Donniejr81
Well-Known Member
OK my 71 Charger 500 is back in my possession. A family member had wanted to buy it but never coughed up the cash, so back to me it came. I'm at a point now where I have to make some serious albeit shade tree mechanic headway (for now). In order to keep a car where we live it must be licensed, driveable, and not a "nuisance". The car is currently stored at my Dad's who is going to be downsizing this Summer. So I have 1700 dollars and about 3 months to get it driveable and not an eyesore.
The good: rebuilt 727, steering, suspension, and brake system, and new gas tank and exhaust.
The bad: floors and quarters have so much filler and glass they could pass through an airport metal detector, windshield cracked, seats and dash pad trashed, and the 400 that resides in it has developed a faint knock in the bottom end.
More good: I already have paint and primer (cheap single stage stuff), a wire feed mig welder, carpet, and a brother who works in a fab shop so I have access to lots of extra metal.
Here's my plan...smooth out the filler the PO did and add a little more, prime and paint the body to the best of my ability, find some comfortable bucket seats and replace the headliner, weld in some heavy subframe connectors, and try to freshen the 400...all in 3 months and under 1700 dollars. My biggest concern is the weakened floor and it being a unibody...I'm wanting it to be safe to drive until we can buy a house. I plan on doing a proper resto when time and money allows but for now I don't have any other options except sell it. Can it be done? Driveable...safe...not a "nuisance"?
The good: rebuilt 727, steering, suspension, and brake system, and new gas tank and exhaust.
The bad: floors and quarters have so much filler and glass they could pass through an airport metal detector, windshield cracked, seats and dash pad trashed, and the 400 that resides in it has developed a faint knock in the bottom end.
More good: I already have paint and primer (cheap single stage stuff), a wire feed mig welder, carpet, and a brother who works in a fab shop so I have access to lots of extra metal.
Here's my plan...smooth out the filler the PO did and add a little more, prime and paint the body to the best of my ability, find some comfortable bucket seats and replace the headliner, weld in some heavy subframe connectors, and try to freshen the 400...all in 3 months and under 1700 dollars. My biggest concern is the weakened floor and it being a unibody...I'm wanting it to be safe to drive until we can buy a house. I plan on doing a proper resto when time and money allows but for now I don't have any other options except sell it. Can it be done? Driveable...safe...not a "nuisance"?