73 Challenger, Calif. to NZ

[brads70]

Hi slsc98, thanks for the kind words. Everyone here on C-C has been so helpfull to me on this project, you only have to ask and the feedback arrives.
 Today was a great day , car passed with flying colors  . Got her new plates and first drive here we go. Stopped at first gas station, 5 gallons, and we are on our way. So nervous, but so excited. She ran great, about a 6 mile trip home. Went for 2nd small ride after dinner.
 Tomorrow bigger trip to see engine builder, about 40 mile, and let him have a drive.

    :burnout:great news!!!!   ENJOY IT!!!

[burdar]

   Great job!

[tony 73]

Thanks Brad and Darren.  Appreciate all the help.

[Jamiez]

Hi Jamiez,
 Upper chrome in poor condition. Plan to buy a new one, in the mean time I will use some body fill to get it smooth and then paint it black. Have seen couple done this way and it will be a good temporary fix. Took the headlight buckets out so they could adjust the beam levels.
 Feeling confident about retest.
 Still lots of small things to do to finish, but be nice to drive her the rest to summer.

My lower piece of trim had a pretty big dent in it (and some smaller ones) that I body worked out.  I then used C O D Y's  videos (http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=81891.0) on refinishing to bring it back to a mirror finish.  Just something to consider if you're waiting on a replacement.  Of course yours may be too far gone even for that.  Great work though!

[tony 73]

Thanks Jamiez,
 I will take another look at both my trim and CODY's video.
Is a perfect sunny day here so will finish getting the number plates on and take a drive into town to visit some of the people who contributed to the car.
Here in NZ you have to have plates on rear and front. My front valance has no mounting points so making something that attaches to the brace the horns attach to.

[Jamiez]

My lower trim looked like:

After hammering, filing, sanding, and then finally polishing:
 

[AARuFAST]

Vinly top.  Kept it original way to go.  Black on yellow

AWESOME

[tony 73]

Time flies when you are having fun. Hard to believe I have had the car on the road for 1 month. Been too long since my last update too.
Took car over to see my engine builder on the 22nd Jan, drove great apart from trans taking too long to drop into top. Builder took us for a spin , and being an ex-drag racer he was not afraid of speed. He said we had some adjusting to do to the kick down before he would give it the full currie. Don't know what he reved it to , but it sounded fantastic.
 Couple of days later I took it out to a friends (he has a 70 chall.) and we got the kick down working perfect. Some adjustment of the linkages sorted the slow into top issue as well.
 Had a drama on the friday 1st feb. The power steering brackets are not e-body ones, means the belt runs very close to the bottom rad. hose. To give me some more gap I put a SS sleeve in. Not a good idea. Sleeve was too smooth and extra hose i added started to work free. Caught it in time . Scrapped the sleeve. Got the belt REALLY tight and twisted the hose. Got 1/4" gap. Keeping close eye on it.
 Went to  watch local drag meet on the 2nd (60 mile round trip) and had a great day. So much fun to drive. Got some great feedback on how the car looked.
Took it off the road between 7-14 feb. Had car show 15-17 feb I wanted to finish her for. Door cars needed to be fitted, bolts to be painted, plus lots of small jobs. Pulled gauges out to be fixed. Local guy matched up my new voltage regulater, senders and gauges. Got car 98% finished.
 Was a big car cruise on the 15th and 2 day park and display on the weekend. Had great time and got lots of great comments.
 Have got some clear protective tape and hope to try fitting it today.
 Having trouble with camera card.  Photos soon.
 Before I could fit door cards I had to make the small steel box that attaches to the card and the door.
 

[tony 73]

pic

[dutch]

bet you`re proud as heck     yellow pops in the crowd, no matter where you live   

[tony 73]

Been too long since last post.
Challenger is going great. Have done about 1000 miles in the 10 months since finishing build. Have yet to take her for a ride longer than 80 mls. Had to replace a axle bearing and re-tighten some bolts . Trans pan gasket needs replacing and have still not brought the rear bumper in close to body.
 No tickets for 'Loss Of Traction', and there has been some. Am planning to have a run in 2 weeks at the next local drag meet. Nothing too fast just have some fun and not break anything.

Have not spent much time on the forum as I picked up another project car. Thought it might happen a couple of years from now , but a 1970 Roadrunner 383 4 speed came up locally and I had to have it. Plan to do as I did with Challenger, full strip, blast, panel (needs some AMD panels), fill and paint. Motor is a goer and will just clean, paint and put in. Have found a really great panel guy and he has done all repairs except the AMD panel replacements. Hope to get new trunk floor in before xmas. Rest of panels will arrive from USA at xmas and put on in new year.
 Have included some photos.
 Am using the knowledge gained on this great forum on my new project.
 Tony

[moparman82]

Nice!  Another cool car to have!  Love the chally too!  But let's get serious, are all those 4wd tots back there yours too?  I'd love to have a couple old 'rovers and 'cruisers, and those old suzukis are awesome!

[HP_Cuda]

I know Brad will be jealous but even moreso if it was a GTX.

You really go all out when picking up these projects, can't wait  to see more!

[MizzouRT]

Challenger looks great, so excited to see what you do with the RR.  What color are you planning to paint it?

[tony 73]

Hi moparman82, I wish that was my garage. It was the guy I brought the car off. Some great toys in there.

Hi HP_Cuda, was a bit crazy of me to start a new project so soon, but I do enjoy it.

Hi MizzouRT.  I like stock looking cars , so there won't be alot of flashy gear. Car was Ivy green with dark green interior, and green vinyl top.  I like vinyl tops so keep that but maybe in black. Interior will depend on body color, either green or black. Body color either Ivy green or an orange/red. Be an original RR factory shade. I like the plain black rims for its feet.

Will post some photos of the challenger going down the strip at end of November. Will make the odd post of the Roadrunner without going overboard as this is an E Body forum.

Thanks for the feedback

Tony