What have I done.

[Charley Lillard]

When I fell for the Cyclone Spoiler I fell down the rabbit hole and also bought the car that sat next to if for at least 30 years. The owner this came from bought it in 1988 out of a southern Ca. Auto trader type paper. The paint that was on it then is still on it.

[Bill Pritchard]

By the looks of the paint on that hood and tops of the fenders, odds are that it's still orig paint. Very cool! love the armrest, too :)

[Jonesy]

What are you going to do with it??

[Charley Lillard]

Repainted before he bought it.those are 71 stripes on side. Supposed to have a luggage rack. The sheepskin armrests set it apart from any other Mopar.

[Charley Lillard]

I’m still figuring out a plan of attack. Really neat color and options.

[Postsedan]

Send it to Mark Worman :)

Now you know how Kwhizz felt when he received his Impala from New York.

Dan

[Mr70]

Neat car...a real Challenge.

[Xplantdad]

I'll have to look...as I may have pics of that car somewhere. That plate looks really familiar!

[WILMASBOYL78]

"I’m still figuring out a plan of attack."

Just clean the sheepskin and drive it !:burnout:

-wilma

[A12pilot]

What have you done?? I'll tell you what you've done: You've joined the ultra-elite group of FC7 people! :headbang: I knew from the lengthy conversations we've had over the years (I think we met 2 years ago.... and then there was that email I sent to you by accident thinking you were someone else l:hmmm::biggthumpup:) that we were cut from the same loaf of bread! Welcome to Purpleville! Or, as it popularly known as....P-Town!:burnout:

I spy Ralleye gauges, and a 3.55 Performace Axle package too!! Would love to crawl all over that and find markings and stuff! Nice score!!

Don't forget the "nod" you need to do now when walking past another purple car owner. :biggthumpup:

Cheers
Dave

[njsteve]

Don't forget the "nod" you need to do now when walking past another purple car owner. :biggthumpup:

Cheers
Dave

That's not a nod...it's a grimace.


(very punny, eh?)

[Charley Lillard]

Do I have to grow a Mullet ?

[A12pilot]

Ha! Steve... you may be onto something there. I'm not sure what Grimace was...or is:hmmm:... but he's purple so that makes him halfway cool!

Nope. No mullet required. Those are for die-hard only Mopar guys. If you're interested in other makes/models or have ever owned another car other than a Mopar (like me and you), then no mullet required. :biggthumpup:

And if required.... that tag should have been coded for it. I think it would be MRD after EN1. It stands for "Mullet Required, Doofus!":haha:

Cheers:beers:
Dave

[Postsedan]

Well this explains everything now....Dave and Steve are / were the Furry People from the Furry Convention....Charley was the one that allowed a group of them to walk into MCACN that year :)
They were clearly giving everyone this Nod :(

Dan

[Charley Lillard]

Can someone create a pic of Dan with a Mullet ?

[KenMaisano]

Cool car! Here is a idea for ya, I'm also a Plum Crazy guy.

https://www.yenko.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=127494&stc=1&d=1545147814

[njsteve]

Can someone create a pic of Dan with a Mullet ?

I have my own infamous moulet' photo...you should see my wedding album! (or maybe not)

I can still hear them banjos....

[Lee Stewart]

Can someone create a pic of Dan with a Mullet ?

Here Charlie . . . buy him one of these and make him promise he will wear it for a photo to post:

https://i.postimg.cc/m2Vv54Tc/71-WDgee-DEL-UX569.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Owl-Merica-Mullet-Baseball/dp/B0756K2GKS

[RS_COPO_Canuck]

Nice car Charley.
I wasn't buying anything until this recently was totally and completely forced on me :)

[RST]

Very cool car, love the color combo!

[flyingn]

looks great Charley!!! Love the fur armrest!!!

[Charley Lillard]

Ok...In preparation to warm up the car to do my traditional burnout I drove the car outside the shop and let it warm up for a few minutes. It decided to just die. Where are my Mopar wiring experts ? I have power at battery, power at junction block, power thru the fusible link red wire. no lights, no clock, no nuthin. I can jump across at the junction block and crank the engine. Before I break my junk back playing around up under the dash anymore somebody that knows Mopars better than me should be able to tell me somewhere to check.

[njsteve]

Did you replace the ballast resistor on the firewall? When they fry, the car will crank but not start since it is no longer getting any voltage to the points.

