6.1 Hemi into 72 Demon March 2018

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Well I spent a solid 9 uninterrupted hours on the Demon, I got all kind of stuff done. The firewall is totally patched and welded out and the tunnel is welded out as well as the floor pan tunnel juncture replaced and patched and welded out. And got the frame rails upfront redone to accommodate the engine bay pipe bracing for holding up the gen 3 weight. I fabricated a bunch of patch pieces today. Not overly difficult but quite time consuming. The fire wall looked like Swiss cheese when I got the car. Next I will give all the welds some grinder love on any and all high spots. But I am done for the day. One tired old fat man right here!
 
With summer starting between a bunch of school stuff and a bit of medical junk I have not been engaged on the Demon. This weekend I had some quality shop time. After the new inner fender debacle I used same theory on firewall. Long story short I got the front rail stiffeners in place and did some serious patching on firewall. I realize it is putting my paint schedule on hold but I know I will never do it if I don't tackle it now. All I have to do is walk over to my Cuda and look at all the things I wish I had done different or foolishly thought to myself, I will get it running then come back and fix that. Yep, took it to the track and never looked back. Thanks for the patience with my slow progress. I am a one man show and just don't go as fast as I would like some times.

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So this weekend I finally finished all the metal prep for painting. There is just no sense in posting 900 pix of the fire wall and tunnel! It is tedious and slow work. Once done with welding and slashing I had to once again reattach the K frame so I could make a roller out of it for the painter. I simply cannot say enough good things about the form and fitment on my HDK front end. As a welder I can be super critical at times of pre manufactured parts. I have no idea who they use to do the heliarc work but it is someone quite handy! So I started rehanging all the front end parts. Made quite a bit of progress. I did not use the provided bolts and nuts in the kit as I will save them for final assembly. I know there are many schools of thought on lock nuts but I simply will not reuse them if it is a mission critical piece. I consider the front end key to my safety and as a result will not reuse locknuts on it. Maybe I have been racing to long, front end issues are disatereous! This next weekend is the big national Mopar show in Minneapolis so won't get anything done!

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Nice work so far! I agree with you on the quality of work on the HDK stuff. Whoever burns that stuff together for Denny is not a welder....he or she is a friggin ARTIST!
 
Hellcat Cuda said:
Gotta LOVE a good TIG weld!
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Agreed, I earn a living with a TIG torch (past tense) so I can be a bit hyper critical on all things heliarc! The first time I had to submit tabs for certification (Stainless) I failed. I sent the failed tabs to my Dad as the failure was due to color ripple, he couldn't believe it. Stingy inspectors back then. Black iron was always much more lenient. Not often anymore I get stuck under the hood at work unless I am teaching. Mostly just make sure my guys don't burn the place down. I am finding my eyesight has really deteriorated in the last few years.
 
What was that part number on that oil pan? How was the fitment on the engine block?
 
jw97neon said:
What was that part number on that oil pan? How was the fitment on the engine block?
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Apologies for the delay in response, we are getting ready for the National Mopar show in Minneapolis this weekend. When I return to the shop on Sunday I will get you the number for the pan. There is a lot of varied opinions over Milodon on this Forum. I can only relate my experience and I have just not had any issues. Fitment has been fine and no leaks. The pick up tube was an issue for me as it turned out the year of my block was not as advertised. You will need to get a different pick up tube and windage tray. I can give you all those numbers as well on Monday. The pans do hang low and if you pick front tires up on occasion you must land soft! Staring at the sky and using the retaining wall for reference can be a bit unsettling! No pan survives the panic lift and ensuing drop to the pavement!
 
Sublime one said:
Apologies for the delay in response, we are getting ready for the National Mopar show in Minneapolis this weekend. When I return to the shop on Sunday I will get you the number for the pan. There is a lot of varied opinions over Milodon on this Forum. I can only relate my experience and I have just not had any issues. Fitment has been fine and no leaks. The pick up tube was an issue for me as it turned out the year of my block was not as advertised. You will need to get a different pick up tube and windage tray. I can give you all those numbers as well on Monday. The pans do hang low and if you pick front tires up on occasion you must land soft! Staring at the sky and using the retaining wall for reference can be a bit unsettling! No pan survives the panic lift and ensuing drop to the pavement!
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No worries.. I just posted this lol. No need to rush, I was able to locate it on their site. I ordered the rear sump pan and discovered that the pan bolts do not line up and later learned from a post on fb that you are unable to get the starter to work if using a tr6060. I sent that pan back this afternoon.
 
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So here are some pix of the finished rotors, keep in mind there is a place for heavy rattle tools and this is not it. I took the pix showing topside and bottom side of the hub. You have hard steel bolts in Alum threads. If you are heavy handed screwing them in you are a done duck as they cross thread easy and the rattle gun will just drive em home. I always hand start bolts when going into aluminum with steel. I also use a bit of Locktite on front end stuff. Some folks do not, matter of opinion I reckon. And ensure you follow the torque specs on rotors etc. not a place to wing it!
 
So here is a group of photos showing sequence of rotor assembly. I fully realize many are thinking WTF, but keep in mind there is a whole bunch of folks on FABO that are new to the hobby. I still Pack bearings the old fashioned way like my grandfather taught me. A glob of grease in your palm and using other hand pressing bearing thru the grease! Please note many of the new rotors are directional and there is an arrow on them indicating same. Today has been almost two years in the making for me. I got her shoes back on and steering linkage sorted out. Everything is just temped together no coil overs yet no bushings, incorrect bolt size etc. I will do final assembly upon her return from paint. And yes sublime and black. The dash is even done with exception of knocking down high spots!

