'72 Charger project

[mattsinger]

I've been lurking in the background for a while reading lots....thought I'd put a post up and share some pics of my sons 72 Charger we are working on.
We towed it home about 11 months ago. He has most of the underside blasted and painted, starting to work on the underhood area now. The drivers front fender and door have the most rust...but I'm sure we can make it look OK. This will be his daily driver, with plans to have it on the road this summer. The original 318 had a cracked block....so we picked up a lightly used 383.

More to come
Matt

 

[mattsinger]

After finding the 318 had a crack in the block...we pulled the 383 down hoping for a quick re-ring and bearings....but found a bent rod. Not wanting to have to rebuild it twice....we figured we might as well go through it all. Found a great deal on some 440 length Scat rods and Diamond pistons.

 

[mattsinger]

Had the block bored .030. and internals balanced. Picked up a windage tray and Hemi type oil pan from 440 Source and started assembly.

 

[mattsinger]

I added a couple small welds to the baffles in the pan...I'd have to have one come loose. We went with a Comp cams Xtreme Energy 274 Cam, and an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. Also stumbled across a killer deal on a lightly used set of ceramic Hooker super comp headers.

 

[mattsinger]

A little epoxy primer and paint...and it looks pretty good.

Now to try and figure out the body work.

 

[mattsinger]

This is pretty much where we stand today. Did some of the sandblasting of the underside over the winter. Most of the underside is done in POR15. IF the weather drys up some this weekend, we hope to start stripping some of the engine compartment down.

 

[tpodwdog]

WOW.... building the engine in the kitchen....reminds me of ME ...30 years ago....except i built my 383 in my 5 x 10 bedroom in a fleetwood trailer....LMAO...atta boy kid...KEEP IT GOIN' !

 

[Donny]

That looks like a cool project, and, it looks absolutely dreadful laying on the floor while sand blasting, it looks actually dangerous, all that free silica released and contained in the plastic sheeting...might want to rethink that process again b/c that stuff WILL kill ya!

 

[mattsinger]

That looks like a cool project, and, it looks absolutely dreadful laying on the floor while sand blasting, it looks actually dangerous, all that free silica released and contained in the plastic sheeting...might want to rethink that process again b/c that stuff WILL kill ya!

yep..not fun, but not as bad as it looks. A good resperator, a fan moving clean air in, and the garage door open to let the junk out. Makes a mess, but works good.

 

[mattsinger]

My son got a little more old crud cleaned off it this weekend. Now a little patch work and primer

 

[dave5237]

WOW.... building the engine in the kitchen....reminds me of ME ...30 years ago....except i built my 383 in my 5 x 10 bedroom in a fleetwood trailer....LMAO...atta boy kid...KEEP IT GOIN' !

Yeah. I was noticing the whirlpool tub and vanity. My wife would go berzerk if I wheeled the engine through the bathroom LOL. Looks good.

 

[mattsinger]

Yeah. I was noticing the whirlpool tub and vanity. My wife would go berzerk if I wheeled the engine through the bathroom LOL. Looks good.

We de-commisioned that bathroom for the winter. Too cold in the garage, and didn't want to try and carry the engine down the steps to the basement.

 

[mattsinger]

rust repair from the windshield forward is done...now for some primer

 

[roadrunnerman]

nice work on the project.have you picked out a color yet, or are you going to keep it green?

 

[mattsinger]

thanks.....Since the interior is green...and in great shape...we are going to do the outside in green, but no the same....deciding on sub-lime or green go.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

We are doing a 73 basket case we started with the body first, the engine and trans will come later. Looks like your makin progress. This is ours.
http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n522/lou3500/charger project/

 

[mattsinger]

We are doing a 73 basket case we started with the body first, the engine and trans will come later. Looks like your makin progress. This is ours.
http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n522/lou3500/charger project/

for a basket case, it doesnt look to bad. I better not show you what our front fenders look like.....yours look great

Good luck with it

 

[fla 66 cuda]

Thanks, the one i made the internal bracket for i hung it tonight and gotta modify it it's sticking out too far gotta cut the flange off and reweld it on so the fender will line up with the door. We are quite pleased with it [aint gonna be no show car i don't think] but we'll see how it turns out, so far it ain't bad for a couple of rednecks that ain't never welded or fabricated,painted ect.

 

[mattsinger]

I need to light a fire under my son after they get out of school.....Hope to make some good progress on it in the next month.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

Good luck with your project,i have had the ups and downs with my son also [he is not intrested in bodywork] altho he does help out doing sanding an spraying the primer.