensive,

from the get go I told my body man to keep as much of the OEM sheet metal as possible and where he made his cuts are in these 2 pics

http://s771.photobucket.com/user/1Zeke7/media/DSC00144.jpg.html?sort=3&o=8

http://s771.photobucket.com/user/1Zeke7/media/DSC00142.jpg.html?sort=3&o=9

I do not have the trunk trim back from the guy doing that restoration so I cannot give you any more info about the gap between the trunk trim and the SE panel

Well the panel you received is not the one removed from your car, mistake #1, no telling what condition it was in when "restored", the new panel obviously wasn't trial fitted to the car during the initial restoration process,mistake#2

hope that your qtrs stayed in their "stock" position when the rear was reworked, otherwise no SE panel is going to fit, if there's the chance you can test fit the panel to another "stock" Challenger to see if it's either the SE panel or that your qtrs moved during reassembly, if you can confirm the same problem on an other stock/unmolested Challenger, then you should be on the horn to the individual that refurbished that SE panel, if it's the body work on your vehicle then you have issues to take up with your bodyman, I hope other items where check fitted during the restoration?

How's the trunk side gaps in relation to the qtrs?, on avg it should be about 3/16"-1/4"

I would have had my OEM SE tail panel restored by same guy but he said he had one already done, pictures were gorgeous, I sent out to several others to confirm it was a good exchange. Thought I would save some time. I did ask the guy if he still had my SE tail panel and he replied no, and kind of took offense as to the SE panel not fitting. I know the backside of the SE panel has a bunch of little hammer marks on only the right side, but he told me he does not remember the condition the SE panel was in before he worked on it but that he doubts very much he stretched the metal by that much. I have contacted my body man to go see the car at the assembly shop to see if there is anything he can do. He waited until he had the SE panel before he painted the car so I am assuming he trial fitted the SE panel. When the assembly guy received the car he told me the gaps looked all ok. But again, I am 1200 miles away so I can only go by pictures and telephone conversation. We did not find out until just a few days ago about the SE panel, not ready for that part to be installed anyways, but he had extra time on his hands and he likes to stay busy.

Can't see the pictures through your link. Says I need password to open.

They don't fit perfect. We just went thru this on my car and I have a NOS pc. We test fit it getting ready for paint. It also seemed a hair long but not as bad as yours appears.

We found that if you fasten the outside clips and fasteners first and work your way toward the center it all works out. I'm still trying to figure out how to correctly use the center clips that attach to the panel and fasten the middle. its almost like the clips should be screwed to the body and then the panel snaps directly onto the clip. Anyone know for sure?

...

I have a 70 Western Sport Special Challenger, original paint, SE trim package.
Mine is a bit "gappy" on the right as well,,,not sure if that means anything,,,but it is something i have noticed. Gap is not as noticeable as what you picture on your car.

Biggest problem i have had with the SE trim restoration is finding the clips/hardware to attach the panel...( R/T specialites doesnt have it as well )
Good luck
Doug

repro metal is junk..not the trim at fault.bodyshop should had kept se panel to make sure fit..

How do body shops put these things together without checking trim and other panels for fit?

I couldn't agree more

That's the difference in finding a shop that knows what it's doing, I usually make the customer a bit perturbed on my constant requests for trim, glass, emblems, panels, etc, etc that I want to test fit, that will be used or changed out during the restoration build, I put enough effort into building, bodyworking, blocking for weeks on end on primer, paint, colorsanding clearcoats, that the last thing I need is panels/components, trim,glass or emblems that don't fit, plus having to modify or redo work already done!

Mike

I got my clips and fasteners from R/T Specialties a few years back. They must not carry them anymore.

Mike,

Sorry but if your customers are perturbed by that they must be idiots. I checked everything on my car before it went to paint. I just don't understand not doing this.

Thanks
Chris

Most customers have no clue when it comes to a restoration, they'll ship a car around the country from one vendor to another, with no clue as to what should have been done initially, a vehicle will arrive with a painted engine compartment, an a detailed driveline installed, or a new interior installed, yet they want qtrs cut off and replaced, along with other major body/paint bodywork...

Tell the customer to include any trim/glass or panels that are going to be installed to ship them with the car, you usually get "why?", then you have to explain the reason "why", is to assure that these parts will fit after body/paint, of course the car shows up without the part(s), you contact the customer, only to hear, "it'll be all right, I'm sure the parts will fit"...you know what happens later, basically what this thread is about

I've experienced all the vendor/bodyshop horror stories from the proprietors end over the decades, one of the reasons you learn everything from A to Z when it comes to restoring a vehicle

Mike

I've been lucky with the few customers I've taken on.

If they are that clueless I'd rather send them packing. I don't need the money or the headache.
M426

We all know the "mopar" crowd is rather eccentric to begin with, I deal mostly with the "wingcar"(wingers) crowd, they're the real "fruits" of the bunch

I have a NOS panel if you want to rule that out I could take some measurements?