Inside diffrential case, there were some broken parts. I haven't identified yet, where they have come?
Today I started to disassemble the rear end. It's Mopar 8 3/4, with sure grip lock. Based on broadcast sheet, this car have had originally 3.55 ratio. Text on pinion ring shows ratio "3.55", product number 2070898, and timestamp "70". So I assume it's original. Also, on rear end housing is 2881489 and Chrysler number 30103. Inside diffrential case, there were some broken parts. I haven't identified yet, where they have come?
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Car has arrived back from Custom Creations shop to my garage. Thank you very much Juhani from CC for you quality work! I can honestly recommed Juhani's handcraft skills on restoration projects. We went thru very comprehensive media blasting (including inside boxed frames under floor pans), epoxy primer. Painting is done by Automaalaamo Jukka&Hytti (Lappeenranta), great work. Car has still plenty of original sheet metal left, changed parts are:
A picture is a worth of thousand words, enjoy! Getting some paint is always very impressive phase: It feels like concrete step forward, that old and tired project has finally started to approach glory old days. This time we went to local (in Lappeenranta, Finland) paint and body work shop Automaalaamo Jukka & Hytti. They are automotive enthustiactis themselves, thanks to Tomi Turunen & boys for really great work! We will continue co-operate with Jukka&Hytti when it's time to paint more. Paint code of this car is FF4 (or F4), light green metallic (like on front page banner). I browsed websites and I came up with this site "PaintRef.com", which has Chrysler codes, Ditzler PPG codes, Dupont codes etc. and cross reference chart. I and Juhani just sent that link to local (located in Joutseno, Finland) Paint Expert "Röyskö" and they found matching Chrysler 1970 paint code. Excellent work Röyskö! On pictures, Jukka&Hytti guys painted areas, that will be almost hidden or difficult to access after panel installation. Rear quarters follow original sound deadening inside, paint pattern follows the original way of doing it. Deck filler panel, cowl panel and roof panel are also painted inside, it was easy task to complete them on current state. I really dig this colour. Car went to media blast. Every closed structure, even frame boxes were open. They are cleaned, blasted and three (3) layers of epoxy is painted all around. It's funny how small things make big difference: you don't have to worry anymore, is there rust somewhere inside of frames or not. Roof frames, deck filler panel, rear quarters, floor frames (front, middle and rear) are all cleaned this way. Crazy some say, but now it's done. Period. Hopefully this treatment will help my T/A to survive next 45 years on the road!
Car is now prepared for media blasting. In fact, it'll be sand blasted in local metal workshop and then epoxy primer will be painted instantly after blast. All closed structures and boxes between body panels are now open and they are easy to blast and to paint epoxy primer. Once again, thanks to Juhani from Custom Creations (or homepage www.ceecee.fi) for body work. We also removed rear quarters and Juhani added some strengthening 'roll cages' to keep unibody structure straight. Have you ever wonder what lies underneath the skin? I mean inside the cowl? On mine car, there where plenty on bird poop, dust and sand. The cowl area wasn't so bad after all, but absolutely need of media blast and epoxy primer. Check the pictures:
Car is now installed to 'body grill', it means rotisserie restoration. It has support struts (in door ways) to keep unibody straight. Next step is to remove a-pillars and old drip rails. To be 100% sure that there won't be any rust, I'll also remove cowl. Then floor panels behind front seats (passengers foot area) will be replaced, I already have new panels from US-parts.
Following steps are 1) media blasting (sand) and then 2) J.Härkönen from Custom Creations will take care of remaining body work. Car roof had same dents and damages on both sides. After removal of windshield and rear window, there were couple of rust holes ( 1-2 inches wide). Also, surface tension was lost on roof skin. I decided to remove roof skin and replace that and drip rails. A-pillars were also rusty and they had some holes, they are easy to fix now. I ordered AMD roof skin, a-pillars and drip rails from ebay. Thanks to Falcont, they shipped them to Finland with reasonable price. Removing under coating is messy job to do. I spent couple of hours in advance to understand different methods completing task. I tested needle-pin hammer (works with air compressor), didn't work as I wanted. Then I tried to heat under coating and chisel, it was too slow. Then I went to a local Biltema store and they had offer of this oil/grease removal liquid (rasvan kylmäpoistoaine). It worked smoothly, just spray under coating we enough, wait 5 minutes and chisel gently. See pics inside trunk how this liquid melt old undercoating. It's heavy stuff, remember to use proper mask with gas filters. Removal of all under coating took just under 20 hours with this method, including front outer fenders inside. You may also see that left front fender is changed (because of collision in 80's/early 90's), it's taken from plum crazy challenger. Sheet metal is mainly in excellent shape under the coating, but in some small areas there were beginning of rust. I recommend to remove under coating, if you're doing serious restoration. Just to be sure. During May and June, I slowly dismantle the whole car. I tried carefully to study how it was built over 40 years ago. Same time, I'd had change to see all important numbers: radiator frame, cowl and door sticker, they are all there. I spent some time for Googlin' and was very suprised to complete Fender Tag Decoding myself. So here's the complete list of options.
