70 Challenger R/T SE

[Dodgey1]

So a few months into the restoration of my 1970 Challenger R/T SE. Slowly working my way through the body, the interior, the underbody. I seem to keep getting distracted by something else as I uncover it and head off in a different direction.

That said, I'm building up a pile of restored parts off the vehicle. Just need to do the underbody and interior rust work to have somewhere to put the parts ...



With all the front suspension off and now painted, I realise I'm not that far off being able to put the body into the rotisserie. So once again, what was just going to be a quick replace the bushes in the front suspension has somehow ended up with me working on putting the body into the rotisserie to totally clean up the underside of the car

[anlauto]

That's the way to do it.....I keep a "restored component" list for every car, and just highlight each item when it's restored WITH the hardware ready to bolt on....that way I can keep track of each project progress.

[anlauto]

Here's a sample for one car, of course, body styles and options make a difference:
PARTS RESTORED

INTERIOR:
Complete Heater Box/Hardware
Complete Steering Column/Hardware
Complete Dash Assembly/Hardware
Complete Front Door Panel Assemblies/Hardware
Complete Rear Interior Panels/Hardware
Rear Parcel Shelf/Clips
Gas Pedal/Hardware
Complete Brake Pedal Assembly/Hardware
Complete E Brake Pedal/Cable/Hardware
Rear View Mirror/Hardware
Sun Visors/Hardware
Shoulder Belt Retaining clips/Hardware
Coat Hooks/Hardware
Headliner Sail Panel retaining brackets/Hardware
Driver's Side Vent Box/Cable/Hardware
Rear Interior panel securing brackets/Hardware
Carpet Retainer/Hardware
Manual Washer Foot Pump/Hardware
Seat Belt Floor Bezels/Hardware
Antenna Extension Cable
Metal Floor Plugs/Hardware
Kick Panels/Insulation/Hardware
Upper Windshield Trim/Hardware
Inner Roof Rail Trim/Hardware
Inner Back Window Trim/Hardware
Complete Seat Assembly/Hardware
Defroster vents Duct Work/Hardware
Dome Light Assembly/Wiring/Bulb/Hardware

BODY:
Complete Front Bumper Assembly/Road Lamps/Hardware
Complete Rear Bumper Assembly/Brackets/Hardware
Complete Door Latch/window Track Assemblies/Hardware
Complete ¼ Window/Track Assemblies/Hardware
Marker Light Housings (to be painted)
Driver's Side Rearview Mirror (to be painted)
Rear Valance Brackets (to be painted)
Hood Pin Brackets (to be painted)
Fender mounting brackets/Hardware (to be painted)
Battery Tray/ bracket/Hardware (to be painted)
Hood Latch Support/Tray/Hardware (to be painted)
Hood Hinges/Hardware (to be painted)
Door Hinges/Hardware (to be painted)
Front/Rear marker light mounting brackets/Hardware
Side Marker Light Assemblies/Hardware
Upper Door Post Seals/Hardware
Door Striker Bolts
Upper Door Window Seals/Hardware
Gas Tank Filler Tube/Gas Cap/Seal/Hardware
Door Handle Assemblies/Hardware
Headlight Assemblies/Hardware
Headlight Splash Shields/Hardware
Door Hinge Splash Shields/Hardware
License Plate Light Assembly/Hardware
Complete Tail Light Assemblies/Hardware
Cuda Tail panel Emblem
Tail Panel Trim/Clips
Lower Front Valance Insert/Hardware
(5) Piece Windshield Stainless Trim/Clips
(5) Piece Rear Back glass Stainless Trim/Clips
Drip Rail Moldings/Hardware
Roof Rail Weather-strip Channels/Hardware
Complete Grill Assembly/Hardware
Complete Rear Spoiler/Hardware
Rear License Plate Bracket/Hardware

