MM Muscle - 1971 Dodge Challenger

[D_Eclipse9916]

Looks amazing, top notch work!!

[WRXtranceformed]

That car is so awesome! Agree with Mike, needs some obnoxiously big chrome Foose wheels or something to set it off! Love the white leather and such though, good work!

[ScottyB]

that thing is going to look tits at the next car show being purple and all.

[Mike]

Scotty, work magic.

[LC619FR]

Jeff it looks like dog shit....aww man I'm just playing it looks awesome dude, a far cry from when we were doing burn outs with it as kids.

[Jeff]

a far cry from when we were doing burn outs with it as kids.

QFT

Thanks for the kind words fellas. I got all the lamps working last night and installed the new turn signal cancel cam. I am pretty much ready to be road legal as long as I can get the engine tuned up better so I don't have to worry about it stalling out. It does not like to get going but once it is going (oh my....) it goes. So I might get the timing set 100% and start adjusting the carb some this afternoon and then its just the final work with the body and paint.

As for Grimace. Scotty needs to donk it out with a Grimace theme.

[Jeff]

Guys, check this out. I have never seen one of these before and I am liking it.

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[ScottyB]

i've always liked the trans-am style front spoilers on muscle cars, but then again i don't think it would look right unless your car is really lowered.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Guys, check this out. I have never seen one of these before and I am liking it.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160599842001">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160599842001</a><!-- m -->

Absolutely!

If I had a challenger id be converting it to Challenger T/A specs.

[Jeff]

i've always liked the trans-am style front spoilers on muscle cars, but then again i don't think it would look right unless your car is really lowered.

As in like Slizzamed? Hella Flush?

[JustinG]

i've always liked the trans-am style front spoilers on muscle cars, but then again i don't think it would look right unless your car is really lowered.

As in like Slizzamed? Hella Flush?

More hella functional....

[Jeff]

That is badass.

[Jeff]

Well I am happy to report that I got the car running (almost) 100% correctly on Saturday. The vacuum advance on the distributor (the old timey way of advancing the ignition timing before computa'z) was connected to manifold vac rather than ported vac. So basically the timing was being pulled into advance at idle and we had it tuned to run that way....sorta. When you would crack the throttle it would fall on its face almost like it had a bad accelerator pump. But now it goes like stink! Only issue now is it is a hard starting SOB so I imagine I need to adjust the carb quite a bit to get it back into specs. So now that the car goes pretty good and looks pretty good with only minor body work left it is pretty much time to look to the future. So as I see it I have several systems in need of upgrade and I wanted MM's opinion on where the dollaz need to go. The following is a listing of how the car is set up now (or will be with parts already purchased.) Items set out to the right in [ ] are possible upgrades that could be made. If an item has been changed the stock will be noted in ().

Front Suspension / Steering
Springs ÔÇô Just Suspensions Pro Touring 1in Torsion Bars (Stock .87in bar)
Sway Bar ÔÇô Hellwig Motorsports 1 1/4in Tubular w/ Poly bushings (Stock Not Equipped)
Shocks ÔÇô New OEM Style [KYB Gas-A-Just or other?]
Steering Gear ÔÇô Full Power Non-Trans Am Conventional Ratio [71+ 340 TA Fast Ratio, or Manual]
Pitman Arm/Idler Arm ÔÇô OEM Vintage [71+ 340 Fast Ratio]
Bushings ÔÇô New OEM Style Rubber [Poly]
Ball Joints - New OEM Style [HD, Big Block]
Upper Control Arms ÔÇô OEM Vintage [ÔÇÿGeometry CorrectedÔÇÖ tubular]

Rear Suspension/Differential
Axle ÔÇô Corporate 8 ┬¥ Solid
Differential ÔÇô Open 2.91 Gear Ratio [ÔÇ£Sure GripÔÇØ LSD w/ 3.55, 3.92, or 4.10 gearing, or aftermarket LSD]
Springs ÔÇô 4 leaf Stock [5 or 6 leaf]
Shocks ÔÇô New OEM Style [KYB Gas-A-Just or other?]
Bushings ÔÇô OEM Vintage [Poly]
Sway Bar ÔÇô Hellwig Motorsports 7/8in Solid Adjustable w/ Poly Bushings (Stock Not Equipped)

Brakes
System ÔÇô Manual Drum/Drum
Prop Valve ÔÇô OEM Drum/Drum [Mopar Performance Adjustable]
Front ÔÇô Large Hub 73+ 10.5in Disc Single Piston Caliper (Stock Small Drum) [11.25in OEM or aftermarket]
Rear ÔÇô Small drum w/ integrated parking brake [Aftermarket Disc]

