My 70 Challenger makes progress

[Tonefiend]

Wow very cool to see it run for the first time.  Awesome looking car!

[peterro]

Thanks. Re-sealed all the exhaust manifold hardware last night. Giving it a day to sit before I add coolant and test.

[peterro]

The water leaks seem to be fixed and the cooling system now seems to sit in the normal range. One of the electric fans isn't working right, I think it's a bad ground.

Fixed the ground issue on the rear marker lights, installed the plastic inner fender guards, cleaned up and installed the wiper arms, installed the washer tubes and the radiator overflow, and the hood-to-core support seal. Was just a bunch of odds and ends getting tied up.

Still need to install an electric choke wire, vacuum source to the ac/heater control switch, and fix the radiator fan. I'll work on the dash wiring gremlins later. Will probably get to the exhaust shop and have an alignment sometime after next week. Then some road testing/tuning.

Pretty cool, my list of things to do is getting short. Maybe I'll have some good weather to enjoy.

[peterro]

Fixed the ground on the radiator fan relay today and connected the vacuum source for the AC/Heater controls. Also found that I'll have to fix the drive line. The yoke is leaking. I didn't think they were supposed to. It's coming from the yoke itself as the seal is new and dry. I'll probably get another yoke so when I pull the line out I can replace it with something quickly before it makes a big mess.

[cudamadd]

Man that is real nice so sweet 

[peterro]

Thanks, glad you joined our community.

[peterro]

Installed the choke wire, got the drivers side fender-top turn signal marker working (bad ground), and installed the last couple trim pieces on the front seat.

I arranged for a trailer for next week to have the exhaust system installed and the front end alignment done. After that, aside from tuning, I need to diagnose/fix the instrument cluster lighting, rear defogger, and heater fan issues. Then have the head liner installed. I also need to put the dodge letters on the hood. My list is very short now and I'm in the final stretch.

Looking forward to the road testing/tuning. Then I can validate the transmission (the one I built which was my first) shifts as it should.

[GranCuda1970]

Tackling those issues 1 at a time I hear yah!!
  I have headlights to troubleshoot, a small vac leak off the carb, need to replace the turn signal flasher element ( got the hazard one in place to allow the signals to work ) alignment to get done and a molding trim to troubleshoot so far. I have not driven her yet. At least all of the guages and radio work AM only!

[cv70chall]

That looks excellent! I bet you're stoked. I looked at a 70 in Plum Crazy originally but it was waaay above my price point. I think that color with the white stripes looks excellent!

[peterro]

1 thing at a time. I think I'll test my fuel gauge. It probably works but I'd rather know before it's full of fuel.

Thanks. Mine was originally b5 blue with blue interior. It was my daily driver for a number of years and I figured since I was taking it all apart I'd go for the color I really like. I don't know that I'd do that again. A lot of parts to replace and you have to eliminate all traces of the previous color.

[peterro]

Exhaust is on and it sounds good. Now I'm at the alignment shop. Just got checked in.

After doing more on/off trailer moving, I think I might have the wrong master cyl. It's a manual brake car with disks but the brakes feel like power without power.

[cv70chall]

You're not getting enough vacuum/ compression. I thought I was going to run into the same problem, but I used 318 Heads with 360 valves on the motor and I'm at about 10:1, so it seems to work fine.

[peterro]

I think that would make sense if I had power brakes. Mine are manual. I believe I need a big-bore cylinder.

Got the alignment done and took a couple tuning test drives WOO HOO! That was cool. My transmission (the first I've ever built) worked great. It handled tight and smooth and no bad noises. It was a good day.

Now to get the carb/timing tuned correctly and take care of the brake issues.

[brads70]

I think that would make sense if I had power brakes. Mine are manual. I believe I need a big-bore cylinder.

FYI.... I have DrDiff (Cass) 1 1/32 bore M/C on my standard brake set up and while I always have " brakes"  I don't like the feel, and not sure how they would be in a panic stop situation? So with that I'm planning a hydroboost set up this winter and with that Cass suggested
 ( and I have sitting ready to go ) a 1 1/8" M/C . Just thought I'd share what I experienced? 

[GranCuda1970]

Congrats on the runs!! I was surprised at how powerful these cars are! It is like all they want to do is go really fast!!