CallMeThor
New Member
Hello All,
I have a 74 Challenger that my old man has had since he was in highschool. It took me a few years, but I'm finally getting fired up about working on it! It needs a ton of work, and the frame is rusting though, but we've been running and driving it over the last few summers. I'm in the process of figuring out what all my dad has done with it. It has a 440 big block from the late 70's purchased as a crate engine, with an A-833 4 speed trans. Motor is supposedly low miles, and has been somewhat built (not sure what all has been done yet until I open it up and take a gander. Trans needs some work, it seems fine outside of 4th gear there is some grinding.
I am currently at college in my last semester but am looking forward to dumping my "big boy" money into it come this summer.
The plan is to rip out the motor and trans first thing, so we have easy access to address body, frame, and paint issues. While the pair is out, the plan is to get more numbers off engine and trans parts to figure out "exactly" what we have in it.
List of immediate action items include (not in any specific order)
A little more background, Dad (late 50's) has been a mechanic for 30-something-odd years and I'm (early twenties) studying computer engineering. That combo makes for quite the dynamic lol.
I'm a young guy, so please excuse any ignorant or dumb questions.
Any tips for asking questions, or using this forum are appreciated!
Happy to be here
I have a 74 Challenger that my old man has had since he was in highschool. It took me a few years, but I'm finally getting fired up about working on it! It needs a ton of work, and the frame is rusting though, but we've been running and driving it over the last few summers. I'm in the process of figuring out what all my dad has done with it. It has a 440 big block from the late 70's purchased as a crate engine, with an A-833 4 speed trans. Motor is supposedly low miles, and has been somewhat built (not sure what all has been done yet until I open it up and take a gander. Trans needs some work, it seems fine outside of 4th gear there is some grinding.
I am currently at college in my last semester but am looking forward to dumping my "big boy" money into it come this summer.
The plan is to rip out the motor and trans first thing, so we have easy access to address body, frame, and paint issues. While the pair is out, the plan is to get more numbers off engine and trans parts to figure out "exactly" what we have in it.
List of immediate action items include (not in any specific order)
- Rebuild trans (grinding in 4th gear, pops thinks its a bearing or thrust surface)
- May also replace 2nd gear
- New clutch and flywheel (totally not my fault from learning stick on this car)
- Tune carb
- Engine falls on its face a bit when accelerating
- Looking into wideband o2 to take out some guesswork (not sure if this is a good idea)
- Patch frame
- Fix/replace bell housing (cracked)
- Paint... Paint... Paint...
A little more background, Dad (late 50's) has been a mechanic for 30-something-odd years and I'm (early twenties) studying computer engineering. That combo makes for quite the dynamic lol.
I'm a young guy, so please excuse any ignorant or dumb questions.
Any tips for asking questions, or using this forum are appreciated!
Happy to be here
aboard. Before you do anything you need a specific plan. Educate yourself as much as you can on theses specific cars.