E55 Engine: 340 1-4 bbl 275 hp V8 340 four barrel D32 Transmission: A727 Torqueflite automatic JH Car line: Dodge Challenger 23 Body Type: 2-door hardtop J Engine: 340 3-2bbl 290hp V8 340 Sixpak O Model Year: 1970 F-Series B Assembly Plant: Hamtramck, MI 308752 Assembly Sequence Number FF4 light metallic green H6x9 black vinyl bucket seats H: trim grade high 6: front seat vinyl X9: interior black 000 Upper door frame color: none 415 Scheduled production date: 15.4.1970 165925 vehicle order number V1X Style Roof/color: vinyl top/black A53 Trans Am package Challenger T/A B(N)51 Power Brakes C16 Woodgrain console C55 Front Bucket Seat G34 Mirror: outside LH remote painted J45 Hood Pins J54 Sport Hood J82 Aero Dynamic Real Spoiler Trans Am M21 Drip Rail Mouldings N44 Side Exhaust Outlet N94 Carburator Fresh Air Package Fiberglass N95 Evaporative Emission Control: Registered in CA R11 Radio: Music Master AM V6H Stripes: Black longitudinal Sport Tape Trans AM Y05 Build to spec’s for: U.S.A order 26 Radiator Diameter: 26” width EN1 End of fender tag codes Designated line 1 build Trans Am: Designates trams am program car Peter has completed rust repairs and I'm more than happy. It's great that all sheet metal is "included" the project car and I don't have to order them separately to Finland, pay for shipping fees, custom, taxes or VAT. Now small holes are repaired from door and under rear window. Now this machine is basicly rust free and will be shipped to Finland. Rear fenders need also rust repairs. Parts were ordered from YearOne.com and are made by AMD. But they reported that AMD doesn't produce inner fender parts any more and right side is out of stock. Gladly we found right inner fender from Ebay! Torque Boxes are standard on T/A's, AAR Cuda's, Hemi's, Convertible's and six pack models on model year 1970. Unfortunately this car had lost driver's side torque box and front one was partly damaged. So we had to fix them and missing one was found from 1971 Convertible. Reproduction Torque boxes have had problems, they don't fit well, I've heard. There might be difference between different manufacturers, but several brands are reported to not fit correctly. Peter has done a good job (as always), now trunk floor and extensions are repaired. You can see on two first pictures that rear fenders needs also rust repairs. We'll back soon! The project has got a jump start, thanks to P.J. We decided that Peter will complete rust repairs in the States, before sending car to Finland. Problematic areas, as always, will need to be replaced: trunk floor and trunk floor extension. Here are couple of shots: Peter took the T/A to his own body shop for further investigations. Before shipping it to Finland, some missing and broken parts will be ordered first. Also, Peter will replace trunk floor and LH quarter Panel, and small hole under the rear window will be fixed. TF727 automatic will get also full renovation in the States. I made also purchase from Ebay: Challenger Factory Shop Manual, 801 pages. Because of the shipping delay (estimated 8 weeks), I'll have plenty of time to investigate T/A. This is my first Mopar, knowledge is still on rookie level ;) Enjoy the pictures! These pictures are taken in California 2013, just before my purchase. Previous owner has bought this car in 1998 and it have been waited for restoration since then. The previous owner is a Mopar enthusiastic and collector, started gather these gems in 1980's. His collection have been total 60 cars , but he has sold now 20 cars away. He still has 40 Mopars, not bad! He bought a few years ago another T/A, in better shape. He thought that one T/A is enough and this project was "on silent sale". Peter Jenslund knew this car and with excellent help of Peter I finally managed to buy this Trans Am. Not many T/A projects cars are on sale anymore! Some specs you all are waiting for - FF4 Light Green Metallic - Black Vinyl Top - Black interior - Black Steel Wheels, dog dish and ring trims - Buildsheet, fender tag, door tag - #Matching engine 340 T/A engine, fully repaired - Non matching TF727 transmission, needs repair I'll list more specs after investigating Build Sheet more carefully. Here are couple of shots of this project car (status October/2013): |
Owners
Teemu & Paula H., located in Lappeenranta, Finland. Archives
June 2015
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