Looking at project Challenger - 1970 "R/T" wannabe

[hemiken]

It will all come down to what you want at the end of the day, and how much you want to do, someone will save this car, and you have direction and every Mopar deserves to be saved by someone

[TheBigKowalski]

Heh, as long as I don't find that the frame is about to come apart, the rest can be dealt with.

As stated, for the body panels, I will use filler if it will suffice.  Otherwise, I'll attempt sheet metal replacement.  If that fails, I suppose I'll pay someone.

I need to finally put my 6' x 3' x 2' powder coating oven to use.  I have a 60gal compressor, MIG welder, parts washer, two sandblasters, a tubing bender (a real one, for our chump car roll cage fab), a very nice DeVilbiss gun, about every tool Harbor Freight makes (say what you will, stuff works) garage is heated, insulated and floor isn't cracked to hell, and a 'bangin' sound system with a turntable, to get me in the right headspace, haha.  It's actually a very nice place to be.  30' x 27' worth of man-caveness.

[dutch]

It`s Always hard to tell from the pics, but the amount of rust you see is probably not even half of what`s there.  My first feeling was dive boat or bondo resto.
 IMO way too shiny paint for all the rust, strange location of holes in the door, black engine bay ,frame rot.... I don`t know man... Check it with a magnet and a screwdriver... twice.  As for the 9k,  I would say it`s overpriced. 

[ChallengerHK]

I agree with Dutch. There's a lot of rust hiding, and the fact that the paint looks so new leads me to believe that someone has started work, decided it was too much effort, and then dressed it up to sell it.

[TheBigKowalski]

All good points.  I should also mention that I will save a good bit of money if I buy within the week.  I filed an insurance claim for the Viper I totaled (wasn't my fault) and if I buy another car within 30 days of the claim my insurance will pay tax title license.  Also, the car drives, won't need to be towed/shipped and is local.  Bunch of savings there.

Comes with rear quarter skins, I know those aren't that expensive, and a trunk floor.  The guy's 68 Charger is absolutely choice.  So, this guy either really knows the Challenger and is trying to dupe me, or he knows that it's really worth close to what he's asking.

Crappy way to look at it...but I can always bondo it back up and dress it up for sale in the worst case scenario, and get a good amount back...but I'm not that type of guy.  Will check frame before I buy.  The spray-bombed engine bay doesn't surprise me...I did that with the car I painted because I didn't want to pull the engine to paint it properly.

Found a 1977 440+4 Magnum with 727 trans, complete from carb to pan with exhaust included, new starter and PS pump for $750.  I'll get that either way probably - whether I put it in this Challenger or another project.

[anlauto]

Well at least both inner approns have been changed once already, so there's a chance that it's not all rusty around the hinges etc...The nice interior brings up the value from what I first was thinking...$9K is not all that bad.

[TheBigKowalski]

Well at least both inner approns have been changed once already, so there's a chance that it's not all rusty around the hinges etc...The nice interior brings up the value from what I first was thinking...$9K is not all that bad.

Inner aprons?  Not familiar with the lingo...

Yeah, interior is quite nice.  Thinking about this thing (not married to this car, any Challenger really) in white with those Cragars, vinyl top gone, rallye hood with 440 Magnum callouts on it...gets me pretty excited.

Been having major separation issues with my Viper...I need another Mopar to get me back in the game.

[hemiken]

Heh, as long as I don't find that the frame is about to come apart, the rest can be dealt with.

As stated, for the body panels, I will use filler if it will suffice.  Otherwise, I'll attempt sheet metal replacement.  If that fails, I suppose I'll pay someone.

I need to finally put my 6' x 3' x 2' powder coating oven to use.  I have a 60gal compressor, MIG welder, parts washer, two sandblasters, a tubing bender (a real one, for our chump car roll cage fab), a very nice DeVilbiss gun, about every tool Harbor Freight makes (say what you will, stuff works) garage is heated, insulated and floor isn't cracked to hell, and a 'bangin' sound system with a turntable, to get me in the right headspace, haha.  It's actually a very nice place to be.  30' x 27' worth of man-caveness.

Well if you do not buy the car you could always starta rock band as you seem to have your very own rock studio

[hemiken]

Been having major separation issues with my Viper...I need another Mopar to get me back in the game.

Did you buy back the wreck by any chance ?

[TheBigKowalski]

They let me buy the wreck back for $850 !  The engine, trans, wheels, hood, Brembos, $4200 hard top... all that stuff survived.  Selling the wreck for 10k.  How about that!

I had toyed with putting the V10 in a Challenger.

[hemiken]

That was good of them to do that

[TheBigKowalski]

Yeah, the adjuster told me the value of the car...I laughed out loud, almost maniacally.  The wreck left me in a lot better financial shape than before the Viper.  Plus I just sold my 3000GT for 10k.  I've got a lot of "play money" to build this or any car my way.  The complete nature of this car is attractive to me, as is the condition of the interior.  I do expect surprises...don't get me wrong...but I think I'll do alright.

If anything, I'll just wait til I put my dad in a home and take his 08 Viper.   

[TheBigKowalski]

Engine/trans I'm looking at...will this work for me?  I am sure I'll need motor mounts...  Sorry, I don't know V8's.

"1977 dodge 440 big block (4006630-440-i) block numbers id numbers 7t440-e
w/ dynomax headers, aluminum edelbrock intake, edelbrock carb ,b@m converter
runs good just pulled out of vehicle 2 days ago b@m 727 automatic trans shifts great"

I believe it came out of a truck.  Whatever, it's a complete 440 and trans, not like I'm going for numbers-matching.

[Super Blue 72]

Never know what you'll find in a truck.  Locally there was a late 70's early 80's Dodge pick up and it had a done up 440 Six Pack engine in it. 

[anlauto]

Inner approns = inner fenders ..