A fried ballast resistor will not give you the dead interior circuits though. I had a similar problem with a 70 Cuda years ago and it turned out to be the actual mating point between where the engine compartment wiring harness mates up to the firewall junction block. The built in plastic clips no longer held the female portion of the junction against the male portion of the firewall. When I jiggled the various joining sections, the power would come back on inside the car and feed the ignition switch.

[Charley Lillard]

All interior circuits are dead. Not even any headlights.

[njsteve]

I would bet that it is the junction point. There are several of those bulkhead connectors that route under the brake booster area where all the harnesses feed that junction point. Start moving them around and see if you get anything inside.

Or just ship the darn thing to me. I'm almost done with Grampa's Lincoln

[A12pilot]

Charley, check that ammeter and see if it moves at all. All the power inside the dash does through that gauge. I've had a bad one and the symptoms sound identical.

Report back on that. How long was that car sitting?

Cheers
Dave

[old5.0]

Loose wire in the bulkhead connector. I've spent alot of time on the side of the road with de-powered old Mopars.

[69PostSSChevelle]

Dan would only wear that hat if it had a Cubs logo on it.

[Postsedan]

Dan would only wear that hat if it had a Cubs logo on it.

I certainly would :)

Dan

[A12pilot]

Well...it's decided then. I've set up a GoFundMe account to buy Dan a one of a kind, customized, MoparCubbies Mullet cap!

If you're inclined to donate to this worthy cause, please log on to:
GoF-U.CappyforDanno.yenko.SuperDave.WTF.edu.org
:hmmm::biggthumpup::bs:

In other news, If Charley can't get the Purple People Eater running, he's agreed to send it to me for the cost of shipping. What a guy! :burnout::no:

Hope it's running now Sir!

Cheers:beers:
Dave

[RS_COPO_Canuck]

I would have said fusible link - but you checked that.
Does it crank if you jump the starter relay on the inner fender? Check all the connections there while you are at it.
Dave is right on checking the ammeter wire to see if there is any juice getting through the bulkhead connector. If not - there is a loose or cooked wire at the bulkhead connector.
I do like the color combo

[Charley Lillard]

Yes it cranks when I jump relay on fender, found power thru bulkhead connector , spotted some corrosion in connector but ran out of time and Advil.

[Devil]

Welcome to Mopar! I have a color wiring diagram for a 71 Challenger if you need it.

[A12pilot]

You can have power going to the gauge.... just need to have power coming back out of it. Identical problem I had, and a fried ammeter was the culprit. Since it was running then died, it makes me think that this is the problem as well since you can jump the solenoid under the hood. But could be one of many small issues all compounding into one.

Easy to hook up a new ignition switch too. Just plug it in to the connector and ground it, then try to start the car.

Cheers
Dave

[Charley Lillard]

Charley, check that ammeter and see if it moves at all. All the power inside the dash does through that gauge. I've had a bad one and the symptoms sound identical.

Report back on that. How long was that car sitting?

Cheers
Dave
Bingo...pulled apart the bulkhead connectors and cleaned etc but nothing. Then pulled the aftermarket radio to get at the ammeter, put a jumper wire and bingo. Same thing happened with my old Toyota 2000GT. Took me forever to find it that time. The bigger issue is my "old man skin". It gets depressing when every time you bump or scrape against something you are bleeding. I used to do this stuff for a living and now I need a supply of bandaids and Advil.

[Mr70]

Look at it this way,after you die,a DNA trace test on that car now will verify it's past ownership history.

[njsteve]

Charley, you're way too delicate for a car like this. Ship it one of us manly types who can really handle it.

;-p

Nice to see that you found the defect. Now on with the (burnout) show.

BTW, why is the engine painted blue? Is it the original motor or has someone been in there long ago?

[Charley Lillard]

No idea on the engine paint but probably that way since 88 at least. Runs good. Where are engine #'s ?

[Charley Lillard]

fSqtw4bFxSY

[Charley Lillard]

SdtGRyeOMKE

[njsteve]

On the vertical face of the side of the block down by the oil pan rail on the passenger side, half way down the block. Its on a machined out three inch by one inch section.

[Charley Lillard]

Proper ammeter bypass

[Charley Lillard]

.....

[Charley Lillard]

My block does not have that pad.

[Charley Lillard]

Google search looks like 2536430 is a 1970 service replacement short block.

[A12pilot]

Excellent! Glad you found the weak link and glad it was relatively easy to find considering it could have been anywhere!:biggthumpup: Wait, something I suggested was actually the solution? Man...I think this will go down in history as the first time that I actually helped someone over the internet fix a car rather than the other way around! :headbang:

Love the sound of that burnout!

