Picked up 74 Challenger 5.7 Hemi

[71340RT]

I have been wanting to build a Challenger with a modern drive train but it looked like a very long project so I never even started one. This car came up for sale 50 miles from me so I thought I would go have a look and ended up buying this 74 Challenger. It has a 2005 5.7 Hemi with 5-45 RFE 5-speed overdrive auto with 391 sure grip from Randy's ring & pinion. This engine is out of a truck and has 40,000 miles on it now. Engine is stock with diablo tune and K&N cold air intake. The transmission is very large and the tunnel has been modified so it would fit along with the modified stock looking console shifter. Custom dash with Auto Meter Gauges keep track of everything. It has a stand alone computer system from Hotwireauto.com along with headers and engine mounts from street and performance. The fuel system is a factory tank modified with baffle and modern fuel pump from Rock Valley auto parts. Cooling system is a aluminum radiator with electric fan and painless adjustable thermostat control. Challenger has a rebuilt factory power steering gear box with a modified power steering pump with gm internals to lower pressure. Has vintage air 134 system going through factory dash vents. It was originally a power disc brake car but the brake booster and master cylinder had been changed over to manual brakes but I have already changed it back to power brakes. It is running mostly stock suspension with a larger front sway bars and EHD leaf springs in the rear. I have already ordered adjustable upper control arms to get more caster to make the Challenger a better cruiser for the road trips I will take it on. Hope the pictures are not to big. I will have to take a smaller picture if the engine to post.

[Bullitt-]

Nice Score

I've wondered about the GM power steering pump...Can you tell a significant difference?

[mofish]

Nice car! Obviously takes a chunk of change to build a car like this....do you mind telling us how much it's worth completed?

[71340RT]

Nice Score

I've wondered about the GM power steering pump...Can you tell a significant difference?

The mopar factory pump put out to much pressure for the old gear box and from what I understand the seals would blow out. GM uses lower pressure and they put the internals in the Chrysler pump. Feels just like the power steering in my other old challenger's and I can't tell any difference at all.

[Chryco Psycho]

I love it , to me it is done perfetly , nice color too !! The only thing I would change is the tires but they will not last long 

[YellowThumper]

Nice ! 

[71340RT]

I love it , to me it is done perfetly , nice color too !! The only thing I would change is the tires but they will not last long 

         Thanks Neil coming from you that means allot. What tires would you run and keep in mind I'm going to take it on long trips? The size on the Challenger now is 15X7 235 60 15 on the front and 15X8 275 60 15 rear.

[roadrunninMark]

Can you get a few pics of the gear shift lever, looks pretty good from far away (hard to tell not old factory).  Also, did the previous owner add any "numbers or digits" to the face plate? Or is it still stock showing (and do the detents line up correctly?)?

Thanks

[71340RT]

Can you get a few pics of the gear shift lever, looks pretty good from far away (hard to tell not old factory).  Also, did the previous owner add any "numbers or digits" to the face plate? Or is it still stock showing (and do the detents line up correctly?)?

Thanks

  I will get some pictures Sunday and post them. The shifter and plate look just like the factory slap stick shifter. You can't use it like a slap stick but it shifts out of park and into reverse and drive just fine and the numbers line up just right on the plate. The slap stick shifter linkage is modified with a cable hooked to it running to the transmission.

[71340RT]

Can you get a few pics of the gear shift lever, looks pretty good from far away (hard to tell not old factory).  Also, did the previous owner add any "numbers or digits" to the face plate? Or is it still stock showing (and do the detents line up correctly?)?

Thanks

 Here are a couple of pictures of the shifter and gauges in the Challenger.

[roadrunninMark]

Thanks for the pics!

[Chryco Psycho]

What I like about it is the combination of old & new , no radical front suspension/ air ride / rack & pinion / coil over etc why overthink everything just add beefier Hotchkiss parts for handling etc  , just a great swap with a modern Hemi in an older body with the electronics & some modern features incorperated ,  KISS
 Personally I would have used the 71 Gullwing seeing as both are technically incorrect 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

What I like about it is the combination of old & new , no radical front suspension/ air ride / rack & pinion / coil over etc why overthink everything just add beefier Hotchkiss parts for handling etc  , just a great swap with a modern Hemi in an older body with the electronics & some modern features incorperated ,  KISS
 Personally I would have used the 71 Gullwing seeing as both are technically incorrect 

I am following a similar plan on mine. 5.7L +EFI, T56 Magnum, torsion bar/leaf spring suspension with minor upgrades. 

[Cudaragtop]

Nice! 

[dfrazz]

Thats a beauty!  I've seen a bunch of pics with a modern Hemi but rarely any video.  Can you post a video if you get a chance?