ENGINE COMPARTMENT:
Horns/Hardware
UCA Access Shields/Hardware
Wiper Motor/Wiring/Hardware
Complete Wiper Arms/Wipers/Clip
Starter Relay
Cowl Vent Screens/Hardware
Wiper Transmission Arm Assembly/Hardware
Road Lamp Wiring/Clips
Windshield washer hose/firewall plug
Battery Cable holder bracket
Disc Brake Distribution Block/Lines/Hardware
Fan Shroud/Hardware
Radiator/cap/hose/Hardware
CHASSIS:
Complete Rear Leaf Springs/Hangers/Shackles/Hardware
Rear Sway Bar/ Mounting Plates/Links/Hardware
Rear Shock Plates/U Bolts/Hardware
Rear Axle Rebound Bumpers/Hardware
Fuel/Brake Line Shields/Hardware
Complete Gas Tank Assembly/ Straps/Hardware
Exhaust Floor Hanger Bracket/Hardware
Column Lock-out Linkage
Torsion Bars/Boots/Hardware
Complete Spindle/Front Brake Assemblies
Complete K Frame/Front Suspension/Steering Assembly
Complete Upper Control Arms/Hardware
K Frame-Rad Support Bracket/Hardware
Complete Rear Axle Assembly
Complete Driveshaft/U joints
Wheel/Tire Assemblies
TRANSMISSION:
Transmission Cross member/Mount/Hardware
Complete Transmission
ENGINE:
Upper Pulley/Hardware
Lower Pulley/Hardware
Alternator Brackets
Throttle Cable Bracket/Hardware
Motor Mounts/Hardware
Clutch Fan/Hardware
Distributor Hold Down/Hardware
Complete Carburetors/Linkage
Spark Plug Heat Shield
TRUNK COMPARTMENT:
Inflator Bottle Clamp
Inflator Bottle
Jack Base
Jack Hook
Tire Iron
Lock Rod Cover/Hardware
Trunk Latch
Spare Tire Hold Down Stud/Wing Nut
Tail Light Housings
Spare Tire
Shock Tower Metal Floor Plugs
Gas Tank Filler Tube/Seal/Hardware
Gas Tank Vent Tube Assembly/Hardware

[Dodgey1]

Some nice work in there Alan!

[Dodgey1]

Dash pad redone as well. I still need to blast and paint the speaker covers!

[Dodgey1]

Steering column done. All wear parts replaced, sand blasted and re-painted.

[Dodgey1]

So, spent some time the last two days on fabricating the brackets to mount her into the rotisserie. Wrapped up today with it fully completed, she's still resting on axle stands as my next job is to drop the diff and rear suspension. Also will take off the doors and hood to lighten her up while I work on the underside.

At the front it's a 1/4" (6.5mm) plate welded to the square section tube using the bumper bar mount holes. The square tube then slides into the ends of the rotisserie frame. Two bolts on the bottom, and two bolts on the side hold the square tube in place.

At the rear, again the 1/4" (6.5mm) plate welded to the ends of the square section tube and uses the rear bumper bar mount holes. The tube then slides into the ends of the rotisserie frame and has the same 4 bolt setup as the front.

At this stage I haven't balanced on the cg yet - I'll wait till after the doors, diff and hood are off to Balance.

[Dodgey1]

I've got all the rear end components blasted and painted. Just need to put some of the assembly line markings on them and they can go back together.

[ebodyproducts]

Keep up the great work.  That looks awesome!!

[Rrod]

Dash pad looks good. Did you send your dash to a vendor?  If so, who was the vendor?

[Dodgey1]

Yes, sent it to a dash restorer here in Australia.

[360fish]

<snip> I seem to keep getting distracted by something else as I uncover it and head off in a different direction. <snip>

I think it's a sickness...   I have it to... 

[Dodgey1]

Been working on the rust in the inner/outer cowl hinge on the passenger side. Ended up totally removing both sides of the cowl, they were rotted through at the base and top section. Once removed, the top of the rail was also rotten, so cut it out. Thankfully was I removed all the built up crud from inside, it was actually in pretty good condition. Minor spot hole weld, bent up a new top rail and good as new.
I've got the two replacement sections for the cowl hinge, test fitted and thankfully the door opening comes out as the same measurements as the untouched drivers side! So a little more spot welding to do next weekend and I've got that job done. Aside from painting it ...

[Dodgey1]

I've now got the new inner and outer hinge cowl back in place. While I was working on the cowl, I was getting more and more unhappy with how the replacement front floor pans where put in. Turns out they were cut oversize and tacked down over the top of the hole from the original pans. Once I cut them out there was a lot of rust in the overlap between the old and new. Painful, but glad I took the out. Now just have to cut them to size, and make up some additional bits to replace remaining parts of the original pan that are too far gone, sand blast the insides of the transmission support and frame rails ...



All I was going to do was replace the worn suspension components and I keep finding other things (being distracted  ) that I need to fix/repair. 🤣

[YellowThumper]

Very nice....
Project creep gets the best of us.
"Solid" progress there.