74 Charger SE 318 barn Find

[tmorford]

Hey all, I am new to the restoration thing and I am sure I will make a lot of mistakes but I don't want to start off with any haha. I just bought a 74 Charger SE the owner is out of town and said it ran last winter for a little while, but the last time it was really driven was 2017. The car looks clean but I could not get in to it because the door locks where seized up so I low balled him and he took it. Now with all that being said I have not started it yet I plan on dragging it on a car hauler or a tow dolly but I live 45 minutes away. Before I start this up what should I check or change or do so I do not damage anything? I have always have been able to do basic repairs on vehicles and this is my first real restoration project so wish me luck! I will try to start a thread and show everything I am doing.

[XH29N0G]

Welcome to the forum. 

If you know the previous owner I would also check with him.  It might be practically ready to go and able to run through things like oil and old gas, but if it were me, I would want to check those, and to be safe, change, those and many of the the fluids.  I would also look over the wires in the engine bay and under the dash to make sure there was not a chance for a short.  I would check things like the hoses/lines/cables/bushings for fuel and brake and suspension.  Before driving, probably even hauling on its own wheels, I would check the tires and the date codes on the tires.     I am sure others will have more to add  and may clarify if some checks aren't needed. 

I would also acquire a faculty service manual.  That will also have information on service.

[70 sublime]

Welcome to the forum.   

Think the first thing to do would be get the door open some how so you can get the car out of park so it will roll if brakes are not stuck

If it was running last winter I would just get a battery in it and pour some fresh gas down the carb to see if it would start

Your low ball might be him just glad to get rid of it because it smokes so bad when it last ran
Just hope for the best is all you can do now

[tmorford]

Thanks all, the last owner is all sunshine and lollipops about it, ran great last time I started and drove it. He lives out of state now and I met his father over at the car. I will siphon out the gas and add new ethanol free gas, I hope the brakes are good to get on a tow dolly or carrier. Oh question about a tow dolly I hear you can not tow a rear wheel drive car as it will kill the transmission as my only choice to get a flatbed or a carrier to get it out?

I bought a battery today going to bring it, I also picked up a slimjim to hopefully get the door open, anything else I should be worried about getting it on a trailer?

[70 sublime]

As long as all the tires have air in them you should be good to get it on a trailer

[AKcharger]

Welcome Tmorford, I hope you'll find you membership to the forum buth challanguing and rewarding!

What everyone said is spot on. my two cents:
- Shoot some starting fluid down the carb, if it coughs and runs for a second or two you know you have good spark and compression so should run...if nothing don't waste you time, just get it on the dolly/trailer
-  If using a town dolly remove drive shaft, a 45 min drive in neutral will destroy your transmission
- Most important, EXPECT EVERYTHING TO GO WRONG and plan acordingly 1) tires flat, how to air them up 2) will not start how do I get it on dolly...That try of stuff

Once home drain fuel, do oil change and add a zinc additive!!!!!!

keep us posted

[tmorford]

Tires look good, I will bring air just in case. I have a battery and starter fluid, and a gas can with non ethanol 94 gas. I rented a trailer from uhaul so I hope that will work!

[tan top]

hello  & welcome   

[tmorford]

Thank you all for welcoming me! So this is the charger, I am going to try to pick it up this weekend.

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1974/dodge/charger/101343424

[ACUDANUT]

Green on green. Yuck. That 8 1/4 rear end can't be a sure grip. 

[tmorford]

Yeah I hate to color ... not sure which color I am going to end up with, my wife wants red with the black vinal top.

[Nacho-RT74]

welcome!

I have to say, this doesn't look good on the K member!

unless some optical ilusion, it seems like it got rust pinholes ?

fortunatelly thats a piece can be changed, and being Small block you could upgrade ( if wished ) to big block K member ( that thing changes between SB and BB since 73 )

[tmorford]

The color or the car in general?

[Nacho-RT74]

The color or the car in general?

sorry, edited my previous coment showing what I meant... pressed the POST button accidentally

what is very interesting is the 3rd member! 9 1/4" being small block! amazing!!!

[tmorford]

Ahh got you, yes I had not noticed that, thank you, I dont know if its a numbers matching car yet, and I am not sure if I care. I dont plan on selling it so if I have to replace it I will definitely go with a BB one and possibly a 440 to go with it, the car is originally from California so it should be relatively rust free other then surface rust ... I hope haha

[AKcharger]

If I may suggest...If the body is stright or only needs minor dents and dings have it wrapped in red! does a few things

1) looks almost PERFECT overnight with much less effort than paint (need to pull trim and bumpers but do it yourslef and save $$
2) makes Mrs happy
3 Most important gove you MOMENTUM...You FEEL like project is moving along and keeps you motivated. once you have time and $$$ to paint it right, peel wrap off

[tmorford]

I like this idea, I will have to find someone that wraps vehicles around my area!

Thank you!

[70 sublime]

Thank you all for welcoming me! So this is the charger, I am going to try to pick it up this weekend.

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1974/dodge/charger/101343424

Umm I hope your low ball offer was around the $4K mark

[70 sublime]

I have had a couple 73 Chargers
Looks like you will need to change the rubber around the 4 bolts that hold the K frame to the car

Not sure what that big battery switch is doing on the edge of the dash in picture #6

[tmorford]

It was less then that ... why do you say that? Do you see a lot wrong? I plan on doing a lot of work on it so its ok.

[70 sublime]

Well then you should be in good shape
It does not look rotted out but the interior needs lots of help
Dash is all split my guess why the green covering over it

[tmorford]

I plan on getting a complete suspension kit and replace all the rubber under the car, shocks, leaf springs tie rods, ball joints etc...  

