(5/10/2009)
I went wild today on the Charger. I think I have done the most work on it since the interior was gutted. I removed the grille today and cleaned it up a bit on the under side. The tires are still going flat and the feeling is one of playing "whack-a-mole". The Cowl has been cleaned off. I removed the wiper motor and the head light vacuum hoses. On the inside of the grille I removed the wiring harness.
(5/17/2009)
Went to the Mopar-Madness Show in Naperville. I picked up a fan for the 440. I restored it the same day.
(5/20/2009)
Today the engine was washed off so it will be clean during removal. I got around to taking the wiper linkage off from inside the cowl. I also went under the hood and cleaned out more parts. The Trunk was cleaned up a bit. The inside was coated in cheap rattle-can black, since it was sprayed over grease it came off with a scotchbrite and a bit of water.
(5/23/2009)
I got the engine free from the body. The only thing is that my engine hoist never came with a hook chain assembly. The load leveler is stll waiting to be attached because I don't know what bolts to use. I think that the stock bolts will not work.
I hope to have the engine out and to AES Racing in a couple of weeks. I'll then get the body media blasted and then If I earn enough money mowing the lawn and other things I'll get the body repaired and painted.
(5/24/2009 - 6/1/2009)
Minor here and there body work on the Charger: sanding mostly. Got the mirror and the spare wheel form the company formerly known as HLPAG, mounted on a tire I already had.
G33 Left Hand Remote Mirror Spare Wheel and Tire (14"x5" J on P185/70R14)
(6/2/2009)
Tonight I found the perfect engine for $3000. It's already rebuilt and the whol deal is painted tuned and everything. The engine is a 1971 440 Magnum set up for an E-body. I'll have to change up some stuff on it.
(6/3/2009)
My father called Craig with the engine today and did some "wheelin' dealin'" we got the engine for $2300 down and $200 on pick up. The engine is being set up to accept a 1969 configuration for free and will be started and run in front of myself and my parents when we go to pick it up.
Ah! You were wondering about the old engine? Well that is part of the deal, the guy will take it off our hands for $300 or so. YES!!! I can kiss that POS '77 truck engine goodbye!!!!
(6/4/2009)
I got the rear window out. Here's a pic.
It's agreed with Craig our engine man that we will be there in Ohio on the 13th to pick up the engine. I looked at my paint decisions and I want to lose the top. So the Charger will now be T5 Copper without the top and body color 14"x5.5" JK steelies.
(6/8/2009)
I got the engine out at 7:30 pm with much trouble. The engine was leaking antifreeze and A/T fluid the whole time. This accomplishment was the working of 5 1/2 hours of tinkering, twisting and shoving 950 lbs of metal in a careful manner. Since I had alreadly loosened the engine and trans from the body weeks ago (that's what it feels like to me). There was no prep work for removing it but removing the starter and the left header.
(6/9/2009)
I got the rocker arms and valve covers back on so Craig you can be happy about that. The intake also went back on and the distritubor. All this is in an effort to reduce the amount of water that could possibly enter the engine. Here's a lot of pics. Note, no VIN, strange !?
Originally out of a 1977 Dodge truck
Power Steering Box is finally getting out of its coat of caked on grease. Here are the casting numbers.
