anyone else have this problem installing new parts?

[brads70]

I love getting new parts for the Challenger but it's hard to know when to stop! Ya just want to make everything new! I  have replaced a few parts that were shot , then the rest looks like crap compared to the new parts?
It's not hard to get in over your head money wise! Maybe I should start buying lottery tickets?

[tommyg29]

Hi Brad,
we all hear ya. But what do you expect with a 38 year old car. By the time you have it just about where you think you wanted it, things start needing replacing/repairing all over again, depending on how much you use it..
I think I have my cuda down to mostly big ticket items that it needs...all basically $1,000 or more, like new 17" AR torque thrusts and tires, legendary leather interior, elastomeric bumpers, and maybe a new set of TTI 440 ceramic headers. A labor and time intensive project will be cleaning, priming and sealing the undercarriage.
I think I'll tackle one of these projects at a time and spread out the cost.

[72hemi]

I hear ya. I just dropped a new engine in mine over the weekend, and now I am looking at it going I need to replace those cheap ugly headers, rebuild the front end with poly bushings, tubular control arms, torsion bars, etc, and I discovered I need new rotors. Its all part of the fun with these cars. I will have to replace my rotors soon as they are toast, and I am hoping to rebuild the front end next year, but who knows.

And that's just the beginning. I need to send out my gauges and have them restored and recalibrated, my drivers seat needs repair, i need to do body work and repaint it and I need a new hood as my T/A hood is crap. Its a never ending story with these cars, but I would probably be bored if I had it any other way.

[dodj]

I hear ya. I finished restoring my car in '89. Since then I was happy with it driving it in the summer and did a few 'winter upgrades' (living in Ontario you know what I mean, winter is long). With all the knowledge and know how on this site, I now realize how much better my car can be! Now I just need to find ten grand.......

[brads70]

   I guess they are NEVER  finished!   Pssst, don't tell the wifes that!

[BadJoey]

My down fall was every time I fixed or replaced something the part next to it looked like crap . So I had to do what ever , and so on , and so on .

But I'd do it again . Every part that came was like Christmas .

[AARCUDADEN]

You are not alone its been around 16 years or so since i redone my Cuda and  the paint is starting to really show its age as i'm needing to do body and paint work sometime soon  But thats the fun part about owning these cars 

[brads70]

Every part that came was like Christmas .

I hear that!

[Moparinho]

it's exactly the same for me as well....   

I started to change the dash woodgrain and I finished to restore and replace ALL THE INTERIOR !!!

I started to change one front beam and I finished to restore all the front grille and bumper.....     It's a neverending story

 

[whitesatinmopar]

It all comes down to personal acceptance directed by personal budget. For instance my 70 Charger 500 is also an SE model which meant leather inserts in the upholstry, but at the time the difference in those vs. the all vinyl replacements meant I order now and finish the interrior or wait perhaps six months..............I don't have the leather inserts, but very few know what actually should be there anyway. Also the Charger was ordered radio delete, but some body decided to cut up the radio delete plate and install an after market unit. I can order and replace the delete plate, however then all the woodgrain on the dash and console will not match due to age/fading. So I left the radio (that dosen't work) intact, unless you see the build sheet you don't know it was a radio delete car to begin with. BTW, it was also ordered vinyl roof deleted and rear stripe deleted. But the guy did still get the rear window defoger and a few extra interrior lights with the SE package.  And I bought the good vinyl dye and shot the interrior door panels because at the time I didn't have the $500.00 to buy replacement panels. I did all this about 10 years ago, and I'm content with my Charger, and at my age it will stay that way until some wealthy and energetic Mopar nut rips the title from my cold dying hand. 

[AARCUDADEN]

Whitesatin i admire your attitude 

[whitesatinmopar]

Whitesatin i admire your attitude 

Thank you.  To me one's happines is directly linked to your contentment. Personally accepting "less" dosen't mean you can't also be happy. I truly admire the extraordinary restorations you see at shows like Carlisle, and if I could afford to do that I sure would...........to all our cars. You can only do what your financially able to handle, that's true in cars or your weekly budget at the grocery store. Just look at us,.............Pam tells me she is still in love with me and most content in our married life of 32+ years,.................now there is a "low" level of contentment.   

BTW, looking forward to seeing you again when you come up with Chris.   

[EDGEFIND]

Thank you.  To me one's happines is directly linked to your contentment. Personally accepting "less" dosen't mean you can't also be happy. I truly admire the extraordinary restorations you see at shows like Carlisle, and if I could afford to do that I sure would...........to all our cars. You can only do what your financially able to handle, that's true in cars or your weekly budget at the grocery store. Just look at us,.............Pam tells me she is still in love with me and most content in our married life of 32+ years,.................now there is a "low" level of contentment.   

BTW, looking forward to seeing you again when you come up with Chris.   

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

One thing does lead to the next. I'm really guilty of this myself. I have a very understanding wife. 

[nqkjw]

Whitesatin i admire your attitude 

Me too!!!

It all comes down to personal acceptance directed by personal budget.

This statement says it all IMO