74 Challenger Project

[Final Challenge]

I gave a lot of thought about the firewall/cowl/ inner fender work you are doing on my own project.

Looks like everything fits well.

You must have a small fortune into this project, but she will be solid when you are done.

[pywell]

I gave a lot of thought about the firewall/cowl/ inner fender work you are doing on my own project.

Looks like everything fits well.

You must have a small fortune into this project, but she will be solid when you are done.

Small fortune.. ya I think we are sitting pretty at about 13,000$USD (not including purchase of car). I expect about another 6 - 7k to go, plus the motor is looking to sit around 10,000$ but we are trying to find something for 7500 (motor wise) not including the EFI conversion.

Fits well... yep, after I found a small sledge hammer I convinced it to work with me instead of against me lol.<<<<<  just an after thought I didnt beat the panel to a dented pulp, I have years of experience so dont take my words dead to heart and destroy your new parts (for those reading this and decide to give it a try too )

[Challenger III]

  Nice looking work! I find if you talk nice to it, things start fitting better.   

[usraptr]

Wow!  Just found this thread and read all three pages.  What an undertaking.  Your cousin should be really happy he has somebody like you to undertake this project and do it right.  It's amazing what can be covered up with a coat of paint.  I really admire your work and look forward to seeing more updates and pictures! 

[pywell]

Thanks for the props always appreciated.

I got the passenger side inner fender on and the apron to cowl bracket all welded up. Shock tower gusset is on there too. I test fitted up the fender and everything looks like it wants to line up nicely.

Pretty much at this point I have some pretty nasty work ahead of me. I need to remove the front floor boards and replace those I have to finish removing all the excess metal in the rear end of the car that was left over from cutting everything out with the plasma cutter. And then I still have 2 more frame rails to cut out and replace too.

talking nice too it

I find the same thing but cursing at it makes me feel better too.

Wow!  Just found this thread and read all three pages.  What an undertaking.  Your cousin should be really happy he has somebody like you to undertake this project and do it right.  It's amazing what can be covered up with a coat of paint.  I really admire your work and look forward to seeing more updates and pictures! 

Every 2 weeks I update what I can, the rear of the car is going to see some changes at the end of Feb. Which was the original completion target... ugh.

[pywell]

Well I didnt get as much as I would have liked done this time around, I only got the one days worth of work in. I cleaned up the welds and etch primed the bare metal around the firewall. Then I began the ugly work of removing the excess metal from the trunk area and inner tubs etc... I managed to get the inner wheel tub in and the 1 peice trunk floor all setup. The outer wheel tub is current fitted and the 1/4 to trunk floor drop is in and same with the driver panel. They are all fitted and held in place with tek screws. I have a lot of removal of the excess metal in the passenger wheel tub area so I have not welded this in. When I get back I will have the passenger side 100% fitted and I can begin the process of welding everything into place. I am very impressed with the fitment of the parts, they are not 100% but really anyone who takes the time to work it and make it right they fit great

Time for some pictures: 23 pics were uploaded today, click here to see them all.







This last pic shows how nice they actually sandwich together.

[pywell]

Got the call in this morning, it looks like the rad support made it in from roseville moparts. So this morning I am off to the post office to pick it up and then head over to air lquide to pickup the new Hypertherm Powermax 30 plasma cutter. This turn around I plan to finish fitting the rear end (passenger side tubs, floor drop, quarter panel and fuel tank supports) and then weld them all in and if that goes smoothly I will have the driver side rear frame rail welded in and the passenger side frame rail removed. Pics to come over the next couple of days.

[pywell]

The day started out with removing some excess metal around the passenger side rear wheel tubs getting that ready. Then I finished removing the driver side rear frame rail, got the new one setup and started to weld it, that was a real bugger since it wasnt 100% the same angles as the original and well the frame rail is not bendable or forgiving in anyway since it is strong steel. I then removed most of the passenger side frame rail and also the driver side front frame rail is now gone too. I also cut out 95% of the driver side front floor pan. The pictures should hopefully show everything.

[pywell]

Another day down. This time I got the driver side front frame rail in, inner fender, shock tower etc... etc... pretty much just focused on the front end today, over all it went really well.





Im gone again until the 24th or so, so my goal for then will be to have the front end 100% done and put together (the rad support never made it this weekend so I couldnt finish it all up) and the rear end all put together except for the quarter skins. The only thing remaining I hope after the end of march will be the quarter skins and the front floor boards. Mid April is going to be dents and dings and priming and getting the car on the rotisserie.

[70shaker6pk]

Looking good!! coming along nicely!

[Topcat]

Coming along nice. 

Be careful when grinding on the welds. A few times I ended up in the eye clinic. 
Somehow no matter how careful; its like your eyes are metal magnets.

[Street_Challenged73]

Very nice progress with the project thus far!!!

[ShelbyDogg]

Be careful when grinding on the welds. A few times I ended up in the eye clinic.  Somehow no matter how careful; its like your eyes are metal magnets.

Me too Mike,  Twice now I had to go to the eye doctor and have a metal splinter dug out of my eye.  I was wearing safety glasses both times too. The first time, I thought I just scratched it and waited a couple of days. It was in the lower half of my cornea and was starting to rust. That eye also became light sensitive where headlights and daylight started to hurt. Now I go as soon as I can get in to see him.

I'm glad most of my grinding is over with.

[pywell]

Me too Mike,  Twice now I had to go to the eye doctor and have a metal splinter dug out of my eye.  I was wearing safety glasses both times too. The first time, I thought I just scratched it and waited a couple of days. It was in the lower half of my cornea and was starting to rust. That eye also became light sensitive where headlights and daylight started to hurt. Now I go as soon as I can get in to see him.

I'm glad most of my grinding is over with.

At work when grinding we must wear safety glasses under our face sheilds. I haven't had a problem yet with anything in my eyes that way. It takes getting used to but I dont do it without anymore. Same with ear plugs.

[pywell]

Ok, today was a long day, lots of grinding, welding, cutting, measuring. The front end of the car is now 98% done, just the lower firewall to inner fender brackets that remain. The driver side inner fender is welded in now, the rad support is now all in too, frame rail etc... all done. I also cut out the passenger side floor and cleaned up a lot of the crossmember and seat supports. Now for the pictures. The rad support upper came pre-welded, which led to me having to drill out the welds since they were not anywhere close to where they were suppose to be, but its done! And it now fits right too. AMD needs to adjust there jig. The floor pans are just sitting in there so I can get an idea for ftiment and cutting etc... to splice them into place. Im honestly thinking that if I were to do it again, I would be using the 1 peice front pan, not these.