ShelbyDogg's 71 Challenger Pace Car (clone)

[71340RT]

Rob nice pictures and I'll have to come by sometime and check the Challenger out in person. Looks like you are moving right along on your Pace car.
Jeff

[Jacksboys]

Hey Rob,

I was thinking, since you want to get good mileage and still have a V8, have you considered using a 273?  I mean you could use flat-top pistons with the small chamber 318 heads so that your compression could be around 8.5-9:1.  Use the original 340 cam with 1.6 rockers and the 273 should have a decent amount of power.  This way you still have the rumble of a V8 exhaust, but should get even better mileage than a 318.  What do you think?

[CHUCKS71]

Today I cut the old frame out and installed my straight replacement. It is a little bit rusty but it's all I have right now. Here are some pics of it cut out. I have it bolted in with k-frame bolts, clamped, and it's ready to be welded in. It's kind of hard to see the framerail missing with all of the junk in the picture.

We knew you could do it! 

[Jacksboys]

The 318 in it is still good and numbers matching. I think I'll just do the rings and timing chain set, then paint it. The gas mileage will come from the throttle body fuel injection setup that I have ready to bolt on.  The smallest I would ever go is a 318.

Rob

Oh, I did not realize the engine was still in that good of shape.  Sounds like a plan to me.   

Is the throttle body setup that you have made by Holley or something else?

[ShelbyDogg]

Got back to work on the car today. I was working on and Imperial for a guy to get money to pay for sheetmetal for my car. $1400.00 was his bill. woohoo!    It's all being picked up at Carlisle by a friend from Megapart's spot.  Front and rear floors, outer wheel houses, trunk extensions and cowl-corner repair sections.

While I'm waiting to metal,  I cut off the cowl and finished welding the frame rail in.  The spare cowl, framerails, and firewall was GIVEN to me, last year, by DRAGFISH, a member here and friend of Tony Miller. Thanks Dragfish!

[ShelbyDogg]

Today, I worked on the left side hinge area.  It ws poorly repaired years ago by "who knows". 

After staring at it for a while, I dug right in and started welding in some metal to hold my corner in place, then started cutting.

The arm going up the windshield will be replaced too.  I marked the bad spots.
I'll probably have to replace the firewall before I put this side back on since I don't want to lose any more reference points by taking out my inner fenders. 

[ShelbyDogg]

Spent all day slicing and dicing the cowl off.  I need to stop cutting things because now only a brand new cowl and firewall will do. This would be the only chance I have to put a new one in. Is it worth the $1100 though?

 I mocked up my used firewall and cowl side to see how it fits.   I also included a pic of the support brace that every convertible has in it's rocker  for strength.

Do you know the windshield's side support on a vert is different than on a hardtop? It is more rounded then covered with the side stainless molding. Now I will have to slice mine up the middle and round it off a little or the molding wont fit.

I have my new floors. The piece of tunnel is just in there as a referance point fo mounting the firewall. After it gets welded in, that old hump comes out.

[Jacksboys]

That is some major work you are completing.  Keep it up and that convert will look brand new.   

[hemiken]

  You have pulled some serious panels out of your way............... and to think, you were just looking for were the water leaked in from under the dash

[sprecks]

I'll I have to say is WOW. I thought I did major surgery on my car. I was wrong. This is MAJOR surgery. Good luck. I'm sure it will be better than new when its done.

[71340RT]

Rob I may have to drive over and take a look at this Challenger vert as this is the only way to fully under stand what it takes to rebuild a car from the ground up that needs this much attention. Everything looks like it is coming along pretty fast and I wonder how you are handling working in the high heat and humidity?
Jeff

[The Cuda Guy]

Rob this thing is moving right along!  Do you think it will be done for Carlisle 09?  I know you mentioned you may or may not come next year.... but... I may or may not come to the NATs so...  But I will for sure make it to the Good Guys show that Tony's friends put on there in Ohio. 

Bottom Line if that thing is done next summer I got to see it!!! 

Don

[ShelbyDogg]

After working on the old replacement firewall, I decided only a new cowl and firewall will do.  I might as well go for it and stop wasting time patching my old one. How can I put in all new floors and not have a new firewall and cowl in my Pace Car!

Rob

[sprecks]

If you can't find anybody to get it closer to your place, I can get it back to central Illinois for you

[sprecks]

That's a good looking piece. Do they make the A/C version. I noticed the one you have pictured is the non-A/C.