1974 challenger project

[Northernchallenger]

Okay so I have ordered complete firewall, and drivers side floor pan, question is I have seen projects changing the firewall and some people have put bracing in and some people have not, just wondering what your guys opinion is on this, will post pictures later today with the progress so far.

[twalker]

If you don't brace you are very likely to run into problems with fitment - especially with the firewall repleacment


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[soundcontrol]

    Following, a firewall and floor change is in my future also.

[Northernchallenger]

Okay so I have ordered complete firewall, and drivers side floor pan, question is I have seen projects changing the firewall and some people have put bracing in and some people have not, just wondering what your guys opinion is on this, will post pictures later today with the progress so far.

So this is the progress so far, I guess next step is to pull the windshield then to bracing.

[twalker]

Great project.  You have a build thread going?


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[Northernchallenger]

Lol, I thought this was it, new to this forum stuff, if I'm in the wrong spot please point it out and I will move it there, thanks, will post more as I go along

[twalker]

Lol, I thought this was it, new to this forum stuff, if I'm in the wrong spot please point it out and I will move it there, thanks, will post more as I go along

Ok my fault - you're in the right forum area, I thought maybe this was a 'one off' post ... sorry

Looking forward to pictures and progress!


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[soundcontrol]

Did you remove the inner fenders, or did you get it that way. Wonder if you should have braced the shock towers and rad. support before cutting those out?

[Northernchallenger]

Removed them myself, did that part on a 73 chally and everything stayed true, I have a frame measurements from the factory so I will check to make sure though, thanks.

[soundcontrol]

Removed them myself, did that part on a 73 chally and everything stayed true, I have a frame measurements from the factory so I will check to make sure though, thanks.

Cool. Do you wanna share those measurements? My -73 has the inner fenders removed also (not by me) and I'm changing the firewall, parts of the floor and adding new inner fenders. Would be good to measure things before.

[Northernchallenger]

No problem I'll dig them out and give them to you.

[Northernchallenger]

No problem I'll dig them out and give them to you.

[soundcontrol]

Great! Thanks!!

[jimynick]

I did this on my 74 and I'd've measured the distance from various points on the firewall to the rad support first, but seeing as it's too late for that, I'd run some measurements in the interior as to where the panels meet and stand. I used 3/4" X 1/8th angle iron and ran to verticals from the inside of the w/s pillars to about a foot back from the hinge pillar and welded them to the inside of the rockers. Then I ran one right across in front of the dash to tie them together and then put in a short diagonal piece from the horizontal dash piece to the one vertical going to the rocker which triangulates it nicely and did a perfect job of holding it where it should be. We assembled the cowl to the firewall before fitting the assembly into the car and we changed the front whole floor panel before that. It took some screwing around and finally a 4X4 piece on a floor jack in the trans tunnel, to get the floor to mate up with the firewall. Buy or borrow lots of vicegrips and take your time. If it doesn't fit, find out where and why it doesn't fit and go from there. Once you've got the firewall in, you can temporarily fit the inner apron to the firewall and rad support. There are two brackets that go between the aprons and firewall that you will need and may have already hacked off. It's easy to do that and you can ask me how I know if you think it necessary. Cross measure the engine bay when you're fitting the aprons and rad support or you'll have a ***** of a time fitting your hood/fender gaps later as well. Measure 3 times and weld once is a good mantra to nurture. If you get really stuck, pm me and I can try to help further. Good luck. 

[Northernchallenger]

I did this on my 74 and I'd've measured the distance from various points on the firewall to the rad support first, but seeing as it's too late for that, I'd run some measurements in the interior as to where the panels meet and stand. I used 3/4" X 1/8th angle iron and ran to verticals from the inside of the w/s pillars to about a foot back from the hinge pillar and welded them to the inside of the rockers. Then I ran one right across in front of the dash to tie them together and then put in a short diagonal piece from the horizontal dash piece to the one vertical going to the rocker which triangulates it nicely and did a perfect job of holding it where it should be. We assembled the cowl to the firewall before fitting the assembly into the car and we changed the front whole floor panel before that. It took some screwing around and finally a 4X4 piece on a floor jack in the trans tunnel, to get the floor to mate up with the firewall. Buy or borrow lots of vicegrips and take your time. If it doesn't fit, find out where and why it doesn't fit and go from there. Once you've got the firewall in, you can temporarily fit the inner apron to the firewall and rad support. There are two brackets that go between the aprons and firewall that you will need and may have already hacked off. It's easy to do that and you can ask me how I know if you think it necessary. Cross measure the engine bay when you're fitting the aprons and rad support or you'll have a ***** of a time fitting your hood/fender gaps later as well. Measure 3 times and weld once is a good mantra to nurture. If you get really stuck, pm me and I can try to help further. Good luck. 

Thanks a lot jimynick really appreciate it, just purchased some one inch square tubing to brace everything in, maybe start tomorrow not sure yet, will definitely brace it like you said as it seemed to really work for you, thanks again.