Pics of my Challenger project

[694spdRT]

Mostly finished off the shop area in my garage so I rolled the Challenger in to start the teardown. I am building this one for a daily driver.

It is a '72 318 automatic that was originally FE5 red, white top, and white interior. I personally think that is about the best color combo ever made but, my wife says no. I have not totally decided what color to go with or if I will keep the vinyl top.

I will be keeping the 318 and adding a 4 speed 833 overdrive as the automatic needs a rebuild anyway. The previous owner went completely through the 318 to the tune of about $2,500. It has forged pistons, a 270H Comp Cam, double roller timing chain, headers, Eddy performer intake, and the heads were milled and gone through. I borrowed the carb for another car so I do need to get another for it. As you can see it was being converted to a '70 after it got in a fender bender and I will likely go that route. I don't care for the 72 grill and I have all the exterior parts to do it except the headlight bezels. The best thing about the car is that it came from Texas and other than the driver side floorboard it is really solid.

[Blown70]

I am picking up a couple of 70's this weekend.

NICE SOLID start there .  Keep me updated.  I too will soon join the E-body club.

Tom

[694spdRT]

The 318 and soon to be 4 speed out of a '80 van.

[694spdRT]

God bless Texas. 

[694spdRT]

Here is the only real rust on the car. The floorboard rotted after sitting outside once it got to Wisconsin. Last pic is of the rear.

I will be getting a Rallye hood and dual exhaust valance to spice it up a little. I have thought of doing a Vanishing Point all white exterior on it. I definately will have a little time to think it over.     

[hotrod98]

Will be interesting to see the front end converted to a 70. I think that's a pretty good idea. Keep us posted with pics on the conversion.
I've owned one 74 chal, a 70 R/T, a 71 convert and the 70 convert that I have now. Wish I had held on to the 70 R/T. While I love my cudas, I think that the challengers drive a little better with the extra two inches of wheelbase.

[hotrod98]

If you got real serious, you could  find a tail panel and buy 70 taiilights and then buy those cheap qtr patch panels for the 70 marker lamp openings. I've converted fenders before and while it's a little work it's really not all that hard. P&G classics are repro-ing the side marker housings and taillights are still out there at the swap meets. The t/l bezels and lenses are being reporduced as well. You could definitely make it look like a 70.

[694spdRT]

You were reading my mind there Hotrod. 

I found a rotted up '70 in a junkyard 20 miles from me and cut the back 2 feet off to get the tailpanel, tailights, and marker lights last year in case I go that route. The only thing is the center backup light is cracked. I also cut the front half of the rusted out fenders off to get the headlight mounting hardware. I need to go back and get the hood trim off it yet.

[Charger_Fan]

Looks like a pretty nice project there.
Was the driver's window left down & that's why the floor rotted?

[694spdRT]

Looks like a pretty nice project there.
Was the driver's window left down & that's why the floor rotted?

Correct sir!

The window track has something going on so it does not always shut tight. There was a gap at the top of the window and over the course of several years before I got it the water got in, soaked the carpet, and presto no more floor. It should be an easy fix compared to what the Charger needed though.

[hotrod98]

Looks like you already have a 70-71 left fender or at least the marker lamp looks like a 70-71.
Sounds like the fun kind of project that I like. I tired of doing the #'s correct restos years ago. I like "different" now.

[694spdRT]

The driver fender is a '70 but, the headlight mount was removed before I got the car. I would guess a replacement '72 grill assembly was planned for it and never found.    The driver door is off a '70 also so it likely was swiped down the driver side. It is hard telling the history as several owners have made there mark on it through the years. The passenger side does have a '72 fender yet.