The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hello. New to this message board. Just wanted to spread myself around a little and get feedback on my soon to be driver. Thanks inadvance for any and all comments. David

http://www.papadaveonline.com/index.html My website showing the work so far since April of 2004 up thur Nov 2006. Still a lot to do.


Note...web site is continuing to be updated ...pics to current now.....David

cool car david keep us all up to date with the progress are you keeping the colour original
cheers ian

At this point I am planning on changing the color. My original 340 was FE5 red. I don't care for the burnt orange. Still undecided. I need to get it running a little better before paint. I stunk up the garage good yesterday afternoon. I got to have the carb worked on . Way too rich. David

VERY cool! Thanks for the pics! Are you going to keep that 340 screamer stock! My fondest MoPar memories were made with a 340 in B-body,(73 Runner),! It beat a lot of cars, do you have a TQ or afb/avs on it?

I looked at the pictures and I gotta say: Excellent work! I like it a lot! - Robert

Actually the engine in the one I am working on now is a 440. My original car in 1970 was a 340 which is the one in the avatar with my wife setting on the trunk. In the younger years you don't know what to hold on to that you may need or want in later life. Well I still got the wife. I made a good choice too. And now I am able to dabble with another 70 so its whatever keeps you young.

I have posted a few pics. There are a lot more on the website.

Work continues

A very nice car and a very nice collection of pic´s. I wish I had taken more pic´s myself. It is so easy and cheap nowadays with the digi-cameras. The pic´s are also good to have when you try to get everything back. I bet you will keep this car, right?

Btw;My car was also FE5 Rallye red from the factory as your first car was. I like red cars. I have nothing against wire hubcaps either. Were you the first owner of the 340 car? Did you order it yourself?

Yes I was the first owner. However it was at the dealers and not an ordered for me car. The wire covers was something that i had the dealer to swap out because the original had trim rings and center caps. If I had known then about the 15" wheels, etc. I would have stayed with the orig.

My website contains a few videos of when I first started the engine. It had been setting for over 1 1/2 years not cranked. Engine sound 2 is the best but there is more work to be done. I am still working with the carb, which is a 750.

http://www.papadaveonline.com/index.html

visit the new site..........

Very cool Big Al? Is that right? Anyways, I looked over your "site" very cool and informative and especially organised. Did you have an engine build on that 440? It sounds pretty good. Do you have a 284/484 cam in there? It sounds like you have some "healthy" duration on the intake. Are you going to keep that 24" radiator with the 440? If so, Dave R. could probably tell you about his "custom" set-up. Are you wanting to do what I have done to my 1970 R/T which is a "stock O.E.M. appearance,(save the Base coat/clear coat in FE5), but I deviated from stock on engine/transmission/suspenson/chassis/exhaust. You are a lucky man the project appears to be coming along great and its running!!

Keep up the good work!

The previous owner had some engine work done. I know he said something about the cam but I do not know what it is . The radiator is I thought a 26". I don't have a shroud for it but I did mount a fan with an adaptor. I am not satisified with the idle to acceleration at the moment. It does not have a smooth transition. 750 Edlebrock which was gummy when I tore it down. May end up getting a new one.

Big Al is what my son named the website. And that is my middle name.

Thanks for the flowers. I continue to work on her. Did a little body work today. Now it is supposed to get cold. Not in a heated garage..

I also added a pic of our new baby

Those net curtains wouldn't last 5 mins in my garage (if I had windows).

I would be wiping my hands on them and setting them alight when welding or using the grinder.

Great Coke collection.

Cool Garage! I think that rad opening is a 24". Shouldnt be a problem but remember even 340s had 26 with the A36 axle package I think,(I am no Galen Govier by any stretch), I ran into this problem with my R/T. I opted for the 26" to prevent any overheating problems. Beautiful Home as well, how do you like the new Nitro? They have an srt-4 version as well dont they? There is a Coca-Cola legacy here in Terre Haute, Indiana the bottle was developed here. Here is a pic of my R/T Al.

10-4 on the Shaker....I got to check the radiator again. We love the Nitro. It is the SLT version. There are R/T versions comming out now. They have about 40 more HP. Thats just a small portion of our Coke collection. A lot more in the house.

If you need help "figuring" that cam let me know. There is a simple non-intrusive way.

Have updated the website with 3 more videos of the engine running. I still have issues with the carb but it sounds good in some of the videos.

Sounds great Big Al! Mildly Cammed up big Block MoPar!

Loaded up the baby today and off to the paint shop.

I know the feeling! Happy for you, when it comes back the nervous work will begin, careful no scratches!! What were the police? doing there? Did you guys do some burnouts!

The police.....well actually that is my painter. He does all the work for the local city police on his 4 days off. He painted a 67 Chevelle 10 years ago and it has more shine now that my new Nitro. He has a shop and does great work. I don't have a time frame for getting it back but I know it will be a great job. My son is a police detective on the city force. I don't remember puting the paint choice on this forum but I have picked Y1 Top Banana. I will post a pic of another Challenger which is not mine but I hope that mine will look as good as this one...David

I thought maybe you had nosey neighbors! Man, that looks beautiful, what color are you gonna have him paint yours? He does do nice work. I bet you are pretty pumped. Are you going to finish assemble it yourself? Vinyl top too?

I don't remember putting the paint choice on this forum but I have picked Y1 Top Banana.

I sometimes don't read all the post before I jump in too.!!! I will have a vinyl top and I will probably get my man to install it too. I purchased one from Year One and also have received all new weatherstripping and other rubber parts for the doors. I am now in the process of polishing all the chrome parts and other than the paint and top, I will have done all the work in my garage.

Great color combo David! It will definitely grab your attention. You are gonna be a busy man when you get it back. Who is doing your trim and stainless polishing? This was an expensive adventure for me,(trim,chrome), mine was pretty bad and needed the works. I used George Iverson. Vinyl Tops are so cool, it screams 60's and 70's do they make any cars today with em?

I am doing the polishing and I think it is turning out very well. The only pieces that are not up to standard is the two pcs that go around the windshield. (Top and Sides). Other than that , Good. pics attached.

Also working on the interior trim and such.

Nice work!

Looks nice!

Took some pics at the paint shop today. I learned if you don't know how to do body work then don't try. He is fixing some of my attempts. I will post more as the work continues...David

Looks good, the car not your hair , at least you have hair. Mine turned gray then promptly fell out. That is going to be one bright, fast, machine.

Took some pics of the progress. Will be finished in a couple of weeks, I hope....