New to me '73 SE

[rayderluvr]

Recently purchased a '73 SE with an all stock 400 4 bbl. I am wanting to make this a very nice car, will be somewhat of a driver. I want to be able to take her on 1,000 mile round trips with the reliability of a new car.
I plan on suspension, body, and interior first, then (when cash flow permits) either rebuild the 400 and add some "oomph", possibly stroke the 400, or build a 440 to 500 stroker (I have two 440 cores) Since I don't think this is a very collectable model/color, I thought I might change the color (to forest green) and maybe eliminate the vinyl top. Looking for suggestions on what some of you have done with similar cars.
Thanks!

[ODZKing]

Mmmm, nice.
I am getting ready for my 73 SE re-assembly.
Has anything been done body wise to it?  Painted etc.?  Or is that original paint?   

[41husk]

I turned my 73 into a SuperBee tribute.  I sold it a few years ago and miss that car.  If you have to go green do to interior etc. I would look into Sublime

[rayderluvr]

Has anything been done body wise to it?  Painted etc.?  Or is that original paint?

It is supposedly original paint, no body work, no rust. I personally have not seen the car. I found it on ebay, luckily it was within 3 hours of where my wife and kids live (I recently changed jobs and live in a differnt state from my family). I got ahold of the owner, and my wife and 20 yr. old son went and looked at it. They both liked it so they bought it and towed it to our house (although it is licensed and drives).

I turned my 73 into a SuperBee tribute.  I sold it a few years ago and miss that car.  If you have to go green do to interior etc. I would look into Sublime

It has green interior, and the fender tag shows it had a green top as well. I like sublime, but a bit much for me. Maybe the green that was popular on cars like the 1970 Superbird?

[nvrbdn]

very nice starting point. looks like a nice project. i know there is a thread about how to tuck the bumpers in tighter. several builds in here on those cars. good luck with it.

[moparstuart]

    I like the color it is      I wouldnt go darker 

   if you have to change colors like allen suggested go sublime or sassy grass  but the mint green looks great

[rayderluvr]

It is supposed to have a green vinyl top. I found a picture of one with the color combination mine is supposed to have, and I love it! I think I will go with the original colors when I get it painted. I have to get it where I can work on it so I can do some of the body work and prep before it goes into the shop for paint. I do plan on moving the bumpers "in".......  I have been told '72 bumper mounts work, or I can modify the existing mounts. It makes me sick  to know that the '72 SE I had in high school went to the crusher only five years ago.....would love to have those bumpers and mounts for my '73....

[GOTWING]

that's like my first car , pale green , dark green int. but mine has a white top, your lucky to have the power windows and big block, i saw it on e-bay and was watching it. Keep us posted ! glad u got it.

[rayderluvr]

Keep us posted ! glad u got it.

Thanks! I hope to post information and pictures as I complete upgrades. I do think I am staying original paint color, I like it and it will make it easier to paint without totally disassembling the car.

Besides, my Boss (who is in the final stages of a rotisserie resto-mod on a '68 El Camino) doesn't like the color...so keeping it light green will always bug him! When I get it out of Missouri and into Indiana, I may get personalized plates, "CSG 73" because he says the color is "Calf Sh@t Green"...

[moparstuart]

Keep us posted ! glad u got it.

Thanks! I hope to post information and pictures as I complete upgrades. I do think I am staying original paint color, I like it and it will make it easier to paint without totally disassembling the car.

Besides, my Boss (who is in the final stages of a rotisserie resto-mod on a '68 El Camino) doesn't like the color...so keeping it light green will always bug him! When I get it out of Missouri and into Indiana, I may get personalized plates, "CSG 73" because he says the color is "Calf Sh@t Green"...

the white top idea would make that color pop

[Ghoste]

If your boss is doing an El Camino he clearly lacks taste anyway. lol
I agree with Stu, the white top would look great on that car.

