Improving a challenger interior after
25 years of mice infestation
After sitting neglected for over a
quarter-century, the Slick ’73 Challenger is finally getting renewed. Once we
brought the E-Body home, the first thing we needed to do was rid its interior
of that horrible smell that mice leave behind. As an aside, while we worked on
the interior’s revival, a stroker engine assembly and the many other engine
parts needed to build a strong running, pump-gas small-block were ordered.
After
sitting neglected for over a quarter-century, the Slick ’73 Challenger is
finally getting renewed.
The E-Body we’re working on was refinished
back in 1983, as per the era’s style and standards. The early ’80s was a time
before the availability of reproduction interior upholstery, molded loop-cut
carpet, door panels, package trays, and the host of other interior parts that
are available these days. A sure laugh and sign of the times was seeing the
shag carpet for a package tray and the pile-cut carpet. My best friend Slick
purchased this E-Body in 1988, and shortly afterward the 340 spun a rod bearing
and wiped out a few cam lobes. Back in 1999 we planned to rebuild the engine,
but plans changed to put it off until he retired in 2013. Slick, however, died
in 2008, so the Challenger was purchased from his widow. We feel Slick will be
working with us in spirit.
My
best friend Slick purchased this E-Body in 1988, and shortly afterward the 340
spun a rod bearing and wiped out a few cam lobes.
Follow along on our mission to rid the
interior of its horrible smell, while at the same time making the interior far
more habitable. We removed the seats, console, carpets, door, kick and side
back panels, back seat/trunk divider, and package tray, to get at the solid
floor and trunk pan. For the clean out, we wore masks and gloves before
removing dead mice, nests, and waste to protect us from that horrible stench
and bacteria. Luckily, the little creatures did not chew and damage the wiring,
which is a common problem. All the lights, gauges, and even the clock still
worked!
For rust, sound, and heat protection (while
also keeping the interior cooler during the summer), The Eastwood Company
provided us with the necessary products, namely Rust Encapsulator, Gator Guard,
Thermo-Coustic Barrier, and Vinyl Interior Dye. We made a call to YearOne for
molded loop-cut carpet, package tray, trunk divider, and a shifter boot. Down
the road we plan to replace the “too ’80s" heat-pleated seat covers with a
reproduction set from Legendary Auto Interiors. For now, it has a clean look
and smells nice enough to spend some “quiet time” behind the wheel— once we
rebuild the drivetrain.
For
rust, sound, and heat protection (while also keeping the interior cooler during
the summer), The Eastwood Company provided us with the necessary products,
namely Rust Encapsulator, Gator Guard, Thermo-Coustic Barrier, and Vinyl
Interior Dye.
