71 Charger Superbee Tribute/Restomod Build

[70chall440]

I was having troubles with rocks denting the fenders above the front tires. Ended up cutting up an old rubber trunk mat and fastening it up inside the fender. You might try something like that to protect the hoses.

I’m doing sound deadening this morning myself. Just finished the second coat of spectrum in the trunk:
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Yeah I am planning to build some protective panels for the lines if I put them under the fender.

Good job on the trunk, I didn't put any deadener into my trunk, might have to think about that.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Yeah I am planning to build some protective panels for the lines if I put them under the fender.

Good job on the trunk, I didn't put any deadener into my trunk, might have to think about that.

I’m going to do regular tiles and mats in the interior, but I wanted something in the trunk to help the metal not take a beating from stuff back there. I’ll probably cut and glue down some carpet over the top.

It’s been a long road refinishing inside. Blasted the interior and trunk to bare metal, then epoxy primer, seam sealer, more epoxy primer, and now deadener.

 

[70chall440]

I’m going to do regular tiles and mats in the interior, but I wanted something in the trunk to help the metal not take a beating from stuff back there. I’ll probably cut and glue down some carpet over the top.

It’s been a long road refinishing inside. Blasted the interior and trunk to bare metal, then epoxy primer, seam sealer, more epoxy primer, and now deadener.

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You have put a lot of work into that interior. My interior floor wasn't bad, a bit dirty but solid so I just washed it and am now going to put some sound deadener tiles over it. I coated the entire underneath with bed liner so I am hoping that helps.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Other than the passenger rear footwell, it was all still the original pans, and I wanted to keep it that way. A previous owner had apparently just sprayed red paint over surface rust in the pans (probably when they patched the one). I figured the only way to keep it from getting worse over time was to take it all the way back to bare metal and blast out the pits.

I’m doing the underside next. Plan is to do two coats of epoxy under there, a 25/75 ceramic microsphere coat for heat barrier, then another coat of epoxy. I’m planning to do spectrum inside the wheel wells also for sound deadening and rock chip protection.

 

[70chall440]

Other than the passenger rear footwell, it was all still the original pans, and I wanted to keep it that way. A previous owner had apparently just sprayed red paint over surface rust in the pans (probably when they patched the one). I figured the only way to keep it from getting worse over time was to take it all the way back to bare metal and blast out the pits.

I’m doing the underside next. Plan is to do two coats of epoxy under there, a 25/75 ceramic microsphere coat for heat barrier, then another coat of epoxy. I’m planning to do spectrum inside the wheel wells also for sound deadening and rock chip protection.

Sounds like you have a good handle on it. No doubt that any amount of work will be an improvement to these cars. I haven't done anything inside the car, only the bed liner underneath it but with the sound deadener inside I think its going to be fairly quiet.

 

[cal30_sniper]

100%. I’ve raptor lined wheel wells in the past, it always works really well.

This is the last time I’m going this deep into one without it being on a rotisserie. Sand Cleanup and overhead welding/blasting/painting is for the birds.

 

[70chall440]

100%. I’ve raptor lined wheel wells in the past, it always works really well.

This is the last time I’m going this deep into one without it being on a rotisserie. Sand Cleanup and overhead welding/blasting/painting is for the birds.

LOL yeah I completely understand. I built my Cuda on my rotisserie and as you have seen I had this car on it (when I got the car it was on a rotisserie). Between the rotisserie and the lift it makes life MUCH better.

 

[70chall440]

Spent some time working on the HVAC lines and am very happy with the results.

 

[ckessel]

Did mine the same way on the inner fender. They come through the rh baffle for the condenser.

 

[70chall440]

Did mine the same way on the inner fender. They come through the rh baffle for the condenser.

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Where did you put the dryer?

 

[ckessel]

Dryer? What dryer? I don't need no steenking dryer! LOL. I don't have it yet. I just have the line bulkheads, the condenser, compressor and the mount brackets I made to hold the box onto the firewall. Brackets welded in. I rented the dummy box from Restomod Air, using the Haymaker unit, to fab up the weld on units so that the box mount bracket has an attachment. Since its a 65, any air upgrade is DIY, so no kits. When it's time for plumbing, I'll get the dryer and mount it in the most accessible area. Same goes for the charge ports. I still need to mount the last bulkhead unit onto the firewall. Have it but on the to do list with many other items/tasks. I decided to go Restomod as they have a plethora of vent options, an understatement, plus for the controls you have an option to operate it from a phone or touchscreen. I want to put a mini I-Pad in for that plus I plan on putting a FLIR system in which the pad will operate and allow viewing. Along with Pandora, maps and many other functions.

