'71 Challenger 340

[Casey]

I have been slowly restoring a 1971 Challenger that I picked up locally in 2010. It was originally a 318 AT car with B5 blue paint, blue interior and a white vinyl top. When I found it it was black with a black vinyl top and sitting under a tree rusting away. The previous owner had swapped out the 318 for a 340 and added a rally dash and hood years ago.

I want to give credit to the guys helping me with the hardest work on the restoration:

Body and paint were done by Dave Newcomer
Mopar Guru helping me with all aspects of the restoration Dave LaMarche "Mopar Dave"
Body shop used for the painting was Jack's Auto Body in Walnut Creek

Pics from December 2010:

 

[Casey]

The first part of the restoration was to strip the car and repair the rust. The majority of the problem was at the rear of the car and under the vinyl top:

Floor pans were in decent shape:

 

[Casey]

Picked up new quarter panels, roof skin, trunk floor and a few other parts from AMD

Coated as much as we could with rust bullet on the interior:

Repaired a few spots and put it back together:

 

[Casey]

First coat of primer; and pulled the motor and tranny:

 

[Casey]

Second coat of primer, reinstalled the hood and deck lid:

As it sits today with a third coat of primer:

 

[rbbruno3]

Awesome job Casey, what was the time frame from start to where it is now? RB

 

[Casey]

Awesome job Casey, what was the time frame from start to where it is now? RB

It has been about 15 months

 

[ramenth]

The majority of the problem was at the rear of the car and under the vinyl top:

Imagine that.


Lookin' good, bud!

 

[DetMatt1]

Awesome work, let me know if you want to come to the Detroit area for 15 months...

 

[btceng]

It's great to see a real home garage restoration. Great work! Looks like the AMD metal worked well for you.

 

[Casey]

Here is a before and after shot of the 340:

 

[Casey]

Before and after shots of the floor pan with rust bullet and then sound deadener:

 

[[email protected]]

Great job keep us up to date on it. Are you going with the orginial color?

 

[moparleo]

The Hemi on the stand next to it would look a lot nicer !

 

[DetMatt1]

This thing moving down the road yet???

 

[Casey]

Great job keep us up to date on it. Are you going with the orginial color?

No, I am going black on black, with black RT stripes and hood blackout. Original color is B5 blue with blue interior and white vinyl top.

The Hemi on the stand next to it would look a lot nicer !

I wish, that is my neighbors, just waiting to go into his project.

This thing moving down the road yet???

Couple more months probably, then it will.

Here are some updated pics:

 

[Casey]

Some pics of the dash:

 

[Casey]

Some interior pics from this weekend:

 

[CoronetRTguy]

That is AWESOME!!!!!!!!

It gives me hope of maybe one day doing a start to finish job in my garage. I'm hoping its the 71 Road Runner I found but who know...I really want the Road Runner but your Challenger is making thinking of a 70-71 Challenger.

Very nice looking ride!!!

 

[DetMatt1]

Great work, glad to see it coming together!