Cheers:beers:
Dave

[olredalert]

----There's the blood and the arthritis for me as well, Charley. I feel your pain.....daily!...…..Bill S

[RS_COPO_Canuck]

No idea on the engine paint but probably that way since 88 at least. Runs good. Where are engine #'s ?

Engine date on top pad beside distributor. Should have a F (for 70 model year) 440 for engine size, and a month and day number. Should also have an HP or HP2 on there - hiding under the spark plug wire bracket. There could be other symbols as well for bearing size info etc.

Here is a pic of a 69 which has an E. 70 is F. Date is 4 8 ....which is April 8

VIN pad right side, above oil pan toward front of engine. Should match the trans VIN exactly

[Canuck]

I always thought of Charlie as the ultimate Camaro,Yenko,Copo guy. In recent years I have seen his Ford Convertibles Pontiac,Riviera and now tinkering with a Mopar. There is hope yet!

[RS_COPO_Canuck]

Google search looks like 2536430 is a 1970 service replacement short block.

That is a good casting number.
I have never seen any 440 block without a VIN pad....unless it's early....like maybe a '66-'68. Before they were stamping on the top rear of the block, near where the trans mates to the engine. After you stop bleeding have another look :).
Wonder what the casting date is. Block almost looks turquoise in the pics....may be early.

[Charley Lillard]

What year is B ?

[Charley Lillard]

.....

[njsteve]

Is that a 4/18/1968 casting date code on the intake?

[Lee Stewart]

What year is B ?

1966 Charley. Probably out of a large Chrysler or Dodge. Chrysler called it the 440 TNT (IMO)

https://i.postimg.cc/Vkzfm4Rw/screenshot-6772.png (https://postimages.cc/)

https://i.postimg.cc/0y2SFCkf/screenshot-6773.png (https://postimages.org/)

[Charley Lillard]

What I thought was I was buying was a #'s matching car. The dealer I bought from has apologized and agreed to refund my money. Bummer.

[Crush]

That’s cool they are giving your money back.

[Mr70]

Have you checked the engine,trans & rear of the Cyclone too?

[WILMASBOYL78]

Bingo...pulled apart the bulkhead connectors and cleaned etc but nothing. Then pulled the aftermarket radio to get at the ammeter, put a jumper wire and bingo. Same thing happened with my old Toyota 2000GT. Took me forever to find it that time. The bigger issue is my "old man skin". It gets depressing when every time you bump or scrape against something you are bleeding. I used to do this stuff for a living and now I need a supply of bandaids and Advil.

Try this before your next project...it is supposed to help "mature skin' :wink:

[cudino]

Bummer Charley, I thought you were gonna finally join us Mopar-ites! Too bad, but glad to hear it is all getting unwound.

Another thing on the stripes. In addition to the (incorrect) ’71-style stripe is the whiteout on the hood. That is also incorrect. The only hood treatment available on 1970 Challengers was the V21 option, which is a similar-looking hood treatment like this, but was only available in black. While white may look great on this car, unfortunately it was N/A. This car is coded for V6W, which would be the white ’70-style longitudinal stripe, but was not coded for the V21 hood blackout treatment.

- Wade

[Charley Lillard]

I been joined forever. Still have the Chrysler sno runner here waiting for Saruk to pick it up

[Lee Stewart]

Charley . . . glad you were able to return the car and get your money back. Lots more wrong on that car:

https://i.postimg.cc/xCKVKMzr/IMG-4180.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

https://i.postimg.cc/bvShwKYw/65.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

That isn't the original vinyl top. The 1970 Challenger had a unique placement for the seams (it was a styling que) as seen in the bottom photo. Compare them to the car you had

[Lee Stewart]

Here is what the car looked like color wise as per the fender tag:

https://i.postimg.cc/cH8Qx7bn/urf.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

Yours didn't have the hood pins, rear spoiler or color matching mirrors.

[Mr70]

Charley is the guy who sold you this Challenger,the same guy who sold you the Cyclone too?

