Project 73SE

[SG1022]

Here we go again

After purchasing my Charger in September of 09, four months later I am finally starting on it.


A little about me:
My name is Taylor I live in Wilsonville, Oregon, and just graduated High school.  I have been restoring and building custom firearms for 5 years or so, but don't have much experience with cars.  I decided a long time ago that I was going to get a charger come hell or high water.

The car:
The car is a 73 charger SE. The Fender tag, and vin are is as follows;

VIN-
Model Year-1973
Car Line and Model-Dodge-Charger SE
Price Class- Premium
Body Type-2 door sports hardtop
Engine-318 CID 1-2BBL 8 CYL
Assembly Plant-Lynch Road, MI
Sequence Number 220562

Fender Tag-

09114- ASSEMBLY LINE #
217629- SEQ. #
030 - 2.71 OPEN 8.25 REAR W/10" DRUM
V1W- WHITE FULL VINYL ROOF
V7W - ACCENT STRIPE-WHITE
U- BUILT TO USA SPECS
TB3- PETTY BLUE PAINT  
H4B5 -TRIM GRADE HIGH, VINYL SPLIT BENCH W/ CENTER ARM REST
E44- 318 2BBL
D34- 904 AUTO
410- BUILD DATE 4/10/73
268525- ORDER #

The car has some serious rust issues on the front pillars, and behind the drivers opera window on the sail panel.  There is a hole clean through the passenger floorboard, and some small holes on the driver's side rear quarter.

The car was originally sold at a place called "Teague Motors" in John Day Oregon.  I have yet to find any info at all on the dealers, help would be appreciated   .

The Plan:
Restore this charger to daily driver condition with a mild street build engine with as little cash as possible.  Original , right?  This will be done outside in lovely Oregon weather under a canopy.


Parts and current Budger:


Already purchased-
73 Charger.......................................................................................  1,200
360 Short Block................................................................................     100
60 over Sealed power forged pistons NIB(included a perfect circle ring kit)...     120
904 318-360 Torque converter NiB.........................................................     50
Mopar performance Valve covers and gasket NiB......................................      40
New SB Distributer(Thanks Ray)............................................................Traded
New electronic ignition(Thanks Ray).......................................................Traded
Mopar Performance M1 Intake..............................................................       80
360 Magnum heads, covers, bolts, valves..............................................      150
________________________________________________________________  1,740


The "to buy" list
*If you have anything on this list in good condition that you don't want summit prices for, send me a message.
308 casting heads                 *Went with Magnum heads*
Edelbrock 750cfm
Intake manifold(thinking M1)  *Has been Bought*
All new hoses/rubber lines
New plugs
New plug wires
Set of 4 Cragar "soft 8" 15x7 or 8 wheels in powder coated black
Tires, thinking 215 fronts, 295 rears(any suggestions?)
Gas tank
New gauges
Passenger side window
Catalyst type coating for the underside(recommendations?)
Bulge hood
360 Driver side engine mount
New rear end

The Engine

*Will be updated as soon as I get my engine blueprinted and shit figured out.


Modifications:
-New rear end around 355 gearing
-removing Opera window panels and turning them into fixed passenger windos
-Hiding a new age stereo system
-LED lights all around
-Going triple black with the paint
-Vinyl top delete

Before Pictures







SPECIAL THANKS TO
Ray
Nacho
Ron

and many others

[SG1022]

Pictures of the parts I bought

[SG1022]

Today's progress:
-Got the garage and my allocated area of space ready
-Removed the hood and radiator
-Detatched all the necessary parts for engine removal
-headed up to Vancouver, WA  and picked up the 360 shortblock (will post pics of that this weekend)


*Bagged and tagged all of the parts/screws that were removed, of course.
The space my parents so graciously gave me


The car after finishing today's work

[Rayzor]

So far so good.

[SG1022]

Here are the wheels I plan on getting,


A M1 on craigslist I am pursueing for 80$
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/pts/1580137732.html

Here they want 50$ for Flowmaster 40s. I am interested, but want to hear the stock pipes first.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pts/1573165934.html

[wayfast1500]

I'm pretty interested in this build, I as well am building a '73 SE except I'm doing a magnum 360.  It's about 10 degrees now here in nh so the charger has not been touched in months.

[SG1022]

I'm pretty interested in this build, I as well am building a '73 SE except I'm doing a magnum 360.  It's about 10 degrees now here in nh so the charger has not been touched in months.

Good to here

I am shooting for 425 horses . A magnum would be great, what year are you using for it?

