HOT WHEELS 1973! (TK73 Charger Rebuild/Fire/Rebuild Again)

[grdprx]

WOW!  Amazing work guys!  This is the first time I've seen the thread, terrible accident, glad you're on the mend.

[TK73]

Yo!!  Ian, correct?

Health permitting the '73 will be down for Friday night cruise in the spring!!
Bring out the Charger!!

Another pic:

[grdprx]

Yo!!  Ian, correct?

Health permitting the '73 will be down for Friday night cruise in the spring!!
Bring out the Charger!!

Another pic:

Yo Chris!  Sounds great, be nice to have more Chargers down there than Camaros!  haha
Keep it up!

[HalfastJav]

Hey Mon, she looks great! Mike is da man  Wish i coulda made it down to see you guys but my girl is very ill.  Dont forget to hustle up yer trim and i will get it dialed in as promised.

I actually got off my butt and put in that MSD dist, coil, wires, and box w/6,000 rev lim chip in for now. Also tossed on a new volt reg and starter solenoid, and i tell ya she fires right up and absolutely purrrs.....  Far cry from the fried together points.

Now that the gear is installed and running sweet im gonna take it all apart and clean/paint.

[RallyeMike]

The other part of this build aside from body and paint, is conversion from small block to 440 power. The 440 is assembed and ready to drop in using Schumaker mounts on the small block K-frame. The 440 will drop after about 2 weeks of cure time for the Rustoleum.

[grdprx]

The other part of this build aside from body and paint, is conversion from small block to 440 power. The 440 is assembed and ready to drop in using Schumaker mounts on the small block K-frame. The 440 drop will start after about 2 weeks of cure time for the Rustoleum.

SWEET!!    

[Finn]

I dig the stripes. Keep it up!

[tan top]

 

[moparguy01]

Looks good! But have fun with those mounts. Engine sits up alittle higher making headers a major pain in the ass.

[RallyeMike]

have fun with those mounts. Engine sits up alittle higher making headers a major pain in the ass.

I've always heard good things about Schumaker stuff. You have experienced this specific problem then? How much higher? Sure it was the mounts and not the headers?

Should I cut the mounts (Schumacher or K-member) down shorter, or what is the solution other than bashing the headers. We had already planned to do a full fit test expecting to set the engine at least twice to get good header fit....

Any hints appreciated!

[moparguy01]

Mine seemed to sit an inch high. I tried hooker super comps and I don't remember which other. The super comps fit, but baked a ministarter and boiled the power steering fluid in the steering sector. I gave up and went with hp manifolds instead. I got mine years ago, they may have fixed the issues? And it's a bitch to get the drivers side mount on since it will be a bolt going through a hole drilled in the k frame part of the mount.

[RallyeMike]

Mine seemed to sit an inch high. I tried hooker super comps and I don't remember which other. The super comps fit, but baked a ministarter and boiled the power steering fluid in the steering sector. I gave up and went with hp manifolds instead. I got mine years ago, they may have fixed the issues? And it's a bitch to get the drivers side mount on since it will be a bolt going through a hole drilled in the k frame part of the mount.

Wow. An inch is a lot to be off. That would definitely screw up the driveline angle. Have not even looked at the install instructions on the Schumacher conversion mounts yet...

This car will be using Hooker Comps which are a totally different install than the Supercomps. Will report back on how it all works out.

[TK73]

Will find out soon enough... gotta get out that 6lb zombie crusher sledge ya got... 

[moparguy01]

Let me know if you would, as I am curious if they changed the design. I was able to correct the driveline angle using the angled shims on the perches, but its still not ideal. I actually acquired a factory big block k frame to install in my car over the winter.

[TK73]

I went to pick up the conversion kit at Shumachers place, he only mentioned a "notch" we have to do on the passenger side K-member for the kit to fit (instructions cover that too).
Never heard of any other issues but live and learn...

Headers are another story.
Do plan on a heat shield for the mini starter.

[RallyeMike]

TK73 was picked up by the CIA for questioning, so I'm posting the latest update:


1. The 440. Std bore cast crank 78 block with mild mods including some minor head work, Eddy intake, improved oiling, double roller chain, and moderate cam.

2. Modification of small block K-mount to fit Schumacher Small v8 to B-RB conversion mounts. Drill a hole and cut the top tabs off.

3. The Schumacher mounts are very nice looking parts.



 

[RallyeMike]

More updates:

4. 440 in the hole. Fits great with the new mounts and (appears) to sit where it should.

5. 440 Power. Orange looks good in a sea of black.

6. Still need to stab the trans. Torsion bars cross member wont allow the engine/trans combo to go in with the 7 qt pan, so the trans gets stabbed separately in this case. B&M flexplate allows running a non-balanced converter on the cast-crank engine.

Headers are Hooker Comps and required a lot of clearancing with this set up (more than usual). Typical issues I find are with the PS box, both collectors at the T-bars, and 2 right down tubes at the T-bars. In this case, there was additional interference with the steering column shaft and the left side of the engine bay sheetmetal. The tubes simply did not bend down soon enough. Always plan on about three engine drops to get it all right. Rattley headers are no fun. Using copper header gaskets for the first time on an install - we'll see how they work out.

[RallyeMike]

And more yet.....

7. Used 727 stabbed and in place.

8. Side project - Refurbishing headlight buckets.

[RallyeMike]

Exhausting work     :


9. A total of 13 bucks for chrome tips more than fits the budget. Much better than getting a 2nd mortgage to buy the repro slotted ones.

10. Summit Racing dual exhaust kit for turbo-style muffs and headers in a 73 B-body. The tube benders at Summit must be toking up at lunch because there was NO WAY these pipes fit this car. With some mixing and matching left to right, tossing one pipe, two new 2-1/2 couplers, and a couple sections of straight pipe that were laying around, it will work out. Also, the tailpipe assembly bend is too tall so you can't tuck the mufflers up as tight to the body as would be desired. It will be right when done, but not without some mods.



That's it for now.... ran out of welder wire mid-job 

[grdprx]

WoW!  Nice work, it looks great.   

[nvrbdn]

coming along great. 

[AirborneSilva]

Looks great, keep the progress pics coming 

[472 R/T SE]

Nothing new here, but I'm lost.  This is Chris' car right?

I'm digging the bad ass look you have going.  What wheels are being used?  One of our daughter's first soccer coaches has a new(er) Ram pickup that he's planning the flat black look.



I'm glad you're OK.  These cars & houses are nothing but steel & wood with no meaning when it comes to us.  Plant a tree or turn in a car to be crushed, nothing can be done to fix us when something bad occurs.

[RallyeMike]

Nothing new here, but I'm lost.  This is Chris' car right?

Yup, this is Chris's, AKA TK73's car....... We have a bit of a barter deal going on: He helped me remodel my kitchen and expand my pole bldg shop amongst other things, and now I'm laboring on this project.

It's been a great trade off. I think I got the better half of the bargain.....  

What wheels are being used?

Existing wheels being kept. Just went back on:

[nvrbdn]

well you do fantastic work, so we would have to flip a coin to see who got the best deal. love this build and paint combo.