WIW: 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 complete minus drivetrain

[Drew1968]

Thank you very much for the thoughtful response. Sometimes it's hard to describe to people the way I feel when I look at or even think about the car. Occasionally I find myself flipping through the album and just, remembering what I can about being a 7 year old boy. My parents were together, my dad was alive...I mean life wasn't full of kittens and unicorn farts but that car doesn't just feel like a car to me. I don't think I'm chasing those feelings in particular, but it feels like a part of me is missing.

My dad was a mechanic and a musician. He didn't have much in life, but his most prized possessions were that 70 Challenger his brother bought new, and his 1967 Rickenbacker guitar. I have the guitar hanging in a custom wood cabinet in my living room. I walk past it many times every day and each time I think about him. He loved that guitar, and he loved that car. I love him, so I love both of those things.

It's like your grandmothers wedding ring, and someone else that's not family has it in their possession. You know, it's really just a ring...but it's a ring with memories attached to it, and when it's not in your care, custody, or control it just FEELS off. It feels like something isn't whole like it should be.

Try imaging yourself looking at the car 5 years from now in the same shape it is today.  If you see yourself being happy because you were able to save this physical connection to your dad - go for it.   If you see yourself doing a forehead slap and saying "what was I thinking?" maybe it's not such a good idea to make the buy. 

This is by far the most helpful thing anyone has said to me so far, and at the same time it is incredibly simple. I read this last night and decided to sleep on it before I had an answer for you. Really let the statement sink in.

For me, this isn't just another car in what has been or will be a long series of expensive restorations I get tired of halfway through and sell. Frankly, this is the only car I will ever restore...because it's the only car I WANT to restore. If it takes me 20 years of having to pay for storage or work around it in my garage/shed/whatever then that's what I have to do. I'm 32 now and if I don't get to drive it until I'm 60, so be it. Even if I have to restore it one piece at a time by hand, I'll do it. If I don't know how to cut out rust on a fender and replace quarter skins, you bet your butt I'll learn. If I don't know how to sandblast a frame, or do wiring, or rebuild an engine, or reupholster a seat...there's a book, class, or video for that.

It was a part of my Dad and my uncle, and it not being "safe and sound" makes it feel to me as though something is amiss. Like when you get in your car and you just KNOW you forgot something, but you can't remember what it is and you leave anyway but that feeling just nags you.

So to answer your question: If 5 years from now it's sitting in my garage with a tarp over it in pieces, I'll be happy because I can look upon it and know that even if it's just holding the concrete garage floor down, it's home.

[70chall440]

Having just looked at the pictures I would agree that this is a major project, however it is completely doable even by a hobbyist. Sometime we on this forum fall to the feeling that to "redo" a car means a complete correct flawless restoration; however most of us (probably all of us) have built a lot of cars far from "complete" and "flawless". Take that car home, pull apart what remains (carefully and document everything with pictures, like hundreds if not thousands). Leave the doors on for now. Concentrate on making it structurally sound (floors, frame, etc). Doesn't have to be perfect, has to be solid and workable. Also, while doing this clean everything you can however you can (wire brush, wire wheel on a drill, sand paper, sander, blaster, whatever you have access to or want to buy). Next, get a drive train; get something already running (doesn't have to be a new crate motor, something off craigslist will do). Get that in and start hooking everything up. Go through the brakes and fuel system (read auto parts stores for supplies). Look at the wiring and make sure nothing is beyond repair. Get the car running again even just barely; you will then be even more encouraged to continue and make it better. Come to this forum a lot! Get books, watch you tube, surf the internet for ideas and direction. The net result will be you will remain connected to the car, the car will begin to live again and it will make you happy. So long as you don't do something crazy like try and make it a convertible or something, everything else can be fixed, changed, corrected, etc. Far too many cars become long term inactive "projects" because their owner had bigger ideas than talent, money or time. A running/driving car in primer is better than a shiny project tore apart in boxes in the garage. It is not rocket science and not super difficult. If you have a modicum of mechanical skill you can make this car live again; it might not be the 100 point show pony or look like the day it was built, but it will be yours and you will be smiling every time you drive it if only just down the block and back.

Have fun and I look forward to helping you with this project as I am sure many on here will.

[dakota]

So to answer your question: If 5 years from now it's sitting in my garage with a tarp over it in pieces, I'll be happy because I can look upon it and know that even if it's just holding the concrete garage floor down, it's home.

COOL!

