71 R/T

[thelittles]

I have been too busy for the last few years to work on my R/T.  I completed several other projects but my true love is this R/T and I am finally hitting it hard again.  I have new body parts and frame repairs going on now.  Check out my progress.

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/5090988

[mcgheejt]

Incredible amount of work to be done.  The talent of so many members here is truly impressive.  Looking forward to seeing your progress. 

[hezzel]

Good luck with your resto  ,looks like a lot of work. What color was your car / Are your car?

/Hezzel , also restoring a 71 R/T

[femtnmax]

FYI..make sure the curve of the rear quarters at the trunk opening matches the curve of the trunk lid.  The shop that did mine fit one side correctly, and did not do well on the other side, the quarter is low.  They supposedly checked the fit prior to paint, but its obvious they did poor work.

[thelittles]

It will be allot of work.  But I have to look at it like a lot of small jobs.  That is the way you stay focused and not get over whelmed.  Most of my friends say they don't have the patients to do a project like this. I actually feel like I am over the hill now that I am finally putting things back together.  I have more pics to post on my sight today.  I have treated and painted inside the rear frame rails so I can weld the trunk floor in place.  The color was origally Black w/ white r/t stripes.  I never saw it this way because someone before I got it repainted the stripes red.  I will go back 100% originally.  Down to the hounds tooth seats and rally wheels.  I spent a great deal of time fitting panels.  I had so much apart that everything in the back had to be fitted at the same time.  Thank you for the heads up on the quarters.  I have made sure that the trunk lid fit.  I know exactly what you are talking about with the quarters being to low.  Now that you mention it I will look close to that before I weld them in.  Thx and I will keep you posted on my progress.  I hope to have the frame ready to paint by January.

[dutch]

holy crap      that`s some serious sheetmetalwork...      good luck with the project.  Good thing you`ve got such a sweet shop to work in 

[MOPAR FANATIC]

  MAN,you must have some awesome body work skills.
this is one project i could never handle on my own.looks like your on way putting that 71 back together better than new from the factory.keep up the awesome work. 

Dave...............Mopar fan...............na.......tic

[thelittles]

You brought up a good point.  Better than the factory.  Very little on this car was treated and primed properly.  Under the quarter and inside the frame rails is one example.  I found bare metal under mine.  What were they thinking?  This is why the northern cars only lasted 8 to 10 years.  A friend of my Dad's worked in factory on the challengers for a very short time.  He said he was disgusted with how many corners we cut.  This was the greatest design ever built.  And they could have spent a little more time.

[Bluemonster71RT]

That is some serious work done and to do. I will enjoy watching this. I wonder if anyone could afford to have someone else do their cars to this extent? Or if any shop would.
You just have to just love a car to go that far. Which is what makes it worth it. Keep up the good work.

[Jamie]

W O W !  That is serious stuff going on.Makes my project not feel so big.You must have some serious patience,My a.d.d. would not be able to handle what is going on. Stride on master of the welder! looks awesome and keep hitting us with updates so I feel more inclined to creep out to my garage.

[thelittles]

Let me tell you what inspired me her a few months ago.  I was working on a 70 convertible frame that I was having a hard time finding parts.  I need quarters for a convertible or more importantly the top edge that is formed spacificaly for the convertible and mine was removed by the previous owner.  Anyway the project stalled out about a year ago and no work was being done on any of my cars.  A friend at work told me the only way to get anywhere on a project is to do a small amount everyday even if you just come out to your shop and organize your thoughts for the next step.  At that point I decided to take his advise and turn my attention back to my rt project.  I almost forgot I had baught a ton of body and frame parts a few years ago.  Here is a link to my other projects. 

70 Challenger Vert  ----------- http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/15592583
71 Challenger Vert  ----------- http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/5091012
67 Camaro RS/SS 350--------- http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/6357837

[dutch]

   great craftmanship      is that what you do for a living?

[thelittles]

Right now building cars is a great hobby.  I work on boeing 757's and 767's during the day.  I am a sheetmetal lead mechanic for a major airline. Hopefully one day real soon I will be working full time on classic cars. 

[dutch]

    that figures...       you will be an asset to the branch 

[thelittles]

This weekend I finished welding the roof on.



to see all my pics go to:

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/5090988