1972 Dodge Charger Rallye project

[Migsbig]

More pics tonite.

 

[charger360]

nice work

 

[Migsbig]

been raining and busy so was not able to get picks of the car as they reassembled it and coated it with primer sealer. They started with prep work with replacement trunk lid with factory spoiler cut outs and the upgraded hood.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Looking good !

 

[fatecaptured]

Is that an original air grabber hood or an AMD?

 

[Migsbig]

AMD does not make any 1971-74 B-body hoods. This is a factory unit.

 

[drobertson]

AMD does not make any 1971-74 B-body hoods. This is a factory unit.

They are in pre-production... I called them earlier today. Should be available in mid to late summer according to the sales rep I talked with. Both the power bulge hood and air grabber hood.

Anyways cool project, you certainly work faster than I do!

 

[Bb70charger500]

Are you selling the old hood?

 

[Migsbig]

That weird, I talked with them for 3 years at sema and they constantly said they would not make the hood. Wonder if they changed their minds? Anyhow, Ramcharger and air grabber hoods by them would be nice, but probably exspensive, so I’ll keep my hoods and be happy withnem’.

 

[Migsbig]

Body shop is starting with 26in radiator support conversion from Ed At ‘The MOPAR Shop’ and preping the bodywork. AMD cut-out rear valance from Ted and Jackie from Steven’s Performance and will be prepped next.

 

[Migsbig]

Guess you guys were right. I called up a rep I know at AMD and said it has been in works and will probably be out end of the year. Prices are not set in stone, but looks like pricing will be higher than the shaker line of e-body hoods due to the size and construction.

 

[Migsbig]

Be sure to stay tuned for more pics. On my next set, suspension upgrades from a article I’ve been putting together.

 

[moparsaver]

.... Nice project! Be badass when done.

 

[Migsbig]

While the bodywork is going on, decided it was the perfect time to start on the front suspension. I had left the original suspension on the car and bought 1972 Charger SE parts car and used the k-member off of it (3 previous k-members I looked at all had cracks).

 

[Migsbig]

Since I wanted better handling and easier servicing, I did a lot of work checking into these suspension and used the best sources and tech that would have made this a better than stock driving. The weak part in these suspension is primarily the k-member. If you look, it is formed sheet metal that has some welds and engine mounts on it, nothing more. So strengtening it will require more than quick fix items. Welding is required and a clean surface is best, so off to a chem bath to remove any contaminants.

 

[Migsbig]

As you can see, welding from the factory was not up to current standards and lots of gaps and ok'ish spot welds through out.

 

[Bb70charger500]

And I go over 150 in these cars ?


Looking good man keep it up . If you want I might off load my 72 rallye project ,I got slot of money tied up and a baby on the way .....

 

[Migsbig]

Now most folks would have started welding, but that was not the best way to work with the metal k-member. Though it might seem over kill, I started with having the k-member heated up to nearly glowing and slowly let it cool for a full day. This removes any impurities left from the chem dip and helps strengthen the metal in the unit. This was done two more times during the week, making for stronger metal and having it ready to for welding. Tech from FFI made the brackets for reinforcing the k-member easier then than doing it myself and make for quick work, brackets and reinforcement work to be done correctly, it was then taken to Magnum Force Racing and one of their certified welders did all their magic to make this unit super strong and rigid. Clean and great welding can be seen where there were gaps and media blasting final prep before off to powder coating.

 

[nstyle73]

Explain this heating process, because what you described is annealing, and different versions create different results. Relieve internal stresses and impurities initially yes, but a full anneal reduces strength, and hardness. Normalization creates a tougher metal but were the second and third heating for increasing strength? Who did the heat treatments?

 

[Migsbig]

Was put it in kiln oven, then my friend who does metal work for Lockheed performed this. He did it with another k-member project with good results. He did chill k-member couple times during the process. Can’t give all the details, but will post pics when it comes back from powder coating. He’s pretty good with metal as he has a bullet proof Mini Cooper he made!