Author Topic: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive  (Read 2416 times)

Offline 71340RT

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 3502
Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« on: June 15, 2012 - 12:56:48 PM »
I took my 73 Challenger for it's 1st ride yesterday. I got about 10 blocks and had to go back home as the brakes were dragging. I took the master cylinder loose and adjusted the rod and the brakes are fine now but I went to far and the pedal had to much travel so I had to adjust the rod again. The only other issue I seem to have is the transmission shifts late at about 25 mph going from 1st to 2nd and 50 mph going into drive. I had the 727 rebuilt with a shift kit and a rebuilt torque converter. I adjusted the kick down linkage per the manual but now I'm changing it to see if it will shift earlier. The shift kit was a TransGo and I'm not sure if something else maybe going on. Here are some pictures from yesterday.


70 Plymouth Cuda 340 4-speed
71 Dodge Challenger RT 340 automatic
1973 Dodge Challenger 360 automatic EFI
2002 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
2003 Dodge Stratus RT coupe
2009 Challenger RT Classic B5 Blue
2014 Ram Express 5.7 Hemi 4X4




Offline challengermaniac

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 891
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2012 - 04:48:17 PM »
Stunningly beautiful.  Great job.  Love the b5 blue and white (black too).  The 71 center caps were a good choice.
Charlie
70 Challenger 340/4 Purple
70 Challenger T/A Red
Edmonds, WA

Offline joelson6

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 577
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2012 - 04:51:34 PM »
looks great. congrats  :cheers:

Offline 74challenger03

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 820
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2012 - 09:00:15 PM »
Nice car , still trying to get my 1st real drive. Good luck with your tranny.
What does it profit a man to gain the whole would and lose his soul.

Offline vinb

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2163
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2012 - 10:11:08 PM »
Car looks really good... :2thumbs:

Have fun with it...

Offline Gus cuda

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 482
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #5 on: June 15, 2012 - 10:36:17 PM »
Beautiful car! Keep workin at it and the gremlins will run away.

Offline bentpshrods

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 698
  • Almost there, Boise Id.
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #6 on: June 15, 2012 - 11:54:01 PM »
   That is very nice.  Don't be     :picture:  shy.   Post some more pics after you get her out and about some more.    :thumbsup:

Offline MizzouRT

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 540
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2012 - 12:55:52 AM »
White stripes always look good on B5!  Looking forward to more pix...
Daily Driver: 2013 Challenger SRT 6 speed
Toy: 1970 Challenger

Offline hooD

  • detroit iron
  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2820
  • Motor City Made Muscle
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2012 - 03:40:02 AM »
I took my 73 Challenger for it's 1st ride yesterday. I got about 10 blocks and had to go back home as the brakes were dragging. I took the master cylinder loose and adjusted the rod and the brakes are fine now but I went to far and the pedal had to much travel so I had to adjust the rod again.

Your car looks great, I like the blue & white combo.

Got a question for you.
 I replaced my master cylinder and booster recently.  And now the pedal seems to be too stiff.  It takes more effort to get the brakes to stop, almost as if you did not have power assisted brakes.  I'm thinking that I may need to adjust the rod.  The directions that came with the booster said to shorten the rod if it's too stiff and too lengthen it if the pedal has too much travel.

Did you shorten the rod when you realized that your brakes were dragging?  And how do you know what amount to shorten it by....2 or 3 turns or maybe more???
I know that my rear drivers drum gets hot.  the 3 other wheels are fine.  I pulled the rear drum and loosened the adjuster only to have it heat up again.
That's why I think my brakes are at the verge of dragging, especially with the stiff pedal.
-Larry
member since AUG 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvrWiLgDm7Y

southeastern michigan usa
             
 
            
1973 'CUDA 340
 
original owner
37,117 miles
  
:grinyes: *click my E-Body* :grinyes:

Offline 71340RT

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 3502
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2012 - 10:25:16 AM »
Your car looks great, I like the blue & white combo.

Got a question for you.
 I replaced my master cylinder and booster recently.  And now the pedal seems to be too stiff.  It takes more effort to get the brakes to stop, almost as if you did not have power assisted brakes.  I'm thinking that I may need to adjust the rod.  The directions that came with the booster said to shorten the rod if it's too stiff and too lengthen it if the pedal has too much travel.

Did you shorten the rod when you realized that your brakes were dragging?  And how do you know what amount to shorten it by....2 or 3 turns or maybe more???
I know that my rear drivers drum gets hot.  the 3 other wheels are fine.  I pulled the rear drum and loosened the adjuster only to have it heat up again.
That's why I think my brakes are at the verge of dragging, especially with the stiff pedal.
When you shorten the rod you get more pedal travel. You need to have some so the brake rod is not pushed down on the master cylinder piston. When you shorten the rod it takes the pressure off I would turn it a couple of turns and put it back together and see how it feels and if the pedal feels softer mine was very hard before I adjusted it.


70 Plymouth Cuda 340 4-speed
71 Dodge Challenger RT 340 automatic
1973 Dodge Challenger 360 automatic EFI
2002 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
2003 Dodge Stratus RT coupe
2009 Challenger RT Classic B5 Blue
2014 Ram Express 5.7 Hemi 4X4

Offline usraptr

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1814
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2012 - 07:43:28 PM »
Congrats on getting it on the road.  :2thumbs:  I'm very jealous and probably a few years away from my first drive.  Keep us posted on the Trans issues.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda.  Matching numbers 440 U Code, 4 speed pistol grip, Rallye dash, AM 8 Track, Shaker hood, 15 inch rallye wheels, Dana 60 4.10, Super Track Pak.  One of 134 - 440 "U" coupes codes built in 1970 and one of 100 - 440 Super Track Paks built in 1970.

Restoration pictures at:  http://spanks4thememory.smugmug.com/Cars/70-Cuda/7240639_M24oi#465274575_2MBqW
(Edited 8-1-17)

"usraptr" = United States raptor - bird of prey = United States Bald Eagle.  FYI, somebody else thought of it first so I had to drop the "O" in raptor.

Offline magicr

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 290
Re: Took B5 blue Challenger for 1st drive
« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2012 - 12:56:08 AM »
That has to be one of the ugliest Challengers I've seen...      ;)




Here's mine.






1973 Challenger Rallye
1971 Dart Swinger (sons)