72 Dodge Charger Hard top Project

[carfreak]

You've definitely got a cleaner start than mine. That's a dang sharp Charger. And clean. Good luck with the build. Subscribed.

 

[Mywifehatesmyhobbie]

Rust just flat out sucks. It can be repaired fairly easily tho. I have been doing a little rust repair on my friends 72 Roadrunner. I'm no pro but as long as you get the new and old together that's all that counts. Grind, cut, fit weld grind some more. I got practice doing a rear window filler panel on my 69 plymouth. A cheap welder and any old hood or door skin will fix you right up. Have fun and get to it!! I need vinyl for my top same me some LOL

 

[old_skool]

If you your serious about the vinyl, I'll carefully remove it as best as I can when I get to it, that may be later closer to summer, I assume so you can kind of patch in bad areas on yours.
Yeah, picking up some scrap sheet metal today, but will be concentrating on finishing the dash wiring and installing the new radiator today, tomorrow is carb replacement and figuring out where my exhaust leak is, manifold or pipes up front, then possible wheel bearing or brake rub noise from the front right. I want to get it back to being drivable again by this weekend, all the rust and other repairs will happen while I drive it still.

 

[old_skool]

A present from me to me came in the mail today, my factory service manuals:hello2:

 

[old_skool]

Well, didn't get the radiator installed, was still working on the electrical, I have headlights but no park lights and a few accessories on the same circuit, found out the power for the parking lights wasn't making it to the headlight switch, due to some wiring butchery by the PO, going to finish it tomorrow, took me 3 hours to diagnose it, but the pink wire to the headlight switch, which is responsible for the park lights, cigarette lighter, glove box light, is supposed to get a battery feed to the switch from the fuse box is missing a connector and wires, I'll fix this as I tested with a temporary wire and everything worked as it should, so an extra day and that will be done, hopefully it won't take too long so I can get the dash back together and work on the radiator, also the carb I'm picking up in the morning as well. Battery isn't too healthy either, going to need another one of them as well.

Oh, and the manuals were a blessing, a lot more comprehensive wiring diagrams than the one on the net mostly pointed towards.

Also replaced a lot of vacuum block off caps that were cracked today as well. And numerous bulbs.

 

[old_skool]

Got a surprise today, 2 actually, first one, went to get my Carburetor today from a private owner, and as if I didn't get a great deal to begin with, he tosses in 2 free ramps.

second surprise, a radiator for a 73 Charger isn't the same as one from a 72. My 72 is an AC car(currently AC delete), and the radiator new in the box, looks almost identical to mine, but, it's an inch and a half longer and the same taller, but all the paperwork clearly states for a 73 Charger, an oem radiator, not some aluminum aftermarket. No problems, I don't mind the benefits from a larger radiator, just had to modify the mounting points slightly, plenty of room, hoses tranny lines all match up nicely.

not my choice of fan(PO's doing), I have an oem one, just need to pick up a clutch assy for it.
Shroud is now a little too short, so I'll be on the hunt for one in the future, or I may mod mine.

still have to re-route the fuel line and hook up linkage, but should be firing it up this weekend again...and special thanks to 69chargerboy for giving me a dash light socket, I only needed one, and he's graciously donating one

 

[old_skool]

Picked up my light socket from 69chargerboy this morning...NICE CORONET!!! Can't wait to see the other 2 cars, thanks again.
Now if the stinking weather will ever cut me a break, pouring down with rain today, supposed to clear up around noon today, maybe I can get my dash back together.
Don't forget Ohioans, tomorrow is the Dalton Swap Meet put on by the Mid Ohio Mopar Club, hope to see you there.

Are you old enough to remember these...?

 

[old_skool]

Wiring done, dash is back together, tested lights, works as it should. Carb linkage done, just need a fuel fitting and some fuel line, noticed the PO bent the factory metal fuel line pretty bad in a couple places, nearly kinked shut, will address that tomorrow, should be able to fire it up tomorrow and set the carb, then only a couple things left on my hit list before I can start daily driving it, and continue repairs while its in running condition.

 

[old_skool]

She running again, she's now drivable while future repairs proceed....check out a future fun addition...

After repairing all the wires behind the dash back to stock, my factory am/fm radio works, actually, quite well.

 

[rebootej]

Awesome charger man! Looking forward to seeing this progress

 

[old_skool]

Before and after

 

[old_skool]

Peeled away the tape job the PO did on the rear section of vinyl roof below the rear window, the temporary job wasn't cutting it anymore...YUCK, got some work ahead of me in the near future, but, for now, needs another temporary repair, cut away the deteriorated vinyl, brushed away all the loose rust, applied black duct tape, amazingly similar to the actual vinyl roof in texture, then added a bead of black silicone to prevent water from getting in my trunk and rusting it any more. It will be repaired this summer!!!!