[Charley Lillard]

Yes

[Charley Lillard]

It will be a cool car restored but not by me. Optioned killer. Now I have to find another plum challenger crazy

[Lee Stewart]

It will be a cool car restored but not by me. Optioned killer. Now I have to find another plum challenger crazy

https://i.postimg.cc/ydcCF5GY/qq.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5Y4rJP1Z)

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/dodge/challenger/2203486.html

[cudino]

It will be a cool car restored but not by me. Optioned killer. Now I have to find another plum challenger crazy
If it helps, FC7 Plum Crazy was by far the most popular color on US-shipped 1970 Challengers. For the performance-minded Challenger R/T models, 22.2% of them (~3000 cars) were ordered in purple, almost 3x more popular than secondmost color chosen (EB5 blue, at 8.3%). But purple on white, which a lot of guys (including me) really dig, will be harder to come by. Maybe Lee’s onto something?

- Wade

[A12pilot]

Wow! In this day and age, how could one sell a car as numbers matching when it clearly is not? Just a quick internet search by anyone would answer a bunch of questions. What a shame, Charley.:thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumbsdown::thumb sdown::thumbsdown:

Amazing they are agreeing to give you your money back. That is unlike most.

Well, that’s it then...the one time I helped someone and back the car goes to where from which it came from.:hmmm:

Glad it all worked out in the end for you though. You need a 70 FC7 340 Shaker 4spd Cuda! You can’t just drive it home after MCACN 2020:laugh::laugh:

Cheers:beers:

Dave

[Charley Lillard]

When I told them about the engine they offered to take it back. I offered to even take a 1000.00 hit but they insisted on refunding all my money. I think they just assumed by the history and how orig. looking under the hood that it was a #'s car. As did I. The paint etc was done over 30 years ago. It is optioned just about perfectly how I want one and I'll probably regret it.

[Lee Stewart]

When I told them about the engine they offered to take it back. I offered to even take a 1000.00 hit but they insisted on refunding all my money. I think they just assumed by the history and how orig. looking under the hood that it was a #'s car. As did I. The paint etc was done over 30 years ago. It is optioned just about perfectly how I want one and I'll probably regret it.

I really hope you don't regret your decision Charley. There was so much wrong with the car. No one mentioned that the FT shows power brakes (B51) but there's no power brake booster! Wrong paint scheme, wrong engine, wrong vinyl top, wrong brake setup, etc.

So you want a Plum Crazy Challenger R/T with 440 magnum, PS, PB (PFDB?), AT and A/C. Is that the configuration that you want?

I don't have to tell you of all people the difference between buying a finished car versus one that needs a full resto as far as money, time and headaches go.

Wintertime is a good time to buy cars. Prices will be at their lowest. And winter just started.

[Charley Lillard]

It does have the power brake booster and the fender tag does show V1W= white vinyl top.

[Lee Stewart]

It does have the power brake booster and the fender tag does show V1W= white vinyl top.

It has a booster? Hard to tell from your photo:

https://i.postimg.cc/vZ0zrdCG/IMG-4173.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

https://i.postimg.cc/DwNGfft4/654.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

As I explained. Vinyl top is incorrect. Not stock.

[Charley Lillard]

What am I missing ?

[Lee Stewart]

What am I missing ?

OK - MUCH better picture. Go back to the top of page 7 to see the correct way a vinyl top was installed at the factory on a 1970 Challenger.

[Charley Lillard]

Would have been easier if you had just stated that the vinyl top that is on it was done incorrectly. The way you stated it I got the impression you were saying it shouldn't have a vinyl top. Wrong tires also if we are going that route. Wrong brakes ?

[njsteve]

Does anyone reproduce the correct vinyl top with the wide seams? I remember that was the big dilemma back in the day when I was playing with these Mopars.

[Lee Stewart]

Does anyone reproduce the correct vinyl top with the wide seams? I remember that was the big dilemma back in the day when I was playing with these Mopars.

Year One and Classic Industries

[Charley Lillard]

Does anyone know this car ?
https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0119-362521/1970-dodge-challenger/

[Charley Lillard]

Plum Crazy with White interior
426 CI Hemi engine
4-speed transmission
Award winning build
Numerous appearances in Muscle Car Review magazine
Estimated in over 100 national magazines
Named in the Top Ten Hot Rods in the Hot Rod magazine
Featured in YearOne catalog and Diamond Piston for advertisement
World famous Dave Dudek 1970 Challenger
White vinyl top

[tom406]

Originally a 340 car, built for FAST. If it still has the Dudek FAST spec motor (I'm guessing not) it should be a ball to drive.
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-0307-1970-dodge-challenger/

[Charley Lillard]

Thankyou.

[big gear head]

Charley, buy it and bring it to Beech Bend for the SCR.

[Mr70]

Have I got a slot car set for you Charley. :burnout: