The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I FINALLYwrestled my fathers 70 rt 440 away from him and I am looking for some imput. Being 18 when he got the car he did not see the long term value of an untouched vehicle. The main modification I am worried about is the rear wheel wells that he modified. Does any one know how much this will devalue the car. It is an original number matching 440/727 however it has been bored .30 over with non original cams . The entire HVAC system has been removed as well as original carbs and distributor. Luckily I was born 2 years later and required his time and money forceing a stop to the madness. The car was driven little afterwords and has mainly sat in the desert under tarps. (Notice the sun rot dash and door panel.) Is it worth more as originalsheet metal modified or should I be looking to replace the quarters?

Wow that air filter looks restrictive!

The rear quarters being like that kills a lot of the value.

If you like it like that and you are going to keep it don't bother changing it. If you intend to sell it or don't like the look of it then get the cutter and welder out.

Sooner you than me though. I guess the inner wheel wells are modified too?

The good thing about it is you have the guy that did this to hand. So you can ask him what the hell he did or even make him help you fix it!

congrats on a nice car.

Good to see another Vegas Challenger owner. Five years ago I only knew of 3 now I know of 16. There is a club here and help with parts and stuff,,, Nice ride too by the way - I personally would change out the wheel wells they look kindof nuts but if you like them keep them.

Sell it? Never , it will be passed down to first born sons like all great things should. Is anyone running replacement drivetrain, keeping the original on the self in case something gernaded beyond repair? This has been suggested to me but that is kinda like taking your sister to the prom RIGHT?

Hi Brad,
I know how it feels to be the first born son and receive my fathers prize challenger. I got my Dad's a few summers ago. Looks like yours is in better shape. Mine had new body panels but a very rusty frame. I hope to restore it in a few years.

The pictures dont show its true condition... Thanks

Underdog - you speak of a club in Las Vegas? Do you have any info on the next meeting.

It will be July 21 at Timbers bar and grill 9837 W. Tropicana 7:30 - 9:00pm.

I won't be able to make it to that one but if you can it's cool, like a little car show in the parking lot. The president will be there - ED probably hanging out by his Green GTX.

Thanks for the info, look forward to being there.

It's finally back on the road, with new PST super front end kit with oversized swaybar and some new shoes to go with it. The rims are American Racing Hopster's rears are 18 x 10 with 4.5 inch back spacing. The fronts are 18 x 8 with 4 inch back spacing. The tires are NITTO steet legal drags, 305 x 45 x 18 rear and 225 x 40 x 18 up front. ( they measure 29 in tall in the rear and 12 in wide appox and 25 in tall and 9 in wide in front. I still have to go through the rear axel as I sprung a leaky seal ( messing up the new chromies ) and will drop the rear down two more inches in height. CAN TELL BY THE SMILE ON MY FACE HOW NICE IT RIDES NOWcompared to the 30 year old bushings and bias plys that were on it . HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT if you have not done yours yet...

Wow!

What a difference. That rear wheel arch looks better now it is filled with more wheel. Nice one.

moving to Henderson in a week, got a 1972 Challenger and a 1972 Barracuda coming, can I get more info on the club, maybe a website or next meeting?

thanks

Welcome to the desert.. Why leave all the green and beach for this....My wife is from Va beach and would like a jar of sand ....


Check out WWW.MoparsofLasVegas.us for our club webpage...

cheers to anyone that has already tackled this project. It definitly test your mental grit. (and that of your families) A couple of photos of it gutted before it heads to the media blaster.

Big thanks to everyone on the board that helped me get this far. Stay around because putting the puzzle back together it starting to scare me.

Now what colour is the question. I thought about a dark grey metalic with black top and hockey stick strip but seeing Tonys again got me GREEN with envy.

Tony would you mind a twin across the pond?

to dave for the site and allowing this to be my resto journal.

so far the trunk panels are in (year one) and rt inner and outter quarter panels (from goodmark).... i had no idea it would be this time consuming but worth it . some where it said " time spent restoring a challeger can not be deducted from a mans life" amen

Hey Brad. A bit of inspiration for Ya !!! You go for it
A twin over there in the desert would be KOOOOLLL

Well the end is finally in sight , I HOPE to be all together completely by Decemberish....

the color is Dupont HOT HUES gun metal metalic, it has alot of metal flake with a purple pearl. ....

SEXY!

SEXY alright! Lovely color choice mate! Gotta love gun metal!

Hi Bradgrott the car looks great . how did the full quarters fit ,they look good

they fit real nice, they were slightly bigger like the mold was taken off the outside of orignial quarters. The main problem was when we cut the final welds on the left side the entire car jumped and sounded like the clock spring on BIG BEN had spung, come to fine out that the floor board had deformed from years of hard launches and was under tension. took awhile to get this side lined up....

Probably should of welded some braces up inside the car since you were cutting such a big spot out of the car, just my .02

A couple of diagonal braces across the door openings usually works OK I think?

Would of been better than nothing dave Sorry BRADGROTT dont mean to put you down.

Hindsight is wonderful isn't it?

Our fault really. We never thought to warn of the possibility of that happening.

Same when replacing the steel around the front windscreen and rear window when they have rusted. NEVER cut out the whole rusty bit. Just cut out and replace a bit at a time. Like six inches at a time. Otherwise POP! Something will suddenly spring.

It turned out right in the end though and thats the main thing.

dave-r wrote:It turned out right in the end though and thats the main thing.

Thats right

No offense!! The trunk pans were all welded in and the right side came off and on so nicely we had no reason to suspect anything and we did make sure the right side was welded and set before removing any welds on the left side. If the cross bars were in we may not have found the crack and bend hidden in the inner quarter supports ... all things worked out.

just some update photos.. can t hardley wait to get back on the road

Looks great! Always wanted to do mine in Gun Metal Grey! Cannot wait to see to see the final results. Please send pictures.

Jon