74 plum crazy

[jbaha]

Hey everybody!

I thought it would be better if I describe in one post all my adventures with my 74 kinda plum crazy chally.

It's a 74 318, 8 3/4 rear end with front discs brakes, radio, OE rallye cluster, power brakes, black bucket seats. It's a JH code car.

To begin with, here's the little story behind my car.

As some of you know, I'm in France. Since 2015 I was looking for a Pontiac Trans Am (yep I'm a traitor  ), eventually not finding it, I(ve always liked the challenger but thy were wayyyyy to pricey around here even in bad conditions.

One day, explaining to a colleague what I was looking for, I searched for a T/A and found a 74 challenger (because of key words) in the North of France 600km from my home (I live in the eastern part).

At first glance, on the pics, i didn't liked the color, but the price was fair, but all the papers had to be done it was still with Kansas plates. The original title was there so I decided to ask the guy to come and see it.

The car came in a lot with a mustang (the vendor is a mustang specialist) and he didn't had the time to take care of it. The car came from Kansas to the UK and then to Bercq (France) . I fell in love with it when I saw it (eventually when he started up haha)

Some work had to be done one of the rear frame had a hole in it and the shocks were... original shocks  .

The first thing i made was to cut and welded some metal onto the rear frame.

I then installed new shocks and QA1 front control arms, new air filter (there wasn't any) . New prothane bump stops;

After looking at it more in details, I decided to go with a full disc setup taken from a 06 mustang. I designed with solidworks some calipers adapter plates and made them with a laser cutting table. New front hub from wilwood, and some 18 inches wheels (I'm with 245 at the rears and 225 upfront).

Reading the forum and googling things on E body's , I had to look at the electrical wirings! and..... it was a nightmare for all good electricians! The previous owner did some really crappy work on it, there were some improvised splice wirth the main black wire to the ammeter, the washer motor was connected to the coil (YES the COIL !!!  ) the bulkhead was burned etc etc...

I took the decision of removing completly the interlock system with all the wires and compoent which was quiet easy. I changed the bulkhead connector running the wire from the engine compartment to the under dash board using a new bulkhead. (Now I would just solder all the wires, it would be really easier).

Had a little fire behind the steering wheel which was the buzzer contactor (fried because of some shavings??)

I tig welded a custom ehaust line with flowmaster super 10's.

I changed all the brake lines too, I now have to look for a better MC, i don't like the feeling of the original .

The previous owner put a performer intake and a holley 600cfm carb and some headers (don't know the brand or model). I will port the heads and change the cam this winter.

For those wo want to know, the fender tag told me that it has a "special color" and "special ordered trim" or something like that...

Here's some pics (it's still the 15" wheels on the pics)

[JS29]

  Glad you rescued it.   

[RUNCHARGER]

It's coming along. It takes a lot more dedication to build/own one of these cars overseas than living in the U.S.

[73TopBanana]

nice wheels, just wondering why the alternator adjusting bracket is on top not bottom. Is there an advantage to that method?

[jbaha]

nice wheels, just wondering why the alternator adjusting bracket is on top not bottom. Is there an advantage to that method?

Don't know  , it was already like that... maybe it's simpler to adjust it that way...

[mopar thunder]

Looks like a nice car that is in pretty good shape. Good luck with it. Looking forward to seeing more pics as you move along.

[Chryco Psycho]

Looks Good , you get to learn while working through the cars problems 
I am sure you will enjoy it once you get the issues sorted out

[jbaha]

Looks Good , you get to learn while working through the cars problems 
I am sure you will enjoy it once you get the issues sorted out

Yup! Learning everyday new stuff with this car!

[jbaha]

Since I have this car, I have a vibration coming from transmission beginning at 55 to 65mph; it's like the vibrations done by a turboprop engine in a plane when it is starting up... (hope my car does 1000+hp but no haha )

Any guesses?

Another question : I have the original power-booster/proportioning valve with my four discs brake conversion (originally 2discs upfront). It's just lame with the new setup, I'm looking for a firm pedal feel... What works for you? Can i stay with power brakes or go manual?

[jbaha]

 

[Brads70]

as for the brakes you likely need to go down in bore size on the M/C

[jbaha]

as for the brakes you likely need to go down in bore size on the M/C

Thanks! No need to change the proportioning valve?

[mopar thunder]

Nice car... good luck with it. I'm sure you will have lots of good times with it. My wife has a 74' Cuda plum crazy... and I have a 70' Cuda In-Violet.

[Brads70]

as for the brakes you likely need to go down in bore size on the M/C

Thanks! No need to change the proportioning valve?

When I went to 4 wheel discs I removed the stock valve and used the adjustable wilwood one, but I've never had to adjust it, its wide open. As for the master some have a little brassvalve/restriction that you remove that was there for rear drums . Its behind the brake line fitting. I just bought a new one from DrDiff ....cheap enough IMO 
https://www.doctordiff.com/aluminum-master-cylinder-kit.html

[jbaha]

as for the brakes you likely need to go down in bore size on the M/C

Thanks! No need to change the proportioning valve?

When I went to 4 wheel discs I removed the stock valve and used the adjustable wilwood one, but I've never had to adjust it, its wide open. As for the master some have a little brassvalve/restriction that you remove that was there for rear drums . Its behind the brake line fitting. I just bought a new one from DrDiff ....cheap enough IMO 
https://www.doctordiff.com/aluminum-master-cylinder-kit.html

Thank you

Nice cars BTW Mopar thunder!