I am ready for the interior I already looked into upholstery person to change the geen to black and replace the vinyl top its got some damage to it.

[70 sublime]

Try to get it running and only do what you have to do to drive it on the road the way it is

If you start taking things all apart one thing leads to another then before you know it it is in 1000 pieces and 3 or 4 years later still not able to drive it

Get a few miles on it as a green car then make a plan what you want to do with it

Then try to do a piece or section at a time with out totally killing the car

Many cars on this forum are all apart for many years and the owners have never driven them yet

My 

[tmorford]

Thank you, winters in upstate NY are cold hard and long and I have a big garage, I plan on doing a section each winter, this winter I was planning suspension. But I will drive it a bit first this fall see what really needs work haha

Thank you again for your advice.

[AKcharger]

Then try to do a piece or section at a time with out totally killing the car

Many cars on this forum are all apart for many years and the owners have never driven them yet

My 

Sage advice right there!!!

As for top and seats you can do them, its not hard, and you'll find all the help you need here. You'll have two choices 1) pay a GOOD restoration shop a LOT of money or 2) pay an average shop a reasonable amount to TRY repair because they've never done it. You'll care more about your car then they will

[tmorford]

I think you guys have a lot more confidence in my abilities then I do... and I appreciate that!

[XH29N0G]

Looks like it will be fun.  A few years ago, I was lucky enough to hear a friend's kid saying: "Dad, its about the journey.  It not about what it looks like now."  We were on our way to look at a car. My friend asked me to join as another set of eyes, and I suspect, a voice of reason..... 

I expect your project to be a really enjoyable journey and look forward to hearing about the progress, questions, hiccups (if there ever are any), and the wins. 

Please keep up posted.

[Nacho-RT74]

prepair yourself to suffer with interior plastic panels LOL ( Don't ask how I know it LOL )

[tmorford]

Well today is the day I run up to get it, wish me luck haha I think I am going to need it!

[XH29N0G]

Well today is the day I run up to get it, wish me luck haha I think I am going to need it!

JUST REMEMBER "it is about the journey." 

In one way or another we all can empathize   

and will live it vicariously.   

[tmorford]

Thanks guys... picked it up today.

The bad: All the rubber under the car needs replacing but I already knew that and planned for that.

The ugly: Interior is trashed the drivers seat is not original ducktape on the doors, dash cracked, carpet is trashed, center console is trashed everything is trashed. The vinal top is also trashed, holes and looks like someone just put putty for the top no vinal left.

The good: Runs awesome, not sounds in the motor at all, no smoke, shifts great. Paperwork states transmission rebuilt 2017. AC works,  new alternator, bakes work great, drives like a dream.

I am going to replace the door cards, carpet sooner then later.

Not bad all in all.

Tim

[RallyeMike]

That car looks like a great starting platform.... lack of rust, slapstick, and rallye gauges.... and runs good too? Good find.

[70 sublime]

Sounds like a good project 

[XH29N0G]

Sounds good.

[CFMopar]

Congratulations on your project!

[tmorford]

Hey guys I have disregarded all your advice sorry... I have the car a part and the paint ordered, I have the new interior so when the car is done with paint it's going to going in. Now I need some help with the Engine it has the original 318 in it and its numbers matching so I am going to keep it, it has the original 2b carb in it, I want some more HP out of it what should I do? I found a machine shop 7 miles from my house and they can clean it up and bore it out if needed, what cam should I use pistons, rods, heads, intake, EFI or Carb?

I know I should not have taken it all a part but it gets cold and boring in upstate NY in winter haha!

Thanks!
Tim

[Nacho-RT74]

sorry, this link doesn't work for me being in Spain ( some web restrictions ), but it has been a reference for many ppl with 318s and I could open it when I was in Vzla

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0409-318-engine-build/

I hope will still work. Basically said how to build a 400 HP 318 with parts out of the box

[tmorford]

Yeah I have seen that article its bolt-on stuff but I am having issues finding some of the parts and I don't really need 400hp, I am looking for more 320 or so to start, I am thinking of starting with this>

https://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2176PK/10002/-1

then do a full bottom end rebuild in a few years. 

[AKcharger]

so...hows things going?

[tmorford]

It's actually going well, I have sourced original front seats and a slap shift. The car seems to have been brown originally and was painted that ugly green. It also looks like it was side-swiped at one time they replaced the passenger side door and the rear quarter panel is banged up so I am fixing them and I should be ready for paint! I am still looking for 360 heads I can bolt on once that is done I just need to work on the dash and the center console and I am done!  I will send up pictures soon.

[AKcharger]

 

[tmorford]

So I have a line on a cheap 440 out of an RV 68k should I swap or stick with the 318?

[ralley72]

stay with the 318.

Mike

[Nacho-RT74]

IMHO, get the engine for a future but keep building the car with the 318 if you want to enjoy the car soon. Proceed with engine "upgrade" later. Swap the engine is not just the engine, but transmission, mounts and match lot of stuff.

Depending on engine year ( and even more coming from an RV )  it could make a huge diff on power, so still being cheap, MAYBE get it correctly powered wouldn't make it cheap anymore.

[Nacho-RT74]

Yeah I have seen that article its bolt-on stuff but I am having issues finding some of the parts and I don't really need 400hp, I am looking for more 320 or so to start, I am thinking of starting with this>

https://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2176PK/10002/-1

then do a full bottom end rebuild in a few years. 

I have serious doubts that build from HotRod magazine makes full 400hp anyway. Maybe close, but is an easy job anyway to get more juice.