Mopar newbie from upstate ny, with '73 Charger

[farmboy878]

Hey all, I bought a Charger last fall from a guy that really cobbed some of the wiring and ripped out the original front seats and tried to cut up the dash to fit an aftermarket radio...

So, I have some work ahead. I'm not a mechanic and won't pretend to be, but I have a couple employees that are pretty decent and I can do regular easy fixes. Car has some rust but not a lot... I just got her on the road and drove it up to a guy that specializes in Mopar restorations, to put a PST front end kit in the front end and a new - used steering box, because the last thing it wants to do is go straight right now. Hoping to post more pics soon. I found out when getting insurance that the car originally had a 400 in it, but the PO pulled it out in favor of a 360 and had it bored 30 over and put racing cams in it.

The plan is to build either a 383 or 440 and mate it to a four speed with a pistol grip. Right now it's an automatic.

Any tips or guys who have taken similar undertaking's advice would be appreciated!!!

 

[HawkRod]

Welcome from PA - Nice car!

Not sure how much you know about the engines, but a 360 is a small block and the 400, 383 and 440 are bog blocks. Small and big blocks have different bolt patterns for the bellhousings, so transmissions will not interchange.

Putting a big block in the car will be as easy as buying a correct set of motor mounts. If you get a big block automatic tranny it will bolt right in. A four speed will require more work, as you will need to cut the transmission tunnel and weld in a four speed hump. Since quite a few people like to do this, there are plenty of parts available to do it. Of course, you need to add one pedal too!

If you search the archives here, there are lots of good threads on these topics. Once you have done that, you can start a new thread with your specific questions.

Welcome to the site - lots of great info here!

Hawk

 

[Car Nut]

aboard!

 

[Budnicks]

welcome to FBBO,
maybe post your questions up in the other forums, you'll probably get far more responses

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO keep us posted on the swap

 

[farmboy878]

Yeah, I knew I'd have to change out the tranny as well and hang a clutch pedal, I'm just not crazy about the 360 in there. Don't get me wrong, the way it's piped tickles me in all the right places and can smoke the Cooper's going into 2nd with the auto transmission, but I want to build this slowly the way I want it.

Thanks for the welcome all! Will keep updating as I go along. Wish I had bought one sooner!

 

[Pops1967GTX]

Welcome abroad from NY........

 

[Uncle Bob]

Welcome from Uncle Bob in south Mississippi, just bought a 71 Charger myself, my first new car was a 73 Charger so good luck with the project.

 

[old_skool]

Cool, another 3rd gen Charger, and orange!!!! Welcome

 

[jfreakofkorn]

welcome to the forum ....