1973 Challenger restomod project

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 9, 2014

Recently bought a 73 challenger and its going to be a huge task to get it where I want. About half way done getting the new AMD replacement metal for it and getting ready to make my own frame jig or what I will call a frame jig. Just thought I would share a few photos of where I am starting. First time personally restoring a car but my dad has done five or six challengers just not this bad so that being said I would love to hear any advice anyone has. Thank you.

Bill · Oct 10, 2014

Good luck!
Keep the faith.
Have fun.
I"m about 75% to 80% finished with my first ever car restoration project that is a 73 Challenger Rallye, 340 4 Speed. It's been over 2 years now since I first purchased it. I've discovered that there are 4 major things needed to bring the project to a finish.
1) Money or in my case a means to borrow money as needed.
2) A good place to keep and work on the project.
3) Desire and enthusiasm from start to finish.
4) (Most important) Wife needs to be on board with the whole idea.

Good luck!
Bill (Vermont)

DetMatt1 · Oct 10, 2014

Looks like a great project, congrats! Did you already order your new metal? Check out some of my parts for sale ads. I may have something you need that AMD doesn't offer like rustfree door mount sections of the A-pillar with rustfree inner and outer rockers still attached. I also have a considerable amount of AMD metal that I no longer need among other things.

challenger6pak · Oct 10, 2014

Buy a complete interior floor since it is all gone. You will save yourself a lot of effort doing it as one piece over doing several pieces.

moparleo · Oct 10, 2014

Get a lot of practice welding before you replace any metal. Hope fully the pictures of welding repairs shown is not you. Grind it all back down and do them over.

challenger6pak · Oct 10, 2014

sader, define restomod.

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 10, 2014

challenger6pak said:
sader, define restomod.

I have got frame rails, inner rockers, floor pan, seat supports, floor supports, inner cowl, inner fenders, about to order cowl and door hinge panels. My version of resto mod is updated interior and suspension. Engine i plan on building a beastly 340.

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 10, 2014

Parts I need are ralley dash, rallye fenders, trunk lid with spoiler support, and a 340 block. From amd I still need trunk pan, radiator support, rear frame rails, quarters and maybe a tail panel. Then us car tool bracing I already bought thier frame connectors to check their stuff out.

challenger6pak · Oct 10, 2014

How is the wiring in the car. Good? I am assuming bad.

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 10, 2014

Haha very poor the guy before destroyed the car I have to start over completely

challenger6pak · Oct 10, 2014

Then I would upgrade. I would run modern gauges, wiring, engine accessories, headlights, etc. You can do it expensively with a lot of bling or you can do it inexpensively without the bling. I have used American Auto Wire and their products have been good. Here is a pic of a Challenger dash I did around a year ago. Maybe it will give you some ideas. The car is a total restomod. Only the body is original Mopar. Everything else is modern.
http://www.americanautowire.com/

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 10, 2014

Thank you for the info I will check it out. I was considering doing that with the dash, wiring, lights and all that. I just want classic body, 340, a killer posi rear end, and 4 speed tranny. The rest should be modern.

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 10, 2014

DetMatt1 · Oct 10, 2014

Yep, you have the sickness! From here on out the rear is known as a sure grip.

Bill · Oct 11, 2014

I purchased the 3 cell ISIS power kit. I will be installing it this winter on my 73 Challenger. Price is a little more than a conventional wiring system but a 40+ year more modern system then the one that came with the car. Great customer service. Should be very fun to install.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGqYF1TR2EA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_byZPWsRWDc

www.isispower.com

mmissile · Oct 11, 2014

That ISIS stuff looks cool, but I can hardly use the internet. Also, those boxes are a bit large, and take up a bunch of room. Wire takes up less.

saderbaseball1145 · Oct 11, 2014

ISIS power kit is pretty awesome stuff. Let me know how it goes Bill I would be interested in throwing one in my car.

Bill · Oct 11, 2014

mmissile said:
That ISIS stuff looks cool, but I can hardly use the internet. Also, those boxes are a bit large, and take up a bunch of room. Wire takes up less.

Just measured it at 6-1/2" x 7" x 1-3/4". The master cell looks to bee the same size as the power cells. Control wires are 22ga and have next to no amperage going through it.

Cupracer · Oct 13, 2014

Sader,Looks interesting. Consider yourself lucky to have your Dads consult much less the amount of his skill. Here's my project, not as intense but never done it before. Tried joining the local club for assistance but you know how that goes, people like working and getting help on their own cars but doesn't seem to go that way when it's someone elses. Also not the type of person to go into a room and say "Hi, I'm new to your club but you wanna help me with my car." None the less its a chore but can't wait to get back on the road.