My 71 Challenger RT Project

[Duff]

Looking sweet!!!!  I know it can be daunting at times, but the result is gonna be well worth it for you for sure.  I drive my 71 383 cuda 4 speed every day and sitting down in it and starting it up never ever gets old in the least bit.  Good luck with the rest of your build!

[Bluemonster71RT]

Thanks Duff! I know it's been a long time since she started and I am starting to taste it. 
So....... I have 3" exhaust. I have brand new (in the box for 13 years now) exhaust tips for the stock pipes? Anyone want to buy or trade for the 3" so I don't have to put two sets of reducers on? 

[Bluemonster71RT]

Showing that I haven't been slacking, I have these pics. MSD installed, Gauges installed(used cassette player mounting bracket) an old carb I had I rebuit(ethanol is awful).   

[Bluemonster71RT]

Rad, fan and shroud are in. Lower hose and oil filter are in. I added fluid to the rear. It's been so long since I drove this car. I almost can't believe that it may only be a matter of weeks before it fires up.

[YellowThumper]

Word of caution to be patient with all your details. Crank but don't start. Stop and check everywhere for fuel leaks.
Patience is a virtue now...

Mike.

[mrob]

Bluemonster,
Is that a std. cooling 22 in. radiator in one of the pics? With both the inlet and outlet on the left hand side? If so, make sure that the baffle that runs from the left hand side to the center of the radiator in the top tank is still there. If the radiator has ever been messed with, that baffle may have been removed. Without that baffle in place, you will have cooling issues at idle and low speeds. I fought this problem with my 71 Challenger R/T. Nothing worked until I found out about that baffle and had it installed by a radiator shop.

[Bluemonster71RT]

Bluemonster,
Is that a std. cooling 22 in. radiator in one of the pics? With both the inlet and outlet on the left hand side? If so, make sure that the baffle that runs from the left hand side to the center of the radiator in the top tank is still there. If the radiator has ever been messed with, that baffle may have been removed. Without that baffle in place, you will have cooling issues at idle and low speeds. I fought this problem with my 71 Challenger R/T. Nothing worked until I found out about that baffle and had it installed by a radiator shop.

It appears to be there. Looks and feels like a shelf just below the cap hole. I assume that it runs to the left. Being the son of the original owner I do know that only the core has been replaced once. I also just had it gone through at our local rad shop to make sure it will do its job correctly. Thanks for looking out!

[Bluemonster71RT]

Word of caution to be patient with all your details. Crank but don't start. Stop and check everywhere for fuel leaks.
Patience is a virtue now...

Mike.

Thats a hard virtue to have at this point but I will do my best

[Dr. Feelgood]

Stock RPM gauge doesn't work?

[Bluemonster71RT]

Stock RPM gauge doesn't work?

It does but it back when the car was driveable during some tuning and testing I noticed that it was off and got more off the higher the RPM's got. So I put a aftermarket one in. Someday I'll get it repaired but $$$ prevents it at this time. What little money I have left has to go towards getting it running.

[mrob]

Bluemonster,
The "shelf" that you describe seeing under the radiator cap opening sounds like the baffle that I referred to. Let me briefly explain why it's so important. When coolant enters the top tank of the radiator, it is deflected towards the center of the radiator core by the baffle. The baffle ends a bit to the right of the radiator cap opening (only visible if you were to remove the top tank of the radiator). Without the baffle in place, most of the coolant would enter the top tank and simply flow straight down the tubes nearest to the inlet, thereby bypassing a good part of the radiator core. The baffle forces the coolant to be distributed more evenly over the core.
So if you ever have that radiator worked on, don't let anyone tell you that you don't need that baffle. It's critical!!! Another thing - that's a hard to find radiator, so treat it with care.

[Bluemonster71RT]

Thanks for the info mrob. Very good info to have.  I suppose being hard to find is why the guy at the rad shop said he could easily find a buyer for it if I needed/wanted to get a new aluminum rad if this one wasn't sufficient for the new engine setup. 

[Bluemonster71RT]

Progress up date is--- All interior pieces are in except the kick panels and console door. I sat in it in "ready to go" trim for the first time in 12 years. I felt good to do so.  All fluids are in except gas. I will hook up the battery and do an electrical test and make sure there is no smoke. If I can manage to weld the section of exhaust from the headers to the H pipe then I should be able to attempt starting it soon!

[dutch]

great progress    she looks really good 

[Bluemonster71RT]

Ok! Exhaust is welded up(pics shortly). Though I think it will leak at the collectors, it will be good enough to at least fire up. Other than welding some small pieces of sheet together this was my first welding adventure. I think it came out decent. So I know what I should of done to have made a better fit at the collectors but live and learn.  I believe I am ready to fire it up. . Oil system is primed, I checked over everything I can think of. The only starting issue is if I have the MSD box correctly wired and actually get spark. Other than that, I chased a coolant leak around for a few days and thats all set now. So all I need is some time. Works goes by so slow now. An hour feels like a week. Fingers crossed that 6/10/15 will be the resurrection.