[jimynick]

Having just looked at the pictures I would agree that this is a major project, however it is completely doable even by a hobbyist. Sometime we on this forum fall to the feeling that to "redo" a car means a complete correct flawless restoration; however most of us (probably all of us) have built a lot of cars far from "complete" and "flawless". Take that car home, pull apart what remains (carefully and document everything with pictures, like hundreds if not thousands). Leave the doors on for now. Concentrate on making it structurally sound (floors, frame, etc). Doesn't have to be perfect, has to be solid and workable. Also, while doing this clean everything you can however you can (wire brush, wire wheel on a drill, sand paper, sander, blaster, whatever you have access to or want to buy). Next, get a drive train; get something already running (doesn't have to be a new crate motor, something off craigslist will do). Get that in and start hooking everything up. Go through the brakes and fuel system (read auto parts stores for supplies). Look at the wiring and make sure nothing is beyond repair. Get the car running again even just barely; you will then be even more encouraged to continue and make it better. Come to this forum a lot! Get books, watch you tube, surf the internet for ideas and direction. The net result will be you will remain connected to the car, the car will begin to live again and it will make you happy. So long as you don't do something crazy like try and make it a convertible or something, everything else can be fixed, changed, corrected, etc. Far too many cars become long term inactive "projects" because their owner had bigger ideas than talent, money or time. A running/driving car in primer is better than a shiny project tore apart in boxes in the garage. It is not rocket science and not super difficult. If you have a modicum of mechanical skill you can make this car live again; it might not be the 100 point show pony or look like the day it was built, but it will be yours and you will be smiling every time you drive it if only just down the block and back.

Have fun and I look forward to helping you with this project as I am sure many on here will.

   How do you gainsay that? Well considered and well written. Do it that way   

[Drew1968]

Having just looked at the pictures I would agree that this is a major project, however it is completely doable even by a hobbyist. Sometime we on this forum fall to the feeling that to "redo" a car means a complete correct flawless restoration; however most of us (probably all of us) have built a lot of cars far from "complete" and "flawless". Take that car home, pull apart what remains (carefully and document everything with pictures, like hundreds if not thousands). Leave the doors on for now. Concentrate on making it structurally sound (floors, frame, etc). Doesn't have to be perfect, has to be solid and workable. Also, while doing this clean everything you can however you can (wire brush, wire wheel on a drill, sand paper, sander, blaster, whatever you have access to or want to buy). Next, get a drive train; get something already running (doesn't have to be a new crate motor, something off craigslist will do). Get that in and start hooking everything up. Go through the brakes and fuel system (read auto parts stores for supplies). Look at the wiring and make sure nothing is beyond repair. Get the car running again even just barely; you will then be even more encouraged to continue and make it better. Come to this forum a lot! Get books, watch you tube, surf the internet for ideas and direction. The net result will be you will remain connected to the car, the car will begin to live again and it will make you happy. So long as you don't do something crazy like try and make it a convertible or something, everything else can be fixed, changed, corrected, etc. Far too many cars become long term inactive "projects" because their owner had bigger ideas than talent, money or time. A running/driving car in primer is better than a shiny project tore apart in boxes in the garage. It is not rocket science and not super difficult. If you have a modicum of mechanical skill you can make this car live again; it might not be the 100 point show pony or look like the day it was built, but it will be yours and you will be smiling every time you drive it if only just down the block and back.

Have fun and I look forward to helping you with this project as I am sure many on here will.

You just described perfectly what I've had in my head for a few years now. I don't want a show car. I don't want a pure period correct nut and bolt restoration. I don't even want to take it to any car shows.

I want to DRIVE it.

I just have to breathe enough life into it so that it starts breathing life into me.

Now I just have to get my hands on it

[ec_co]

now you know where I'm at, I just have it now. go get it!

[mofish]

Having just looked at the pictures I would agree that this is a major project, however it is completely doable even by a hobbyist. Sometime we on this forum fall to the feeling that to "redo" a car means a complete correct flawless restoration; however most of us (probably all of us) have built a lot of cars far from "complete" and "flawless". Take that car home, pull apart what remains (carefully and document everything with pictures, like hundreds if not thousands). Leave the doors on for now. Concentrate on making it structurally sound (floors, frame, etc). Doesn't have to be perfect, has to be solid and workable. Also, while doing this clean everything you can however you can (wire brush, wire wheel on a drill, sand paper, sander, blaster, whatever you have access to or want to buy). Next, get a drive train; get something already running (doesn't have to be a new crate motor, something off craigslist will do). Get that in and start hooking everything up. Go through the brakes and fuel system (read auto parts stores for supplies). Look at the wiring and make sure nothing is beyond repair. Get the car running again even just barely; you will then be even more encouraged to continue and make it better. Come to this forum a lot! Get books, watch you tube, surf the internet for ideas and direction. The net result will be you will remain connected to the car, the car will begin to live again and it will make you happy. So long as you don't do something crazy like try and make it a convertible or something, everything else can be fixed, changed, corrected, etc. Far too many cars become long term inactive "projects" because their owner had bigger ideas than talent, money or time. A running/driving car in primer is better than a shiny project tore apart in boxes in the garage. It is not rocket science and not super difficult. If you have a modicum of mechanical skill you can make this car live again; it might not be the 100 point show pony or look like the day it was built, but it will be yours and you will be smiling every time you drive it if only just down the block and back.

Have fun and I look forward to helping you with this project as I am sure many on here will.

Well said     This is pretty much the direction I am going to take with my car too.

Keep us up to date and post pics of bringing it home to you....where it belongs! 

