The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hello people! Here's a picture of my 1973 Dodge Challenger taken by MoparKev at Rockingham Motor Speedway:-



I bought this vehicle in March of this year from a chap from South Shields (just south of Newcastle) after Dave "Dr Dodge" Robson placed an add in the Mopar message board for the seller, so I really owe it to him (and the seller!) that it now resides in my garage!

It's a 400 B block, with a 4 speed (pistol grip, naturally) and an 8-3/4 rear (open). So far it's had all steering joints (including Pitman arm) replaced, new brake pads and flexible lines, interior warning lights and switches fixed, petrol tank sender unit replaced, leccy rad fan, replaced the Carter Thermobog and heavy manifold with a Holley 750vs and a single plane intake, new alternator, belts, regulator. At the moment, I'm stripping and rebuilding the engine (I found a cam lobe almost rounded, and the follower very dished), with a .509 MP camshaft and followers, Hemi green-stripe valve springs, double roller chain, etc. This is all with engine in situ, as I'm biding my time before I go the 451 stroker kit and Hughes cam route.

Long live this (and the Mopar) message board!

Here is another one.



I was glad that the car ended up with someone that had the time to look after it. I have known this car for 12 years and knew that it was a good solid shell and the 400/4-speed combo has a lot of potential. I knew when Phil contacted me for a photo of the car to put on his wall at work that he was the right person to own it. All I had to do was get the owner to drop his price a little and get Phil to physically see the car.

The only downside for me was loosing the only other Challenger from my area. But Trev Young has put that right with his sub-lime '70 383 WSS.

So that only leaves this photo in which 'Philthy' Phil is trying to impress the girls by showing them the size of his tongue!

Phil, you have a nice car. The Cragar SS wheels are great.

You couldn't let that one go eh Dave... Looks nice Phil (the challenger).

Thanks for posting that, Dave!

Anyway, engine rebuild finished, just the exhaust system to weld up. I am using TTI headers (very easy to fit), with 1 7/8" primaries going into 3" collectors, and am going to have capped turn-outs just after the collectors (which will have the rest of the system welded to them) and can be uncapped for 1/4 mile action.
The engine itself has received a de-glaze (all bore measurements still within book spec), new rings, a run-in .509 cam and followers (stop cringing, Dave!), new gaskets and seals throughout, and a general decoke and paint-up. The 452 heads have had the valve pockets enlarged as per templates, and I have polished the valves. The seats and guides were not worn in any way. To feed the .509'ed engine, the 750 Holley is fitted with 74 jets front, and 79's rear, with a 4.5 PV. No doubt that this will change once I start tuning it for the road and strip.
Things on the horizon - Suregrip for my 489 8 3/4, and a manual steering box.

At the moment, this has all been on a budget (the TTI's were a result of 30th birthday money from last year, and some savings added on) but it's still suprising (and shocking!) how much is really spent on the car when totted up! So what, eh! It's worth it!

Now, I can't wait to go cruisin'! Do you think Mr MOT man will mind me pulling into his garage on open headers???

OK I did flinch a tiny bit at the cam!

But good on ya son. It looks the mutts nuts now! Very far from that lump that coughed it's way on 6 cylinders out of a lock-up at South Shields the winter before last. I am excited and pleased for you mate.

I remember how it went when the car was first put together by a bloke in Low Walker under the shadows of those giant cranes on the Tyne. I bet it is a whole different animal now. I insist you take me for a drive in it. After all it was me that brought the two of you together!

There are some better photos of Philthy's Dodge on Dave McBrides excellent Charger web site.

http://mysite.freeserve.com/daves_charge r_pages/mopar_mates/Phil_Raynor/phil_ray nor.html

Take you for a drive in it? Dave, tis the least I can do!!! . You can also have a little pop at the 4 speed if ya want!!

Cool. I have driven your car before you owned it but only for a few yards to feel the clutch and gear change. It was not a nice experiance at that time but I understand it is a lot better now.

The last two owners have taken me for a drive in it so it will be nice to be in the old girl again.

In fact your car would not exist if it were not for mine.

Can't remember if I told you this or not but the very first time I attended a car show with my Chally I met a guy called Mick who was repairing a very rusty '71 model. He had a good look all around my car and it made him change his mind about what he was doing.
He decided to sell it unfinished (the new owner never got it going and it vanished) and to start again with a rust free body.

To this end he bought a "rolling chassis" (minus engine/trans or any interior) that was in good condition. It had been a 318 automatic car in metallic grey or something. He then found the 400 block and fitted a 383 crank from a manual car to mate with the clutch and manual gearbox. Most of the parts were sourced from "Sunshine Classics" way down south, London way, I believe.

So it would be about 1991 or 92 when your car was reborn as it is now. Mick had his own garage/workshop and used to do my MOT tests for me but then he started acting funny. A mate of his came to see my car one day but during his visit he just kept asking me what I though of Mick and the work he does. I couldn't understand what he was getting at. It was like he was trying to get me to say something bad about him - which I didn't.
Then the next time I see Mick he has this attitude and says he will not pass my car in the test any more because of the lighting regs.
I have a feeling his mate had deliberatly caused trouble between us.

So I never saw the car for a couple of years before Gavin bought it.
He sorted out a few problems on the car as best as he could. The wiring was a nightmare and the clutch pedal assembly flexed when you pressed it. The gearbox was always giving problems due (I believe) to a lack of a pilot bushing in the end of the crank.
Gavin had the car resprayed but then had to go and find work first in the USA and then down south. So the car sat in a lock-up until myself and Davey Horn convinced him to put it up for sale. That was when I posted photos of it on the MMA board and you saw it.

Your fate was sealed from that moment on bonnie lad!

Thanks for that piece of recent history, Dave!
Funny you should mention about the respray. This needs re-doing (as you and I know) and I was thinking of returning to the original silver (Argent?)...
Tis a real shame that some enthusiasts of the same ilk get shirty and never give any insight as to why. Perhaps Mick heard that someone with an American car 'said things' about him and he thought it was you, without ever finding out. Still, his loss, eh!
I hope Gavin sorted out the pilot bushing in the crank - the only problems I have is a tendancy for fourth gear to pop out on deceleration after a blast. I put this down to either worn syncros, or adjustments needed, both of which are easy to remedy.
By the way, how's Davey getting on with his Barracuda, and his Dad with his Savoy(?)???

Truth is I have not seen Davey or Billy (it's a Fury) for a year. Davey found a woman and was always out with her or round at her place. I have been meaning to phone Billy for ages but never seem to get around to it. I might have a run down to their club show in Stockton to see them this weekend. I believe I lent Billy some tools and never got them back now I think about it.

I think davey re-built the box last time but he was still learning about them so I would not be suprised if it needed adjustment? I wonder if he will ever build the 340 engine he has and replace that 318 he has under the 6-pack?

And I think this was the colour of your car?



It looked more a metallic grey than an actual silver to me but I only saw spots of it and primer had been sprayed over most of the car.