My Dream Machine 440 • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **colchester1978** » 30 Nov 2010 21:40

Hi All

Sooo glad to find this site and be able to ask questions about stuff that folks will know the answer to.

As long as I can remember I always wanted one, didn't leave the factory as a RT but it's the nearest I'll ever get.

I'll keep you posted on the resto.

Cheers Jules

by **Adrian Worman** » 30 Nov 2010 22:04

Hi mate, looks nice enough from your pic

Show us more pix and we want specs and a nice story :!:

by **Richardsmv6** » 30 Nov 2010 23:35

Looks great! What are your plans for her

by **colchester1978** » 01 Dec 2010 10:23

Thanks guys.

I have wanted a Challenger ever since my early teens and now in my 30s never thought it would be possible but luck should have it, good old ebay came to my rescue back in June lol. (from Canterbury)

According the to vin originally a 318 Hamtramck car which was imported into the UK in 2008 by the guy I bought it off, don't get me wrong the car is in good shape on the face of things. Now running a 440 4bbl with A727 3 speed and as far as my limited Mopar knowledge goes does look like an RT.

So far..
Replaced the hood hinges which I sourced from AMD, http://www.autometaldirect.com/
so at least the hood now sits nice and level and a 14" Edelbrock Air Cleaner from Real Steel http://www.realsteel.co.uk/
am now saving up so I can order a few more goodies (gonna be a slow process me thinks)

Engine really does need a set of leads so thinking about a set of MSD 8.5, both coolant hoses so will prob go Samco and plan to have the hood sprayed as not too sure about a matt black hood

Bit of a learning curve for me, never owned a classic in my life, let alone a muscle car! I'll add more pics soon.
Heres one of the rear end for now, I've already taken off the orange indicators which has left some nice holes so I am soon to order new rear lenses aswel.

Will keep you posted. Cheers

by **Adrian Worman** » 01 Dec 2010 11:36

Any engine specs, chassis mods etc :?:

Like the bumblebee stripe on very dark cars, don't seem to work on brighter colours. The magnum type wheels look cool, nice size by the look of 'em.
I would'nt worry about making slow progress, any way it looks like you've bagged yourself a nice useable car, good luck with it,enjoy :!:

by **RedRaven** » 01 Dec 2010 13:02

Welcome aboard lad....

by **RedRaven** » 01 Dec 2010 13:08

Dave done a real nice job on his rear indicators, Dave post a pic showing them please.

by **dave-r** » 01 Dec 2010 13:29

RedRaven wrote:Dave done a real nice job on his rear indicators, Dave post a pic showing them please.

I converted the reflectors into turn signals which look red in daylight but flash amber. Of course that leaves you with no reflectors. The MOT guys never seem to notice though.

I am not sure I would do it that way again. Not with the bright LED technology we have now.

by **dave-r** » 01 Dec 2010 13:37

Here are mine.

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... 9887#39887

by **colchester1978** » 01 Dec 2010 15:58

That's a great idea Dave, Thanks for the post.
Did you have problems with the MOT which made you do this?

I did wonder which route I should take before I took them off but they looked so wrong I just had to do it though I do worry about the next MOT, not sure if it's true but someone told me that European law states (and apparently this over rides UK law) if a vehicle was manf outside of the UK up until 1972, it is entitled to use it's original rear light setup, even if Red???

It's quite strange, by pure chance bought Classic American when it featured your RT (around the time I was considering buying), I kept looking at your feature and it's what made me bite the bullet.
Great looking car, shame your selling it.

Cheers

by **colchester1978** » 01 Dec 2010 16:25

Dave, what exhaust system it is that you have laid out in your garden pic please? looks like what I'm after and what headers did you decide on?

I really want to ditch my stock cast manifold and system for a stainless job but unsure if to have a custom system made or go magnaflow or what.

Thanks

by **dave-r** » 01 Dec 2010 20:02

colchester1978 wrote:That's a great idea Dave, Thanks for the post.
Did you have problems with the MOT which made you do this?

Yes. I had a "friendly" MOT man that used to pass it but then he turned a bit funny with me. I found out later someone had told him I had been saying bad things about him. Which was not true but that was that.

I also had problems with people not realising the flashing red light was a turn signal at all. I had a couple of near misses with people overtaking me when I had stopped to turn right. I also got stopped by the police once.
So all of that made the decision to fit amber turn signals easy for me.

not sure if it's true but someone told me that European law states (and apparently this over rides UK law) if a vehicle was manf outside of the UK up until 1972, it is entitled to use it's original rear light setup, even if Red???

Nope. That is bollocks. Pre 1968 you can use red. After that they have to be amber. I wish it was true though.

It's quite strange, by pure chance bought Classic American when it featured your RT (around the time I was considering buying), I kept looking at your feature and it's what made me bite the bullet.
Great looking car, shame your selling it.

Yep. It is a shame. But there is nowt I can do about it.