Okay…the 318 is a dead duck. The powertrain is out of the 1973 Dodge Challenger, and it’s time to progress to the next logical step. What should that be? Well, tackling the front suspension would be ideal. With brakes that are only barely unlocked and bushings that are probably rotted to near-dust, Dylan McCool’s latest acquisition could only benefit from some attention to everything attached to the K-member of the car. Even under the best of circumstances, cars of this age could use a going-over of the parts in the suspension. Bushings break down, components wear out and can have all sorts of damage that you wouldn’t see with just a visual inspection. Ask the patron saint of six-hundred-dollar shitboxes about those lessons…I’ve learned them well over the years.

And if you’re going to rip everything apart, why not do some reverse engineering and add in some upgrades? Lessons have been learned in the decades since these cars left their production lines. In the case of McCool’s Challenger, you’ll note the PST polyurethane bushings, the brake upgrades, and the control arm strengthening. Since this isn’t going to be a concours restoration, nobody is going to care that you beefed up a part here or added in some new technology there, and you get to reap the reward when you drive it.

Don’t overlook these things or just think that because it tracks straight down the road that you don’t have to check these parts out. Some preventative maintenance and some properly applied modifications do wonders later on down the road.