- Dodge Charger 1973 by Pekka -

[MRHWS]

Damn. Talk about building it your way. Nice job.

[Charger-73]

BIG Update!

Well not that big, but I haven't got time to update this topic because my daily job has kept me busy for long time and it seems that it will continue like that for some time. But always when I have time I will work on Charger.

Anyway 8 ¾ rear end is ready for drive. Friend from local American car helped me to install new gears on it. Same time I was there watching and learning how it can be done. It wasn't as hard as I was thinking, but sure there is many things what needs to be checked. Put now I at least know something about it.

Couple times we changed shims on bigger bearings and finally we found good settings for the rear end. Everything should be installed as book says. Here some measured values from rear end and also some photos where you can see the tooth patern. Here some photos of process.

   

   




So after rear end was ready to go. Plan was to install rear leaf springs and rear axle. But before I could install rear axle I had to paint it. It has been painted for long time ago but we had to install rear brake line brackets. Those have been welded so we had to remove paint from small spot and then re-paint it. After that we were ready to install rear axle. Case is 489 Scott has told me that he found it from car junk yard, originally it was on Road Runner. Here some photos of paint job and seal installing etc.


   




But it didn't work out as I was planed... U-bolts were too short, those were 7" long bolts. Those came along whit set of suspension kit. And of course I haven't checked does those match to my setup. Well new bolts has been already ordered and now when I had to order new bolts I right away ordered stainless steel U-bolts from Totally Stainless. Here some photos new leaf spring installation.


   

   


Also I somehow managed to buy wrong kind of bearings for my wilwood rear brake kit. Don't really understand how this has happened, because in manual where I have checked what kind of bearing I should buy. Manual says that with this kit I should use Green Bearing MO400 and NOT RP400. But somehow I decided to buy RP400. Well now I already have new MO400 bearings here, I ordered those from Maya Performance and they delivered parts to Finland and parts came next week. And yes I first ask from local American car part shops, but none of them had those bearings. Here some photos of bearings and rear brake parts. Oh, and rear axle seal is already installed. =)








Plan is to get Charger on wheels as soon as possible. After that we can start planning and fixing everything for painting... =)


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

[mauve66]

 

[JPL]

No MP spring relocation kit?

[Silver R/T]

Drums on the back? You went through all the hassle, might as well put a disc brake kit on the back as well.

[Charger-73]

No MP spring relocation kit?

No I don't have spring relocation kit. I read that I could use 285 tires without moving springs and for me 285 is enough.

But now when you mentioned I have to do some resource about it when I have some free time... 

Drums on the back? You went through all the hassle, might as well put a disc brake kit on the back as well.

You will see, you will see... 

[JPL]

For what it's worth:
Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro 29x12.5-15LT with the wells stretched and the relocation kit, I think I could have gone wider.

[Charger-73]

For what it's worth:
Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro 29x12.5-15LT with the wells stretched and the relocation kit, I think I could have gone wider.

Yes, it looks really good. Hopefully I will be able to use at least 285 tires on back... not sure will it be 16" or 17" wheels... 

PP

[Charger-73]

Problem Update!

There has been some small progress, photos and story later... now just asking help about rear axle issue...

Rear axle too long?

[studio57]

hienoa työtä Pekka  jään odotteleen projektin etenemistä 

[Charger-73]

Sad Update!

This isn't update at all if we think how my project is going. This project took major steps backward. I have been working in different city whole winter so I wasn't able to do much during winter. But two days before my long summer holiday started... warehouse... where I was storing my Charger parts burned to the ground! And I mean to the ground! Nothing was left. Good news is that there wasn't any person damage. Bad thing is that some people might lose their job because there was factory in same building. Good news for me was that body/chassis were not there!

Anyway I lost big amount of my Charger parts. List is long but I will add it here so people may start offering me those parts. At the moment it seems that insurance company has found stupid lines that why they should not pay anything to me. Well I haven't thrown my axe to the well yet. And I have already started to look parts what I need.

Anyway I visited visited at the place where parts were and I was able to find couple parts from big pile of ash. I'm quite disappointed to the powder coating. Can you believe there wasn't any of paint left in the parts?!? And they told me that it's tough paint! ;-)

But at the moment, I won't hurry. There is something bigger going on what needs my attention now, but I haven't stop the project. I will try to find good part car or I will buy parts one by one!

I will add some photos of the fire and founded parts later.


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

ps. Tässä yksi syy miksi kyselin niitä istuimia... =)

[tan top]

oh no ,  sorry to hear that !!  but like you say least the body wernt in there  !!  just been looking at your wed site !!  been doing  some good stuff 

[ralley72]

Sorry to read about that fire. No one getting hurt is some good news, you sure have done some good work on your car. I sure you like to help you out with some parts you might need, but most of my 73-4 parts are gone. Good luck finding what you need and try to post a list of needed parts.

Mike

[DREDILSKI]

That Sucks!             I might have something..........

[studio57]

it does suck big time.. insurance allways works until something happens.

[Charger-73]

Update!

No one get hurt in this fire but bad thing is that about fifteen people is now unemployed. Let's hope they will rebuild it and people could get their jobs back.

Now I got time to transfer photos from camera to the computer and so on. So here is one photo where you can see how big that fire was. And then on photo where you can see the spot parts were stored. You can spot the back seat and one bucket seat if you look it closely... and then some photos of parts what I was able to find by digging that pile couple of hours.

Planing to add list of burned parts here and remove parts from that list when I get those. Pity that all parts I lost where cleaned, sanded, polished or painted. So everything was ready to install and all parts where in really good shape. During winter 2008 we bought lots of parts what were in better shape then original. Worst part is that most of new parts were there but also the old parts. Oh, well when I got time and energy I will add the list. Also I have bought some parts so I will wait and see the quality of those parts and then decide what I will still need.


   

   

   


Bigger versions of photos can be found from picasa or blog.

http://charger-73.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/Dodge.Charger73/DodgeCharger1973ByPekka#

[klutch]

Crap! I'm sorry to hear about this...

I hope your able to replace these parts without too much hassle.