Finished up the front grill, I know some will balk at the black grill, but I'm basically emulating what my 71 Charger looked like 23 years ago, another reason for the rust maker vinyl roof to go bye bye. Hopefully, in a year or 2, I'll have my 383, maybe a 4 speed, maybe keep it an automatic, but those rear gears have got to go, I think I can go 65 at an idle...

Touched up all the emblems

We like our toys, not a sensible car in the lot, wife's Mustang, my Charger, our....well, really my Jeep, but I do take her grocery shopping in it...

 

[roadrunnerman]

that black grille doesn't look too bad. Almost makes it look like they could be hide-away. I would have never guessed that was duct tape you put back on.

 

[old_skool]

that black grille doesn't look too bad. Almost makes it look like they could be hide-away. I would have never guessed that was duct tape you put back on.

Thanks, I really liked how it gave it that sinister look on my old 71 I had, and basically just had to do it again, hidden headlights would have been cool, but I like the look of old_skool dual headlights, so it works together, going for the old hot rod street look, days of old, where when we were young, we just customized it to our likes and had fun with it. The scoop is going on next. Not sure about a rear wing yet, mini like this;

Won't be doing too much after the scoop to the body though, have to get more mechanical things inspected and some repairs made, doesn't run like it should, timing feels off, points and condenser need attention, the rest of the tune up items seem new-ish, basically have to go over the entire run-ability from idle to mid rpm's, seems a little rich as well, but that might be due to components not working as they should.
Some humming coming from the right front wheel which disappears when the brakes are applied, hopefully just some wheel bearings, steering is also a little too loose, need to inspect the torque converter, some noise from that area, hopefully no damage, but the PO has the inspection cover off, I'll reinstall that after I go through it real well.
Then it will be off to the interior, need new carpet, still looking for a drivers arm rest pad(bought the wrong one) I also have some temporary seats to go in, I removing the two front buckets for repair/restoration, I"m going to re-upholster the drivers side, maybe add some foam to both seats to give them back their original shape and some more comfort, these are whats going in in the meantime;

nice damage free leather seats with drivers side a power seat, hopefully I don't get too comfy in them and put off the oem seats
I plan on daily driving it a lot, so i need to figure out some form of cup holder situation without modifying interior components...need my coffee

But I wont be doing anything anytime soon, this is the crap we were dealt overnite, from 72 degrees to 28 and snow..what the holy hell ?

 

[Propwash]

Sucks man...the winter the never ends.

 

[old_skool]

While trying to figure out why it wasn't running like it supposed to, (power to the choke missing) I noticed brackets for the hidden headlight motor...that I don't have, and my grill is just a little too pristine, I think it may have also had hidden headlights, got to find that build sheet! Tearing out the interior soon, hopefully it's intact somewhere.

 

[old_skool]

Climbed underneath the car while it was running to look for the exhaust leak, ended up being the exhaust manifold gaskets, hopefully bolts come out ok, it will be tomorrows job after the early family gathering. But, while I was under there, I heard a racket coming from my bell housing, sounded like the flex plate bolts were loose, sure enough, 3 out of 4 were, I removed them all, cleaned the threads, and used loctite and reinstalled them, noise gone.

 

[old_skool]

Well, lightning struck, I needed to replace my exhaust manifold gaskets, big leaks, drivers bank went smooth, passenger side, broke the last bolt closes to the firewall, broke it clean even with the head, tried using the manifold as a pilot for a drill, borrowed a 90 degree angle attachment, it just walked into the casting, so now I have to remove the head, going to try and do it in the car...wish me luck.

 

[old_skool]

Sick as a dog today, hacking, coughing, generally feel like sleeping all day crap, but, it's a nice day, and the weather is right, so I at least got the engine tore down today to repair the head, tomorrow, I'll attempt to drill out the offending busted bolt, already removed the heat riser from the passenger exhaust manifold, need to close up the shaft holes, this was also part of my exhaust leak. Head, cylinders, and valves all look good, but of course you never get away with just gaskets, heater hoses had to be cut off, a couple bad spark plugs, wires also deteriorated, found more vacuum lines that were leaking, if nothing else, the busted exhaust manifold bolt forced me to address other items.

 

[Dutch Rebel]

I know it can be a big pain in the *** with fixing up a old car. The rust looks really bad, I thought I had a lot on it. Good Luck with it and I will folow your progress. The taillights are the best this generation.