Dave Cs '71 Hardtop • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Dave C** » 09 Dec 2001 19:11

I've been watching this site for a while and finally decided to post a pic of my own '71 hardtop. Actually the photos I have taken flatter it unjustly. It has a few dings and a little rust in the usual places in the lower sheet metal and around some of the bracing spot welds in the inner and outer fenders but otherwise is a clean 35000 mile original nicely optioned with a 318 and factory A/C. The only modifications so far have been replacement of the 14 x 4.5 wheels and deluxe wheel covers with chrome 14 x 7 road wheels and removal of the body side mouldings. Striping was used to cover up spots where moulding clip pins and holes used to be in order to preserve the original F-7 paint as much as possible. Future mods will include adding every factory option I can find and maybe down the road switching to a 340 and F-3 medium green or J-4 Lime green paint. (Never liked the dark green much.)

P.S. Nice to hear the UK point of view for a change.

by **Christer** » 14 Dec 2001 16:37

Nice car! I like both the colour and the wheels. It is exiting to see something that differs from the rest a little bit. Do you know if the wheels are available in 15x7?
I do not know much of the factory A/C. Does it require a lot of maintenance to work properly?
Is there any problems with leakage?

by **Jack T** » 14 Dec 2001 23:36

The original Magnums were available only in 14 inch diameter, but they proved to be so popular that they are now being made in both 15x7 and 15x8. Year One carries them at $159 each or $600 for a set of four.

by **Christer** » 15 Dec 2001 20:10

Thanks!

by **Dave C** » 29 Dec 2001 16:57

Chrysler A/C systems were about as reliable as other systems being manufactured in the U.S. at that time. It is common to lose about a pound or so of refrigerant a year through the compressor front seal. I have been told it is very difficult to keep the older compressors completely leak free. Other than that I have had little trouble with mine which is good because R12 in this area goes for close to $90.00 a pound these days and is only going up due to it no longer being manufactured! I have been told that these systems can be converted to the newer R134A but that it doesn't work nearly as well so I will continue to keep it original as long as I can afford to. One thing to note is that many Chrysler vehicles from the '60s through the early '80s including E-bodys had the A/C evaperator in the same box as the heater core which can be removed from the car only as a complete unit. So heater service may require vacuuming and recharging of the A/C. Regarding the wheels, I think I have found out why the big factory wheels were usually reserved for the big engined cars. Mine has 225x70R14 tires which occasionally touch the front frame rails in extreme turns such as parking maneuvers. I can only guess tires for the 15 x 7 wheels would have this problem in a worse way. Also the inner rims ride so close to the upper A arms that the balancing weights sometimes make contact. I had to file a little material off the outer tips of the A arms to prevent this. I would be interested to know if anyone else has had any trouble with wheel and tire clearance on these cars.

by **Christer** » 29 Dec 2001 18:31

Thanks for your accurate answer.

Regarding wheel clearence: It has been discussed here earlier, that both the inner and outer fenders (front fenders) differs a little bit, between the models. Isn´t that correct, Dave?

I am trying to imagine why you got problem with A-arm interference and my first suggestion is that the bump stop might be worn or broken. Has anybody got a better idea?

by **Dave C** » 30 Dec 2001 16:23

The hazards of using aftermarket non factory spec parts I'm guessing. I asked a tech guy at Year One about possible clearance and bolt pattern problems before I bought the wheels but he said he had no such info.

by **dave-r** » 30 Dec 2001 16:55

Sounds to me like they simply have the wrong back-spacing.

by **Duane** » 17 Jan 2002 18:23

Dave-C

Very nice car - I think that I now know what color to paint my 72, if F-7 was available in 72.

I will have to check Dave's 72 section on the site.

by **Dave C** » 19 Jan 2002 20:13

Thanks! I'm forever changing my mind on this color. I polished it up the other day and the finish has real depth and these slight yellow undertones that shimmer in the sunlight so I'm back to liking it again. It certainly would be easier to not change it. I wouldn't have to recolor the trunk, undercarriage and engine compartment.

by **Dave C (Davec)** » 04 Jul 2002 19:34

Just a message from Sheriff Joe for all you Challenger lovers out there.

(My wife almost talked me into scraping this "corny" original dealer decal off before I found out what it was.)

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 05 Jul 2002 7:39

I think that is so cool that it has survived. I am very glad you didn't scrape it off. Thanks for posting that Dave. It made my day to see it.

by **Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng** » 05 Jul 2002 15:55

Is this the true meaning of a "Deputy" model?

by **John Macleod (Johnm)** » 06 Jul 2002 1:47

LOVE THAT DECAL- BOY WOULD i LOVE TO GET MY HANDS ON ONE!!!!!!!1

saved this one to file!!!!!

by **Dave C (Davec)** » 24 Nov 2002 20:14

.........just in case anyone forgot what one of these looked like (or was interested). Obviously more detailing required but she's gettin' there. Many people think that big contraption in the front is an A/C compressor but those who are experts know it's really a little Harley V-twin for when I need a little extra boost. (Which is very seldom.)

by **Dave_R (Roppa440)** » 24 Nov 2002 20:51

Funny because I was looking at the photos of your car just the other day. Those little "V-twin" things on the front of the engine sure weigh a lot. I had to wind the suspension down on my 440 when I took mine off. Still, when they work it must be nice to feel cool driving around in the car as well as look cool!

by **Jeff Maxwell (Redchalleng** » 25 Nov 2002 1:31

I miss mine! When they pulled the 318 and put in the 340 with the Shaker, that V-twin and all the junk with it ended up in a box. A heavy box I might add. I haven't gotten around to putting in one of those little dudes that will fit in under the Shaker. It wasn't that hot this past summer. I just didn't drive it if it got above 88. 318's are not that bad at all. Durable and dependable. Just not really designed for racing!

by **LITEMUP (Von)** » 25 Nov 2002 17:28

above 88? mine wouldn't move between april and october!

by **Dave_R (Roppa440)** » 25 Nov 2002 19:14

Getting up to 88 would be a mirical where I live!

It is usually between 50 and 65 between spring and autumn with a few weeks around mid to high 70s. We are lucky to get more than one weekend over 85 or 90 degrees. I personally don't stop wearing t-shirts until it drops below 50. Hard lot us northern chaps you know.