Welcome to my lifetime hobby. After 23 years of ownership it is time to get started bringing it back to a condition capable of driving to an occasional car show.  I've set a goal for getting it roadworthy enough to attend a show in November 2001.  This will depend on me finding a job again somehow, I have to pay for all this new stuff. 

Its had its original 440, a 383 Magnum, and then another 440 Magnum from a 69 Charger R/T.  I performed both engine swaps by myself with roof rafters, a cable comalong, and a short length of chain.  I retained all the original engine parts and reinstalled them onto the newest 440 (transplant done in 1983).  

Click here to see the pictures of the work.  

04/20/2001

In the photo above I have begun stripping the paint off the right rear fender. It had minor rust behind the rear wheel and had a primer spot when I first got the car on the top of the fender. I stripped it to find out just what damage if any was there. It turned out to be a minor scratch and no sheetmetal damage

05/01/2001

After sitting covered outside for 6 years the rats had moved in to stay. I took out the interior to clean out the old nests. 

All the seats are out, carpet is out and thrown away. Floor has been resealed and painted. I am still trying to get the "Rat" smell out though. The final rat nest was located on top of the glovebox up under the dash. I had to remove the old glovebox to clean it out. Rats don't live here anymore but they've left plenty to remember them from. 

Luckily the vermin didn't chew up anything other than a little insulation under the dash. I still have some cleaning to go but I think I have all the nesting crap out. The new carpets should arrive this weekend. 

05/04/2001

Still cleaning leaves out from under the car, and from under the dash. There is still a "scent of vermin" that I can't locate. Meanwhile I have been getting the engine back together. New gaskets on the valvecovers, and hooking up the Carb. I've also sprayed oil into the combustion chambers to soak the cylinders and get them ready to move again. This weekend I will be adding fluids and hooking up electricals. The (temp) new battery tray is in place. 

05/08/2001

Carpet arrived.  More work to do.  Washed and cleaned all the door panels, removed the seats again, and fitted the carpet in place.  The color is a shade lighter than I really wanted, but matches the interior so it will do for now.  Removed all the ac ducts from under dash, reached in and cleaned any remaining nest stuff, removed the instrument panel, radio and glovebox and got the Leaf blower  to clean it out.  It finally looks clean.  Removed kick panels.  Installed carpets, dash, seats and door panels.  Interior looks great except for the Driver's seat cushion.  I hid it with  a cheap seatcover for now.

While interior was out before latest full fitting. I took advantage and sprayed the top, pillars, R door and R Fender and trunk with sandable Por-15 primer. Car looks normal again...kind of.  The primer allows me to focus on the dings i'm repairing.    

05/21/2001

Have spent considerable time trying to remove the front and rear bumbers. Rear came right off, front however is alot more complicated.  The front valence panel has dents on both sides behind the parking lights.  This panel will require straightening.  Grill is in good condition but will be removed for painting.

Passenger side dings are mostly out, and undergoing final primer and sanding. Rear window rust is gone, but in order to install a new top, I will have to remove the rear window and ensure the ledge is complete.

05/26/2001

The Carb Rebuild kit from Year One arrived, spent the day rebuilding the old carb, and cleaning it.  It is back on the 440 again.  Tomorrow, I plan to try to start it again just to see if the rebuild worked ok.  It may still need a coil or points so I'm not holding my breath yet.

05/28/2001

Carb still isn't pumping gas, I'll have to figure that out still.  The Front Bumper and Valence panel finally were removed from the vehicle.  The valence really wasn't in bad shape, it was squashed a little on both sides, but will definitely need someone with more body skills than I have to fix it. 

06/02/2001