Rolling Thunder's Charger Restoration Thread *PICS* *UPDATE!*

[Rolling_Thunder]

Yeah -  but only about 2 weeks left in my last semester of college...    plenty of time to screw around after that. 

What do you study, if you don't mind my asking?

Sociology and Psychology

[maxwellwedge]

I lapped the new valve and it had perfect contact area - filled the port with water and no leaks overnight....       

The cause of the bent valve was a result of installing the heads, pushrods, and rocker shafts with one of the pistons at TDC - apparently it takes about 10-15 minutes for the hydraulic lifters to bleed down - so as I tightened the rocker shafts it forced the valve into the piston top = causing a bent intake valve. 

SRT-68 informed me this is somewhere in a FSB - something I did not have access to when I originally built the engine - So I made sure no pistons were at TDC and tightened the rocker shafts slowly - doesnt seem to be any issues ---     

I am just dreading bolting up the headers again - not a huge pain - just patience trying because of the access to several bolts being very difficult - I think I just need 2-3 more elbows in my right arm and it would be easy. 

Good stuff - fingers crossed! 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - I have not died...   just had finals and a bunch of family obligations...    Here's some pics for the people who want them...    Heads back on - need to bolt up the exhaust and intake tomorrow...  

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Right on!

[Charger-Bodie]

Hell yeah!

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - got the intake back on today along with the headers...       On a note on the headers...    what a PAIN IN THE ASS!  I did spend about three hours under the car cussing and calling her bad names. I finally succeeded - got the headers bolted on, intake, valve covers, coil packs, and wiring all back together. Tomorrow I'll put some coolant in her and fire her up again and hopefully have no leaks.  Currently writing my final report for school - my last class before I get my B.S. so...     priorities and all - Finishing the Charger tomorrow.   

[redmist]

This will be awesome...

[Finn]

Currently writing my final report for school - my last class before I get my B.S. so...     priorities and all - Finishing the Charger tomorrow.   

Like a boss.

[RIDELIKEHELL]

You are one hard working man! Good luck on the report & oh ya the car

[tan top]

    

[autodynamics]

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well...   I spent my last hour renaming my Hemi (nothing good or repeatable here) === I am also kicking myself in the ass...    I still have a cylinder head leak on the driver's side...    but the passenger side is good to go...     SO. I will only say that it was out of my own anxiousness and a momentary lapse of common sense that landed me here...     So - Driver's side head is coming back off for a new gasket and new head bolts  (BTW - factory Torque To Yield bolts SUCK) - I hate this one time use BS....     Another $100 in head bolts and a $50 gasket and I should be good...      but as usual the dealer WON'T have it in stock so i'll have to wait....     

God I miss 440s...    Throw them together with whatever you have laying around and 10 year old gaskets and they never leak...     

I'll chalk this up to a learning curve and a life lesson...   

BUT - THIS THING IS NOT GOING TO BEAT ME.

[autodynamics]

You put on used head gaskets ?

[Rolling_Thunder]

Nope - even dumber...    put one on upside down   

[autodynamics]

Ohhhhh dip!

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well after almost a month of waiting - my dealer finally got my head gasket in - and the head bolts...    of course you can't just order 10 head bolts - nope...   order a full set to do one head...     thanks Mopar. Got the cylinder head back off and replaced the gasket....    put it on the right way  and got everything put back together....    another note for those with a new gen hemi swap...    the headers are not that big of a pain once you figure out how to get to all the bolts - I got my header unbolted in about 15 minutes and back on in about 20 minutes...     not bad at all - then again I've had some practice.

This weekend I plan on filling her with water and running her around the back yard - then finish up the minor interior stuff and machine some spacers for a couple things here and there...       

Will keep you all apprised...    also - no pics as they would look the same as the pictures above      

If everything works out she'll get a bath and some new pics taken soon.   

[71charger]

lol ooohhh car porn lol make sure you scrub her down real good for me lol

[aceofbones]

Any progress??

[autodynamics]

Damn I forgot Alex had this car

[Rolling_Thunder]

     I'm talking to AJ about getting a mail order tune for the hemi but he's gone silent....    once I get that it's pretty much done with some minor interior touches.... 

[autodynamics]

Aj did my tune
And I think he works at a local shop here now

[Rolling_Thunder]

Yep - I know he did your tune - he seems to be "the guy" when it comes to it...   but he hasn't replied to my messages lately...    guess I might have to search for an alternate

[1974dodgecharger]

fckin NICE 

[Finn]

Might trying giving Ray at Performance Dynamics a call. Very good with tunes. He's in Signal Hill/Long beach so it shouldn't be too far of a drive either.


714.683.3286

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - after screwing around looking for a job and trying not to spend money I'm back in the game. I managed to get something done today - installed the radio, speakers, and the center console...    which sounds like a piece of cake - ended up taking me about all day. I'll snap some pics tomorrow of my special console tomorrow...      we'll see if you guys can spot the non-stock parts of it. 

I also installed my new shifter ball...   sounds petty but makes me feel like it's almost there.   Still need to do the seat brackets, install the headliner trim pieces, and have the computer flashed...        Just been a money thing at this point. Start my new job Monday until a LEO department calls (CBP, LAPD, LASD, BHPD, TPD, etc)  I'm in process for 19 different agencies at this point in time. I figure one of them will want me sooner or later.

New job?  I got hired at a Classic Car dealership as Assistant Manager. Should be a fun job in the mean time.