Author Topic: NorCal 73 Challenger  (Read 23682 times)

Offline Powerram

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #15 on: March 17, 2013 - 09:34:53 PM »
Looks like a good solid project.  :2thumbs:
Don't fry bacon without a shirt on!!




Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2013 - 02:25:25 AM »
Took a couple of weekends and finally ready to reassembly of the interior. Most parts already received but waiting for the new dash pad and the NOS rivets for the vin tag. Partially installed the new headliner the past weekend (pain) and hope to wrap it up this coming weekend. But before that, I will be heading over to Laguna Seca this Friday for the SRT Track Experience (package already paid for with my YJ purchase last year). I am a bit excited and may get lucky and get a ride on the new Viper.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #17 on: March 24, 2013 - 01:54:00 AM »
Side track. It was a great day with the SRT Experience and met some great Mopar fans. I enjoyed the road course and the face off competition the most. As for the track sessions, I found out that I am no race car driver as I only managed 85 mph at the straight whereas the instructors were doing over 100 mph during the hot laps. Also no Viper ride.  :stomp:

Back to work on the 73 tomorrow, hopefully finish the headliner.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline Aracer

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #18 on: April 01, 2013 - 02:49:03 AM »
Wed. eve. drags at Sonoma are up and running!

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #19 on: May 02, 2013 - 02:14:42 AM »
Slowly but steadily getting the work done. The headliner is in, not a very good job by any means but my very first attempt. I think I can live with it. One thing I learned is not to touch it again after you played with the heat gun.

I also spent sometime thinking about the floor insulation. Since it took some effort to clean up the factory tar sealant and the surface rust, I decided not to use the expensive Dynamat stuff which will be difficult to remove in case I need to do it again. I also don't want to just lay carpet or the jute insulation over the metal which will hold moisture. So finally I decided to go with some double sided aluminum foil bubble wrap picked up from home improvement store. It can be cut easily and form to the floor contour and then join with aluminum tape. It is very light and the noise blocking property is likely nonexistent. However, the air gap should be a decent heat barrier. One big problem is that it makes the funny sound when you step on it. My solution was to use some industrial grade acoustic aluminum foil back tape (similar to Dynamat except not as heavy) to place on top of the high traffic area follow by a layer of jute insulation then carpet. It seems to work good by putting my weight on it but not road tested yet. I think this layer should aslo provide some heat radiation reflective property and will let any moisture dry out quickly when the car floor pan goes through each heat/cool cycle every time you drive it.

New three point seat belts and carpet are also done. I plan to finish the back seat this weekend as well. Once I recieve the dashpad, I can then button it up and put the new seats in. Need to order some LED bulbs too since the dash is apart now. New wheels and tires are on order and she will have new shoes in two weeks. Hopefully get her back on the road before end of May. I plan to start on the mechanical stuff after summer.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #20 on: May 23, 2013 - 01:59:10 AM »
Front and rear seats are in. The fronts are Procar seats and it is more comfortable than the tired original seats. It reclines too. New 17 inch YO Rallye with Hankook tires also installed. Front is 245-45-17 and rear is 275-40-17. Rear tires have about 3/4 inch to the spring clear and about 1/2" clear between tire and inside wheel well lip. Everything looks clear but car has not been driven yet. Front seems to ride high and will need to lower about an inch.

Called Roseville today and was told that UR had problem with their cooler. The dash pad is still about two weeks out and kind of definite that it will not be ready for the show next week. At this point, I am thinking to just button up the instrument panel back, drive to the Mopar Alley show and enter the "under construction" class :-[
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline FY1Cuda

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #21 on: May 23, 2013 - 11:49:10 AM »
You're doing a really nice job on the car.  I do hope to see it in the project category at Ohlone.  For your headliner, it just looks like it needs to be pulled a little tighter to the sides.  Usually, the casings (that the bows slide through) need to be slit on the back so the fabric doesn't bunch up over the doors. 

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #22 on: May 23, 2013 - 03:27:23 PM »
Thanks FY1Cuda. I think the headliner is going to be the way it is since holes had been cut and heat gun applied. I will give it a second try a few years down the road. May be sooner if I get a lot of negative comments  :rofl: May be I should pay the pros to do it next time. See you at Fremont. Most likely I will take my YJ. There are two YJ's in my club. The one with roadrashes on the passenger side wheels is mine.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline Topcat

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #23 on: May 23, 2013 - 11:21:17 PM »
See you at Ohlone. It'll be a great show.

