1970 T/A 340 Six Pack 4 speed Restoration

[Jalaska907]

Hey everyone!!

I started a thread on the welcome forum here a few weeks ago. If you want to see a lot of pics of before, please take a look on that thread. Also the story of the car is posted there. Here is the link http://www.forebodiesonly.com/forum/showthread.php?9045-Hey-Everyone!


I will be continuing with all the pics and I will list all the manufactures/vendors/services I use. I'm going to be asking lots of question's and hoping to help lots of other restorers out there. Thanks and Enjoy!!

 

[Jalaska907]

Well to start this off, I will back up a bit. The six pack setup was in much need of repair. The outboard carbs were disconnected when I got the car. The carbs leaked fuel, and had lots of carbon build up. I sent the carbs off to Eric at Vintage Muscle Car Parts. Super cool guy, and I've seen his restoration work, and WOW is all I can say. Looking foreword to seeing mine in a few weeks. Here's the Pics!!

 

[moaparman25]

Looking forward to watching this!!

 

[js29]

are you still sending the T/A to graveyard cars or are they doing just the body restoration

 

[Jalaska907]

Im wanting to send it off, but due to living in Alaska, its difficult to get the car there. Its to big of a risk to move the car in the winter. I wont be able to commit the money for the restoration until spring next year. So since at that point I would be put on a waiting list. I was quoted a year wait, then 30 or so months to have restoration completed. So In the mean time Iam going to get the car ready for summer. My plan is to make the car mechanically sound so i can drive it while Im waiting on the list. Lucky for me, I know a guy that has restored a few of these cars, ( one of his was a Pink Challenger, 1 of 5) and hes giving me a lot of incite on my car. In fact he is the person who bought my car and brought it from California to Alaska and used the car as trading material for another challenger he did. My car is so clean, with most all original parts, minus the paint job, that I think I can get most of the car done. Im starting with mechanical, Rebuilding the 4 speed, rebuilding the 340 T/A six pack engine, brakes, and a few cosmetic items. So I guess what Im saying is Im just going to keep on keepin on, and enjoy this chapter in my life, learn a lot cool stuff, and with the help of you guys, I hope to drive this car this summer and cross the restoration bridge when it comes. I know that I dont want to hurt the 340 in the car, so I will rebuild it, and keep it on the stand until the restoration comes into play. I think im going to build up a 408 stroker, and keep the original in tact. I would hate to have something happen to a numbers matching block, since it is a T/A block also.

 

[js29]

good plan then you will know what is good and what need's attention. pickle the original engine not a bad idea ether, with your friend's help and know how all you should need would be a good body and paint guy

 

[Jalaska907]

My buddy hooked me up with a 440 so I decided to build it. It wont be to wild, cam it up a bit, floating pistons, headers, aluminum heads, six pack. I will post some pics of tonight's project in a little while.

 

[Jalaska907]

Well here's some pics of tonight progress. Not to much, since the transmission needs some TLC, I didn't want to use my jack stands, due to height, and may need them for something else, I built up some cradle stands. They are easy to make, and hold a ton of weight. They are 12" wide by 24" long. So far they are great. I pulled the hood off, and started stripping the paint. I'm about 90% done with that, I will finish up tomorrow. Well that was it for the days post, now here's the pics!!

 

[js29]

nice looking tool box you should have every thing in it too do the job in there

 

[jeff968]

Nice, make sure to get plenty of photos. You'll want a shot of the blackout on the decklid under the spoiler and how it extends to the taillight panel. This is a detail that is often missed on T/As during restoration.

 

[Jalaska907]

For sure. I will take that pic when we do the body work. Im trying to build up the courage to sand and spread filler on the hood, was wanting to shoot primer and paint, but I really dont think a rare hood like that is something to practice on. We will see though. As far as hood color, i found the paint I want to use from Eastwood. The bummer part is that I cant get it shipped because it would freeze before it got here. I love living in Alaska, but sometimes its a pain.

 

[jeff968]

I've restored a couple of T/As. They are my favorite. I've owned 5 of them starting in 1979. Just like any fiberglass part, you want to be careful about sanding through the jell coat. Just sand off the top coat. The original paint was called organisol black. A rough textured finish. It was originally laquer paint. It is a difficult paint to spray because of the texture. If you don't get the pressure and the approcah just right you'll get "stripes". I would just clean up the hood, prime it, and have someone in the bodywork trade apply the paint for you. Then, look at the results in the sun or good light to see if you are happy with it.

 

[Jalaska907]

Well, all I did was scrape the old paint off the hood. I took the hood and rear spoiler to my buddies body shop. He's been doing paint and body for 45 years or so. Figured I would be better off with him doing the filling and painting. We are going with a urathane, with a flatting agent added.

 

[js29]

i think you will be satisfied with that choice! lacquer does not age well and is not available at any of the jobbers i deal with. and with 45 years at bodywork he knows what he is doing

 

[mmissile]

I agree. Anybody with that amount of experience, should be able to do most anything with today's urethane materials.

 

[js29]

todays materials are far better than what came on these cars when they were new. when this man started out acrylic enamel and acrylic lacquer was the big thing. and clear coats were unheard of accept in acrylic lacquer

 

[Jalaska907]

Today, I'm going to be working on removing the engine and 4 speed. We will see how motivated I am today.

 

[Jalaska907]

Well everyone, I was able to pull the radiator and shroud, Clean both for any markings, primed the shroud, will paint it tomorrow. I'm trying to decide if I want to send the radiator out for hot tanking, or whatever the radiator shops do. I was able to remove the exhaust, Came right out, but the pipes are rusty, and the mufflers show holes and leakage. Also they were held in with safety wire, (at least it was stainless wire, with multiple wraps! lol) Removed all but 3 bell housing bolts, removed and cleaned starter, taking notes and pics of all the markings. Removed drive shaft, cleaned and checked for markings, but didn't see any. bottom side was rusty from where it sat, but top still had black paint. After crawling around the bottom of the car, who ever painted the car before, painted all the suspension and what not black. So there goes any hope of finding original markings. So with that being said, my buddy owns a powder coat shop, and I may coat some stuff. If I send the car out for resto, those guys know what the factory colors are suppose to be. Well that's it for today, may be back at it again tomorrow, I will post more pics when I have more than just a couple. Let me know what ya guys think, or if you have any questions and want pics of things on the car.

 

[74chlngrTT5.9]

Thanks for posting up. Keep them coming.
Bag and tag everything. You will also appreciate the reference pics.

 

[Jalaska907]

Hey everyone! I'm off work for the week now, and am working on the car. I have the A-833 tore down and I'm cleaning and inspecting parts. Some small stuff I ordered will be here today. I have a bunch of pics Ill upload soon. But I'm in the process of gearing up for the next phase. I need some input and help. I'm going to rebuild the 340 to factory specs and leave it on the stand. So for power I decided to go with a 440. I was wondering what I need to do to keep my current A-833 and mount it up to the 440? Also, id my drive shaft length going to change? Is the shifter and clutch going to be in the same locations? I do not want to cut the car up, I know the challengers had 440 in them. Thanks for the help!