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It was very motivating getting steering wheel and linkage sorted out and hung. Then hanging front wheels really makes it look like an actual car again. After having it sit on my rack month after month and the list of tasks just never seems to get shorter. I don't remember which member it was but early on I was getting frustrated at the never ending hurdles and road blocks. The member explained to me simply pick one thing and do it to completion. Best advice I ever got, I had about 900 things 3/4 done. Making this swap is not for the faint hearted if you do it by yourself. I spoke to a gentleman at the last car show that had a gen 3 in his Mopar. He couldn't even tell me what transmission he had in the car much less how he overcame mounting it. His only reply was I dropped it off at the shop and told them what I wanted then picked it up. While I applaud him for his interest in cars he is likely not someone I can sit down and drink a beer with. The guys/gals on this Forum work their nuts off on their cars and on top of that they actually drive them. Now that's some folks I can have a beer with. Thanks to all of you for the PMs of support and ideas! Two years and I am going to paint shop! Woo Hoo! Happy days in a Fargo!
 
So finally got the Demon off the rack and on the floor in preparation for the long awaited journey to paint shop. Had to rearrange half the shop to get her out. After occupying the same space for a couple of years crap just seems to accumulate all around her. Work bench is staged and ready to roll out the door if it ever stops raining. Managed to step in dogs water dish, she was less than amused and gave me some serious stink eye. Tried to share celebratory drink with her to no avail. Then in my alcohol infused wit I suggested to wife with Demon out of the way we could install a brass pole. Note to self, when you think you are being witty and both dog and wife are looking at you like WTF you probably need to stop talking. They just did not understand the significance of having the Demon on the ground. Hah! Painter wants the car Thursday morning. Again my sincere thanks for all the PMs of support ideas and suggestions. I had never owned an A body in my life and thru this Forum I have now met many in person and it has just plain been a hoot. Several have been in my shop to heckle me, feed Hemi treats and just plain fellowship. Next pictures posted will look very different.

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So here is a brief update on status of Demon. It is in fact at the paint shop. Painter is part squirrel but does excellent work. I don't think there is a good painter alive that isn't wired a bit different. We went over the paint scheme yesterday at length. He asked me to swing by as it would be in mid sand. Nope still in race trailer hasn't even been unloaded. But the trailer got moved! I am going with the Sizzler hood decal, with 74 side stripes so I can put the Dodge logo underneath it on rear quarter. Standard tail panel 72 Demon decal. Drip rail all painted Sublime with the window edging and door handles painted black. No chrome anywhere. I have to decide in the next couple of weeks wether I want the underside painted Sublime or Black. I would love any and all input on that topic. With car done I am spending a lot of time at shooting range! It is the range where I moonlight as an instructor and range officer. Picture is with my back to the RSO office.

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I don't know how you could hate anything with a view like that!
 
Sublime one said:
It was very motivating getting steering wheel and linkage sorted out and hung. Then hanging front wheels really makes it look like an actual car again. After having it sit on my rack month after month and the list of tasks just never seems to get shorter. I don't remember which member it was but early on I was getting frustrated at the never ending hurdles and road blocks. The member explained to me simply pick one thing and do it to completion. Best advice I ever got, I had about 900 things 3/4 done. Making this swap is not for the faint hearted if you do it by yourself. I spoke to a gentleman at the last car show that had a gen 3 in his Mopar. He couldn't even tell me what transmission he had in the car much less how he overcame mounting it. His only reply was I dropped it off at the shop and told them what I wanted then picked it up. While I applaud him for his interest in cars he is likely not someone I can sit down and drink a beer with. The guys/gals on this Forum work their nuts off on their cars and on top of that they actually drive them. Now that's some folks I can have a beer with. Thanks to all of you for the PMs of support and ideas! Two years and I am going to paint shop! Woo Hoo! Happy days in a Fargo!
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You're doing a great job on this project, but please remember one thing:

Not all of us have the ability, time, or facilities to pull off a fantastic restomod like yours. I may have to write cheques for my resto, but that doesnt' mean that I don't love the car that I drive 2 out of 3 days that it's not snowing or raining. And I've learned a lot from both my mechanic and from all the marvellous folks on this forum.
 
GONEFISHIN' said:
You're doing a great job on this project, but please remember one thing:

Not all of us have the ability, time, or facilities to pull off a fantastic restomod like yours. I may have to write cheques for my resto, but that doesnt' mean that I don't love the car that I drive 2 out of 3 days that it's not snowing or raining. And I've learned a lot from both my mechanic and from all the marvellous folks on this forum.
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Well said good Sir! Folks like you and me and everything in between are what make this such a great platform for exchange of ideas. Everything is relative, I look at my build and ability compared to a lot of folks on FABO and just shake my head thinking I am a butcher! There are some super talented folks on here. It has taken me years to get to the point of paint. Some of these guys do it in weeks. I could not begin to explain the money, time, and effort this site has saved me. And that does not begin to explain the enjoyment and satisfaction I have gained from having searched out members on here and fellowshipped with them. Many have stood in my shop and heckled me, drank my booze and shared their expertise with me. I would strongly urge any of you to seek out members of FABO that are geographically close to you and make the effort to meet them. I have yet to meet one that does not match their on line persona. Ya get what ya get with this bunch. To a man (or woman) they have all been great folks! Happy Friday!
 
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