The rain here sucks.  So do the 60mph winds we have been getting the last few years

[69bronzeT5]

The rain here sucks.  So do the 60mph winds we have been getting the last few years

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest dude Me and my dad did a starter job on my Duster under a tarp in the pouring rain and high winds back in May. Wasn't fun AT ALL

[SG1022]

The rain here sucks.  So do the 60mph winds we have been getting the last few years

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest dude Me and my dad did a starter job on my Duster under a tarp in the pouring rain and high winds back in May. Wasn't fun AT ALL

Born and raised!

I don't remember winds THIS bad 5 years or so back.  We just moved into the city last June.  Our old house was on a wooded hill, and it was always a pain in the ass to go out the day after a storm clearing branches and trees .

Where are you from?

[69bronzeT5]

The rain here sucks.  So do the 60mph winds we have been getting the last few years

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest dude Me and my dad did a starter job on my Duster under a tarp in the pouring rain and high winds back in May. Wasn't fun AT ALL

Born and raised!

I don't remember winds THIS bad 5 years or so back.  We just moved into the city last June.  Our old house was on a wooded hill, and it was always a pain in the ass to go out the day after a storm clearing branches and trees .

Where are you from?

Originally New Westminster B.C, moved to Vancouver Island (Duncan) and now in Surrey B.C back on the mainland.

[SG1022]

The rain here sucks.  So do the 60mph winds we have been getting the last few years

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest dude Me and my dad did a starter job on my Duster under a tarp in the pouring rain and high winds back in May. Wasn't fun AT ALL

Born and raised!

I don't remember winds THIS bad 5 years or so back.  We just moved into the city last June.  Our old house was on a wooded hill, and it was always a pain in the ass to go out the day after a storm clearing branches and trees .

Where are you from?

Originally New Westminster B.C, moved to Vancouver Island (Duncan) and now in Surrey B.C back on the mainland.

ahh , a little colder up there, eh?

[69bronzeT5]

Not that much?

[74charger360]

man you weren't lying when u said you had some rust to fix. i like where your plans are headed tho. pretty much the same as my car lol.  btw i'll try to keep my thread updated on the quarter window swap for ya as i go, but being as im in collage i can't work on my car as much as i want to 

[wayfast1500]

I'm pretty interested in this build, I as well am building a '73 SE except I'm doing a magnum 360.  It's about 10 degrees now here in nh so the charger has not been touched in months.

Good to here

I am shooting for 425 horses . A magnum would be great, what year are you using for it?

The rain here sucks.  So do the 60mph winds we have been getting the last few years

It came out of a '98 ram I useto have.  I bought one before for $500 with a one year warrenty if your looking to do the magnum instead.

[charger_cody]

VERY organized. I will be folowing this one closely. Don't forget many many many pics. Us here at DC.com love pics.

Cody

[SG1022]

Didn't get much done today, was going to pull out the motor , but did not due to a lack of jackstands/boards/cinderblocs.  Instead I started the resto process on a few rifles.

Headed up to Portland and got my Intake for 80$ , and located some J casting heads with some help from Ray that I will be picking up tomorrow for 100$.

[jaak]

You can use a driverside 318 mount on a 360, if you use a spacer.
Good luck with your project,
Jason

[SG1022]

You can use a driverside 318 mount on a 360, if you use a spacer.
Good luck with your project,
Jason

Thanks much, do you have some measurements for that space?

[Rayzor]

looks like the bracket is moved to the back side of the mounting points on the block.  The front one is mounted solid so just mock it up and measure it for a spacer. Thats a sharp lookin intake, should work well on the 360.

[SG1022]

looks like the bracket is moved to the back side of the mounting points on the block.  The front one is mounted solid so just mock it up and measure it for a spacer. Thats a sharp lookin intake, should work well on the 360.

I dont have my 318 out of my car, and my 360 will be at my engine builders soon 

[T16]

Here are the wheels I plan on getting,

Nice project.. I like those rims.. (got them on my 72) 

[SG1022]

Here are the wheels I plan on getting,

Nice project.. I like those rims.. (got them on my 72) 

Thanks, I checked your signature and liked the pictures. Do you have any center caps for them? That was my plan but I can't find any pictures with center caps and chrome Lugs on a charger.

[SG1022]

Took my 360 block down to Ray Today, good two hour drive.


We decided to take it out of the trailer and load it into the back of my brother's jeep, but he didn't make it in time so we put it in the back of a Forester.


This was our original plan.



The boards almost snapped when I stood on them so we decided to do it by hand.



I should be picking up the J castings monday, but I leave for work tonight and don't get off till Monday so I will be away for a while.

[teddy1500]

Project looks good, I think that you may want to retink the 215 tire up front, with the large wheelwells these cars have, a 245/60 fits well, the 215 look puny. (been there, done that)

[SG1022]

Project looks good, I think that you may want to retink the 215 tire up front, with the large wheelwells these cars have, a 245/60 fits well, the 215 look puny. (been there, done that)

Thanks much, Wasn't sure on the wheel size yet.  Was just ballparking

[teddy1500]

I hope that you tied that motor down before you took it where it was going. That is alot of weight comming up front if you have to lock up the brakes.

