73 Challenger, Calif. to NZ

[tony 73]

Body all painted. What a big weekend. Hire a trailer, narrow driveways but made it to booth on time saturday morning. Gave painter hand masking and he sprayed that arvo. . Dropped light housings off on sunday morning and black was laid on. Back at 4.30 to pick car up. Then the garage opening seemed smaller as we rolled her in. Painter was very happy with my prep work and he laided down a great paint job. Finish valances and haeder unit next week and buff once had time to harden.

[tony 73]

Home Sweet Home.

[usraptr]

Looks great.  Seems like this is the week to have our cars painted.   

[Tonefiend]

 

[Travis72]

Looking great!  Nice thread!

Travis
72 Cuda

[tony 73]

Thanks for the feedback fellars. Puts a smile on my face everytime I open the garage door. Now onto the jigsaw puzzel that is reassembly. Have done the rear brakes, handbrake and swaybar. Got 2 tyres put on the 15" ralley rims and put them on rear of car. Now that looks good. Hope to get front suspension and brakes in this week.

[dutch]

that looks sweet there Tony! I`ve been following yer progress over on the nz board, and I know you took the long way.  great work mate 

[tony 73]

thanks Dutch. Been putting a few bits on, got the front suspension in today. I have everything clean and painted ready to go in. Got mr header unit repaired, looks nice and strong. Trial fits went well so hope it will not crack when I fit it painted. I didn't paint silver in the lights housings and now think they are too dark. Making progress and having fun. Love those ralley rims.

[GranCuda1970]

Nice work!!     

[HP_Cuda]

It's always a feel good moment when you see things coming along.

I just restored my hood latch and spring last nite and reinstalled them. Unfortunately it took removing the entire grille but hey now I can focus on fixing it! 

Looking good!

[tony 73]

thanks guys. Back into it after holiday and stuff Time to strip the 383 and take it to the engine builder. He is a true mopar man. Drag raced a Savoy with a hemi for a long time.  Friend gave me a hand to strip the motor. Found plenty of sludge in oil pan along with a fine spring and 2 small bolts. Otherwise all good. Cleaned everthing with kerosene and tapped the threads. Loaded all the new and old bits into wagon and dropped off last week.
 Header unit 95% done. Just getting repairer to make 2 locating lugs then off to painter.
 Vinyl roof arrived from Legendary Interior on Sat. and getting it installed on Thur. Put some pics up of where I think the vinyl top sits on couple off edges, ie drip rail,  front windshield pillar and lower rear window . Used some black paper in pics. Also a pic of 3 clips and 1 plug. Not sure where 1 , 2 , and  3 go ? Pic of white clip which I think were used to secure trim around vinyl under rear window ?

[tony 73]

Vinyl placement and clips ?

[burdar]

The holes you have marked "plug" take a bolt-on trim clip.  The rest use the plastic retainer you have pictured.  The new plastic clips are very flexable and don't hold the trim tight to the vynal top.  I'd drill holes next to the raised "pins" and use more of the bolt-on style clips.    The car is looking really good!

[brads70]

Looks great! 

[tony 73]

Been a bit slow on updates.
 Got vinyl top glued down on Thur. Paid an experienced pro to do the job. WOW, money well spent. The 2 pages of instructions that came with the top will only get you started. There is alot no written down. Looks fantastic. Pro work hard and fast for 2 hrs. F38 ados glue in a pressure pot, heat gun running , and sissors for al sorts of jobs.
 Got the heater in. Put couple of bits in engine bay, including wiper motor. Used some heat shrink tube to replace the fabric sleeves on the wiring.
 Painted the hood lining metal trim. 1 coat of etch blk and 3 coats of satin blk.
 Got header unit back with 2 new lugs. Got last coat of primer on it. Sand smooth , then off to painter.
 Engine builder has ha block and heads in hot tank for few days. Pulled heads out and they look great. Real virgin ones. Ordered some Isky springs, retainers, and valve seals. Pushrods later. Are going to go with roller rockers as Lunati cam has .494 lift. Got some 440 source ones off a friend. Was a thread about someone who had issues with these. Builder said he will put small dab of tig on end of pin , and it will be fine.
 Sump pan is not the standard e-body one but have measured it and it will fit. Needs some panelwork on sharp dent.