The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Here are some pics of my restoration, starting with when the car returned from body/paint about a year ago. It's a '70 Challenger RTSE, 440, 4spd, 3.54 dana. I've owned this car since Oct '03 and started the resto in '04, so it's been a long journey nearing its end. The car was a mess when I bought it; it's nice to see it being brought back to life. Everything on the car has either been rebuilt or replaced w/new. I hope to have the car running by late summer.

Currently the engine is at the machine shop. Once they do all the normal stuff (boring, porting, decking, etc), a friend and I will do the assembly, then take it back to the machine shop for a break-in on the dyno. Anyway, enjoy the photos. I'll post some updates as they come. And thanks again for the help in the tech sections.

looking good. I love the pics. Hope to see some"road" pics soon
Bob

hey craig,car is looking great. just love those r/t s.e. cars
cant wait to see it finished!!

Craig, very nice! Cant wait to see the engine build as well. The body is gorgeous!

Ultra neat!

Thanks everyone!

WOW craig that car is going to be so awesome im green with envy its going to be 1of the best cars we'll ever see the workmanship looks top notch really good to see keep us up to date
cheers ian

I've seen these pics before. They look good on this site too.

Car is done and has been on the road for a few months now. Have racked up about 1300 miles. Drove it to Carlisle, PA and won 2nd in my class. Here are some pics. Enjoy.

Another

Engine

Kids & car then

Kids & car now

Another

At Carlisle with my wife, the lovely ChallyGirl.

Inside

Last one

A lot nicer than my orange Chally. Well done.

Very NICE! The Challenger too!

airfuelEddie wrote:Very NICE! The Challenger too!

I have other pics, but they have to stay in my personal stash, lol.

Very nice, I remember looking at it there.

Tom

Wow, very nice resto - it was a long wait but worth it for sure. The kids shots, before and after is a great touch. The number plates were a good score too! Can i ask a question. I was looking at the closeup door/mirror pictures and can you tell me how is the correct way to put in those mirror screw wells? The steel screw retainer things, 2 for each mirror. I bought some from RT Specialties and looking at my 71 Challenger which had some in, they looked like they were pressed in. But a panel repair shop told me you need a special tool to install them- a bit like a rivet gun? But i am not so sure. I tried pressing them into my 73, no luck, they were too loose. So how did you get them in so they are very tight? Thanks

Looks great, it shows all your hard work.

Well worth it too as she will be around for quite a while. A family heirloom as it were.

Careful letting the kids drive it though.

Goldenblack440 wrote:Wow, very nice resto - it was a long wait but worth it for sure. The kids shots, before and after is a great touch. The number plates were a good score too! Can i ask a question. I was looking at the closeup door/mirror pictures and can you tell me how is the correct way to put in those mirror screw wells? The steel screw retainer things, 2 for each mirror. I bought some from RT Specialties and looking at my 71 Challenger which had some in, they looked like they were pressed in. But a panel repair shop told me you need a special tool to install them- a bit like a rivet gun? But i am not so sure. I tried pressing them into my 73, no luck, they were too loose. So how did you get them in so they are very tight? Thanks

Use a 10-24 hex headed screw with a flat washer and a hex nut. The screw is threaded into the insert with the hex nut threaded on the screw. While holding the screw to prevent it from turning, the hex nut is tightened to compress the threaded insert. The insert must be held tightly to the sheetmetal as the nut is tightened.

Thanks for the compliments everyone!

thanks for the method Craig! pity i didn't know that before hand. so easy when you know the right way.