- Dodge Charger 1973 by Pekka -

[Charger-73]

Holy Crap that thing is hot!!! I've got a 70 myself but I love the 3rd gens just as much as the 2nd, and I actually prefer the interiors in the 3rd's over the 2nd. Do you have any pictures of the interior?

Okay, I was able to find couple pictures of the interior. Hope it is enough. After that I torn whole Charger apart... =)

[Charger-73]

Can anyone help me and tell where I could buy manual brake reinforcement plate for 73 Charger?

I'm planing to remove brake booster and install Wilwood master cylinder directly to the firewall.

-Pekka

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0910phr_1971_plymouth_satellite/photo_16.html

[T16]

Nice project.. greetings from a nordic neighbour 

[Charger-73]

Nice project.. greetings from a nordic neighbour 

Thank you! You have really nice Charger also! =)

I would like to ask you guys what for there is this hole in Charger?
Just thinking is it okay to close it or is it for start motor or something?

PP

[71383bee]

Nice project.. greetings from a nordic neighbour 

Thank you! You have really nice Charger also! =)

I would like to ask you guys what for there is this hole in Charger?
Just thinking is it okay to close it or is it for start motor or something?

PP

Try changing the plugs on a big block and you'll really like those access holes! 

[FLG]

Bee,

He's talking about the small hole circled in red. Not the inner fender openings. (i found them useless for plugs, much easier from the bottom up)

I will check on my car, cant remember. 

[71383bee]

Bee,

He's talking about the small hole circled in red. Not the inner fender openings. (i found them useless for plugs, much easier from the bottom up)

I will check on my car, cant remember. 

Oh i see the ones by the brakes above the frame.  71/72 have the lines coming from that port.  There has to be a reason for it from the factory. 

When was the column installed?  Was the car still in the air at that point and they needed to attach the column maybe? 

How about the exhaust?  the manifold would have bee on the motor/trans allready and the K member was brought in as one assembly from the bottom.  For ease it make sense that the car is up to run in the exhaust,  maybe the hole was there to connect the header pipe to the manifold. 

[Nacho-RT74]

access to the steering coupler view, for whatever reason... maybe to aligment of the steering box with steering shaft with shims on to the K frame. That is at least what I used it for.

[71GORT]

access to the steering coupler view, for whatever reason... maybe to aligment of the steering box with steering shaft with shims on to the K frame. That is at least what I used it for.

Access hole for 4spd bell crank.

[71383bee]

access to the steering coupler view, for whatever reason... maybe to aligment of the steering box with steering shaft with shims on to the K frame. That is at least what I used it for.

Access hole for 4spd bell crank.

Ahh that makes sense.

[Charger-73]

access to the steering coupler view, for whatever reason... maybe to aligment of the steering box with steering shaft with shims on to the K frame. That is at least what I used it for.

Access hole for 4spd bell crank.

Thank you!

So if I'm planing to use only automatic transmissions I won't need it. So we can close it. Or did I understand it correct?

[Nacho-RT74]

if is for that ( I didn't know of course ), why close it ? doesn't disturb really. Let it be!

[Charger-73]

Update!

Some small updates. More and more holes has been welded and also some last rust spots has been fixed. Anyway body start to be ready for painting. And it should be because plan is start paint job during 22.3. That is the plan anyway. I will stay off from work during that week. So will two of my friends who will do the actual painting. I will just too what they will told me to do.

Here is two photo where you can see that we have added some fuel- and brakeline mounting brackets to the frame. With those installing lines should be easy. Also there is one photo from last package I got from USA. Scott sent me that couple of weeks a agon. There is also manual brake bracket that I bought through this forums. Thanks Mike once more!

And today I forgot take camera with me, so I was not able to take latest photos.


 




Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

[Charger-73]

if is for that ( I didn't know of course ), why close it ? doesn't disturb really. Let it be!

It disturb me a little bit so I decided to close it, because now it is easy thing to do and it could disturb me more later. 

And main plan is to make this Charger as good looking as it can, at least in my opinion. 

Even thou I think Charger is best looking car in the world I still think I can make it look even more better... but I know that not everyone will like all my modifications. But still all comments are welcome! 

[Charger-73]

Update!

Okay we are trying to get everything ready for paiting. So yesterday and today we finalized couple things. One bigger thing was we replaced original speaker cuts. Kind of funny thing is that driver and passanger side speaker cuts has been originaly different size. Does someone know why it is like that?

