Another R/T going back on the road (finally)

[redgum78]

There's a certain satisfaction in doing the stuff yourself. When you're out talking with other car people showing off the cars, it's nice to be able to say you did it yourself even if it isn't show car perfection. I think most other car people appreciate that kind of stuff. We also see bad repairs either in our cars or others so we know that paying a shop to do the work is no guarantee that it will be done right. I'm certain that the mess I'm fixing now on this car was from some body shop in the 70s. What they did worked in that the car was straight and held together but it sure wasn't pretty.

I'm looking forward to seeing your car move forward too. How's the parts situation over there? Must cost a fortune to get big stuff shipped over?

Yep 100% agree, I have full respect for the enthusiasts that pay to have their car built. They can be every bit as passionate or more about their car but it is a completely different version of the hobby to mine.
Surprisingly parts are not too bad over here.
Certainly more expensive than in the USA due to shipping but we have a big following for American cars so there are a lot of companies bringing parts over all the time.
The other thing is our Australian Mopars share a lot of components. Engine and drive trains all the same (although Big blocks were very limited). I needed a windscreen wiper motor for the Challenger and found that the Australian Valiant from 1969 shares the same unit. That saved me a few hundred!

[70 Challenger Lover]

Getting back on it now that the holidays are over. Finally finished the other front frame rail repair. Pretty happy with the overall result. The radiator support pieces drop into place and everything measures out as it should. Next days off, I'd like to clean and paint up the front end area while it's all apart. Maybe detail the engine as well. Then I can start welding in the radiator supports and inner fender panels. I'm thinking two days and I can turn my attention back to the roof...the final problem area.

[Cuda Cody]

    

[Brads70]

Wow, very nice work on those frame rails, you can't even tell! 

[70 Challenger Lover]

Thanks! That's the look I'm going for. I thought about making them prettier but then they don't look quite original that way either.

Really looking forward to getting the front end all back together. I've driven the car a tiny bit when I bought it eight years ago but since the front end was all messed up, I was afraid to open it up. I think before I start on the roof, I might have to go burn up some tires.

[redgum78]

Rails look  .

I think before I start on the roof, I might have to go burn up some tires.

You have my full support to do this, video it and share it with everyone here! Strictly for motivational purposes of course 

[70 Challenger Lover]

Weather has been holding me back but I decided to use the time to finish up the dash. Sandblasted and painted everything including the frame. Gauges were original but I did polish the lens a bit.

[Chryco Psycho]

Great progress 

[70 Challenger Lover]

Been a few weeks since I updated this thread. I hit a set back where the driver side inner fender panel didn't quite line up. While everything else measured up good, I never checked the angle of the shock towers. Turns out the driver shock tower was rotated up a couple degrees somehow in the collision. Tried pulling the shock tower down but it wouldn't budge. I cut some of the welds and was finally able to pull it into the correct position.

Today I got all the front end metal fitted and all welded in including the braces. Checked fender fitment and everything checks out.

Next step is to clean up all my welds, put seam sealer on all joints on the wheel well side, get the whole front end sanded down for primer and paint. Looking forward to getting the engine back in there.

[dodj]

Rails look  .

I think before I start on the roof, I might have to go burn up some tires.

You have my full support to do this, video it and share it with everyone here! Strictly for motivational purposes of course 

Typical Aussie. You see the kind of burnout contests they have down there? Crazy! 

[redgum78]

Rails look  .

I think before I start on the roof, I might have to go burn up some tires.

You have my full support to do this, video it and share it with everyone here! Strictly for motivational purposes of course 

Typical Aussie. You see the kind of burnout contests they have down there? Crazy! 

[70 Challenger Lover]

Front end is all done. Got it epoxy sealed today. Tomorrow ill put down the orange. Then its time to start putting stuff back in.

[70 Challenger Lover]

Got some color on the front end now

[Inmemoryof...]

Really enjoyed going through this thread and admiring your work.

[70 Challenger Lover]

Really enjoyed going through this thread and admiring your work.

Thanks! Appreciate it. Working dents out of fenders right now so hopefully I'll have some fresh posts soon.