1971 Charger SE build thread

[CFMopar]

Hey everyone,

Figured I'd start a running thread to log the process of my build here. Finally getting started on it after many years. Long time user of this forum who disappeared over the last 10 years as the car sat.

Little background...

Bought the car when I was  about 18 years old and have had it for as long as I was old at the time. Life eventually took over and the car sat as I moved around, had kids and pursued my career.  Well now I'm set in a house I plan to stay in for a long time, so I figured its a good time to try and do this project properly vs the hack job I did as a 18-20 year old. With covid and all I can't think of a better way to spend the time 


Starting with a 1971 Charger SE, auto, with a 440 and 8 3/4 rear with 3.91's and a limited slip. Had it painted once and motor rebuilt way back. Obviously showing its age and all with the sitting. Car was originally a 318, bucket seat, bronze car so not to concerned with restoring it to its factory state. Looking to do a more restomod  /protouring type build with this.

Few photos before I get into getting the seats, centre counsel, and carpet out to get a better look at the floors.

[XH29N0G]

Thank you for starting this thread.  I like the car and it looks like it will be a great to watch the build come together.   

[CFMopar]

Got carpet, seats and centre counsel out to get a good look at the floors.

Rear section looks great. Front section, while not rotted out, looks like it was poorly repaired. You can see the patches welded in, along the transmission tunnel I have a few burn holes from poor welding, and brazing is used in several spots. So likely going to require some work on the front section floor pan.


Next time I'm going to cut the cage out and get rest of the interior out.

[Nacho-RT74]

Interesting stuff here. It seems you got some 74 donor, because seatbelts are 73 and lates and steering wheel is 74 Brougham. Same about the shifter being later or aftermarket style.

BTW, originally the shifter light harness/wire runs from its feed location ( around AC/Heater control area ) all along the dash up to passenger kick panel, when it gets an extension runing along the passenger floor pan up to the console. That's just if you care about correctnes:


Good luck with your project!!!

[ACUDANUT]

 Get it running safely, buff out the paint and have fun.

[CFMopar]

Interesting stuff here. It seems you got some 74 donor, because seatbelts are 73 and lates and steering wheel is 74 Brougham. Same about the shifter being later or aftermarket style.

BTW, originally the shifter light harness/wire runs from its feed location ( around AC/Heater control area ) all along the dash up to passenger kick panel, when it gets an extension runing along the passenger floor pan up to the console. That's just if you care about correctnes:


Good luck with your project!!!

Thanks for the insight. I'd be curious your thoughts on the bucket seats I have.  Likely explains a few questions I had with the seats and seat belts in front.

I'm going to make a few videos as I go along to and throw them up YouTube as I do the project. When I get the one with the interior gutting done maybe you can take a look and see if you recognize the seats and front seat belts?

[CFMopar]

Interesting stuff here. It seems you got some 74 donor, because seatbelts are 73 and lates and steering wheel is 74 Brougham. Same about the shifter being later or aftermarket style.

BTW, originally the shifter light harness/wire runs from its feed location ( around AC/Heater control area ) all along the dash up to passenger kick panel, when it gets an extension runing along the passenger floor pan up to the console. That's just if you care about correctnes:


Good luck with your project!!!

Yeah not to concerned bout originality. Looking to do a a restomod/protouring thing.

Think you can offer some insights on the seats and wiring with them since you seem to recognize the parts from 74 ish. It's at the end of the video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NRkbLvYsnU0

Thanks for the insight

[Nacho-RT74]

Weird buckets... Definitelly not 71/74 B bodies. 71/74 Hinges covers are nothing like those. And still with earliers 71s being a a bit diff from laters 71s and all 72/74, they are nothing like the originals 71/74 B bodies. Maybe 73/74 E bodies ?

The holes on floor for buckets are not stock... and it got missed plate reinforcements welded to floor, so... it was maybe a bench car and got a 73/74 E body buckets donor as mentioned ?

Lower rear "door" panels are 72 ( or cut to make them like 72s to accept the retractor ).

Rear seatbelts are PER WHAT I KNOW, 73/74 kind.

Front seatbelts ( lap and shoulder ) are 72/73... so I'd say making all the crossover ALL the seatbelts setup came from a 73...