Anyway we replaced those with custom speaker cuts. I was planing to use 6.5" component speakers so I will need small hole for discant also. Main thing was that I want all audio stuff hidden. So I desing new speaker cuts. I draw pic for local metal company and they used laser to cut metals. After that Kalle welded those with TIG while I was keeping pieces together.

Tomorrow we will continue and hopefully we can start paintjob during Monday! 




   

   

Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

[71383bee]

Update!

Okay we are trying to get everything ready for paiting. So yesterday and today we finalized couple things. One bigger thing was we replaced original speaker cuts. Kind of funny thing is that driver and passanger side speaker cuts has been originaly different size. Does someone know why it is like that?

Anyway we replaced those with custom speaker cuts. I was planing to use 6.5" component speakers so I will need small hole for discant also. Main thing was that I want all audio stuff hidden. So I desing new speaker cuts. I draw pic for local metal company and they used laser to cut metals. After that Kalle welded those with TIG while I was keeping pieces together.

Tomorrow we will continue and hopefully we can start paintjob during Monday! 




   

   

Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

Yes.  Because rear speaker cars only had one speaker.  The left side was for the speaker.  The right was for the intake for the rear defroster.  That is why they had different size openings. 

[Charger-73]

Update!

Week is behinde and much have been done! Big thanks for Samppa and Kalle. They have made this possible!

During Sunday we use body bench to straighten the body.

   




Monday we started to clean body for painting. Samppa started from engine room. During that time we were cleaning body with Kalle and Jari. Also we welded some lasts spots from body.

   


Samppa started fillering the engine room.

   


Engine room before sanding...

   


Engine room after sanding...

   


Body cleaned...

   

   


Ready for wrapping...

   

   




Then we cleaned body with silicon/greas removal. Then we started with gray Epox paint. 2 layers. Total 7 liters ready paint...

   

   

   


After that we painted wet-to-wet semi black, 2 layers also, total 8 liters. Engine room was painted with PPG filler paint.



   

More is coming... today we painted front fenders and front/rear valance plates.


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

[Charger-73]

Update!

Okay we are trying to get everything ready for paiting. So yesterday and today we finalized couple things. One bigger thing was we replaced original speaker cuts. Kind of funny thing is that driver and passanger side speaker cuts has been originaly different size. Does someone know why it is like that?

Anyway we replaced those with custom speaker cuts. I was planing to use 6.5" component speakers so I will need small hole for discant also. Main thing was that I want all audio stuff hidden. So I desing new speaker cuts. I draw pic for local metal company and they used laser to cut metals. After that Kalle welded those with TIG while I was keeping pieces together.

Tomorrow we will continue and hopefully we can start paintjob during Monday! 


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

Yes.  Because rear speaker cars only had one speaker.  The left side was for the speaker.  The right was for the intake for the rear defroster.  That is why they had different size openings. 

That explains a lots. Thanks for the info! =)

[Charger-73]

Update!

The entire bottom was sanded to mat. Then we sealed all body seams. Then we installed body plugs.

   

   




After we wrapped Charger to cover all parts where we didn't wanted to spray stone resist mass. Also all bushing spots were protected.

 


Then we sprayed stone resist mass to entire bottom. Also front fenders, front- and rear valance plates were sprayed. We sprayed two layers. Then we let it dry for one and half day.

   

   


Last thing was to paint it back to black. Same time we sprayed one layer epox to engine room and after that we painted it to black also.

   

   

   


And if it rust during first summer I will cry, there is now 2 x epox, 2 x paint, 2 x stone resist mass and 2 x paint. 


Next step is get it rolling so we can start the real paint job... 


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

[SFRT]

excellent

[Charger-73]

Update!

Last two week I have been installing noise killer mat to the Charger. Now job is almost done for now, just some final tuning. Later I will install mat to the doors and walls, but not just yet.

   

   

   


Also some parts has been soda-blasted. It is really amazing stuff... here some photos.

   

   


A lot things to do but no time for do it any faster then this... =)


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

[oldrock]

great restoration thread! Keep those updates and pics coming. 

[Brock Samson]

 looks fantastic! Great Stuff! 

[RD]

this is just OVER THE TOP!  wow... simply amazing.

[T16]

Great job..!
Greeting from a northern neighbour