"1968 Charger w/ 6.1L, 6 spd, RMS AlterKtion and 4 link"

[70B5Cuda]

Well, a year later its making some progress...new AMD quarter panels, dutchman's panel tail light panel, rear crossmember, rear valance, one piece trunk floor, and trunk floor extensions.

[VegasCharger]

AWESOME!!!!! 

Thanks for the update. 

[Finn]

Good work!

[GreenMachine]

   Thanks for the photos of the outer wheel well mod, I'll be doing that to mine soon. If the aftermarket companies would make one with more tire clearance, I bet it'd out sell the stock ones.

[chargervert]

Side by side comparison:

You guys should start making those outer wheel house pieces. People would buy them. I need 5 pairs of them myself!

[70B5Cuda]

I know-they really would be a seller. Not sure what it would take to get tooled up but they wouldn't be cheap pieces!!!

[chargervert]

If they had something to template them from, maybe someone like AMD might tool them up and stamp them out. I offered them my NOS 70 Charger front valence pan to template them from, and they accepted my offer,and now they are available to all 70 Charger owners. If they think the part is marketable they would consider making them. I believe that these would be good selling pieces,and they fit 3 model year Chargers.  I believe that they would also do the other b body outer wheel houses if they has thodse to template them from as well.

[70B5Cuda]

The RMS 4 link bar has been welded in. The Ford 9" rearend will be narrowed to fit my wheels and tires.



Also, I changed direction on the transmission. I had a TR6060 laying around in my shop from when I parted out a late model Challenger SRT8 so I'm going to use it. So the tunnel had to be enlarged...

[70B5Cuda]

Smooth firewall coming....

[Kern Dog]

You know, I was nervous about cutting and replacing the front structure of my "Jigsaw" Charger. Have you ever felt a bit hesitant like that?
I know that whatever gets cut out can be replaced but it still gets my nerves up a bit. 

[Bob T]

Great build thread, good to see progress coming along

[70B5Cuda]

You know, I was nervous about cutting and replacing the front structure of my "Jigsaw" Charger. Have you ever felt a bit hesitant like that?
I know that whatever gets cut out can be replaced but it still gets my nerves up a bit. 

As you know, the keys are to take measurements, brace when needed, and just cutting out one key piece at a time!!! It scares me when people demolish too much at one time.

The car was braced before removing and replacing The drivers side rocker. Then the car went on a frame table before installing the subframe connectors. Then bracing was moved to rear of the car as the Dutchman's panel, quarters, and tail panel were removed. Now that the back half is buttoned up and the rockers/subframes are solid and square, I'm not worried about the firewall coming out.

[70B5Cuda]

A few pictures of the start of the tunnel...

[70B5Cuda]

Firewall is roughed in...

[Mike DC]

             
The work looks good.  But to be honest I never got the appeal of smoothed firewalls & inner fenders.  At least not on a real street car (rather than a SEMA showpiece). 

I guess once you're modifying a lot of stuff on the firewall, the argument for custom-fabbing it gets more compelling.   

[BrianShaughnessy]

 

Looking good.   Congrats.   

[70B5Cuda]

             
The work looks good.  But to be honest I never got the appeal of smoothed firewalls & inner fenders.  At least not on a real street car (rather than a SEMA showpiece). 

I guess once you're modifying a lot of stuff on the firewall, the argument for custom-fabbing it gets more compelling.   

I've never had a firewall modified before, but the other cars I'm building were non AC cars originally so they were already somewhat smooth. These are the three reasons I decided to start over...

1. I'm going with Vintage Air due to cost/space/technology improvements
2. I really don't like the AC firewall holes
3. I have to gusset/reinforce the aftermarket medals

With all three of these things in mind, it's just about the same amount of work/money

[Mike DC]

                    
Yeah, that makes sense.   You were going to be redoing half the firewall either way.  The stock AC firewall has a lot of big holes. 


Did you consider whether that trans tunnel would clear a Tremec/Mopar 6spd manual?  If I was building a whole custom tunnel I would want to leave myself room for either automatic or manual overdrives.  

That tunnel you built looks pretty big & tall.  If it doesn't clear a Tremec 6spd then it must be pretty close.  
             

[70B5Cuda]

                   
Yeah, that makes sense.   You were going to be redoing half the firewall either way.  The stock AC firewall has a lot of big holes. 


Did you consider whether that trans tunnel would clear a Tremec/Mopar 6spd manual?  If I was building a whole custom tunnel I would want to leave myself room for either automatic or manual overdrives.  

That tunnel you built looks pretty big & tall.  If it doesn't clear a Tremec 6spd then it must be pretty close.  
             

I am now going with a Tremec TR6060 6 speed so I used that transmission to determine the tunnel dimensions. The new 6 speed transmissions are so much bigger then the 727/833!!

[70B5Cuda]

Windshield wiper motor notch is gone...

[70B5Cuda]

Firewall is in place...also the 6.4L BGE Hemi and the TR6060 were mated and installed for mockup of the transmission crossmember.
A front lower radiator support was built since I'm not a fan of some of the other aftermarket offerings. It's got a pocket on the passenger side to account for the vintage air conditioning condenser/hard lines.

[70B5Cuda]

Since the TR6060 has a fixed flange (not a slip yoke) I ordered a Magnum conversion kit. This makes the transmission crossmember much easier. Transmission crossmember is in place

[Kern Dog]

That crossmember looks great. At first I thought Uhhh....you welded that in? Then I saw the last picture where it shows that it is bolted in.   

[AKcharger]

... I don't want to spend a ton on body work and paint. I'll figure that out later but I'm leaning towards driving it in faded red or possibly doing a quick/cheap LL1 paint job with a painted white top. Nothing expensive...just functional.

Who amoung us has NOT said somthing like this! 

Awesome work though!

[70B5Cuda]

... I don't want to spend a ton on body work and paint. I'll figure that out later but I'm leaning towards driving it in faded red or possibly doing a quick/cheap LL1 paint job with a painted white top. Nothing expensive...just functional.

Who amoung us has NOT said somthing like this! 

Awesome work though!

Lol. I know....it's what I do. I can't help myself. That's why I changed the title of the thread also!