70 Challenger Restoration- has begun....

[enforcer505]

Hi everyone! I purchased a horribly rusted 70 Challenger (my wife thinks Im nuts for taking this project on) lol. Im currently only working on this in the evenings when my daughter is sleeping and wife is in bed. My plan is to try to make it as original as possible and within reason. Every panel seems to need a replace but the roof. The previous owner had done the front end of the car with new sheet metal so now I need to finish the big parts!

I have purchased the full floor pan and dynacorns rear frame assembly. Also have hung 1 quarter, rear wheel well, and fixed badly rusted rockers and door jam. Ordered 2 new fenders, deck lid, rear panel, and the list goes on for metal. My goal is to finish the metal work by the end of summer 2022. Heres some pics of progress and I will try to upload everything as I go!

Thanks!

 

[Challenger RTA]

Horribly rusted . Just close your eyes and imagine what it will look like when done. I already like! With the floor pans out.I would box in the torsion bar mount to renfoce it.it is a weak point as they fataige. Not knowing your welding skills. If need be remember to reverse the leads when welding thin metal. it puts more heat on the rod then the metal. less chance of burning through.

 

[moparlee]

Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more updates.

 

[enforcer505]

haha! yes I will! So another update I have cut out and drilled out the remainder of the passenger rear wheel well and have test fit the new one. I will upload more pictures when I get it welded in. I have received more parts such as the floor and floor brackets. getting closer!

 

[Oystercopy]

I absolutely COMMEND you for taking on a project like this! I did not have the energy or the stamina to do this, which is why I bought a "restored" car already.

Good luck and I'm sure the car is in good and capable hands!

 

[70chall440]

This is a huge project but you will receive a huge amount of satisfaction when it is done. Kudos to you for saving another one, Challengers were always my favorite and I have owned many (still have a 70 RT today). I am not a fan of "stock" but build it however you like.

 

[rklein71]

Might need a redneck rotisserie for your Challenger.

 

[enforcer505]

Hey guys just another update: I have welded in the passenger rear rocker, quarter panel, wheelwell.

Also I managed to get the dynacorn rear assembly installed. If anyone has any questions I have many pictures! It went it fairly easy and the only issue I ran into was the aftermarket goodmark wheel wells dont fit the dynacorn cutout very well. I managed to make it fit but was quite the struggle. As for the quality of the dynacorn assembly- I give it a 9/10! The panels they use are missing some finer details but makes the assembly very easy.
As for alignment and measurements I got it damn close!

I also managed to sand down all the welds in the front end and engine bay. gave it a primer coat until I paint it. Been alot of work and late nights but I feel it will get done. Next is finishing off the trunk drop off panels and getting the back window panel welded in.

 

[enforcer505]

pics:

 

[enforcer505]

wheel well fitment:

 

[Doc Corey]

Cool. You and I started at about the same place. Did you have to do the roof, too? I must say that rear assy. would have made thing a lot easier for me.

 

[enforcer505]

hey Doc! the roof isnt bad. I have 3 spots that need a patch but I got with the car a roof section to use. I have more uploads to come. The dynacorn rear section isnt perfect or exact to oem but its a great assembly to use. I recommend not mixing goodmark with dynacorn wheelwell parts as they are veryyyyyyy different. I recommend dynacorn or amd quarters to fit with the rear panel- the goodmark one I got isnt close to factory spec. The dynacorn came with trunk drip rail also- goodmark didnt. I will upload pics of the differences.

The mounting and assembly time of the dynacorn section was roughly 8hrs- 4hrs to cut out rear section and 4 hrs to mounting, align and tack weld into place. Not finishing plug welds but tacking. Another 4hrs to clamp, plug weld and grind. saved me soooo much time! highly recommend.

Update: Rear panel is in and welded to the quarters. Feels like a car now! Nothing on this car is square but Im trying to recorrect everything. Pictures to come!

 

[enforcer505]

Might need a redneck rotisserie for your Challenger.

haha i might! not there yet! doing the floors with AMD floor pans next week. In canada there are only so many places I get get parts with stupid import charges.

 

[enforcer505]

I absolutely COMMEND you for taking on a project like this! I did not have the energy or the stamina to do this, which is why I bought a "restored" car already.

Good luck and I'm sure the car is in good and capable hands!

thank you! Its alot of time and patience with it. I took this on because its a dream car of mine and it was the only challenger I could afford. These cars are so hard to find in canada that I had to jump on it when I saw it. I will do my best to restore this car and enjoy it for years to come. It wont be for sale anytime soon!

 

[enforcer505]

Horribly rusted . Just close your eyes and imagine what it will look like when done. I already like! With the floor pans out.I would box in the torsion bar mount to renfoce it.it is a weak point as they fataige. Not knowing your welding skills. If need be remember to reverse the leads when welding thin metal. it puts more heat on the rod then the metal. less chance of burning through.

I close my eyes alot working on this car.... thanks for the advise for the torsion support I will see what I can do!

 

[enforcer505]

More pictures! Rear panel in and welded to the trunk floor flange. was off around 1/4 of an inch... after a few white knuckle twists and popping out my C7 4 times... its 1/8 inch out lol

 

[Gaderider]

Looking good enforcer! I’ve done a lot of the same with mine, Dad and I started a long time ago and had to put it on hold when we couldn’t find a good front frame rail (way too far gone to patch). I’ve been collecting parts and just recently started again. What area of Ontario are you in? Im southeast of Lake Simcoe and have been dealing with National Moparts in Beaverton

 

[enforcer505]

Hey Gaderider! Yeah frame rails on this were toast also. Thank god the original owner previous replaced them.

Im just north of Barrie. Yeah I no Nigel from National Moparts- bought many parts from him for my A bodies. He says alot of the original E body stuff is long gone. Ontario has sucked for any mopar junkyards. Long gone now......

 

[heminut]

Ontario has sucked for any mopar junkyards. Long gone now......

Not much better here in the States now either! Seems we're all in the same boat, but I think you guys really take it on shipping on stuff coming from our side, and THAT sucks!

 

[enforcer505]

Not much better here in the States now either! Seems we're all in the same boat, but I think you guys really take it on shipping on stuff coming from our side, and THAT sucks!

yeah agreed!