1973 Charger suspension, brakes, and steering rebuild

[Paul_G]

I dragged this home last year. It's a big block 4 speed. Got it running and drivable first, then decided on a rebuild plan. The car needs a complete restoration. Plan is to restore sections at a time rather than tear it all apart at once. I am starting on the bottom and working my way up. It took about a week to disassemble the suspension, brakes, and steering. About 4 months to recondition and reassemble.

I used all Energy Suspension poly body and suspension bushing parts from Rock Auto. Steering parts are all Moog from Rock Auto except the steering gear box, it is a reman from Car Quest which is now Advance Auto. Brakes from NAPA. Everything wearable under the car is new.

Before pics of the underside.

Going back together

I hung the engine from a chain and support across the inner fenders so I could remove the K-frame. Cleaned and painted the engine. Straightened the bottom of the oil pan and replaced the gaskets.

Engine before

Engine after

 

[Paul_G]

The rear sway bar bushings were shot, and I could not find replacements. Used some generic poly bushings from Energy Suspension and had to make them work. Drilled out the spot welds on the end links, made some half round support plates and welded them to the top half of the end link. Now the new bushing fits and stays in place. Made some spacer plates to shim the bar away from the frame to get it align under the end links.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Very cool ! How about a few pics of the car too !

 

[Paul_G]

Sure. On the trailer just getting to the house.

After I got it running. Put some CL wheels on it.

The interior. It is cleaned up now, got all the gauges working, replaced the dash cluster, put a different seat bottom I had. Rebuilt the steering column.

 

[72Dodge]

I dragged this home last year. It's a big block 4 speed. Got it running and drivable first, then decided on a rebuild plan. The car needs a complete restoration. Plan is to restore sections at a time rather than tear it all apart at once. I am starting on the bottom and working my way up. It took about a week to disassemble the suspension, brakes, and steering. About 4 months to recondition and reassemble.

I used all Energy Suspension poly body and suspension bushing parts from Rock Auto. Steering parts are all Moog from Rock Auto except the steering gear box, it is a reman from Car Quest which is now Advance Auto. Brakes from NAPA. Everything wearable under the car is new.

Before pics of the underside.

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Going back together

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I hung the engine from a chain and support across the inner fenders so I could remove the K-frame. Cleaned and painted the engine. Straightened the bottom of the oil pan and replaced the gaskets.

Engine before

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Engine after

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[72Dodge]

Nice work! You've given me some ideas for my
'72 Charger! I'm sorry I didn't start mine in steps'
like you did! It's a rolling shell right now, and the only saving grace is that it'll be a Street Legal Stock Car Tribute to Richard Petty, so a "comfortable interior" isn't on the phase list!

 

[hanks73340]

....like what I'm seeing...keep up the fantastic work!

 

[mopar73dge]

great suspension work, I did my rear leaf springs and all the hardware best improvment ever for the rear of the car.