Dave Robsons Challenger R/T

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Nov 18, 08 7:19 pm

Brilliant Dave, the end is in sight. You've pulled off one heck of a job considering your illness. The cutouts are neat, great touch. Hope the roadtrip comes off for your birthday. That would be one hell of an adventure!

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Dec 30, 08 9:02 pm

DrogoBroadband wrote:You've pulled off one heck of a job considering your illness.

Wanna bet?

OK. Back in June I welded in these captive nuts for the bumper bracket bolts.

Spot the mistake.

challenger · Post by **challenger** » Tue Dec 30, 08 9:16 pm

right hand bolt in the pic should be further forward on the chassis

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Dec 31, 08 11:20 am

that's not your car??

Dave

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Dec 31, 08 12:38 pm

The answer is that the one on the left should not be there. It should be on the front of the chassis just out of sight on the extreme right of the photo.

This is what happens when your brain is part soup.

I have also noticed a couple of electrical gaffs I will have to put right.

At least it shows I am well enough to spot these things now.

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Sat Feb 14, 09 2:39 am

Hi Dave, have you got round to refitting the centre console yet?
I notice you have a Hurst Pistol Grip Quarter Stick Shifter - we were looking at using the similar Quarter Stick Shifter that has the round ball rather that the pistol grip, incorporated into a centre console we're trying to cobble together in the Satellite.

Looks like these shifters are quite low-profile compared to those that come with base & gaiters etc. Does your shifter fit direct to the trans tunnel and does that put it at the right height for use with the console?

Any pics of that area, with & without console would be helpful, thanks

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sat Feb 14, 09 2:43 pm

I had to modify the existing "slapstick" shifter mount slightly and weld in a plate to mount the shifter on.

It is still a "work in progress" because as you see the console plate is not sitting flush. I need to drop the shifter down (or raise the console) just a touch.

TrevD · Post by **TrevD** » Sat Feb 14, 09 5:53 pm

looking good Dave

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Sat Feb 14, 09 6:46 pm

Looks like it grew there

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Mar 03, 09 2:51 pm

Time for an update I think?

I have been doing bits and bobs to the car over the winter. Mainly finishing the wiring. Fitting the front end lighting and getting all the lights and turn signals working. The halogen headlights are MUCH better now I have fitted relays. Very bright.

For the last few days I have been restoring a used grille that Bob (jh27n0b on my message board) very kindly sold me a while ago (18 months?). Bob is a member of the same Mopar club in the US as James and Laura have joined out there. Small world eh? As the username implies he is the owner of a 1970 Challenger Convertible with 383 4bbl.

This grille Bob sent was in much better condition than my own but still very slightly damaged. Nothing that would stand out too much though.

The only problem was that this grille was from a non-R/T car and so was painted with the textured argent silver. So I had to remove this completely first before I could paint the grille black. I used a chemical paint stripper after testing on a small area first to make sure it would not effect the bright finish under it.

I did this work soon after the grille arrived from Bob but only now have I started to re-paint it. I will show you the finished results later.

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Tue Mar 03, 09 3:16 pm

I like the orange plant pot

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Tue Mar 03, 09 5:32 pm

morgan wrote:I like the orange plant pot

That pot will be satin black next time you see it

Great stuff Dave, keep on keeping on!

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Mar 03, 09 7:24 pm

Dave, I'll need to strip all the argent paint off my plastic 71 grill (plastic) and headlight bezels (aluminium). What stripper did you use

that removed the argent without affecting the anodised finish?

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Mar 03, 09 7:44 pm

MrNorm wrote:Dave, I'll need to strip all the argent paint off my plastic 71 grill (plastic) and headlight bezels (aluminium). What stripper did you use that removed the argent without affecting the anodised finish?

Not tried it on plastic before. Try a test area first.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Mar 03, 09 7:46 pm

OK so here is Bobs old grille painted up for my car.

As you know, the center of the stock 1970 R/T grille was not painted and was originally bare metal. But it is a devil to get like new again and to keep clean. Plus I prefer the look of it when it is painted black. So this is what I have done.

I have also not bothered to try and copy the stock look where there is overspray onto the bright ribbed bit at the back of the grille. I have left a sharp edge between painted and non-painted areas. I like to think I am neater than a Chrysler employee.