1973 Charger new guy....

[Zeikjds]

Hey Im looking at trading my 1991 V6 Firebird for a 1973 318 Charger. My question is should I tune up the car throw a 4BBL and an exhaust on it or save up and grab the old 440 laying around and rebuild it and throw it in, looking to do a prostreet car. PS Im 17 and have a little more then basic mechanic skills. Probably pass emissions, and then just drive around with headers, want to scare all the punks at my school...of course still need to have balls to back it up

[Charger1973]

Welcome to the site! 

A 91 Firebird for a 73 Charger is a no brainer to me.  Grab that car!   If I was in your position I would just drive it with the 318 until you get out of school and build a wicked 440 for it on the side, when you are finished with school and have a little extra money to spend at the gas pumps, then drop your 440 in. 

[Zeikjds]

Ya and the bird is a v6....lol, i get about 350 a month to save so... anything i want,lol. If i was going chevy i got a 454, ford a 460 and dodge 440, so its wide open for me...

[41husk]

good luck and welcome aboard!

[mikepmcs]

No brainer.  Mopar over pontiac any day.

Charger is a classic and i don't think the 91 firebird will be as desired in later years.

I say go for it!  Got any pictures of this charger???

Welcome to the site

[Zeikjds]

Ill be picking the charger up this weekend and ive noticed that firebirds in the past 5 years have gone down the drain. 82-92 arent desired and especially a 6 in perfect condition is still shit! The charger is white and interior will need redone, body looks perfect, still have to make sure before deal. 70k original, looking at a rebuild, just to start fresh, a cam, timing gear, full tune up with synthetics, got to check rear end while im checking car out, paint it a metallic black. ill update after i get car! Also I have a Question... Im looking for the most bang for my buck, a cam, heads.....dont know what else without getting into money! but if i pass emissions can i then just run straight headers or will that kill performance, i know you dont want any backflow but still a tiny bit.....?

[Charger1973]

You would not beleive how many of these cars GNRL01 and myself cut up last spring...    It was an every weekend thing there for quite a while.  Started out as just needing a few parts for one car...  Next thing you know we had extremely cheap and sometimes even free Firebirds coming at us from all over the place.  They dont have any real value...  not even the parts. 

[RogerDodger]

I had a 72 Charger SE 318 when I was your age in school. I was cool $#!t. Or at least I thought I was. After school I scored the 440 and had a tranny rebuilt with a shift kit. Then its time to upgrade the rear end. Take it one step at a time and enjoy the ride.

[Zeikjds]

Ya I was looking at just get it looking good on outside, a metallic black, a good tune up with synthetic and a little chrome up on engine and redoing or taking interior out and putting bucket seats in for now,  and later either a 440 or 318 build-up! Just enough to be a hot shot at school, and hell theres 5 camaros/firebirds already there so....

[mikepmcs]

Go Get Em'

I remember in 1983 when I drove my plum crazy 1970 Charger to school.  All the other cars took a back seat to that beast.  and that was 24 years ago!!!!

[Zeikjds]

Well you have to remember, in 1972 all cars went to the crapper, emissions laws killed alot of them,ya they're still v8 chargers but are restricted!          But that will be fixed in due time!!!!!

[72pettyblue]

put a 4 bbl carb, headers and exhaust and dress her up.  You can build the 440 and collect the parts your going to need for the swap as you drive and enjoy her.  It will probably take longer than you thing to get everything together and you can take your time and do it right.  Your gonna find you will have just as much fun and less problems with the 318 driving to school and hanging out and you don't have to tell them whatcha got under the hood

[Zeikjds]

Well by the end of summer ill have a total of 2500 to put in her. Well of course a tune up, using synthetic.  I was already thinking of rebuilding during summer, just to start fresh and change shit for unleaded fuel,4bbl carb, headers(after emissions) and only straight headers, no other exhaust parts, cam and lifters, timing chain and gear, and last but not least chrome air cleaner and valve covers. I dont know if i want to paint it etc til summer but i know its going metallic black and i have to find someone that can reupholster the interior, black of course to match!

[Zeikjds]

Because of weather and working looks like next weekend ill be getting her!!! Ill post pics asap,thanks.

[73 Charger 440]

Well by the end of summer ill have a total of 2500 to put in her. Well of course a tune up, using synthetic.  I was already thinking of rebuilding during summer, just to start fresh and change shit for unleaded fuel,4bbl carb, headers(after emissions) and only straight headers, no other exhaust parts, cam and lifters, timing chain and gear, and last but not least chrome air cleaner and valve covers. I dont know if i want to paint it etc til summer but i know its going metallic black and i have to find someone that can reupholster the interior, black of course to match!

Didn't read all of the posts but if you mean switching to synthetic oils DONT! (without a complete engine rebuild)... Basically Ive seen people here buy older or high mileage American cars (I just moved here, Europe, last year from Florida) and switch to synthetic because they really dont sell conventional oil here. What happens is the old conventional oils have left deposits and build up on seals and the synthetic cleans them up and this can cause leaks because the seals had dried up from before, it can also cause clogs in the oil system (filter). Regarding transmission fluid the rule is if the fluid hasnt been changed on a regular schedule from new dont change it (this comes straight from transmission shops) another rule is if its black dont change it, there was a discussion on another form and a few transmission shop guys came on to say that a good amount of transmissions that come in are just because owners had changed fluids when they werent having any problems.

[Zeikjds]

um ok...im still going to do a tune up and then just do synthetic after rebuild, but tranny fluid is still getting changed and so is differential fluid!

[73 Charger 440]

um ok...im still going to do a tune up and then just do synthetic after rebuild, but tranny fluid is still getting changed and so is differential fluid!

Dont want sound like an (yeah you get the point), but Id talk to some tranny guys before you go change that fluid... because like alot of them have said, cars come in when the owners change the fluid (when they werent having any problems)... Im not saying your going to have problems, but it could happen.

[Zeikjds]

Well I'd trust my uncle over anyone(working on cars for 30yrs) and if he says not to then i wont but im betting it has the original fluid.

[72pettyblue]

if it is the original trans fluid or hasn't been changed in years and is still shifting normally, do not change the fluid!  you are very likely to create more problems.  new trans fluid will clean the deposits left by the old fluid and create excessive clearances and will possibly cause the trans to slip, delay shifts, and cost you more money in rebuild.  also, when you replace the rear end fluid, have someone knowledgeable check the tooth pattern on the ring and pinion gears and inspect your old fluid for presence of metal shavings and foreign materials. 

[Brock Samson]

welcome!  just get the car first,.. and take some pics!
next well help ya get the biggist hood scoop to ever grace your H.S. parking lot! 

[72pettyblue]

and definitely put an exhaust on it, you do need some backpressure.   if you run straight headers, you will end up burning exhaust valves.  and if you don't then you will need to save some of that 2500 to pay for tickets you will definitely be getting.  run 2 - 21/2 inch exhaust with 40 series flowmasters and you can turn down the pipes in front of the rear axle.  this will give you the sound you are looking for.

[Zeikjds]

I know about gears, just pulled 3.43 posi for my firebird but seeing as how im trading it, the posi will go in my sisters bird! I much rather prefer dynomax to flowmasters.....? And will do, of course you cant wait to see it, i cant wait to work on it.