So this weekend was the first opportunity I got to look at the Charger and start working on it. My intention was to make it clean and presentable (it's been stored in a seemingly dry garage but the interior was sticky and covered in a light mould). I also wanted to protect it a bit, get some fresh polish on it and make sure everything was free and lubricated.
Time to give it its first clean in ten years.
First water on it for a long time:
All shined up:
Interior before:
Interior after:
I'll keep treating and soaking it as time goes on to restore some elasticity to the materials.
Much to my delight, barring the obvious splits and tears, it's in quite good order for its age. It needs further work - like a new passenger seat cover and stuffing - but it's all there. For example, the rear windows wind up and down cleanly. Usually they're problematic.
Evidence of its past:
Next, I executed the cheapest carb rebuild in the world (soaked it in chemicals, basically), lubricated everything that moved, cleaned the points and distributor cap, checked the fluids and emptied six gallons of V-Power into the tank:
I then, for the first time, let it run all the way up to temperature. As the old fuel was burnt and the fresh started taking its place it began to run more cleanly. There were no obvious leaks, all the gauges read what they should and it seemed very happy.
Outside of what I noticed originally (such as the exhaust manifold leak which causes a pronounced ticking in the engine bay), it seems mechanically healthy and clearly wants to live.
Then, to top it all off, it transpires that almost everything on it works - it's just got a few blown bulbs. Even the heater blows hot!
Next up is a comprehensive service and a brake system rebuild, then it'll be time to drive it. Joined the MMA and the insurance is sorted already, so we're moving forwards!
Time to hit up the Summit Racing catalogue
