Matt's 1970 'Trans-Am' Challenger
Posted: Wed Mar 10, 21 6:34 pm
OK here we go.
Having more-or-less finished the 'Cuda , last February I started to get the urge to build another race car to keep it company. What better than a '70 Challenger ?
I placed a wanted ad on here around May 2020, which led to a couple of leads on '70 Challengers - one of which was a 440-powered drag car.
The seller was reasonably local to me as well, and we were able to make a deal.
The car will be an ideal base for a circuit racer - it's already stripped out, and bodywise it's untidy but rock solid.
I had intended to go to town a little bit on this build - with plenty of lightweight panels and a screamer small block, but budgetary considerations have got the better of me, and so the current plan is a bit simpler.
Body.
Keep as-is but fit fibreglass hood, T/A chin spoilers, T/A boot spoiler . Full cage . See if rear tyres will fit without arch mods - I expect they won't.
Drivetrain:
Retain 440, as it's a nice build with alloy heads etc and plenty of power. A bit heavy for circuit racing but hey it's already in the car and a built small block will be expensive - I think just the parts for the 408 in the 'Cuda came to £7K or thereabouts . Convert from Auto to A833 4-speed. Retain existing axle - remove spool, fit LSD
Suspension:
1.25" front torsion bars. Fabricate copies of Hotchkis upper A-arms and tie rods. Rear axle I'm planning to fabricate a 4-link with coilovers as I think I can do this reasonably economically, and it has to be an improvement on leaf springs. Anti-roll bars front and rear - type undecided yet.
Steering #
Either Borgeson or existing Flaming River Manual box, adding electric column from Vauxhall Corsa.
Brakes
Wilwood front . Not sure about the rear yet.
And Hydroboost . Power assistance will be a good thing and I think I can do Hydroboost cheaply with off-the-shelf GM parts .
I intend to get started on the car in the next few weeks, so more updates soon. At least there'll be no rust repair on this one.
But what should it look like ?
Genuine '70 TransAm clone
Or period race style in orange ?
Having more-or-less finished the 'Cuda , last February I started to get the urge to build another race car to keep it company. What better than a '70 Challenger ?
I placed a wanted ad on here around May 2020, which led to a couple of leads on '70 Challengers - one of which was a 440-powered drag car.
The seller was reasonably local to me as well, and we were able to make a deal.
The car will be an ideal base for a circuit racer - it's already stripped out, and bodywise it's untidy but rock solid.
I had intended to go to town a little bit on this build - with plenty of lightweight panels and a screamer small block, but budgetary considerations have got the better of me, and so the current plan is a bit simpler.
Body.
Keep as-is but fit fibreglass hood, T/A chin spoilers, T/A boot spoiler . Full cage . See if rear tyres will fit without arch mods - I expect they won't.
Drivetrain:
Retain 440, as it's a nice build with alloy heads etc and plenty of power. A bit heavy for circuit racing but hey it's already in the car and a built small block will be expensive - I think just the parts for the 408 in the 'Cuda came to £7K or thereabouts . Convert from Auto to A833 4-speed. Retain existing axle - remove spool, fit LSD
Suspension:
1.25" front torsion bars. Fabricate copies of Hotchkis upper A-arms and tie rods. Rear axle I'm planning to fabricate a 4-link with coilovers as I think I can do this reasonably economically, and it has to be an improvement on leaf springs. Anti-roll bars front and rear - type undecided yet.
Steering #
Either Borgeson or existing Flaming River Manual box, adding electric column from Vauxhall Corsa.
Brakes
Wilwood front . Not sure about the rear yet.
And Hydroboost . Power assistance will be a good thing and I think I can do Hydroboost cheaply with off-the-shelf GM parts .
I intend to get started on the car in the next few weeks, so more updates soon. At least there'll be no rust repair on this one.
But what should it look like ?
Genuine '70 TransAm clone
Or period race style in orange ?