71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[pettybluebird]

Any updates on the challenger Louis. ...

 

[Bladecutter]

Louis, Que Pasa Mano? Been a minute,,,some changes have taken place since last we spoke. Your projects as always are looking Tight Main. Peace!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Hey guys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm back..................

I didn't post anything for a long while because I had a major dilemma and no progress was made on the car. So I simply stayed away. But that has since been resolved.

Most of you know that I don't like to take short cuts on anything. This is what was keeping me from making progress on the Challenger. I had taken the car so far apart and didn't want to start welding it back together without knowing that it was 100 percent straight and in perfect factory alignment.

So I ended up doing a TON of research on Mopar frame rail jigs................. you see where this is going.

After saving up some coin, (and making a major investment in time and work), I drew up some plans and located the factory frame dimensions for E body cars.

Here's what I came up with.

This is a universal / adaptable frame rail jig assembly. It has provisions for different brackets for different car bodies. This set up is for an E body Mopar. Soon I will be making brackets for 68-70 B Body Mopars next.

My Challenger is sitting pretty now on the frame rail jig. It's very strong and is holding everything right where it should be as I start spot welding her back together.

Today I spot welded the rear cross member in place. Soon I will be installing the under the seat floor pan and one piece trunk floor next.

Stay tuned !!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's good to be back.........................

 

[Car Nut]

Coming along nicely!

 

[747mopar]

Ummmm, forgive me but I don't see a car on your jig??

 

[Car Nut]

Ummmm, forgive me but I don't see a car on your jig??

That's the new A/C!

 

[Bladecutter]

Man Louis, i been wonderin where You been!! Great to see You back Man!!

 

[Chargerjase]

Great you are back Louis. I am really looking forward to seeing you build this car.

 

[pettybluebird]

Keep those pics coming Louis ....

Good to see you back in your shop.....

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Coming along nicely!

Thanks Car Nut !!!!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Ummmm, forgive me but I don't see a car on your jig??

Yes I guess you're correct !!! I should have said "Part of my Challenger " ...................... LOL

 

[71airgrabberRR]

That's the new A/C!

Yes it does have AC, but it doesn't work too good unless the frame rail jig is being towed at 50 MPH or faster.................and this one has the ultra rare M51 X2 sunroof fender tag code. If you look closely you can see that it has two optional sunroofs right now.............. There's a divider between them and this is where the dome light will eventually go. It also has the Flintstone floor pan.................

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Man Louis, i been wonderin where You been!! Great to see You back Man!!

Thanks Jimmy. It's good to be back here buddy............................

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Great you are back Louis. I am really looking forward to seeing you build this car.

Thanks Jase !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please follow along as I plan on regular updates now.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Keep those pics coming Louis ....

Good to see you back in your shop.....

It's great to be working on the Challenger again. It has been on hold for so long now, so it's almost like I got a fresh start on it again. My energy levels are back up there now. I may have been a little burned out on it for a while. I'm glad that I decided to stop working on it until I had the proper setup to make sure it was square. I have found several things that were out of alignment. Not by too much, but enough to where it may have caused some problems later on down the road. At least it's going back together properly now.

Please keep checking in for regular updates................... I'll try my best to keep it current.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Today I test fit the new AMD "under the seat" floor pan into the Challenger. It fits like a glove. Plus I know that now when it gets spot welded back in it will be where it's supposed to be. This will be the next part to get spot welded back into the car. From here on it's going back together again................

 

[71airgrabberRR]

I also laid out the new gas tank braces on the bottom side of the one piece trunk floor. Luckily I saved what was left of the original part, and used it to get the correct measurements for the spacing on the braces. As soon as I remove the EDP coating where it will be spot welded, these braces will be ready to go. Then the trunk floor can get spot welded in too.........................

 

[rrTor-Red]

Keep it going!

 

[mopar4don]

Welcome back Louis!
I love seeing cars torn down and put together the right way!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Keep it going!

I'm working on it............... In a few I'll post some more pictures of some of the other stuff I did to the car over the past year or so. Thanks my friend.