"I'm new, I don't know what to do..." -Joe Dirt

[pdobias]

Hello Mopar world! 
I'm new to this car restoration thing but am looking forward to every bit of it.  I'm hoping those of you on this site can assist with the questions that I know I will have.  Based on reading some of the posts looks like y'all will have all the answers.
Husbands a deisel mechanic who runs Dodge p/u's.  So we're trying to keep it all in the family.
I received a 1970 Challenger as a wedding present and am on the road to restoring it.  At the moment it's a beautiful primer gray and doesn't run.  Big picture is complete resto.  At the moment need to get it running.  The hubs doesn't agree-thinks we should get the body and paint done first.  I see his point but I just want to drive it regardless of how it looks.  I could keep the cracked interior and plain jane gray exterior and be happy criusing.

[Oldschool]

Welcome aboard....   What all does it need in order to crank up and run??

[dmk67]

Welcome aboard, lots of good people and tons of information here . We look forward to your resto thread and plenty of pics.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Welcome, lots of knowlegeable people here thats for sure! 

[GranCuda1970]

Looks like a good project Welcome to C-C.com. 

[CudamanTom]

Welcome aboard.
Lots of great folks and knowledge here to get you going. I'm in the same boat.

I'm with you. get that baby running first, unless an overhaul is needed. Then pull the engine and get her overhauled. then you can work on the engine bay while the engine is getting worked on.
Also, might as well check on the running gear and front end assembly. Is that all road worthy? brakes and such need looked at too.

Either way, you will have fun doing it. But I'm like you, get that baby on the road. 

[FCC]

Welcome and good luck.  I'm in a similar situation and I also opted to get er running first.  I figured at least then, I can drive her out of the garage and clean er up.  Thinking if she runs good, then I'll save the complete engine rebuild for last.

[pdobias]

Thank you for the warm welcome. 
So far the to do list includes switching drum to disk brakes all the way around. 
Rewire- someone tried to fix the electrical issue but couldn't and just left it a tangled mess with a missing fuse panel.  Got a new harness now I need to figure out how to install it.  Eventually I'll need to know where to find the supplimental harness to convert to EFI (new hemi and tranny).  Any suggestions?
Not certain if the motor is free or not seized...have to work on my lingo.
Will be looking into what else is needed to get it running.  I'm counting on there being much more.
This car has been in my family since it was new so the sentimental feelings are what's driving me to get this car done right.

[dutch]

welcome to cc
Before anything, make up your mind on what you want to own in the end. If the body is in nice shape and you like the way it looks, get it running right and go from there. If you want/need to fix up the body and do it right, I wouldn`t put in a money/ effort before the body is done, or you will do it twice.
nice car 

[7212Mopar]

Why get it running if you plan to put a new HEMI in it? Car looks like in good shape.

[pdobias]

Why get it running if you plan to put a new HEMI in it? Car looks like in good shape.

I've never done anything like this before so i have no real reason why I'm going about this the way I am.  I think I'd like to get the original parts moving before swapping.  Or I might find out that I have to get a new/rebuild motor anyhow.  which then it would be the new hemi.  Might not be the best plan but its a start. 

[Haddixj]

Easiest way to get a car running.
First.  get a fresh battery and have a charger so you can charge it once it dies
Second. pull a spark plug wire put an old plug in it hold it by the exhaust manifold and crank it over
If it doesn't crank via the key jump the starter relay big wire to little wire with key on if you have spark move to step four
Three. No spark either means ignition problem depending on ability you can swap parts or chase down the problem. I am not sure but I think in 70 it's points and 71+ is electronic. You can google how to troubleshoot either system
Four. Now that you have spark you need fuel I wouldn't waste my time trying to use the tank and fuel pump on the car, you can buy a cheap $30 electrics fuel pump from napa and some hose and clamps and connect it right to the carb from a gas can.
Five turn on the pump check for leaks and turn the car over with a fire extinguisher handy. It should start if it won't pull the plugs make sure they look fine, if they do buy or borrow a compression guage and check compression this will give you a feeling for how tired the motor is

[Chryco Psycho]

Welcome
Cool that the car has been in the family all its life !!
 I agree that stripping it & getting the body done is where I would start , Make a list of all the missing parts & start working on getting everything gone through repaired & replaced . If the main harness is all hacked up you have a big task to get it running agin , new harnesses  are available for around $600 for the main harness & will plug in , you may also need engine & headlight harnesses . There are harnesses availble for the new hemi conversions & mount kits from Schumaker so you can use the existing K frame . There are a lot of threads here on Disc conversions & the good & bad points as well as frame stiffening & suspension upgrades if you are going that route as well .
 

[pdobias]

Thank you for all the pointers!  I'll keep y'all updated.

[Super Blue 72]

   Welcome, pdobias!

Looks like a great car to work on!  Never replaced a harnes in one of these cars but I did a ton of rewiring on on old Acura Legend when the fuse box caught fire and I had to practically rewire the whole car.  Just take you time with it and realize for every one connection you make it's that much closer to the finish point. 

I can understand you motivation to get it running and moving on it's own power, especially since it was inthe family since new.  How cool is that!

Hang out and feel free to ask lots of questions.  Lots of nice people here!