Life-Long Mopar Fan, Working on a friend's 73 Challenger

[srh76]

Hey all,

So admittedly I've been lurking around here for a few months, but figured it was a good time to poke my nose in. 
I've been into Mopars since forever (Dad worked for Chrysler from 68-94), and I've had numerous Mopars over the years (66 Satellite, 77 Trailduster, 76 Cordoba, etc etc...) 
My current daily driver is an 04 SRT4...what I like to call a "practical car". ;)

Anyway, currently I'm helping a friend spruce up a 73 Challenger he picked up back in June 11 (see below).  It's a base model original 318/auto, previously bored/stroked to 340 (339 ;), and resto-modded with a few Rallye options and minor changes.  Otherwise it's all original, rust-free in awesome shape overall. 
 
It was kind of a mess under the hood though, so I spent the last two months tearing everything out and repainting/repairing the whole engine bay.  I had swapped in some of the OEM parts earlier in the year, but everything got a full refresh in the last few weeks.  As you can see in the before/after photo, it's definitely a night and day difference. 
Got some other stuff to freshen up here and there, but at this point it's coming along great, and should be ready for cruising around come April, which is good since I know my friend is anxious to get out with it and enjoy it.  ;) 

So, just wanted to toss out a quick intro and such!  This place has definitely been a great source of info for me, so it seems only fitting that I give a little something back. 

Oh!  And if anyone has any leads on a nice fiberglass header panel for a 72-74 Chally, lemme know!  I yanked the one we had to have it repainted, and was assured by a media blaster guy that he could strip it properly.  Yeah...I think you can guess how that went, so we really need to find a new one (yeah, it's that bad).  Something in NorCal would be awesome, but we'll arrange shipping if need be.

Thanks!
Scott

[Bullitt-]

Nice Challey, I like the blackout treatment. I've envisioned something like that myself.
Welcome to the forum.   

[Topcat]

Welcome Scott. Nice car you have.

Where in Norcal are you?

[srh76]

Welcome Scott. Nice car you have.

Where in Norcal are you?

Thanks!
Up in the East Bay, WC/PH area. 
If you're down in Fremont, you may have even seen this car at the Mopar show at Ohlone, since we picked it up off a guy who had it for sale there. 

[srh76]

Nice Challey, I like the blackout treatment. I've envisioned something like that myself.
Welcome to the forum.   :wave:

Yeah, that was the aim with repainting the header panel, to freshen up the blackout, since the paint was chipped in a few spots.  That's unfortuntely gotten a bit...complicated, but it'll get sorted soon enough. ;)

Thanks!

[kototh]

Hey, nice Challenger...
That reminds me of my car!
Wait... That IS my car! 

What a major difference since June! Woo!

[srh76]

Hey, nice Challenger...
That reminds me of my car!
Wait... That IS my car!  :)

What a major difference since June! Woo!

Was wondering when you'd get on here too.   ;)

[hooD]

Welcome to the forum.  Great color combo!  I haven't seen more than 2 or 3 like yours.

[srh76]

Welcome to the forum.  Great color combo!  I haven't seen more than 2 or 3 like yours.

Oh hey, I've got some pics of your car I saved, specifically because of the similar color combo.  That cuda looks great like that!

Admittedly, metallic gold wasn't tops on my list, but it's not really MY car so that's fine...my friend digs it.  Plus, I've actually grown to appreciate the fact it ends up standing out because it's not a typical color you see on e-bodies, so I think I'm warming to it.  ;)

[Topcat]

Thanks!
Up in the East Bay, WC/PH area. 
If you're down in Fremont

where I live and work.

[GranCuda1970]

Really is a nice looking car 

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site, to both of you! Nice car.   

[brads70]

Welcome! Nice ride! 

[Super Blue 72]

Hi guys, welcoome! 

Car looks real nice!  Great job under the hood!  Went from the 80's back to 1973! 

I like the gold!  Not many Challengers in that color, the black looks great with the gold!

Although your car was a 318 car, it looks like it came with a few interesting options.  Fender mount turn signals, body side moulding. 

Any other interesting options? 

[srh76]

Hi guys, welcoome!  :wave:

Car looks real nice!  Great job under the hood!  Went from the 80's back to 1973!  :thumbsup:

I like the gold!  Not many Challengers in that color, the black looks great with the gold!

Although your car was a 318 car, it looks like it came with a few interesting options.  Fender mount turn signals, body side moulding. 

Any other interesting options?  :clueless:

Hey! 
Yeah, the under-hood area made me cringe, to be honest.  I'm a big fan of factory appearance under the hood, so all that low-grade aftermarket junk had to go.  Plus it just looks so much better now. 
And that doesn't even cover what I had to replace.  Fried engine harness, reinstall factory ignition, distributor, washer and overflow bottle...stuff like that.  Plus I rebuilt the wiper motor myself, replaced the charcoal in the canister, blah blah blah...  I think I should write a post in the restoration board at some point, going over all the crap I did to that thing since June. ;)

ANYWAY, as for options, it does have a good bit for a base model. 
The rallye hood was added on at some point, though (they gave us the original hood with it though).  Someone also swapped the white vinyl top for black, and the white door panels for black ones (yet replaced the headliner and seat covers with the correct white...who knows).  Here's the plate decode:

JH23:
Dodge Challenger
High
2 Door Hardtop

G3B:  1-2BBL 8 CYL
1973
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA

E44:    318 cid 2 barrel V8 230hp
D34:    Light Duty Automatic Transmission
JY6:    Gold Haze PPG 2509
A6XW:    Trim - Basic, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black/White
000:    Full Door Panels
524:    Build Date: May 24

V1W:    Full Vinyl Top, White
U:    USA Specifications
B41:    Front Disc Brakes w/Standard 10in RR Drum
C16:    Console w/Woodgrain Panel

C56:    Bucket Seats
G37:    OS Dual Racing Mirrors
H51:    Air Conditioning with Heater
J52:    Inside Hood Release
L25:    Trunk Lamp
L31:    Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals

M21:    Roof drip rail moldings
M25:    Wide sill moldings 
N95:    Emissions Control
R11:    Radio Solid State AM (2 Watts)
V5X:    Body Side Stripes, Black

26:    26in Radiator
EN2:    End of Sales Codes