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1973 Dodge Challenger Original Owner Car #723203
06/13/10 06:10 PM
06/13/10 06:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
jamesfreddys Offline OP
member
jamesfreddys  Offline OP
member

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
The History



I am restoring this 1973 Dodge Challenger for a close friend who is the original owner of the car. Jerry bought his Challenger in November there was snow on the ground. He went into the dealer sat in a Charger and it felt too big for him the salesman then turned and showed him the Challenger and that was the car for him. Jerry took it to an empty parking lot across the street to get use to the car before he drove it home. At the time he was working in Twinsburg, Oh. at the stamping plant, stamping out floor pans for the very car production he had purchased his car from.

I get two different kinds of restorations in the shop; 1. The collectable cars where the restorer has done the research on the car, knows the value, and is making an investment. 2. The stories like this where the car has been in the family over the years and life has happened in them. This is the type of restoration where no matter the value the car cannot be replaced.

I have not taken many photo's of my experience with the car while I have given the finish a complete restoration and bringing the body back from rust and collision. I have however documented the experience on video I hope this inspires someone out there in their projects.


Here's the videos.



— May 21, 2009 — In this episode Jeff shows a rust repair in the left quarter panel of the Challenger project and we get our first shipment of parts in from Nick's Classic auto. Then Victor smokes the taillights to our 89 Supra project and Alvaro is blocking the 1969 Dodge Dart.


Left Quarter rust patch repair


— May 28, 2009 — In this episode Jeff puts new floor pans from AMD into the 1973 Dodge Challenger. See the removal of the old floor pans and the fit, prep, and installation of the new AMD pans. Then we catch up a little on the 1972 Dodge Dart as we prepare for a Hughes 3500 stahl converter.

Replacing the floor pans

— June 17, 2009 — In this episode Jeffry welds the trunk floor and deck filler in the 1973 Dodge Challenger and removes the right quarter panel. Then we prepare and fit the new trunk drop out and outer wheel well for installation. The 1972 Dodge Dart has it's new 3500 stall converter installed and the body work is done on its right quarter. Alvaro displays his new 30" sanding block from sunchasertools.com on Seth's 1969 Dodge Dart.

Trunk floor and Deck filler replaced

— June 20, 2009 — In this episode Jeffry puts the Auto Metal Direct trunk drop-out, outer wheel well, and quarter panel on the 1973 Dodge Challenger. Then he does a quick repair on the quarter panel to the 1972 Dodge Dart to fix up the quarter to door gap.

Outer Wheel well sectioned Trunk drop out and full Quarter panel replaced

— August 25, 2009 — In this episode Jeff puts a roof skin on the 1973 Dodge Challenger project. See the Auto Metal Direct Skin from Nicks Classic Parts go on the car. I will show you spot welds, butt welds and the SEM product rust seal applied to the inner structure and panel bonding adhesive used to bond the center structure to the skin..

Roof skin replaced

— September 29, 2009 — In this episode Jeff shows a little block sanding basics on the 1973 Dodge Challenger project. Then we see the final look of the 1917 Dodge Roadster fenders and the 1934 5 Window Ford Coupe is nearing completion so we take a look at it. Enjoy.

Block Sanding the Surface.

— January 17, 2010 — After a quick shop update Jeff jumps into the header repair for the 1973 Dodge Challenger. An SMC repair using Duramix's SMC repair epoxy on a rare part check it out.


SMC Header Repair

— March 10, 2010 — In this episode Jeffry starts to final up the Dodge Challenger surfacing. It is a very good moment in the shop, we have many hours in our project, nerves are starting to intensify this car must be nice. I couldn't be more proud of this car and I stand behind all the work. This car will become a legacy in the family, our family.


Final Body Surfacing.

— May 27, 2010 — In this episode we begin to get paint on the 1973 Dodge Challenger. You will see Jeff jamb paint the main body parts prep and mask the motor compartment and trunk for paint. The Dodge is going B5 Bright Blue Metallic which is an awesome original color and we love to see the color going down on these cars.


Jamb Painting the Challenger



— June 09, 2010 — In this episode we get the 1973 Dodge Challenger in paint, we love to see them painted. 1973 CUS B5 Bright Blue Metallic looking good.


Painting the Car.

Thank you.

Re: 1973 Dodge Challenger Original Owner Car [Re: jamesfreddys] #723204
06/14/10 01:21 AM
06/14/10 01:21 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 375
An Island in the Pacific N.W.
moopa Offline
enthusiast
moopa  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 375
An Island in the Pacific N.W.
Thanks for taking the time to make the videos, and post them here....it sure helps guys like me who have to muddle through their own projects at home.

Good Stuff!!
Mark


2015 TorRed Challenger Hellcat,A8 2013 Plum Crazy Challenger SRT8,6 Spd 2013 Black Challenger R/T Classic,auto (2)72 Satellites, one on hold,one under resto on the rotisserie.
Re: 1973 Dodge Challenger Original Owner Car [Re: moopa] #723205
06/14/10 09:22 AM
06/14/10 09:22 AM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,414
Stow ,Ohio
D
demon440 Offline
pro stock
demon440  Offline
pro stock
D

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,414
Stow ,Ohio
Car looks great.
I grew up in Twinsburg, right down
the road from the stamping plant.
Have freinds and family that worked there.My grandpa retired from there.
Sad to see them shut it down.

Re: 1973 Dodge Challenger Original Owner Car [Re: demon440] #723206
06/15/10 09:56 PM
06/15/10 09:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
jamesfreddys Offline OP
member
jamesfreddys  Offline OP
member

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
Quote:


I grew up in Twinsburg, right down
the road from the stamping plant.
Have freinds and family that worked there.My grandpa retired from there.
Sad to see them shut it down.




Can't believe they sold it for all those millions to shut it down, it just sold in March right?

Re: 1973 Dodge Challenger Original Owner Car [Re: moopa] #723207
06/15/10 09:57 PM
06/15/10 09:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
jamesfreddys Offline OP
member
jamesfreddys  Offline OP
member

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
Quote:

Thanks for taking the time to make the videos, and post them here....it sure helps guys like me who have to muddle through their own projects at home.

Good Stuff!!
Mark



I gotta get on mine now that you mention it.

Spraying the Sound Deadener [Re: jamesfreddys] #723208
09/03/10 12:22 AM
09/03/10 12:22 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
jamesfreddys Offline OP
member
jamesfreddys  Offline OP
member

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
Getting after the Challenger with some Second Skin

It's been a while and it's time to show some progress. In this episode we spray some Second Skin "Spectrum" on the bottom of the Challenger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHjUZt3Ge4

New website up... http://www.jamesfreddys.com/index.html

Stock Rebuilt Suspension going back in the Challenger [Re: jamesfreddys] #723209
09/14/10 10:28 PM
09/14/10 10:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
jamesfreddys Offline OP
member
jamesfreddys  Offline OP
member

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Tucson, AZ.
I took a few pics as Chris and I put the rebuilt suspension back into Jerry's Challenger.








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