[myk]

Congrats on the car man.  Just a word of advice: do NOT neglect the electrical system.  Everyone usually gets carried away with paint and performance 'mods but tend to neglect the electrical stuff.  Since you want new car reliability and you don't regard the car as a super-rare vehicle I would recommend replacing all of the wiring, front to back, with something new, high performing and totally reliable, such as a Painless Wiring or EZ wiring system.  Again, congratulations and ask lots of questions-good luck and have fun!

[Chargerguy74]

Sweet color combo. You don't see that too often.

[1974dodgecharger]

what this man said......

Congrats on the car man.  Just a word of advice: do NOT neglect the electrical system.  Everyone usually gets carried away with paint and performance 'mods but tend to neglect the electrical stuff.  Since you want new car reliability and you don't regard the car as a super-rare vehicle I would recommend replacing all of the wiring, front to back, with something new, high performing and totally reliable, such as a Painless Wiring or EZ wiring system.  Again, congratulations and ask lots of questions-good luck and have fun!

[TK73]

Like the Green 

[Scaregrabber]

My very first car was a 2 year old 73 SE in mist green with a white top and 400 I bought off my Dad. I agree that if you keep the colour it would look better with the white top. I kind of like the combo and not just because I had one.

Sheldon

[rudyjrusa]

nice car and good luck with it - did you purchase it through ebay or craigslist??

[rayderluvr]

nice car and good luck with it - did you purchase it through ebay or craigslist??

Found it on ebay, but the car/seller was pretty close to where I lived, so we made a private deal.......

[rudyjrusa]

nice car and good luck with it - did you purchase it through ebay or craigslist??

Found it on ebay, but the car/seller was pretty close to where I lived, so we made a private deal.......

keep the color combo - they will look great - it is going to be a great car.

[chargd72]

Nice car.  Do yourself a favor and sit on it for a while.  For the longest time my plans were to change the color to '71 GY9 but seeing Plum Crazy in the garage every day started to grow on me.  Now I LOVE it and I'm so glad I didn't do it.  Try to imagine that color in pristine condition on bad ass car like a Charger.  It would be sweet.

[rayderluvr]

I think I will be going with the original body color, but I am undecided on the vinyl top. Original is dark green, and I like the suggestions of white, or should I remove all of the trim and eliminate the vinyl???
Decisions, decisions. Since the car is in good running condition, paint/body and interior are where I am starting (plan to have it looking like new by next spring), with an engine rebuild a year or so after that.
I had originally planned to build it into a 451 or 470 stroker, but wanted to utilize stock heads, intake, carb, and exhaust (I have three buddies with GM cars....a '70 Chevelle and a '72 Chevelle, both with 383 strokers, and a '69 GTO Judge with a freshly rebuilt 455, I want to whip them in the 1/4 mile and open the hood to a stock appearing 400!). Further thought has led me to believe that spending the money to stroke would be a waste if I am choking it off with stock heads, intake, carb, and exhaust. So, probably go close to stock on engine (with a cam change of course!).
Thoughts?

[69chargerboy]

NICE! Welcome to the club! LOL! Keep the color! 

[rayderluvr]

NICE! Welcome to the club! LOL! Keep the color! 







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73CharSE.JPG (116.04 KB, 1024x678 - viewed 4 times.)

I Love it! I also have a picture of a restored Charger wit the dark green top for comparison...Wow, the white looks great! This will be a tough decision.....

[69chargerboy]

NICE! Welcome to the club! LOL! Keep the color!  

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73CharSE.JPG (116.04 KB, 1024x678 - viewed 4 times.)

I Love it! I also have a picture of a restored Charger wit the dark green top for comparison...Wow, the white looks great! This will be a tough decision.....

Here's the interior. I wasn't too crazy about the white interior when I bought the car, but it really grew on me. Thats how it was when purchased new...

[TK73]

White top. SE's don't look right with gills and no vinyl

[ODZKing]

White top. SE's don't look right with gills and no vinyl

[nvrbdn]

i love the white interior and top with that body color.