Its alive! ............. Update: Now with video!

[Charger1973]

I bought this car a little over a year ago and dropped the car I was working on for this one, since this one was nicer... and its slowly coming along.  Having no garage, almost no money, little time and very little tools, its hard to get anything done.  But somehow I manage.     Anyway I worked like crazy on this car last year, just wanting to get it to the point where I could drive it to the parts store if I wanted.  I had it almost there last fall, just a few bugs (that I know of) to work out, when my oil pump went out.  That was all I could handle, I was burnt out and just left it til spring. 

So in the last couple days, I got everything installed and its pumping oil now, and the motor is bolted back down.   Everything is hooked back up, I just need to put the valve covers back on and it should be ready to test drive.  I was dealing with a brake problem and had just put a new master cylinder in it when the oil pump went out, so the brakes still need to be tested...  and I have had an ongoing problem with the car overheating (but only when I drive it).  It doesnt get hot in the driveway, only when I take it on the road.  Is it possible that could have been caused by a weak oil pump?  If not maybe I need a new radiator... 

Anyway heres a pic after I drove it up to the house and rinsed it off.  Im going to pick up a sandblaster tomorrow. 

[Charger1973]

and one more...

[FLG]

Looking good  I'd kill to find a good price on a PB hood.

I was having cooling problems with my 3rd gen, wound up ordering a new rad from US Radiator. My car was originally a 318 car and no one changed the rad when they did the engine swap...well i got the BB radiator but was not aware the support was different but with a little bit of saws all action i got the rad in there  Will worry about the support when i get to it.

[1969chargerrtse]

I love the subject title.  Looks great!!  You are doing a fantastic job.   Believe it or not, there are thermostates that are made for racing.  If you go on the road with them they slow down water flow and overheat the car.

[chargerboy69]

If it were me, I would pull the radiator and take it in to a shop and have it checked out and flushed. To me is sounds like it could be a clogged radiator. If you have things floating around in your cooling  system they can get clogged in your radiator core, and  you will need a shop to flush it out.  If it checks out alright then you know it is something else.

[TUFCAT]

If you lift the radiator out and it feels like it weighs about 80 lbs - - that's your problem!

Also, hidden headlamps look great on your '73!

[TruckDriver]

Way to go Matt! Get those pics on my site too now

[mikesbbody]

looks awesome matt! 

[Charger1973]

Thanks guys!  I am fairly motivated right now, so hopefully I can make some good progress this year too.  I want to get the inside blasted and a few small holes patched and then I can get the interior back in it.  I think I have 99% of the parts to put the interior together thanks to Nacho.  He sent me all the black plastic panels a couple weeks ago.     I already recovered my front seats and I will be doing the back seat soon.  I'll probably do everything I can on my own but a few things (like welding in new quarter panels) will have to go to a shop.  Dont want to screw that up.  I'll paint it myself...  if it looks bad i'll just do it again.   

I don't think i'll spend any money on the current radiator though.  If I still have problems it almost has to be that radiator and i'll just hold off for a new aluminum one.  No reason to fix the old if I plan to buy new anyway! 

Pete I need to get back to your site I havent been around as much over the winter but i'm back at it again.    

There will be more pics to come....

[CB]

Matt, your Charger looks mean! 
CB

[Brock Samson]

 She's looking pretty sweet,.. there, your tale reminds me of my endevor circa 1986, when i was chasing down one problem after another and funds were allways problematic...
  good to see your progress..                     did you decide on a color or have DFS440 do a photoshop of her finished?..

[71ChallengeHer]

Matt, Your doing a great job. Just remember what it looked like last year. It's come a long way. And you've done all the work yourself.

[Charger1973]

 

Actually he did a photoshop for me last year.  Check it out.  Its my car he just added the color and stripes, also had him add the rear wing since I dont have one yet.

[Charger-Bodie]

Way to go Matt!!

[Charger1973]

Check out this bad boy.  It should do the job.   

[Nacho-RT74]

GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAT

[BigBlockSam]

cool car 

[Charger74SE]

Nice color choice. It will definitely a head turner.

[Charger1973]

Thanks.  I almost went with purple on white but I missed my first Charger too much (a yellow '73).  One of these days I will organize a photo album from start to finish. 

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Check out this bad boy.  It should do the job.   

Looks like a pretty good blaster.  What all are you going to blast? 

[Charger1973]

Starting with the interior so I can fix the floor pans and get the interior back together.  I dont have a garage so I have to do it as I go.  Eventually I will blast the entire exterior and anything else within reason.

[mally69]

Good job buddy, keep up the good work. Nice color combo as well.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Starting with the interior so I can fix the floor pans and get the interior back together.  I dont have a garage so I have to do it as I go.  Eventually I will blast the entire exterior and anything else within reason.

That blaster should work pretty good for areas like the wheel wells and if you're going to go that far, the engine bay. 
Keep us updated, it's good to know there will be 2 top banana 73's roaming the streets soon.   

[plum500]

Actually he did a photoshop for me last year.  Check it out.  Its my car he just added the color and stripes, also had him add the rear wing since I dont have one yet.

Keep up the good work! Damn - that photoshop is awesome - just awesome. Yellow third gen with those hideaways and the blackouts. Kick a$$.

[elanmars]

pretty sweet car!!

and once you get that paint job done, damn dude...