73 Challenger Painted 12-31-11

[71340RT]

I have heard that a lot of guys will remove their k-member and bolt everything on there first.  Do you bolt on your exhaust manifolds before lowering it into the bay?

No I left the exhaust manifolds off to give me more room and will not put them on till I get some of the other parts on as I like all the extra room.

[71340RT]

I got some of my parts done for the challenger including the outside painted mirrors which are now blasted and primed. I also got the fender louvers blasted and primed and picked up a right angle filter adapter for the engine and got it painted engine color. I havebeen working on the dash and have the frame painted and the wiring harness installed and ready for the dash pad and gauge cluster install. Here is a picture of some of the progress. It has been a long winter.

[71340RT]

 I decided to work on the dash frame and gauges today. I had already painted the dash frame so I put the wiring harness in and installed the rallye gauge cluster and hooked it all up. I plan on putting the dash pad on and installing everything together as a assembly to save time.

[B5barracuda]

Any more progress with the car Jeff?

[Mentally Challenged]

Any more progress with the car Jeff?

Come on Jeff 

[71340RT]

I have not posted lately and have been making some progress but to many other things going on. I have put the doors on and the fenders and hood. Everything has been cut in and the hood, fenders, and doors are on to stay as I have all gaps done and the fenders edge next to the hood have been painted. I got the heater box in after a good clean up and a new heater core. The exhaust is on back to the rear end and the gas tank, 3rd member , drive shaft, and rear brakes are all put on. Here are a few pictures and if I get it running in the next week I still plan on painting it before fall.

[joelson6]

looking great ! 


are you putting the A/C back in ?

[71340RT]

looking great ! 


are you putting the A/C back in ?

  I think I will put updated compressor with 134A as they cool great and use less power.

[dutch]

looks sweet     I love the way the engine pops against the blue 

[71340RT]

I have been block sanding on the Challenger and it sure takes lots of sanding to make it smooth and straight. I have it almost done and will be getting painted in about 5-6 weeks. I wanted it painted sooner but the guy I'm having paint it has a superbee he has to finish first. I do have it all back together and it is trimmed in even the front windshield and back glass area. I did paint some of the items off the car such as the front and rear valance and header panel.

[71340RT]

I'm trying to get my Challenger painted in a couple of weeks and wanted to get the car moving on it's own. Today I primed the oil pump and checked to make sure I was on top dead center and this is the 2nd motor that I have dropped the distribitor in wrong. It started up pretty easy and the timming was only off about 5 degrees. I pulled it out of the garage put a fan in front of the radiator and let it run at fast speed for 20 minutes to break in the cam and lifters. It was ru nning about 60 psi of oil pressure and ran pretty cool for a 83 degree day here in southern IL. I need to check the brakes out as they don't work good at all. I have new calipers up front and new wheel cylinders in the rear but feels like I never got all the air out of the lines. I took  the thermoquad off my 71 Challenger RT as I knew it works great. I took it off after the 20 minute run and tried the thermoquad I have for this car and it starts fine but will not idle for some odd reason. I'll try and check it out this week as it was just rebuilt but something is plugger or a wrong setting. Here are a few pictures of it outside and I have a bottom radiator hose leaking at the water pump no matter what I do with the corbin clamp.

[Chlngrcrzy]

   It runs!  great job. Slap some paint on and soon you will be hitting the streets.

[71340RT]

My buddy just called and said we could load the car up around 6:00 and take it over to the shop and tape it off Friday evening and spray paint on it Saturday while it is 60 degress ouside and get it back home late Saturday or 1st thing Sunday 1-1-12. Hope it is all ready as I'm tired of sanding. I'll post some pictures Friday night after we get it all masked off so everyone can see some long awaited progress.

[Topcat]

My buddy just called and said we could load the car up around 6:00 and take it over to the shop and tape it off Friday evening and spray paint on it
Hope it is all ready as I'm tired of sanding.

Looking good!
B-2 It looks like?

Tired of sanding...I can relate.

[Topcat]

No it is B5 and I really like the color.

O.K. I see...B-5