1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
Hi guys/girls. I finally joined after owning my pride and joy for almost 10 years (August 21st 2009)
I was 15 at the time and this 87 Charger popped up on Craigslist for $500. I called the guy and I went there the next day to look at it. Bought it right there on the spot after the test drive with my own money. This is the original Craigslist picture. 2.2 auto carhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f26c5b0be9.jpg
Alright so after I bought it, I wanted to fix it up and make my own Shelby. So that’s what I did. I forgot to mention that this car came from California and it was stored in the winter months when it lived in Minnesota.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9f3468f6e9.jpg
The start of the tear down
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Very rare for the floors to be solid on a L body
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Now preparing it for paint. Sorry no during pictures between primer and finished product
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When we brought it home. 9 months later from start to finish. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5f69b96ad3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9610901636.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3e40aee97c.jpg
Slapped the interior in it and got it ready to drive just in time to drive it to school on Monday after Mother’s Day. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...924cd36ef9.jpgi drove it like that for a little while until one day on Craigslist I found Shelby seats for $300. I went down to get seats and I managed to bring a truckload of parts home. Shelby hood, 2.2 Charger hood, fenders, nose cone, air dam, ground effects, seats, door panels, and a 525 with all linkage for $350. Damn I was stoked but there was a problem. No shifter or pedals. But my neighbor had a 89 Omni (wish knowing what I know now I would have stripped it completely) that was also a 5 speed but no transmission. So when winter came I took off the parts of the Omni, sent it off to scrap because the body was rotted. And installed a 2.5 out of a 94 shadow parts car we had outback along with the 5 speed. Converted the 2.5 to carb and sent it. Fun car to drive!!!!
September 2012 the fall after graduating high school. I went to go watch the football game and some gal backed into my car creasing the fender, hood and cracked the nose cone. My friend told me and I didn’t believe him because we pull pranks on each other all the time (still do to this day) and the local police officer came to me and confirmed it. All I had to do was sign papers. If it wasn’t for my friend seeing what happened. It would have been a hit and run. Insurance check of $1200. Perfect opportunity to convert to a Shelby. Over the winter I prepped the panels for paint and boy did she turn out pretty!!!!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1791388c3c.jpg
Stayed like that till Thursday February 20th 2014. My birthday. Car was in storage down at my grandparents place because there was no room at home. I get a phone call after going out to supper with grandpa on the phone telling me to come down with my keys. The garage was collapsing. I get down there and this is what I see.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d8b0980b9a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...34deca5a30.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ac174465b2.jpg
The next day we start demoing to get both cars outhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...16a8c75492.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...74193a289d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...520673fcd1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...06f7e5e8c1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...58edfda1ad.jpg
After getting it out I took the cover off only to find very light damage. It was the best birthday anyone could ask for. My family members didn’t get hurt and neither did my car too bad
So $1800 worth of damage i decided to send it to a body shop. If there was any more damage done. Insurance would have repainted the car. But they said just repaint the bad spots. I delivered it to the body shop thinking I wouldn’t see it for a couple weeks but got suprised by her sitting home in the garage 4 days later after coming home from college. Dad brought it home in an enclosed trailer on slushy roads. His boss let him use his trailer and I thanked him very much for doing that!!!
There is a bunch of photos in between then and now. I’ll post them later down farther.
Saturday July 8th 2017. Me and my buddy were on our way back from the meet that evening and him and I decided to do a highway pull. We raced and it was very close. Do we did another one. This time it was closer and was winning. So I rammed it into 5th and that was it. Nothing.....it was stuck in 5th gear but it was in neutral. I tried fixing it on the side of the road, and I couldn’t so I called my parents to come rescue me 70 miles from home. Sunday I pushed it into the garage pissed off at myself and never looked at it till this spring.
But the best part about this story. I collected parts over time eventually to do an all motor 2.5 or 2.2. Header, cam and twin carb intake etc. but a friend of my uncle offered me an offer I couldn’t refuse. A turbo swap!!! Him and I have gone over the plan of what to do. His 2.2 has rust in the cylinder walls so I provided a 2.2 out of a 94 shadow to use as a replacement. But I called mike from forward motion the other day and he hooked me up with a long rod 2.5 short block with good parts. So I can’t wait to get started on the build which convinced me to start a PL.
I’ll keep you guys updated in a few weeks after I get stuff organized
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: 1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
Welcome, your car looks great. eh I;m only 7ish hours North of you.
Re: 1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
Re: 1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
WELCOME !!
Very nice car with a great story!!
I have converted a few L bodys to turbo and prefer the 1988-89 SMEC wiring for the job.
Do you happen to know if the SC nose cone fits over the 1984, 4 headlight bumper rebar.
My next project, after my recent health issue, is another 1984 Rampage with the SC nose and matching hood.
I don't have the SC rebar and can't remember if the 4 headlight rebar is compatible with the 4 headlight rebar.
Did I mention, NICE JOB!!
Thanks
Randy
Re: 1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
A recent braking discussion
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...=1#post1142786
IIRC, the L body need a minor mod the strut to slip on the knuckle.
Re: 1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
The shift fork selector mechanism is jammed. I had a friend do it, and I have done it. I *still* don't know how! LOL Anyway, just pop the selector housing off the top of the transmission and it should just un-jam. Clean things up, seal it, put it back together, have fun!
Re: 1 of none Shelby GLHS Tribute
Great story and write up:thumb: Definitely a labor of love:love:
