RockyPat
Well-Known Member
Hello everyone,
I would like to start by saying that I am new to the muscle car world and not very mechanically sound. I am young and would like to learn! I would not mind taking a lot of time to finish this project. I am trying to be sensible with the money I spend on the car. I am trying to be frugal with the understanding that spending more for a better setup can be worth it.
I plan to keep the patina of the car and make it a ratty, mechanically sound build with either some steel wheels with hub cabs or 17 inch magnums.
I recently purchased a 1971 Charger with a 318/904, front bench seat, and other base model attributes.
I will most likely need to rebuild the 318 and 904 unfortunately. While I was adding up the costs of rebuilding both items, a thought popped up into my head: Why not a G3 Hemi swap?
I know it is a lot of work and there are many parts modifications that need to be purchased and addressed.
I also do realize that it would cost more to do the hemi swap than rebuilding the 318/904 combo. BUT, would it cost way more to a point where the swap is not worth it?
A 5.7, 6.1, or 6.4 hemi with an overdrive automatic transmission or a 5/6 speed with fuel injection would be more fun, reliable, and powerful.
I am in the process of taking off the grill, front clip, fenders, and hood to fix some frame damage. I have also taken out the carpet and have no interior left in the car besides the dash (if I needed to cut the transmission tunnel there would be nothing in the way).
My original bench seats are all torn up and would need to be redone, and the non-R/T instrument cluster is broken and needs to be replaced. Meaning that I would need to replace most of these parts regardless of the type of engine, so I could cater replacement parts to work the hemi swap.
I really like some of the seats in the newer Charger/Challenger RTs SRTs.
My thinking is to try to buy a wrecked car on Copart with a low mileage hemi and transmission and nice seats to use in my 71 since original bucket seats are EXPENSIVE. GOOD/BAD idea??
Then, I would have a complete donor car to work with and I could potentially sell unneeded parts to recoup some of my costs.
Has anyone done anything similar to my plan?
Anyone see any problems with my ideas?
Should I just stick with the 318/904? Any other engine upgrade would cost a lot of money besides a 360 probably, so I am either thinking G3 hemi or the original 318.
Here are pictures of my 71 Charger:
Some potential seats I would like to put in my car (2009 Charger RT) (also, I would like to use the back seats if possible):
I would like to start by saying that I am new to the muscle car world and not very mechanically sound. I am young and would like to learn! I would not mind taking a lot of time to finish this project. I am trying to be sensible with the money I spend on the car. I am trying to be frugal with the understanding that spending more for a better setup can be worth it.
I plan to keep the patina of the car and make it a ratty, mechanically sound build with either some steel wheels with hub cabs or 17 inch magnums.
I recently purchased a 1971 Charger with a 318/904, front bench seat, and other base model attributes.
I will most likely need to rebuild the 318 and 904 unfortunately. While I was adding up the costs of rebuilding both items, a thought popped up into my head: Why not a G3 Hemi swap?
I know it is a lot of work and there are many parts modifications that need to be purchased and addressed.
I also do realize that it would cost more to do the hemi swap than rebuilding the 318/904 combo. BUT, would it cost way more to a point where the swap is not worth it?
A 5.7, 6.1, or 6.4 hemi with an overdrive automatic transmission or a 5/6 speed with fuel injection would be more fun, reliable, and powerful.
I am in the process of taking off the grill, front clip, fenders, and hood to fix some frame damage. I have also taken out the carpet and have no interior left in the car besides the dash (if I needed to cut the transmission tunnel there would be nothing in the way).
My original bench seats are all torn up and would need to be redone, and the non-R/T instrument cluster is broken and needs to be replaced. Meaning that I would need to replace most of these parts regardless of the type of engine, so I could cater replacement parts to work the hemi swap.
I really like some of the seats in the newer Charger/Challenger RTs SRTs.
My thinking is to try to buy a wrecked car on Copart with a low mileage hemi and transmission and nice seats to use in my 71 since original bucket seats are EXPENSIVE. GOOD/BAD idea??
Then, I would have a complete donor car to work with and I could potentially sell unneeded parts to recoup some of my costs.
Has anyone done anything similar to my plan?
Anyone see any problems with my ideas?
Should I just stick with the 318/904? Any other engine upgrade would cost a lot of money besides a 360 probably, so I am either thinking G3 hemi or the original 318.
Here are pictures of my 71 Charger:
Some potential seats I would like to put in my car (2009 Charger RT) (also, I would like to use the back seats if possible):