The Long Road to my 74 Satellite Rebuild

[rebootej]

Thanks!

I think it ended up being about and inch on each side, and in about 1.5-2 inches from the mounting brackets.

The tape was the template, cut on either side.



Ill get some pictures of what he did to the brackets on here soon.

My uncle just joined the site, he was talking about doing a write up on it. Ill ask him about it.

 

[Ron 73]

Thanks, this will be interesting.. I hope your uncle will do a write up, would help a lot to do this...

 

[rebootej]

Before i left for work this last time, my uncle started installing the tail pipes on the Satellite. WOW! What a difference! The exhaust was incredibly loud when it was dumping straight down out of the mufflers but it rattled and shook the crap out of my car. Sounds way better with the tail pipes, Better tone, not so muddled and you can hear the cam better now too.

I really wanted a cutout exhaust, kind of was inspired by the cuda's, hes still gotta put rounded lip around the cut out.





Heres some short videos before cutting the pipes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBD9dGo8Srs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmK3iSM0oDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAG7XleDQxc

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Thanks, this will be interesting.. I hope your uncle will do a write up, would help a lot to do this...

I know he wants to do one, ill let him know there have been requests for it. He is going to tuck the front bumper as much as he can too. This project had really turned in to more of a mod than a resto but I am extremely happy with how it is turning out.

The things he does with metal is like art to me, if its mechanical not a problem for me, but body work and paint is another story... hoping to learn some from him but been away working a lot.

 

[roadrunnerman]

Short video's were cool. That exhaust looks great coming out the back with those tips. Used to have a 74 RR and never noticed how much the bumper stuck out till your uncle moved them in. He did one heck of a job.

 

[rsd859]

X2 Looks smooth!

 

[rebootej]

Thanks! Once the exhaust is fully installed ill do another better video. He really has, I am super impressed with his work. He has wanted to do this to the car for years now. I can't wait to see how the front turns out too.

Also been thinking about making the scoops on the power bulge "functional". I am interested in seeing any pictures if any one else has done that? Sure there has got to be some out ther

 

[Bruzilla]

I really like what you're doing here. Great to see guys trying new things with their cars. I especially like the yellow on the engine. I'm thinking of having my engine painted safety yellow (Steelers Gold) once it's built instead of Hemi orange like most of them are.

Can't say as I'm a fan of the narrowed bumper as the wider bumper helps accentuate the flared-out quarter panels that gives these cars such a great look. When I read you were wanting to do away with the filler strip I thought you meant the top one, and I was going to advise against that. One of the few things I hate about 73/74 cars is filling the gas tank. I hate having to bend over to see where the fuel neck is at, and having that gap where the top filler strip goes in gives you a great line of sight to the fuel neck without having to do yoga moves. I took the strip off and left the gap.

 

[Donny]

Nice project, and story, especially since you're a young'un! Awesome!

 

[roadrunnerman]

Thanks! Once the exhaust is fully installed ill do another better video. He really has, I am super impressed with his work. He has wanted to do this to the car for years now. I can't wait to see how the front turns out too.

that? Sure there has got to be some out ther

Also been thinking about making the scoops on the power bulge "functional". I am interested in seeing any pictures if any one else has done
When I had my 74 back in the mid/late70's some guys were talking that you could get a set-up from the factory to make it functional but don't remember how they did it. Maybe use some rear defroster vents hooked up to vent hoses connected to a dual snorkel air cleaner. Not sure. There isn't a whole lot of room to hook up anything under the hood for the scoop vents.

 

[rebootej]

Thanks guys for the support.

Got my dad to thank for giving me the mopar bug, been helping him work on cars for as long as i can remember. And we've always been a mopar family.

roadrunnerman, Thats a good idea, ill have to look at that. I was mostly wanting to cut them open for heat venting, im in Northern Cal and in the summer we can easly have 100+ weather in the summer, but i like your idea that would be even cooler.

 

[rsd859]

Im going to have to disagree with Bruzilla, I thing with a narrow bumper it will make the "hips" look wider and I love them hips!!! So does the bumper filler have a purpose? To keep water out or direct it away or purely cosmetic?

 

[rebootej]

I agree rsd, I think if flows in the the curve better, you can see the hips better from the rear. But to each is own.

I believe that it is mostly cosmetic to fill the gap that was left when Chrysler moved the bumpers out for the 5 mph impact law. But i guess it probably kept rain out too. Any one feel free to correct me.

I cant believe that no one is re creating these since almost all that you find are cracked, warped and sun burnt. My dad and i had talked about trying to do this a couple times and selling them on ebay or something. At least i couldn't find any last time i checked.

 

[rsd859]

If I tuck my bumpers, I will have to paint them body color cause I cant afford to have them rechromed. Still dont know what to do. Thats a good Idea on pre tucking the bumpers and re-selling....got to fund your project some how.

 

[rebootej]

Ya, i was already planning on painting body color but it definitely is a big money saver not having to rechrome as well it.

I'm anxious about the paint my uncle tells me the color of yellow paint i used on the the engine bay 6 years ago is gonna be a "fun" to match because of new California laws and regulations that went in to effect Jan 1st.

Oh we where talking about remaking the filler pieces, the top and 2 sides. But doing bumper would be a good idea too.

RSD have you ever seen this RR? Another one of im using for ideas.







I think its badass

 

[rsd859]

Yeah, I really like all of the mods they have done with this one.

 

[rebootej]

Thanks RSD, i appreciate the support, works been keeping me busy and away from home. But hopefully I'll be back in a week or two and i can post some updated pictures.

 

[rsd859]

Thats what we are here for! Ive been chipping away myself, went to the junkyard and picked up some interior pieces and are going to put them on soon. We are having really horrible weather right now. I would love to see some recent pics!

 

[rebootej]

Finally got some time off work and got to come home. My uncles got the exhaust done and cutouts in the valance pretty much done. I just repainted my gas tank and re installed it. Hoping to start working on the transmission swap from a 727 to a 46rh this week too. Here's some pics.

 

[rsd859]

Wow, thats really looking sharp! Your uncle hase some nice fab skills. I just had some pipes ran out the back on monday and I was looking at them last night and the d/s is crooked, I think it will bend tho.

 

[charger360]

nice ride