1971 Challenger. Strip to Street
 

Ok 1971 Challenger that started its life as a 1/4 mile stripper Starting in 1985. At the tender age of 14 this poor girl started loosing all her parts 318 gone, 8-3/4 gone, dash parts gone, wipers ect. Well starting 2014 this now old girl was showing signs a chassis that had taken a beating. It has been a proven race car with wins at NHRA e.t. finals, mopars at the strip, and 10.5 and 10.9 index racing.
The goal of the build is to keep the drag look make a pass now and then but to get it on the street with some modern day upgrades. Why this car you ask??:confused: Well its was all the money we had and seems like a good ideal.cash we will take pics of every inch of the car to keep as much of the history as possible.

What are you're plans for the drivetrain? Have any pics of what you are starting with?

It will take a bit before I can put some good pics up but they are coming soon. I would like some advise on what compression I can get away with on the street with fuel additive.
Engine is a 440 to 499 built by HBR competition engines. 11.3 to 1
Cam: chrysler purple shaft int 273 exh 270
Crank: Eagle 4340 4.150 stroke
Pistons: je flat tops
Heads: Edelbrock Perf rpm ported by Rick
Rods: Manley H beam
Rocker: Gold crane race
Carb: Holley 850 hard core
Dis: Msd Pro billet
Ignition: MSD 7 al 3.
Trans: 727 unknown other then high stall revers manual valve body.
Rear: Moser dana 60 with spool and 4.30 gears.
Suspension. Caltracs, mono leaf calvert springs, calvert shocks, lowered.

Could be a candidate for a Gear Vendor overdrive and a 10" converter. Done!

Glory days. Wood burn Oregon 2013.


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Lets see.... For me it would be >>>>>>>
Run it on Premium Fuel...
Swap the cam to a Lunati Something 270@50 "Note"
3000 RPM Converter
4.10 Out back "If I could not use a 32" Tall Drag Radial" If a 32" fits? leave the 4.30 in it.

Note:
I would do the cam swap after I see how it ran,, and if pinged a would go with the cam swap...
The MSD 7AL Has an 18* start retard in it for starting and Puts the timing back in after it see's 1800 rpm

Other than Hanging all the hardware back in. I might weight till you did so. These cars were Heavy in street trim.....lol
I'm Sure your going to miss all the folks at Woodburn Raceway... Great track. We has about 7 races there.. Good Air and lots of bite...:clap:

Drag Packs Gear Vender might be ok also.... I could be down with that...

Just my 2 cents...

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Now The Bad. Is it that Bad? wiring has been pulled for head and tail lights but does this look like a project that will not bankrupt a guy that only makes 50k a year?cash
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Were looking to make a street legal drag car that we can cruse around in. Day trips. We know it will not be a full restoration but want it to have a clean body, working lights, bigger fuel tank or cell, wipers, and not need to freak out if we hit a little rain when we were out. oh yeah we will need a new motor plate so we can have an alternator and power steering. :puke: oh yeah and trunk and hood not to be lift off any more I'm sure it's not to hard to unbolt then when we need them off ha ha.

A lot of it will depend on what you can do yourself and what you need someone else to do. Take your time with everything, think what you are doing through twice before doing it and don't be afraid to get creative.

If you need someone to do a task for you, ask if there are parts of it that you can do to help keep the cost down. It also doesn't matter what you make as you need to make sure you take care of your family first, car comes second.

Strip....
Body Panels...
Paint....
Wiring....
Accessories / interior...
Drivetrain / suspension...

Get out the pencil... :)

Just my 2 cents....:)

Ok thanks. We are now for sure going to sell the nova we have to put some money into the challenger. Our 72 nova is super nice and we think it may sell in the 15000-17000 if the right buyer comes by at the car show we put it in thats coming up. So if sold we will use 7000-10000 on the challenger. how far do you think that will get us? Hope everything but paint. I can do a painless kit myself to cut back on cost. should I do the weld in sub frame?

I Myself would put them in... Now is a good time.... That amount should get you close, if you can do fuel lines, wiper motor, fuel tank, carpet, shifter, after market heater and A/C, and that kind of stuff yourself and save on lots of labor...

Hang all the real stuff you need to make it streetable.... Take care of all the fab and sheet metal needs, Do the Body and paint... Handle the rest when you can get too it. That way at least you can wheel it around and enjoy it some...

Just my 2 cents

Do you have E-85 fuel in your location? 11.25 to 1 will work with E-85, 12.5 to 1 would be better but it will work good just rework your carb or buy a new E-85 carb. This is what I'm planning for the 500 in my Plymouth.

Ok just got two doors, just about all of the cars wiring, front lower lights, wipers ,wiper arms , wiper light and dimmer switch. for $610 thats all I had in my pocket. what do you all think good deal?
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Fair enough.... Your off to a good start...

One door down rust stop where needed dry lubed the window and re fitted like 30 times to close easy. Ummm any tips on hanging doors or is it just work the up down from the body side and the in out from the door side?

Its a start. now one more then a body guy will be needed

Old door that I will need the glass out of soon
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Door on glass down

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Glass up and closes nicely

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:clap::clap::clap::dance::clap::clap::clap:

No Tips from here.... But those dam things are heavy!!!!! Looks good from here...lol

Oooooo, Oooooo.... And you have a Sunbeam Tiger Project too boot !!!!!
You are so screwed !!!!! Hahahahahahahahaa

Yeah that was my grandma and grandpa's 1965 healey but were not ready to take on the backwards electrical and blown up 65hp engine that no one wants to rebuild because parts are not easy to find. Some day

Cool Beans..:)

Whats behind door number two? A roll bar that will not let you open the door from inside. Boooo. Its not that bad but the stock handle hits the cage so I will need to modify it some time. but the door works well and I slapped a new regulator in it so it's super smooth. ha ha.
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The old door looked like the other side inside. I may be able to use one for wall art some day ha ha. or make a custom sign for car shows out of the driver side. Attachment 9675

Looking Good !!!!! :):hello:

Ok about to make two moves going to order a full harness from American auto wire and get a fuel cell. with the fuel cell we are looking into a 20 gal from rci blue aluminum with sump to sit in the trunk any reason why this would be a bad idea?

No trunk space. Sometimes for a street car this is handy?

Not sure if it will fit the stock location with the wheel tub's? Buuuuuuuut,,, These are great options!! Tank, straps, and even a electric fuel pump if you feel you need it.... :)

http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/pa...394/prd394.htm

So the new doors are on and the wife drove it at a local car showAttachment 9901

Put on some street tires and wheels. drag lite 90 wheels. MT E.T. radial 30x12.5 R15.
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american auto wire showed up and now I want to know what to do with that dash board.
got my hands on some stock parts but with out gauges. this may be bad but I cut and sanded till I made them look like I feel they should have looked in 1971
Going with the GPS speed sensor.
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Wiring looking good and now test fitting.
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Wait for it...
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I think this is awesome. going to move the tac for the street