My 1971 Demon Rebuild

-
dale_brennon

dale_brennon

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
376
Reaction score
23
Location
Louisville, KY
I have had this car for a few years now, but with my deployment to Iraq, and buying a house that didn't have two twenty in the garage it had really been put on the back burner. I have been working on it for a few months and have made some progress in my eyes lol. The car started out as a /6 and 904 column shift car ac car, but I picked it up as a shell in 09. I have a complete 4speed setup for the car and a set of W2 heads, I plan on putting a 408 c.i. motor in it. I also have a 8 3/4 with a 3.91 sure grip setup for super stock springs, it has the BBP axles in it, and I have a 73 BBP front end for the car as well. Please feel free to leave lots of comments, this is my first go around at restoring a car so I am always looking for ideas, tips, and advice on how to make my life a little easier.
 

Attachments

  • 7822_1250410146105_1405021018_30726225_4077332_n.jpg
    68.6 KB · Views: 1,400
  • 7822_1250408186056_1405021018_30726211_1311962_n.jpg
    91.8 KB · Views: 1,375
  • 7822_1250410186106_1405021018_30726226_6482348_n.jpg
    68.4 KB · Views: 1,383
  • 7822_1250408306059_1405021018_30726214_2124811_n.jpg
    84.9 KB · Views: 1,370
  • 7822_1250410106104_1405021018_30726224_801083_n.jpg
    88.2 KB · Views: 1,382
  • 7822_1250410066103_1405021018_30726223_7814396_n.jpg
    74.4 KB · Views: 1,375
  • 7822_1250410026102_1405021018_30726222_7535980_n.jpg
    70.4 KB · Views: 1,382
  • 7822_1250409986101_1405021018_30726221_5242480_n.jpg
    52.1 KB · Views: 1,377
  • 7822_1250409946100_1405021018_30726220_5068303_n.jpg
    80.2 KB · Views: 1,374
  • 7822_1250408266058_1405021018_30726213_4838017_n.jpg
    78.4 KB · Views: 1,360
From a former service member, thank you for your service. Love the 71 Demons. If you plan on making some horsepower with that 408 you would be better off building the car to handle it first. Subframe connectors and stiffening up the front in my opinion. Sounds like you are off to a good start and keep the pics coming.

BTW I used to live in Kingwood TX. It's too hot down there.
 
I hope that's your neighbors Nova. :D Just kidding. Prepare to receive some grief for that one. LOL
 
So like I said I have been working on the car a bit, I have cut out the passenger side quarter panel, the driver side front floor pan, spare tire in the trunk, and removed the 7 1/4 rearend. I still have to removed the entire passenger side floor pan. I don't claim to know much about anything on body work, but the person who had the car before me did a hack job on the car, they didn't cut any of the bad metal out, they just welded metal over the bad metal.
 

Attachments

  • 16645_1271386030489_1405021018_30783982_413581_n.jpg
    65.7 KB · Views: 1,322
  • 16645_1271385350472_1405021018_30783981_4454807_n.jpg
    63.9 KB · Views: 1,337
  • 422720_3310880496576_1405021018_33160305_466965527_n.jpg
    133.8 KB · Views: 1,323
  • 429902_3310862136117_1405021018_33160292_502723914_n.jpg
    174.7 KB · Views: 1,349
  • 427680_3310866896236_1405021018_33160294_715439353_n.jpg
    106.7 KB · Views: 1,349
  • 300506_10150301771005345_503445344_8157436_1892986_n.jpg
    78.3 KB · Views: 1,327
  • 299945_10150301770645345_503445344_8157433_7677684_n.jpg
    71.3 KB · Views: 1,346
  • 300581_10150301770300345_503445344_8157431_4164030_n.jpg
    86.7 KB · Views: 1,334
  • 310185_10150301771335345_503445344_8157439_3754402_n.jpg
    78.3 KB · Views: 1,343
I do have sub-frame connectors already, I picked them up from Mancini, also I plan on putting a cage in the car, and doing a mini-tub. I have been looking for the core support upgrade that XV sales, but it has been out of stock on their website for so long, I don't know if I have to call them and request it or if I should just try and fab one myself. I actually live in Spring, and work in Conroe, but I am from Kentucky, and I agree it is way to hot down here, but at least you can race almost year round.
 
Great project car.
Do yourself a favor, and don't cut out any more sheet metal until you start replacing what you have already cut out.
If you weaken the shell any more than you have, the body might shift and settle into a position that is out of whack and the car will be a PITA to line up and keep square as you go.
Maybe work one area at a time, that's my advice FWIW.
BTW, your plans for the car sound great to me!
 
I know the pictures aren't really showing it, but the new quarter is already on, I didn't have a picture of it so I have to take them tomorrow and then I will upload them. I have done a little body work, so I knew already not to cut out to much, it's easy to cut away, it's harder to put away, and common sense told me that if I cut to much the structure would get weak and would cave in. Thanks for the advice though, I do still need to install the driver side floor pan, and I plan on doing that before I start cutting the passenger side out.
 
dale_brennon said:
I do have sub-frame connectors already, I picked them up from Mancini, also I plan on putting a cage in the car, and doing a mini-tub. I have been looking for the core support upgrade that XV sales, but it has been out of stock on their website for so long, I don't know if I have to call them and request it or if I should just try and fab one myself. I actually live in Spring, and work in Conroe, but I am from Kentucky, and I agree it is way to hot down here, but at least you can race almost year round.
Click to expand...

