My 71 Challenger RT Project

[Bluemonster71RT]

Harland Sharp was great. I told them one of my rockers was not tapped and they sent one no questions. Now that thats all set I have been going through my boxes and shelvs of parts looking for anything motor related. I like puzzles be geeze. Pics of the mess coming shortly. 

[Bluemonster71RT]

11 years later and Finally the engine is back in its home!

[usraptr]

Looking good.  I'm jealous.  I had hoped to get my engine in this fall but with the major back surgery I just had, looks like next fall now.
Can't say I a fan of those orange valve covers. If they were OEM that would be great.  But being aftermarket, I'd prefer them in their original cast/unpainted look.  Just saying.   

[Bluemonster71RT]

Looking good.  I'm jealous.  I had hoped to get my engine in this fall but with the major back surgery I just had, looks like next fall now.
Can't say I a fan of those orange valve covers. If they were OEM that would be great.  But being aftermarket, I'd prefer them in their original cast/unpainted look.  Just saying.   

I thought that too. Then I put them on and they just didn't look as nice as I thought they would. The second thought was that I would be cleaning them all the time because of the casting. So they got the paint job. I love it and that's what matters. If I didn't have my Dad helping me it might have been next fall for me too. I still have so much to do before even trying to run it. One step at a time I'll get er done. It's been 11 years. What's one more?

[Bluemonster71RT]

Engine is out again . I couldn't get the behemoth of a starter in through the headers and couldn't move the headers enough. At the same time I found that I didn't have the correct bolts to mount it to the Lakewood bell. Also noticed that I don't have the reducer ring that allows a good mating between the trans and bell. I called Lakewood to see if I could get a hardware kit and was told "no dice" He gave me a part number for the starter mounting kit though but they won't send me the reducer rings unless I measure the bearing retainer and he'll see if they have something. If not I'll have to make one.   

I know some of you have had similar bad stories as mine. Its just the worst case scenario when you are trying to put something back together that you didn't take apart and don't have all your parts and bolts and don't find out until something doesn't go together correctly. 

[Bluemonster71RT]

Side scoops, window and glass trims, carpet and rear seats, tail lamps and rear finish panel are on.

[dutch]

looks great    and the engine back in 
once it`s all done and you`re cruising into a hot summer night, all frustrations from the build will be long forgotten. All that remains is pride and the sweet sound of a big V8 

[Bluemonster71RT]

Thanks Dutch. I hope that comes soon. Right now I am trying to figure out brake line routing and e-brake issues. I have a bracket that I would look at and wonder what it was and I happened upon it in a pic and it its the rear brake hose bracket. I think I mounted it correctly but am not 100%, I have it on the 3 hole block just above the exhaust hanger bracket. I sits at about 7o'clock. That doesn't seem correct though.

 I also have the rear brake line "T" , Not sure where that goes. I thought it went under the vent plug on the rear but the hole is to small.

 To top it off a few years ago I bought a e-brake cable kit. It's about 8in short of hooking on the hook from the trans let alone the pass side hook bar and the cables to the calipers are way to long yet still don't allow the length to reach the hooks. I'll be browsing the web for pics and things to try and sort this stuff out.

If any one can help me out I appreciate it   

[Bluemonster71RT]

I put the shifter rods in. Hint!!! Put a drill bit or something similar through the holes on the under side of the shifter that line up the shifter levers. Also make sure that all the levers on the trans point the correct way.

Besides learning that fact after much trial and error.  The rod kit I bought is sloppy. As in I ended stacking 2 3/8" washers before putting the cotter pins in. It still feels sloppy. Would getting the factory style retaining clips make that better or will just having the engine running make it feel smoother? 

I also received my brake and fuel lines from Fine Lines so I'll be out there messing that up too. I'll have pics to follow and I'm sure more questions.   

[anlauto]

The factory style retaining clips hold pressure on the rod.

[Bluemonster71RT]

Ok, thanks Anlauto the factory clips did the trick. It shifts just fine now. My other issue of the e-brake cables not having enough length because of the disc brake conversion has kinda been solved. I had to take the cables out of the frame mounted brackets to get the extra length for everything to hook up. So I am thinking I might cut a section of the protective shield out to give me the length I need and still use the brackets. I don't want to remove them and weld them more forward. The other option would be to just bolt them to the frame rail the way they are.

That's one thing that they should add to the directions for rear disc conversion kits is that the e-brake cables may have to be modified.   

Fuel lines and brake lines are in but still need final connecting under the hood. I finished undercoating the spots under the trunk pan that had primer on it still and did the rear wheel wells also. I had to order the plates that bolt inside the trunk that hold the exhaust hangers. Then I'll see if I can sneak my old fully welded exhaust in without having to drop the rear down. And fingers crossed that the exhaust will be correctly aligined for the new headers. I know they won't here's for hope

Way back when the car was in the shop, the guy told me that my gas tank had pin holes in it. Well, I sanded all the minor rust spots down and found no evidence of holes so I recoated the sanded spots and will get some new rubber hoses and get the tank in place. 

I awful at taking pictures. But I guess if you want to see some just say something and I'll put some in. Maybe they might help someone. 

[Topcat]

Your project is looking great Bluemonster. 

good name.

[Bluemonster71RT]

Thanks TC! This week I got the outer door handle rods and lock rods installed so I can once again open the doors without a screwdriver. I also followed most of the advice on here and repainted my door pads and center console with the SEM Landau black. The door pads were in bad shape as the plastic dried up and was easily scratchable.  The center console was so faded that I know that it was actually a blue colored console. (Not sure if they all were or I got leftover stock from the 1970 bin. It has the seat belt holders so I assume that's the case. Many other things on the car are leftover from '70. Anyway)  They look fantastic now. You can see some of the scratches still but looks great anyway.

[dfrazz]

Makes your panels look brand new!  Did or are you going to re-spray all of the interior panels and trim?

[Bluemonster71RT]

Makes your panels look brand new!  Did or are you going to re-spray all of the interior panels and trim?

I think I have to now. I did buy enough paint and cleaner to do that incase they came out as good as they did.