[70chall440]

To take absolutely nothing away from the high end builds, complete and correct restorations; what I advocated is what the vast majority of people on this site and others like it are or want to do but are not 100% sure of how to proceed. That is where these types of sites come in strong; there is so much collective experience here that you can get advice, recommendations, tips, etc to realize your goals. The more work you do, the better your car gets the more you will want to do and the better you will want to make it. Heck, the chances are for many/most that there is a member somewhere near them who has more experience, tools and skill that could be garnered if someone asks. I know for me personally, if there was someone near me that needed some help but didn't know what or how to do something that I did, I would offer the help just to help get/keep a Mopar on the road.

Unfortunately for me, I spend way too much time on this forum, but am always happy to end some guidance or support. Probably one of the best features of being here other than advice, is that most members are happy to give you a picture of this or that to put things into context. I have looked at other member's builds many times to conceptualize something I want to do. If you want to see what certain seats look good in a car like yours, go to the interior sections and there are probably some there; that sort of thing.

Get your car and get to work. So long as you don't plan yourself into a box, this car will be running before you know it. May not be perfect but it will perfectly great at that moment.

[7212Mopar]

Once you get yourself into it, you will soon find that the most difficult part of it all is time. There are just too many obligations and commitments in life. You will get discourage about how slow the progress is. But you get energize again seeing that old rusty and crusty part shining bright and new, even though it might be one piece at a time. Good luck whatever you ultimately decide.

[340challconvert]

I wish you the best on getting the car back!
We all get attached to our cars and you have a special attachment to this Challenger.
A lot of good advice has already been given. 

What's the saying? "Possession is 9/10's the Law"
Find a reasonable way to get the car in your possession.  Then work one task at a time, stabilizing the car and and getting sheet metal repair done.
70chall440 made a good suggestion: concentrate on getting a running engine for reasonable price to get started.  A running car will make you feel more enthusiastic and keep the motivation going.

Without the drivetrain, the guy would probably have the Challenger sitting for a long time.  You could point that out; with a cash sale, money would be available for him to start on one of his other multiple projects.

I have an A66 Challenger convertible that I have owned since 1980.  I finally retired and have time to work on it.
I am like you in the respect that I do not have a lot of space, and am working in my two car garage, one with the car in it and the other with Christmas and Garden stuff stored away.

I have simple tools that I work by hand, since I do not own a compressor or blaster to clean things off.
I am working with electric sanders, steel brush tools on a drill and a DA.  Did I mention the wood chisels that are great for scraping off body sealer?  It's better then going to a gym.

The point is, you can get a lot done with minimal dollars, doing the work yourself. It is amazing what you can do and get done as you learn!
Good Luck and go get that CAR!

[mofish]

    When you go to make a deal on the car I recommend going with cash and a trailer (as well as a way to load it if possible). He has already said it's your car.....hopefully you can get a great deal on it. Try to get him to give you his expected dollar figure...maybe he plans on giving it to you for whatever he paid. You never know. Anyway...we all wish you the best of luck and look forward to helping you any way that we can.   

[Drew1968]

   When you go to make a deal on the car I recommend going with cash and a trailer (as well as a way to load it if possible). He has already said it's your car.....hopefully you can get a great deal on it. Try to get him to give you his expected dollar figure...maybe he plans on giving it to you for whatever he paid. You never know. Anyway...we all wish you the best of luck and look forward to helping you any way that we can.   

I kinda need to call him first and see if it's even a possibility. He lives an hour and a half away. Long round trip to waste if he won't take cash lol.

[74 challenge]

I love this story.

We recently had to sell a house that had been in our family for a few generations as it was just too expensive for anyone of us to buy at an assessed value of 1 million. It was nonna's house, it was her amazing garden it was the family gathering spot, you could walk in the door at anytime and there was always good people and great food. I Was really upset that it had to go but I understood no one could afford that price tag.

As we hung the sold sign on the lawn and I had no choice but to move on I realised it wasn't the house that gave me the memories it was what happened at the house and the people associated with it. When I look back and think of those memories I remember Nona, Nono and my uncles, aunts doing whatever. It made no difference that it happened in the living room or the kitchen of that exact house. The people inside made that house special. Even without that house those people's smiles and laughter are still with me, even if they are not. 

Even if the guy does not take the cash, or the deal does not pan out - don't beat yourself up about it. It was your dad that made this car cool. It didn't need to be a challenger it could have been a ford or a chevy but the memory is your father, your family and happy times - much like our family home those memories didn't fade with that door shutting, they live on just as much as they did before.

Good luck and I certainly hope you can get the car!

[70chall440]

74 Challenge makes a very valid point; if for some reason you cannot get this car, there are many others out there that you make identical or better if you so desire. There are plenty of people on here who have built cars because they had one like it or rode in one, etc (myself included, I built a 70 Challenger in the spirit of a 74 I had when I was 18, and a 73 Cuda in the spirit of a 70 AAR I had).

Take it one step at a time and it will work out in some fashion, may not be the one you are thinking right now, but it will work out. Very worst case, take all those pictures, frame them all together and hang it where you will see it often to remember.