Engine
Block ÔÇô Chrysler ÔÇÿLAÔÇÖ Small Block 318ci 5.2L Iron, bored .030 [Big Block or 5.7L Hemi]
Crank/Rod ÔÇô OEM Refurbished
Piston/Ring ÔÇô FM Sealed Power .030 oversized
Cam ÔÇô OEM [340 OEM or aftermarket]
Head ÔÇô OEM Iron, Gasket Match Port [Aftermarket Aluminum]

Fuel
Carburetor ÔÇô Carter ThermoQuad 4 barrel 800cfm (Carter 2 bbl 330cfm) [Carter AVS or Holley Pumper]
Intake ÔÇô OEM 340 4 bbl Iron Spread Bore (OEM Iron 2bbl) [Aftermarket Aluminum]
Air Filter ÔÇô OEM 340 from 73 Charger w/ air flaps removed (OEM 2bbl) [Open Element or custom]
Fuel Pump ÔÇô Autozone ÔÇÿBomba de GasolinaÔÇÖ edition OEM Style
In-Line Fuel Filter ÔÇô None [AN fitted baller aluminum or clear glass basic]

Cooling
Radiator ÔÇô OEM Copper Core Small Block Size [ebay Aluminum Big Block Size]
Fan ÔÇô 18in Electric w/o thermo switch (Stock Fixed Blade Fan) [thermostatic switch]
Water Pump ÔÇô New OEM Style
Transmission
Trans - Chrysler 904 Light Duty Aluminum Case Automatic [Chrysler 727 HD Steel Case Automatic]
Mount ÔÇô OEM Vintage [Poly or New OEM Rubber]

If there is anything I overlooked let me know. Any input or thoughts would be appreciated. I want the car to perform well on the street, well enough for spirited driving and I would like it to be solid enough to the occasional autocross. I know it is a big heavy car and I wonÔÇÖt set any lap times but I think it would be fun to get out and use the car. Too many people have cars like this and do nothing but drive them on Sunday and take them to shows!

[D_Eclipse9916]

I want the car to perform well on the street, well enough for spirited driving and I would like it to be solid enough to the occasional autocross. I know it is a big heavy car and I wonÔÇÖt set any lap times but I think it would be fun to get out and use the car. Too many people have cars like this and do nothing but drive them on Sunday and take them to shows!

Win!

Unfortunately I know very little about those type suspensions. I would look to some of the vintage racing forums to see what people have to say. I would think you should spend the money on good shocks #1

[JustinG]

Needs MOAR HEMI!

[ScottyB]

i'd leave everything for now and just enjoy the hell out of it. thank goodness you aren't using it like a glorified golf cart like most people do with these cars.

if you touch anything i'd get disc brakes all around on it that can handle the weight and speed. that thing has some power and some girth which would make me very nervous without some fade-free, decent brakes on there. after that i'd put a 3.55 and a fast steering box in it and drive it another year or so.

[LC619FR]

X2 on the R&P...2.92 sucks I wouldn't go much higher then a 3.73 numeraclly...so 3.55 is probably your best bet. I would also look into some type of detroit tru-track or a posi.

[fiveoh2go]

X2 on the R&P...2.92 sucks I wouldn't go much higher then a 3.73 numeraclly...so 3.55 is probably your best bet. I would also look into some type of detroit tru-track or a posi.

Why half-ass it? Just get a spool. :lol:

[Jeff]

So yeah, I am pretty sure that I have a busted right rear spring. It cracks and pops and carries on and the car sits crooked. I will be looking into that tomorrow. The engine has been hard starting since the timing has been set correctly and the carb has been tuned to run right on the street. Everyone has been giving me SOOOO much hate for this carb so I said F it!



I bought all these goodies off of ebay for $300 shipped. Edlebrock Performer dual plain ALUMINUM intake and a EB Performer 1406 AVS Carb w/ electric choke. It should be a HUGE driveability and tuning upgrade. The intake will take at least 15lbs off the engine and the whole shebang will be so much easier to work with. Phil is going to sand blast and clear coat the intake manifold for me and I am going to go though the carb myself and make sure everything is right. The seller said he rebuilt it but forgot to set the floats...no big deal. Plus it came off of a 78 Dodge D100 pickup with an automatic trans so it should have all the hookups and everything I need to toss it right on. I have already sold the Thermoquad for $50 (it was worth more, but I was selling it back to Phil) and I will hopefully get $125ish for the 340 cast iron intake. Plus I got that distributor and plug wires/plugs I didn't really want or need. Hoping to get close to $100 for that stuff. Hoping at the end of the day for this move to be almost free.

[ScottyB]

nice score, love it when mods come free