FY1cuda is really good on helping me on my headliner.   :2thumbs:
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline Jimmy

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #24 on: May 30, 2013 - 04:55:57 PM »
What backspacing are you using on those awesome looking wheels?
1973 Challenger w/440
1967 Camaro RS w/502
1967 Mustang w/302
1965 Ford F100 w/429

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #25 on: May 30, 2013 - 06:05:49 PM »
YO Rallye comes in two sizes only. 17x8 is 4.25" BS and 17x9 is 5" BS.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline johns cuda shop

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #26 on: May 30, 2013 - 10:08:06 PM »
Luv The seats, I bet they are 10 times better than the originals. Nice build :ylsuper:
71 Cuda Gen III Aluminum 426 Hemi T56 6 speed 4.10 8.75 Modified & Lowered RMS coilover suspension Wilwood discs

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #27 on: May 30, 2013 - 11:22:55 PM »
Luv The seats, I bet they are 10 times better than the originals. Nice build :ylsuper:

Thanks. I would not qualify my project as a build, more like a minor refresh of the interior. The other projects presented on this site are work of arts.

The seat padding is made out of mostly some type of memory foam, minimum steel springs. It is firm and supportive. However, the vinyl and stitching cannot compare to the quality of the stock seat. Also the seat adapter has three slots and seat will be too high if the bottom slots are used. The middle slots seems to work for me. In order to use that, the bottom slots by the doors need to be cut. The seat adapter is powder coated including the mounting studs. The coating at the studs must be removed otherwise the nuts won't go. will see how long the seats will last.
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #28 on: June 05, 2013 - 09:37:15 PM »
 :jumping:I am extremely delighted when I got home today and found my UR dashpad has finally arrived. It took almost a long two and half months. Dave stay with it all the way and got UR to ship it to me direct when it was finally ready. I know what I will be doing this weekend. Hope the wife keep the kid company and free me up.

First impression is "fresh". It is not an exact duplicate of the stock piece from a look and feel stand point. The stock grain is more definitive and pronounced whereas the UR is more smooth. Overall is a very good piece. From what I read from other threads, I fully expected to do some trimming and fitting. I will post again once I get into it. I have a 3 speaker AC dash but the side speakers openings of the UR dash are not cut so I am somewhat nervous about that. For sure I will pick up some brand new Xacto blades.

Since it has been awhile after I took the dash apart, I forgot how the light bar wiring is supposed to be routed. Need help if the wiring route per the picture below is correct. I took a few pictures of the pads and put them in photobucket. Hope the link works.

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/7212Mopar/slideshow/UR%20Dashpad


 
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd

Offline 7212Mopar

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Re: NorCal 73 Challenger
« Reply #29 on: June 16, 2013 - 03:10:09 AM »
My 73's interior make over was completed this morning after having her in the garage for almost six months. There are few loose ends, map light does not work even with new bulb and I added a few scratches to my instrument face plate, so some follow-up work needed. I took her out in the afternoon for a drive around the neighborhood and then got her up on the freeway for a short cruise (burst). Got a few thumbs up and two separate inquries if the car is for sale. The engine runs smooth but the problem of stalling when brake hard still persist. I checked all the vacuum lines and carb bolts for leaks already, so looks like more reading and investiagation to come. Car also spit coolant after I shut her down in the garage. Looks like I will be flushing the system and change out the thermostat tomorrow plus order an overflow tank.

I also upgraded most of the light bulbs with LED replacement. I see this excercise is a try and learn thing as some of the bulbs won't fit. The electronic flashers I ordered with the LED also don't work, hazzard ok but not turn signal. I ended up resintalling my orginal hazzard flasher and picked up a heavy duty electro mechanical flasher from Autozone for the turn signal. So everything works nicely now and brighter. The tail lamp bulb used is a 32 LEDs 360 degree bulb and not the panel array type since I prefer not to modify the stock housing. I think the light dispersion is good and looks stock except brighter.

Here a few pcitures taken today
1973 Challenger Rallye, AT with 1971 340
2012 Challenger SRT8 392 YJ,  6 spd