My new 74 Challenger

[highspeeddirt]

Well, after some time of suffering e-bodyless, I have finally eased the suffering!  Its a 74 318 Challenger. Ralleye dash. Original lucerne blue.  Currently has a 360/727 with an 8 3/4 open 489 case rear.  I know its not a 70 or 71, or a 340 car, ect. ect.  But it's an ebody! New quarters, floors, trunk pan, and extensions. Door Jams, trunk, engine compartment, ect. already trimmed in B5 blue. Minimal left for me to complete the car.  And the cherry on top.... Got a smokin deal on it!  I'll be slowly getting it all finished up, but my ultimate plan, is to get it all ready for Carlisle next year.  I had a blast meeting everyone there a few years ago, but hated not having a car with me.  Well, not the next time!...Lol  Anyway, here are some pics.  I'll be turning to ya'll for help as I go along, and posting progress as well!

[brads70]

Wow look very solid! Did you find it that way...or have you "been busy" ? Looks great! 

[Jamiez]

Nice lots of fun stuff you can do with that car

[highspeeddirt]

Wow look very solid! Did you find it that way...or have you "been busy" ? Looks great! 

I found it that way! That was my whole reason for getting it. I have a hard time getting motivated with sheetmetal replacement. The hard parts done with this one! Im just anxious to get busy with the rest!

[Topcat]

Good to see you back here again. Nice project!

[Chlngrcrzy]

Nice Car! No need to worry about what year it is, it is in fact a Challenger!  Looking forward to watching your progress. 

[highspeeddirt]

Nice Car! No need to worry about what year it is, it is in fact a Challenger! .........

Yeah, I don't worry about the year myself. Right off the bat when I got the car home, I had a couple of those "oh, it's a 74 not a 70" and "oh, it's not numbers matching" as they showed that look of a child that lost interest in his new toy.  If I'm happy with it, that's what counts. 

[Oddity360]

Yeah, I don't worry about the year myself. Right off the bat when I got the car home, I had a couple of those "oh, it's a 74 not a 70" and "oh, it's not numbers matching" as they showed that look of a child that lost interest in his new toy.  If I'm happy with it, that's what counts. 

Awesome challenger!!! The fact that you now own one of the sexiest cars on the planet makes all those statement's instantly invalid! And as I always say, Dodge chose the Aggressive 72 and up grill for a reason

[jimynick]

"Yeah, I don't worry about the year myself. Right off the bat when I got the car home, I had a couple of those "oh, it's a 74 not a 70" and "oh, it's not numbers matching" as they showed that look of a child that lost interest in his new toy.  If I'm happy with it, that's what counts."
   I've got a '74, too. The nay-sayers can kiss our respective heinies. Enjoy! 

[Gumby]

To quote Frank Zappa in his song "Bobby Brown"  My car is fast, my teeth are shiny, I tell all the girls they can kiss my hiney... lol. (WARNING) this song is not for everyone, it's cool and has a good beat, (not like his regular stuff) but quickly degrades into signature Zappa! lol. Look it up at your own risk!

[highspeeddirt]

Ok ya'll, I'm in need of some knowledge.  I'm not up on differentials much.  I am swapping a sure grip third member into the challenger from another car.  Both 8 3/4 of course.  The open one out of the challenger is a 489, and the sure grip going into it is a 741. I've already put the open one back into the "donor" car.  But in the process of getting ready to put the sure grip chunk in, I noticed there are no axle lash buttons.  I don't know much about these.  I just read a little about them today.  Anyway, thats how it came out of the other car.  My question is should I get some and put them in before putting it in the car? If so, How do you put them in?  If it was like that in the other car, should I just try it as it is first?  Or will I not be able to adjust out my end play?

[Sleepychallenger]

Nice ride. I'm excited to see her done. My first chally was that same blue and had blue interior. Good luck with her

[highspeeddirt]

Well, I should have posted my sure grip question in the drivetrain section. I'm going to pull the chunk back out of the donor car and see if the buttons are laying on the bottom. If not I'll go to the right section...

Btw.... Thanks for all the compliments. I'm anxious to get it finished, but it's going to take a little time. My job keeps me pretty tied up.

UPDATE: I pulled the chunk back out of the donor car and low and behold, the buttons were laying on the bottom.  No roll pin to be found for holding them together, but I greased them up so they would stay in.  Everything went into place like it was suppose to.  And adjusted out fine.  So from 2.76 open to 3.55 sure grip.  Can't wait to test it out! 

[highspeeddirt]

Ok, I'm gonna let my stupid show a little bit....... Could someone let me know what these parts are? 

[Jamiez]

I've heard that blue piece in the middle called a bunch of things...from a lower air dam to an extension shield...which is what the service manual calls it:



I believe it was argent from the factory.  The corners tend to break as you can see in mine:


I fixed mine with some pastil resin type glue.