Judging by the transmission tunel job, it was a floorshifter car, so this would match the idea about it was a bench car. This would make me thats the reason why the shifter light wire is not running like it should.

shifter handle... aftermarket

Seat wires are for weight sensors switches to make buzz the seatbelt warning buzzer and light, and of course interconected with seatbelts throught an specific harness which runs to underdash harness. On 74 the seatbelt sensors were into the female buckle but on 72/73 the seatbelt sensor was on male retractor. There are more diff concerning about this system on later models, but you don't need to know it now. The fact is the 71 seatbelt warning light ( no buzzer was equipped on them ) was a time delay controled system, no sensors anywhere or harnesses

[CFMopar]

Weird buckets... Definitelly not 71/74 B bodies. 71/74 Hinges covers are nothing like those. And still with earliers 71s being a a bit diff from laters 71s and all 72/74, they are nothing like the originals 71/74 B bodies. Maybe 73/74 E bodies ?

The holes on floor for buckets are not stock... and it got missed plate reinforcements welded to floor, so... it was maybe a bench car and got a 73/74 E body buckets donor as mentioned ?

Lower rear "door" panels are 72 ( or cut to make them like 72s to accept the retractor ).

Rear seatbelts are PER WHAT I KNOW, 73/74 kind.

Front seatbelts ( lap and shoulder ) are 72/73... so I'd say making all the crossover ALL the seatbelts setup came from a 73...

Judging by the transmission tunel job, it was a floorshifter car, so this would match the idea about it was a bench car. This would make me thats the reason why the shifter light wire is not running like it should.

shifter handle... aftermarket

Seat wires are for weight sensors switches to make buzz the seatbelt warning buzzer and light, and of course interconected with seatbelts throught an specific harness which runs to underdash harness. On 74 the seatbelt sensors were into the female buckle but on 72/73 the seatbelt sensor was on male retractor. There are more diff concerning about this system on later models, but you don't need to know it now. The fact is the 71 seatbelt warning light ( no buzzer was equipped on them ) was a time delay controled system, no sensors anywhere or harnesses

Thanks that was a ton of insight.

I know it was a bench car from the fender tag. You mentioned it being a floor shift car? Was that a typo? Because I think they only had standards with bench seats and floor shifters and I think the fender tag said 904a.

https://www.classicindustries.com/product/1971/dodge/charger/parts/mm1388b.html#mz-expanded-view-1037925231496 Looking at a replacement pan I see the braces you're talking about missing.

Given what you're saying about the seat belt sensor wiring I'm guessing the front seat belt at least on the passenger side is from a 74 as its got the female connector. Given the front seat has a male connector I guess its a 74 seat. Matter of fact, looking at a photo of 74 cuda seat hinges I think that confirms it... https://dantesparts.com/i-30499526-mopar-bucket-seat-hinge-covers-1972-1974-e-body-a-body.html

I'm thinking at this point its probably best to replace the front floor pan section.

[Nacho-RT74]

Oh! And by the way, hood is 73 and Front bumper is 73/74

Yes, sorry, typo ( well, not typo but a "lapsus mentis" )... I meant steering column shifter

No 74 seatbelt.. 74 seatbelt system is a totally diff monster, everywhere but the rear bench setup being the same than 73

This is a 74 seatbelt setup... sheetmetal is diff too for 74s at certain spots



71s use to get male belts on shoulder and lap, while getting two female buckets per side to buckle each of them, Althought some changes were made on the halfway of the 71 production on several spots ( console, seatbelts, hood, buckets, courtesy ign light ) taking to the 72 setup earlier.

72/73 gets one female buckle on each side while the shoulder is hooked to the male lap belt terminal as you noticed when removing


The electrical terminals related to seatbelts and seats began on 72, so the seat could be any year from that.

[Nacho-RT74]

About buckets floor pan reinforcements

Here A body, but similar on all



Shape can change on each body according with the floor pan contour and they are sold specifically for each floor pan ( also sold separatelly )

[Nacho-RT74]

If you wanna get deeper into the seatbelts setup here is a small reference thread I made not too long ago after many years of researches and separated post all along several threads and years.

https://wichargerguy.proboards.com/thread/22701/seatbelt-setup-71-74-production

I began on this maybe 12-15 years ago, because my car being assembled in Venezuela got a diff setup and I wanted to get the correct USA 74 parts. Make a mistake and pay international shipping makes try to save any mistake getting the correct parts.

