'71 Hits the Paint Booth

[71charger_fan]

Firewall stripped. I collected the dash pieces yesterday to reassemble it myself. I didn't take it apart. Any photos of 3rd gen dashes from the firewall side would be greatly appreciated.

[71charger_fan]

Today, I started putting the dash back together. Since I didn't take it apart, it'll take me a while to get it back together. I don't even know that I all the parts. I bought a Classic Dash gauge cluster. However, I am not happy with the fit and will likely just eat the cost of it and go back to the factory cluster.

[CFMopar]

Ah that's shit.  I thought of buying that but got a great deal on a 2nd rally cluster and plan to retro fit it with new gauges. 

[ACUDANUT]

I don't think it looks like shit. Kinda cool 

[71charger_fan]

Passenger fender done, on to the driver fender.

[CFMopar]

I don't think it looks like shit. Kinda cool 

Sorry not saying it looks like shit.  It's shit that he's not happy with fit.

[71charger_fan]

Front clip primed and now it cures for a few weeks.

[71charger_fan]

Dashboard slowly going back together. I went back to a factory cluster using an AM/FM Bluetooth radio from antiqueautomobileradio.com. Not sure if I have the ashtray in correctly or the bracket for the ductwork attached in the correct place.

[71charger_fan]

Went to the shop today to pick up my old dash harness and snapped some photos.

[71charger_fan]

The American Autowire update wiring harness I'm using has no provision for the concealed headlamp doors. Today, I unwrapped the dash harness that came out of the car to separate out the blue/yellow and black/red wire pair that carry the open/close signal from the relay to the motor.

[AKcharger]

Not sure if your past this point but heres some photos of dash/firewall

[71charger_fan]

I would love some dash/firewall photos.

[AKcharger]

Sorry boss, forgot the link
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,138138.msg1712150.html#msg1712150

[ACUDANUT]

No paint in 8 years ??

[71charger_fan]

No paint in 8 years ??

It was painted and looked good under fluorescent light. When I got it out in the sun, the search began for someone who could do it over and do it well.

[71charger_fan]

I worked out all the hookups from the American Autowire harness to the factory cluster. Now to unplug everything and make it neat. I'm thinking of wiring a second, single DIN, modern radio, mounted in the glovebox in to the mix. I could just turn off the repro one in the dash and use the JVC with a couple thousand songs on a thumb drive for road trips. I have the radio and there are extra accessory circuits.

[71charger_fan]

He thinks he's about a month away from cut and buff.

[71charger_fan]

Getting a handle on taming the wiring rat's nest.

[71charger_fan]

Coming together.

[71charger_fan]

Fully blocked and in final prime. Sand the gloss off of the final prime, sealer, then, finally, color.

[71charger_fan]

This afternoon, I integrated my American Autowire harness with my Flaming River steering column. The turn signal switch pin outs on the column matched the American Autowire connector but it was not plug and play. The column connector was a Pack-Con and the harness connector was Delco-Remy. So I had to unpin the Flaming River connector and put those pins into the connector that came with the harness. Then I had to connect the ignition switch to the harness.

[71charger_fan]

The inside of the driver frame rail had a rust through that had been covered up with seam sealer then painted over. Now, it's actually fixed with steel.

[71charger_fan]

More rust turned up in the corners of the engine compartment that had been covered with seam sealer and painted over.

[71charger_fan]

Broken spot weld on the core support that had been "fixed" with seam sealer and painted over.

[71charger_fan]

Originally thought that the engine bay was good to go, but after all the half-assed body work that had been done to the rest of the car it too was stripped and treated.