 

[70chall440]

Dryer? What dryer? I don't need no steenking dryer! LOL. I don't have it yet. I just have the line bulkheads, the condenser, compressor and the mount brackets I made to hold the box onto the firewall. Brackets welded in. I rented the dummy box from Restomod Air, using the Haymaker unit, to fab up the weld on units so that the box mount bracket has an attachment. Since its a 65, any air upgrade is DIY, so no kits. When it's time for plumbing, I'll get the dryer and mount it in the most accessible area. Same goes for the charge ports. I still need to mount the last bulkhead unit onto the firewall. Have it but on the to do list with many other items/tasks. I decided to go Restomod as they have a plethora of vent options, an understatement, plus for the controls you have an option to operate it from a phone or touchscreen. I want to put a mini I-Pad in for that plus I plan on putting a FLIR system in which the pad will operate and allow viewing. Along with Pandora, maps and many other functions.

LOL you definitely got a lot going on there, but I guess not really all that more than any other build. I will say this about the "kits", like so many things in the hobby that they say will work but don't the VA AC kit is the same.

If I hadn't been a complete cherry at doing AC I would have ordered parts individually I think. They don't have a "kit" for a 71 B body but sell instead a generic kit but in the end you still have to build it as if you made it all up. The only thing a "kit" gives you is 1 PN to order and get 80% of the parts.

I just ordered all of the hardline stuff, going with Stainless from the radiator core support to/from the dryer and condenser. I am going silver solder ends onto lines I bend.

 

[70chall440]

I made up some of the lines for my HVAC, this is one of the heater lines in which I put the flow valve. I used gates power grip heat shrink hose clamps on it. I am still waiting on a number of hose ends before I clamp everything. I also have to mount the condenser and drier, then plumb those which will be hard SS line.

 

[ckessel]

McMaster Carr has sheets of tough, formable plastics you could use for a hose shield in that area. On a project I did some years ago, I got some material that was a marine grade, scuff/impact/rub resistant and made a battery shield for that truck. I made a tray to mount the battery in front of the rh wheel and behind the headlight up inside the fender. Made the shield for there plus put one on the other side to protect the ABS unit which had similar mounting and potential road debris impacts. Also there are strap on shields used for hydraulic hose protection if you have any Ag places around.

 

[70chall440]

McMaster Carr has sheets of tough, formable plastics you could use for a hose shield in that area. On a project I did some years ago, I got some material that was a marine grade, scuff/impact/rub resistant and made a battery shield for that truck. I made a tray to mount the battery in front of the rh wheel and behind the headlight up inside the fender. Made the shield for there plus put one on the other side to protect the ABS unit which had similar mounting and potential road debris impacts. Also there are strap on shields used for hydraulic hose protection if you have any Ag places around.

Yeah I was/am thinking about what type of shield I need to make, but I am definitely making something. I might use some of that spiral hose shielding they use on big rigs, I used some previously and while it is a PIA to put on it does work well to protect the hose.

 

[70chall440]

I was able to get the engine bay lines finished. I am still waiting on some heater connections to finish the under fender lines.

 

[70chall440]

So now I am looking at the radiator and fan, the radiator is a Griffin and the radiator is a Challenger/Charger ball bearing dual fan from Rockauto. The problem I have run into is that the radiator has no mounting surfaces at all and the fan does not have any usable attachment points. So my plan is to weld some angle to the radiator on the sides and weld a "shelf" for the bottom onto which the fan will sit. On the sides I intend to make some brackets that are attached to the fan (probably by rivet) that will facilitate bolting the fan to the radiator.

 

[ckessel]

The mounting system that Be Cool supplied with mine is kind of hokey. Will address that when its time.

 

[70chall440]

I ordered a cold case radiator and fan combo today. It solves some problems for me.

 

[70chall440]

Recently I have been working on the HVAC plumbing but am waiting on 1 or 2 fittings for the lines under the fender. I am also in the process of making a drier mount given that the VA "bands" are horrible. Then I will also make mounts for the condenser to the radiator core support, however I am waiting on my new radiator before really doing too much.

I have been trying to decide what to do about my jacked up taillights, specifically the right side which evidentially got water in it at some point and corroded the crap out of the 2 red lenses. I determined that I had a couple of options:

1. Try and salvage what I have
2. Remove the 2 bad sockets and replace them with after market ones
3. Make LED taillight panels

Well after some thought I decided I would try my hand at #3. I did some research, watched some videos and ordered some supplies. I decided to try the back up light first since it is the smallest with 40 LEDs (outer lens gets 134 and the inner 160). Here are some pics, my issue now is figuring out how to mount the board in the housing. Sorry for the blurry pics, my phone lens was dirty...