'71 R/T, fixing a parts car

[My Kars Shop]

Just found this thread - your starting car is in about the same shape mine is/was.  I am commenting here so I can come back and red it through in detail.   But also so I can say - from what I have already seen.  GREAT work.   I KNOW how much work it is, and am actually doing an entire series on mine on youtube to share with people what it takes to do this kind of work....   I am doing mine in a similar manner to ours - - as a driver - with one exception.  I am fabricating a lot of the stuff rather than buying parts - because I am just that crazy.   Actually I love making stuff out of metal - its my escape from the world - so... why not.   

Anyway, I will be back when i have time to drink all this in.  But from what i have seen so far.  MOST EXCELLENT!!!!!!

[Flatdad]

Thanks man! Just looked up your Youtube channel, love watching people's build videos & I plan on watching through yours as well.

[My Kars Shop]

Thanks!!!!  I love making stuff and its a FUN project!!!!   Hope you enjoy the channel!!!

[My Kars Shop]

Thanks man! Just looked up your Youtube channel, love watching people's build videos & I plan on watching through yours as well.

I just read through the thread.   Yep  - I can relate to all you are doing.  My oproject it just as bad.     You're making great progress.   Keep after it!!! I love what you are doing here!!!!

[Flatdad]

I binge watched Mike's Challenger build videos & got fired up to work on my project more

Thursday:

Stitch welded the wheelhouse lip, ground, primed

Friday:

I stripped the external engine/accessories to get ready to pull the drivetrain & called my brother to help

Saturday:

We dropped transmission & yanked the engine. The only real surprise was seeing just how comparatively solid the front of the car is compared to what the rest was! It should only need minimal patching & a good cleaning.

The 400 had a '75 vin & the 727 had a '77 vin. Not a single bolt twisted off & all the fluids seemed to be topped up & clean! ...at least until I spilled most of it on the ground, lol.

Sunday... we rested, & fixed the door on my old Power Ram.

[My Kars Shop]

I binge watched Mike's Challenger build videos & got fired up to work on my project more

Thursday:

Stitch welded the wheelhouse lip, ground, primed

Friday:

I stripped the external engine/accessories to get ready to pull the drivetrain & called my brother to help

Saturday:

We dropped transmission & yanked the engine. The only real surprise was seeing just how comparatively solid the front of the car is compared to what the rest was! It should only need minimal patching & a good cleaning.

The 400 had a '75 vin & the 727 had a '77 vin. Not a single bolt twisted off & all the fluids seemed to be topped up & clean! ...at least until I spilled most of it on the ground, lol.

Sunday... we rested, & fixed the door on my old Power Ram.

That's AWESOME!  Glad my channel got you motivated!!!!!!   

Sounds like great progress!  Cant wait for pics. 

[Flatdad]

Last night, was a night. I wish I could have filmed what was done. Not because it was good, not to impress, but because so little was accomplished. In just under two hours, I managed to remove 6 screws that mount the sunvisors.

It started simply enough, an innocent Phillip's head screw driver. I pushed, I twisted, a head began to strip. Then a screw driver with a wrench was employed, but screws refused to yield. An impact driver & hammer were pressed into service, I was getting serious. 4 screws gave in, one each side refused to budge. "A two pound sledge should save the day... nope!" Then a full size sledge hammer is surely the way. It took a cold-chisel, struck in rage, to free the fasteners from their rusty cage.

All this, while the final mouse-nest stronghold in the car is raining down from the last scraps of headliner into my eyes, with the dust settling in the ever-failing magnetic LED shop-light.

[JS29]

@Flatdad  I have found valve grinding compound on the tip of the screwdriver works on striped out Philips head screws. 

[YellowThumper]

@Flatdad  I have found valve grinding compound on the tip of the screwdriver works on striped out Philips head screws. 

That's a good idea to remember.

[My Kars Shop]

Last night, was a night. I wish I could have filmed what was done. Not because it was good, not to impress, but because so little was accomplished. In just under two hours, I managed to remove 6 screws that mount the sunvisors.

It started simply enough, an innocent Phillip's head screw driver. I pushed, I twisted, a head began to strip. Then a screw driver with a wrench was employed, but screws refused to yield. An impact driver & hammer were pressed into service, I was getting serious. 4 screws gave in, one each side refused to budge. "A two pound sledge should save the day... nope!" Then a full size sledge hammer is surely the way. It took a cold-chisel, struck in rage, to free the fasteners from their rusty cage.

All this, while the final mouse-nest stronghold in the car is raining down from the last scraps of headliner into my eyes, with the dust settling in the ever-failing magnetic LED shop-light.

I literally laughed out loud at your descriptive message.  I can SO Relate  LOL

[Flatdad]

Last night went much smoother. I stripped parts from the engine bay & firewall mostly. Horns, heater box, vent boxes, wiring, ignition parts. None of the fasteners really fought back, the undercoating did its job. The heater box appears to be in good serviceable condition & the core still holds coolant.

[Flatdad]

This weekend, I stripped the front brake hard lines, distribution block, master cylinder, pedal assembly, wiper linkage, & E-brake assembly. Not much left to take out.

[Flatdad]

Shoulder belts are out along with retaining clips & headliner bows. I also finally took off the passenger door panel which revealed the beautiful GB5 blue original to my car, in unsullied, un-sunbaked condition. I was dead-set on painting the car black... but 'dat blue though... 

There is nothing left to remove for the major surgery ahead, its time to do the roof!!!

[Flatdad]

I pushed the car out to clean the grease off the K frame & managed to take some pictures of stuff...

[Flatdad]

Here's a little taste of what it took to get the quarters to fit properly.

Several cuts in that upper flange to get it to match the upper door, & some nasty fitment work to get the wheelhouse to play nicely. That's just how it goes with aftermarket sheetmetal though.