[moparguy01]

i run 255s on the front of mine, and 295s out back.

there was a time i ran 275's on all 4 corners. it looked pretty mean.

[SG1022]

i run 255s on the front of mine, and 295s out back.

there was a time i ran 275's on all 4 corners. it looked pretty mean.

Was that on a 3rd gen? If so, do you have any pictures?

I am not to big a fan of equal size wheels, the back has to be bigger 

[CurtisC]

I run 255s on the front and 275s on the back, looks awesome.

[Dodgecharger74]

I am doing a engine swap now repaint engine bay & installing a 360 stroked to 408  I will be wathing this thread I will post pic's of mine later

[SG1022]

Ray pulled the engine apart.



Dirtiest engine award?

Busted Skirts

The Boiler is Next

[Rayzor]

Why is it I have the feeling my work is following me home......

[SG1022]

Why is it I have the feeling my work is following me home......

Not sure, but you need to stop trading for broken guns. That guy is rippin ya    .

Did you fire the 10/22 yet?

[moparguy01]

i dont have any good pics of the tires on there now, I'll see if i can't take some soon.

[SG1022]

Here are the pictures just getting the block out of the tank



Here is a picture of Ray weighing the pistons, he will probably end up lightening them.



I have been wokring alot lately so I havent had too much time to work on the car, but I get off tonight.

[Rayzor]

Look at the pic of the block on the dolly. You can see the rust holes threw the freeze plugs. There was so much crud built in there I doubt they leaked!

[Dodgecharger74]

You can use a driverside 318 mount on a 360, if you use a spacer.

just installed the mounts on my 360  for that spacer I used a 1/2" nut for spacer with threads drilled out to fit on a grade 8 shoulder bolt keeps things tight with no angle to that bolt

[SG1022]

Well I changed plans from 308 Castings to Magnums.

I got the heads, bolts, covers, valves and a few extras for 150$ from a local store.

Now I just have to find somebody who wants mopar performance valve covers for a small block non magnum 

[SG1022]

It's been a while, but my project is still progressing(albeit, slowly).

Last week I pulled the old 318 out of my car, and have the engine bay pretty well cleaned out , except my booster and steering column, which I am going to leave in.

My 360 Magnum build is almost finished we are just waiting on an oil pan, pick up, Carb, air cleaner and front timing cover.

Crappy cellphone pictures are better than no pictures,




My plan right now is to finish removing the components on the firewall, then to pressure wash my engine bay, degrease, and hit it with 60 grit then primer/paint with some gloss black, then put the magnum in there.  After that I am going to check my fuel tank's insides and clean it, and if it is satisfactory hopefully I will get to start it.

I should have more pictures after I get off work on Monday.  

[SG1022]

Been a while,

I placed an order for-
-Headers
-Radiator
-Exhaust system
-Air Cleaner
-Wheels


Now I just have to check and see if the gas tank is good, if it is then I should have all the parts needed to start it up.

I also pulled out the half of the interior today, and found some pretty big holes  


Wheels


Time for some Legendary Auto , seats.


It was pretty cool that most of my parts arrived on my birthday(today).

A pair of Hookers for my 18th birthday  

[Axels73Charger]

Holy crap! You got some big holes there... On the upside you got your parts and you can get started

Happy Birthday by the way!

[klutch]

Nothing that AMD and a good welder can't fix, stay motivated!

[SG1022]

Thanks. Those holes were pretty discouraging, but I got over it.

Back to work. Gotta pay for that $459.00 AMD floorpan somehow.

[chargd72]

Great thread   

I love following small block builds

[Rayzor]

Im still waiting around for you to drop that motor in already!!

[Scotty Dave]

Nice thread, I have a 73 SE that needs a lot of work so I'll be keeping an eye on your build...

[SG1022]

Im still waiting around for you to drop that motor in already!!

I've been calling/texting you, no response!! I figured you had run off to Canada again.

[Rayzor]

Been working my tail off. Just got home after 2 1/2 months on the road.

[SG1022]

Been working my tail off. Just got home after 2 1/2 months on the road.

Damn! I have been working a few more hours  myself, about 14 a day/5-6 days a week. Working for a general contractor.

[Rayzor]

By the way did I mention that you have some homework to do.... Get a good break in oil for that 360 that has "ZINC"!!! I know lucas makes a oil additive. Its spendy but royal purple oil will help out your cam situation. I had 3 motors waiting at the shop for me when I got back that had cam related failures. Not my fault if people won't listen but they normaly do on the second build.

[DREDILSKI]

      

Great tread.