Check out my sig. My lower radiator supports are cheaper and better. :D
 
awesome project! i will keep my eye on your build, i love trying to learn about the restoration process as i am hoping to do it someday soon to :) love all the photos to :) keep them coming :)
 
Dale Love those cars! Thanks for your service, your the guy that lets us have the freedom that we all enjoy everyday. I'm a long way away from you in Michigan but I have a 1 peice floor and both trunk drops there yours if you need them, kind of large box so shipping won't be cheep but if you can find a way and need them let me know. Thanks again.
 
Nice project. Looks like a good starting point. I LOVE Demons as well and have a tip for you as well... Put in the stiffening plates underneath. They came factory on all 340-4 speed cars.... I dont have any pics but im sure somebody on here does. With the horsepower potiential of that 408.... You will need them..... I know what happens when you dont
 
Welcome to the world of Demons :evil2:! cool project i like your plans for it...check out Rodzilla's Demon it's top notch and right along the lines of what you have planned, should help you if you need any.
 
OK so I have a question, hopefully someone out there can help me come up with the answer, if you look in the first set of my pictures, I cut out the front floor pan on the driver's side. When I got the pan I noticed a 90 degree bend on the front of the pan where it meets the lower part of the fire wall. I started cutting and once I was almost done cutting everything out and trimming the panel to fit I noticed that I cut to much metal, the lip on the floor pan was actually spot welded on a lip from the fire wall, I am thinking I could just bend that lip on the new floor back and butt weld it directly to the fire wall metal, does anyone else have a suggestion that I might be able to do in this situation?
 
Welcome home. Thank you. My son did three tours in Iraq.

Looks like you've got a good project there. Will be watching your progress.


If that is your Nova, post up a couple of pics. A closed mind is a terrible thing.:coffee2:
 
Nothing exciting to report, I have been busy trying to get my packet together to become a warrant officer, so I have kinda just put the car on the back burner. I have played around with it a few times, and I have come to realize that the rust is much worse than I thought it to be. I am thinking about getting the car blasted so that I can see what all metal needs to be replaced and what I can keep. I will post some pictures of the car, I have just been cleaning the under body up while I decided if I am going to pull the trigger on the media blasting.
 
dale_brennon said:
OK so I have a question, hopefully someone out there can help me come up with the answer, if you look in the first set of my pictures, I cut out the front floor pan on the driver's side. When I got the pan I noticed a 90 degree bend on the front of the pan where it meets the lower part of the fire wall. I started cutting and once I was almost done cutting everything out and trimming the panel to fit I noticed that I cut to much metal, the lip on the floor pan was actually spot welded on a lip from the fire wall, I am thinking I could just bend that lip on the new floor back and butt weld it directly to the fire wall metal, does anyone else have a suggestion that I might be able to do in this situation?
Click to expand...

So you cut through the pinch weld. I'm not the expert but I'd say no biggie. The pinch weld adds some structural rigidity but I doubt it's important. I'd just do as you are thinking.
 
So I have been in and out of the garage lately, my warrant officer packet got excepted so I have had to take time away from the car to get all of those duck in a row. Also I have been working on projects outside while the weather permits. Here are some pictures of the little progress that has been made.
 

Attachments

  • 558308_3567636035304_1405021018_33268241_1327607833_n.jpg
    107.7 KB · Views: 1,079
  • 557013_3567643835499_1405021018_33268252_902018138_n.jpg
    105.4 KB · Views: 1,086
  • 318184_3567644435514_1405021018_33268253_723444561_n.jpg
    95.5 KB · Views: 1,080
  • 543101_3567645955552_1405021018_33268256_1008027121_n.jpg
    171 KB · Views: 1,092
  • 532131_3567636835324_1405021018_33268243_912294787_n.jpg
    179.5 KB · Views: 1,103
  • 528113_3567645035529_1405021018_33268254_1303990071_n.jpg
    190.5 KB · Views: 1,099
  • 552767_3567634315261_1405021018_33268238_893684215_n.jpg
    75.3 KB · Views: 1,097
  • 555544_3567646595568_1405021018_33268257_744761909_n.jpg
    97.9 KB · Views: 1,090
  • 523257_3567645515541_1405021018_33268255_708937063_n.jpg
    79 KB · Views: 1,112
  • 561351_3567641755447_1405021018_33268249_1337810435_n.jpg
    117.9 KB · Views: 1,068
I am talking with Tincup in an effort to customize my dash, he is going to help me cut the radio, ac controls, and gauge cluster out and make it one piece. Also I got the coil-over and springs, I am waiting on my tubular uppers from RMS, and than the Lowers and adapters from Bad Dart, hopefully that will be here in a week or two!
 
That new quarter sure looks nice, so nice it's tempting me to do the same! Lot of work so far, keep it up when you've got the time! :cheers:
P.S. You'll be very happy with Badart's products.
 
Great looking Demon! Looking forward to more progress reports....
1 quick question as I see you have the dash out of the car. Is that section bolted in or did you have to drill out spot welds? My dash is a hacked up mess from a previous owner and I'd like to either repair or replace but either way it would be easier to do with the old one out of the car first.
Keep up the great work!

Tony
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top