You will be welcomed around there too.

[CFMopar]

That was the most informative thread I've seen on the interiors you've done your research that's forsure.


I think I remember when you started on this project back then. I've been a member on this board for a long time. Just been a ghost for ages and have changed names a few times lol.

Eitherway.... Few more days till my next days off and I'll work on cutting the roll cage out of the car and gutting rest of interior.

[CFMopar]

Well got rest of interior out including the headliner which makes one hell of a mess. Passenger rear seat belt nut was broken so couldn't remove that for now. I'll have to find a way to access it from other side. Probably will be easier when I get the car up on stands or something later. Slow and steady, figure it gives me time to stash cash for the inevitable slap that will be the paint and body work.

Next step will likely be pulling drive train I guess...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl-MIRa4fdE&t=288s

[Nacho-RT74]

Passenger rear seat belt nut was broken so couldn't remove that for now. I'll have to find a way to access it from other side.

it won't have access... is hidden by the rocker panel, which is also overlaped by the quarter panel, sooo... no acces from anywhere except if cutting rocker panel ( and quarter panel )

[CFMopar]

Passenger rear seat belt nut was broken so couldn't remove that for now. I'll have to find a way to access it from other side.

it won't have access... is hidden by the rocker panel, which is also overlaped by the quarter panel, sooo... no acces from anywhere except if cutting rocker panel ( and quarter panel )

tomorrow Vic's problem lol

[chapel40]

If your not going show car I would just clean it up and protect it by painting or something to that effect. Install the mounting plates for the buckets and make sure everything is good on bottom for the buckets. Looks in a lot better shape than a lot of them I have seen. How is the trunk? Looks like your fuel tank is mounted in it.

[ACUDANUT]

 You , might have to drill it out. Use a torch and a "easy out" thread. Those are harden steel bolts.  It's gonna take a awhile, but you will prevail.

[CFMopar]

If your not going show car I would just clean it up and protect it by painting or something to that effect. Install the mounting plates for the buckets and make sure everything is good on bottom for the buckets. Looks in a lot better shape than a lot of them I have seen. How is the trunk? Looks like your fuel tank is mounted in it.

I moved the battery there. It's pretty solid. One small hole from some battery acid.

[CFMopar]

You , might have to drill it out. Use a torch and a "easy out" thread. Those are harden steel bolts.  It's gonna take a awhile, but you will prevail.

The not broke off from it's weld so it just wobbles so drilling isn't an option.

Think Id have to end cutting a small section of the metal on the interior, unscrew it, weld the nut back on and weld the metal back in place.....

[ACUDANUT]

Have you to tried to weld a nut to the treads ?

[Nacho-RT74]

You , might have to drill it out. Use a torch and a "easy out" thread. Those are harden steel bolts.  It's gonna take a awhile, but you will prevail.

The not broke off from it's weld so it just wobbles so drilling isn't an option.

Think Id have to end cutting a small section of the metal on the interior, unscrew it, weld the nut back on and weld the metal back in place.....

If you have room for an angle grinder, cut the head bolt off and began from there. Mostly sure the bolt and nut will fall off into the rocker. Let it there and patch a piece of plate with a welded nut from inside the cab. If the quarter and rocker panel are healthy, don't ruin it!

another option try a cut it from the wheel wells side and patch it there ? dunno. That could be easier since is just one panel section and could reach it from the side to weld it ?

[Nacho-RT74]

this is how it looks that area naked without the quarter panel. So once you cut the quarter panel skin will find ANOTHER panel, which it gets a gap with quarter skin to allow water drains. The hump there is the are where the nut is... take your conclusions.

I think, it could be doable from the wheel well side, which as mentioned only gets one panel.. the outer wheel well itself. Easier to patch, seal and hide with undercoating

[CFMopar]

I'm going to skip over if for now and figure it out later. Got plenty of other stuff to do.

Was thinking I should pull the motor with transmission because getting trans out from underneath will be a pita on the garage floor.

Never pulled a motor with transmission before. Thoughts?

[ACUDANUT]

Very easy. Tilt the motor with transmission up and away you go.  2 people works best.