Goodmark Dodge Challenger Project

A Bare-Bones Beginning
A while back, we introduced our Project Goodmark/Big Challenge, and asked you to help us devise a plan of what we should build. We got a lot of letters and e-mails; an overwhelming amount saying to make this a modern musclecar. You guys really are into updating your Mopars, and so it will be done.

The Big-Challenge
Challenger started life as a Dark Gold Metallic, 340 Rallye car, with an automatic and an 8-3/4 rear. When we got our hands on it, it was a pseudo dirt track racer wannabe (we use the term "racer" very loosely). An enterprising and very imaginative person installed a truck-type light bar inside, and mounted it (spot welds) directly to the floor and rear wheeltubs. The fiberglass racing bucket seats facing the full-width rearview mirror gave a hint of a previous owner's personality. But that doesn't matter because all that stuff is removable. We need only a shell, and we believe we have enough of this one to save it.

Plan of Attack
As we said, most of the responses to our question, "What would you like to see?" mentioned upgrading the car with a tubular front crossmember, a new-Hemi-style engine, and other niceties. So that's the plan, barring any unforeseen snags.

But before we can finish, we have to get started. Sean at Blew Devil Rods and Customs is a true musclecar guy. He even has a Charger of his own that he wants to start restoring, but, hopefully, we'll keep him on our Challenger first. He has been rebuilding and restoring cars for as long as he cares to remember, so we think we made a good choice. But let's quit talking about what we're going to do and get started.

Getting Blasted
Now that the car is disassembled, we need to know what we're getting into. If you are doing a complete restoration, or you just want clean metal to work with, media blasting is an inexpensive way to save a lot of time. Using paint strippers, or just doing the sanding yourself, could take quite a while to get the paint removed. Luckily for us, when we started the bodywork on the Big Challenge Challenger, we heard about Blast Off in Orlando, Florida. After we dropped off the remains of the Challenger shell, the guys at Blast Off proceeded on the paint removal.

This process does not involve sand for media. Sand is too harsh and will warp the metal. The guys at Blast Off told us they use two basic types of media: plastic and aluminum oxide. Plastic is used when metal warpage is an issue. Areas such as the roof, hood, and other areas of unsupported sheetmetal receive a plastic media blast because the plastic media is softer and doesn't generate heat during the blasting process.

Aluminum oxide is for areas not prone to warpage. Floor boards, inner fenders, and areas that are structurally "stiffer" than unsupported sheetmetal can withstand the harsher aluminum oxide. The process will take a day or so, but the results are definitely worth it. When you get the part, or car, back, you have nice, clean metal to work with-a nice way to start.