My '71 Charger build

[71ChargerMike]

Okay. I now have the brakes completed front and rear. Last thing to do is to bleed the braking system. I also have an electronic distributor and timing gear set to install shortly. I just ordered a new OEM styling radiator tonight. Once I get the new radiator I'll start that work in a few weeks. It'll be nice to have this car on the road again after all the work that's went into it.

[Lighthorseman]

    

[71ChargerMike]

So tonight I started doing some other work. Still need to bleed the brakes yet. Tonight I pulled the radiator, a couple hoses, water pump, fan, and the rest of the parts that are associated with the pulley system. I still need to pull the fuel pump, crank pulley, harmonic balancer, couple bolts and I'll get to the timing chain. This job is a bit more involved then I thought but with some time and patients I'll knock it out in no time. Meanwhile I just ordered new radiator hoses, alternator/fan belt (still looking for the power steering belt), gasket kit for the front end of the engine, by pass hose, and a small stock in hose clamps!

I'm a bit nervous about getting this engine back together about it leaking. Any tips??

The current condition of my 318:

[71ChargerMike]

So in the last couple weeks I have successfully removed the entire front end of the engine. Tonight I painted a few parts to help with the look some and installed the new timing gear set. Tomorrow I plan to start reassembling the engine. Wednesday I pick up the rebuilt 3 row radiator. The stock radiator was clogged up solid, so bad the radiator shop couldn't do anything at all. Lots of corrosion and stop leak was found. New one is rather pricey but so was a suitable OEM replacement.

I'm hoping to have the car running again by the end of next week. Long as I have enough time to play around with it.

[71ChargerMike]

Okay. 2 months behind schedule but the charger is up and running 95%. I had trouble with getting the engine to seal up. It took 3 tries to seal up this engine from oil and coolant leaks. I was able to bleed the brakes without issue and the rear end of the car is once again back on the ground. I'm trying to find hub centric rings for the front wheels because the American Racing Outlaw II wheels that I found have a bigger center bore. I don't think these are lug centric but I could be wrong.

Today I'll be getting legal plates and hopefully get the car on all 4 tires with a test drive later this afternoon.

[Troy]

For whatever reason it seems like all my cars leak something so as long as it's not pouring out I usually just say "screw it" and drive. I put cardboard or a drip pan under them when I park...

Troy

[ACUDANUT]

For whatever reason it seems like all my cars leak something so as long as it's not pouring out I usually just say "screw it" and drive. I put cardboard or a drip pan under them when I park...

Troy

X2

[crj1968]

For whatever reason it seems like all my cars leak something so as long as it's not pouring out I usually just say "screw it" and drive. I put cardboard or a drip pan under them when I park...

Troy

X2

X3 

[TPR]

For whatever reason it seems like all my cars leak something so as long as it's not pouring out I usually just say "screw it" and drive. I put cardboard or a drip pan under them when I park...

Troy

X2

X3 

X4

[71ChargerMike]

Alright. I started this 71 charger mechanical restoration project in Nov. 2015. 10 months later and roughly 50 hours of work I now have a 71 charger that I have a lot of confidence in driving now. After replacing shocks, rear wheel cylinders, front drums to disc, new axle steel brake line, upper control arms, upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, new radiator (used the factory tanks with a new 3 row core), new radiator hoses, double roller timing chain, ET Street american racing outlaw 2 15x6 front wheels, and finally an alignment. This car fires up on the 1st attempt without having to pump the gas pedal after sitting for a while, something this car has never done before.

So I missed out on the car show season with my charger this year and while that is a bummer I'm not mad about it. I entered my 2015 Dodge Dart GT in every show and took home a trophy in 2 out of 3 events. I did take the charger out to its 1st cruise night last Tuesday and got lots of attention. Just about everyone there came to check out the car. A lot of people say they didn't even know what it was. It was worth the wait!!

I really can't wait until next years car show season now, it's going to be a very fun season! I do have a current picture, I'm just waiting for it to upload.

[71ChargerMike]

Here is the most recent photo.



As you can see the car looks completely the same as the very 1st photo because all the work went under the car and under the hood. I'm thinking about starting the exterior after next year. Right now I just want to enjoy the car and I still would like to replace the steering box and install an aftermarket temperature gauge. The gauge in the dash does not work and could be as simple as just a loose or broken wire but I have an aftermarket ready to go in.