- Dodge Charger 1973 by Pekka -

[klutch]

Outstanding thread, thank you for sharing.

Looking forward to seeing more!

[Hemidog]

Great job..!
Greeting from a northern neighbour 

Ditto! That is a thorough job! 

[Charger-73]

Update!

I haven't got that much time to work on Charger, but something I have been able to fix. Old radiator has been sodablasted and then I have straighten radiator cells. Next step is paint it.

   




Then we cleaned and tapped the sodablasted block. We also changed the breeze plugs, it was right moment to do that. Couple of old breeze plugs were rusted so thous might have caused some problems later. After that we painted it with Hemi Orange paint. And it sure does look good! Paint sure does magical effect to make everything look new and complete. =)

   

   


And we also made small sump box to fuel tank. But I haven't got any photo of ready one yet, but here is one before the box was complete ready.




Next we should paint fuel tank, leaf springs, etc. Also all aluminium parts should be painted. Hopefully that will happen soon! =)


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

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

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

[Charger-73]

Thank you all for the nice comments! It sure does give motivation!

At the moment motivation ain't the problem it is the time! And that's something what I haven't been able to find from eBay... 

Anyway plan is drive this Charger during next summer! 

[klutch]

Love this thread! 

[Beer]

Love this thread! 

I do as well, keep the pics and progress coming!

[Charger-73]

Update!

Hello! I have forgot to take brake line photos. Anyway that is something what we have done about month ago. All lines are stainless steel and I decided to use "industrial" pipe holders. At least I don't need to think that lines will fall off. =) Anyway here is some photos of lines and new brake mastercylinder and proportion valve.

   

   


Then something what we did last week. We painted all aluminium parts (except transmission, we will paint it later). First we of course cleaned those and removed all grease.

   



   


And here is the photo of the fuel tank with box.




Last time I said we will paint fuel tank, leaf springs, etc. But we didn't, we painted first aluminium parts. So next step is to paint fuel tank, etc... =)


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

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

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

[Foreman72]

 

THIS THREAD IS AMAZING!!!

your inspiring sir...

[Axels73Charger]

Damn your getting stuff done!

[Charger-73]

Update!

One step forward! Gastank, leaf springs, torsion bars, some ball joints and power steering unit has been painted this weekend! We used POR15 METAL MASK paint for this. I think photos will tell more. During Saturday we cleaned parts. Here some photos of cleaned parts.

   

   


We continued this during Sunday morning. We painted all parts. Everything looks as I was hoping. =)

   

   




So next step is to install fuel tank and leaf springs to Charger! =)


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

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

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

[Charger-73]

Update!

Okay, Charger was not ready for gastank. I had forgot that I wasn't sprayed rust protection to the frame rails. So that was the next step. Now when Charger is still on the grill it was easy to turn it upside down and then spray Dinitrol ML to every hole until it was droping out from holes. Next day I added some more and spin it couple times around. Tomorrow I will do the same and then leave it roof up. I hope this will keep the rust away! =)




So next step hopefully is the  gas tank... =)


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

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

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

[Charger-73]

Update!

Hello once again!

Okay, during last week I have installed gas pedal and rear leaf spring brackets. Those fits nicely, expect that one body plug. Well it will be painted. Here couple of photos of those.

   


Also now when all frames has been sprayed with rust resistant wax my friend noticed that some small holes and spots can't be sprayed with normal spray gun (without terrible mess), so he noticed that infection needle would be perfect to this job. And it was you can accurate put wax where you want and it doesn't cause any mess. =)




Today I started installing gas tank. First I sanded lightly gas tank frame rails. After that I spread glue to correct area. Then I installed 3mm (0.12") rubber on it. I also cut ways for the water holes. After that same rubber was installed to hangers. After some fixing gas tank started to fit nicely. Not 100% perfectly but good enough for me. =) Here some photos.

   

   


After that I thought that I have time to install K-Frame. I called my friend to come and help me with that. I didn't want to scratch the paint right away. He was able to come and we installed new energy suspension bushings and after some fight everything fit perfectly!

   


Okay next step is change valve springs and install front end parts. After that rear end parts and do some mind work for the fuel lines. =)

Here couple useful links about bushings:

1973 Dodge Charger - All Bushings

1973 Dodge Charger - Body Mount Bushings

1973 Dodge Charger - Prelube


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

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

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

[Axels73Charger]

Man its really coming along . I gotta say it looks good... Well all thats done atleast!

[Charger-73]

Update!

Lower control arms and stud rods has been installed. Here some photos of those parts.

   

   

   


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

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

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

[RD]

looking great, what a awesome third gen documentary... the best on this site so far!

[Charger´69]

Awesome work 

- Jari

[mopar73]

Great Job!!

[Charger-73]

Update!

Today I had couple hours time to work on Charger. I spent that time to install upper control arms, my friend Jari was helping me. Upper control arms are new, bought those from Firm Feel.

Same time we also installed passenger side lower ball joint. First we had to grind some metal of from lower control arm, because tool was not able to fit to the ball joint. After that ball joint was screwed in.

And now some photos.

   

   

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

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

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

[Charger-73]

looking great, what a awesome third gen documentary... the best on this site so far!

Thanks mate! Just trying to do it so that I don't need to worry about rust that much. =)

Awesome work 

- Jari

Thanks, or should I say Kiitos! =)

Great Job!!

Thanks! =)

[Charger-73]

Update!

Torsion bars has been installed. But I had some problems to install those. Mainly problems were crossmember bushing related. We were able to cut one bolt. Reason for that was that bushing sleeve and washers hole was too big in my opinion. Bolt is 3/8" but the hole is over 1/2" and that we were not able to keep washer on correct spot. That caused that the sleeve went in bad position and way before we reached the correct moment the bolt broke in two piece. Or is this just that we did something wrong?

Next day I got new bolts, washers and sleeves. Now hole in washer is smaller and also sleeve is harder because the wall is thicker. After some fight every part found own place.

Easiest way to install torsion bars was remove crossmember and then install torsion bar rubber sleeve on. Rubber sleeve went nicely when you put the sleeve on the floor and then push the torsion bar through it. After that we installed torsion bars to the lower control arms. Then we installed crossmember. It needes some punching, twisting etc to get bushing bolts on. Anyway now those are installed and next step is to install the spindles. =)

Here some photos.




   

   


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

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

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

[Wicked72]

I have to say...one hell of a build! I havent been able to play with mine in some time Keep it up! I need the encouragement1

[klutch]

Keep up the great work, it's motivating to us all! 

[Charger-73]

Update!

Okay lower ball joints were wrong so I had to order correct ones and later I changed those. Then I was able to install spindles. Now there was no problems to install those when ball joints were correct.

Today my friend Jari came to look after me that I wasn't breaking anything. =)

Then we started to install front brakes. We followed instructions and later everything else but calibers and flex lines were installed.

Here some photos todays progress. =)

   


Easy way to install wheel studs and rest of the stuff.

   



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

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

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

[Charger-73]

Update!

Not much time to work on Charger but I will do my best to take atleast small steps every week.

Anyway now steering linkage and tie rods has been installed. Everything went really smoothly. =)







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

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

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

[doctorpimp]