Author Topic: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car  (Read 11595 times)

Offline cudazappa

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #45 on: May 14, 2010 - 11:53:38 AM »
Nice!  Lift off hoods are way cooler anyway.  What do you have in store for the seats?  Are you going to get a T/A spoiler or go with out one?  The side view pics looks pretty clean with out.

Eventually, the the T/A rear spoiler will be on there.  I'm also planning on the extended front spoiler as well.  Form follows function and all that...

the seats are some generic (APC?) heavy side bolstered seats.  The one drawback is they put my legs into the steering wheel, kinda hard to get in... still gonna use them this weekend, chasing a lead on some extra seat sliders so I may be able to lower the seats 3/4".  I'm going to gain 1/8" by using a smaller headed bolt.  Funny thing, the butt of the seat is the same level as the stock seats...
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
2015 Dart GT - Daily Driver




Offline cudazappa

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #46 on: May 14, 2010 - 11:55:53 AM »
I love road race projects! It gets me so pumped up to just finish the Cuda and hurry up and get a little Dart or something and make it a dedicated racer.

I've also been thinking about that.  There are some sick builds in SCCA C-prepared (almost tube-frame cars) and the NASA American Iron series.  An A-body would be very competitive, but a coil over shock front suspension F-body would be cool, too.  I'm leaning towards a late A-body (73-76) but I've promised no more cars until the Challenger is "done"
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
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Offline cudazappa

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #47 on: May 17, 2010 - 11:28:39 AM »
SUCCESS!!!! kinda...

need to replace the rear oil seals... I messed mine up in the sure-grip swap...







1971 Challenger - AutoX project
2015 Dart GT - Daily Driver

Offline Travis72

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #48 on: May 24, 2010 - 12:47:42 AM »
Nice job getting out there at the auto-x!!!  I can't wait until mine finally drives.

Travis
72 Cuda

Offline 422STROKER

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #49 on: May 24, 2010 - 08:28:02 PM »
Looks killer out there!  Great job.  Looks pretty flat in the corners to me.

Tom
Tom
12.77 @ 108.87 15" Street Drag radial tires 3.23 gear

Offline cudazappa

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #50 on: May 25, 2010 - 11:49:01 AM »
Thanks... I find the AutoX on Sundays is better than most every car show I've ever attended (I only go to about 2-3 shows a year, and a couple cruise nights).  It definitely was premature to bring the car out, but I get tired of looking at it in the garage.

72challorange - That's still too much lean in the corners for me.  But I don't want to cough up the $$$ for big t-bars and big sway bars.  The most I want to do is either a rear sway bar or stiffer rear springs.  That's it for this year in suspension work.

my 340 exhaust manifolds came in so hopefully next week I'll be bringing it to the shop to get the dual exhaust (with turn downs) installed.

After that, before Carlisle I want the SFCs, interior, 4bbl and heads also done...  crossing fingers... just got to find a way to pay for it all....
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
2015 Dart GT - Daily Driver

Offline cudazappa

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #51 on: June 12, 2010 - 07:53:06 AM »
Last night, the car came back down on all 4 wheels. 
The rear end was missing the thrust buttons for the clutch type SG.
Rear end is done (for now).  All that's left is a driving test (scheduled Sunday morning).

I have a pinion seal leak on the 741 case.  Its not "bad" but it needs to be serviced before I can take it to a track day.  Other than that, its "acceptable" for driving and autox.

This project has turned into a race against Carlisle.  It all comes down to how much I want to get done before then.  (especially because dad wants the garage back)

Today, I'm moving my key tools to my friend's garage for the subframe connectors, and LCA gusset install.  I can't re-install the interior until then.  Also have the Year One body plugs so the floor will be re-sealed from the elements.  I'm going to try and finish Monday night.  Also as a side project, getting 17x9s and 275/40 race rubber to fit.  There's only one autox between now and Carlisle, so why push it.

Next is re-building the doors/window channel.  I have some window fuzzies "en route" so that should make the windows shake much less and be quiet.

And still find a place for the tach as my gauges are pretty much all still fubar'd.  Need something besides the AMP gauge.  Gas gauge reads to about 1/2 tank.  And the gauge lights?  LOL

Also, once the floor work is done, it'll be time for the dual exhaust.  I'll call my bro's shop and set up an appointment for that.  I've got the 68-70 A/E body 340 manifolds.

Next priority is the steering pump/body.  Would be nice to finish that.  Those parts have only been sitting for ~ 3 months.

After ALL that, then its the 302 heads, LD4B intake and Holley 670.

And I still need rear springs/sway bar. *sigh*  But that's enough for now
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
2015 Dart GT - Daily Driver

Offline cudazappa

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #52 on: June 20, 2010 - 11:44:30 AM »












Behold my awesome welds!  All done with a 110v Flux Wire machine.  Its all solid, the patch was welded from the top, and you're looking at the bottom.  So adequate penetration accomplished!  Also "seam sealed" the joints for added weather proofing.

Most of the interior is now back in.  Just have to rebuild the doors so the windows go up and down and I can put the door panels back on.  All that's left after that is the headliner, which isn't happening til I take car of the roof rot.
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
2015 Dart GT - Daily Driver

Offline brads70

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Re: The 1971 Challenger AutoX / Track Day car
« Reply #53 on: June 20, 2010 - 01:05:51 PM »
Go man Go!  Looking great! Hope to see you and the car at Carlisle!
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0