It's HEMI time !!! Compliments of NJSteve

[Belair62]

1970 Charger R/T-SE 426 Hemi, 4 Speed
The attached photos are of the longest ongoing extra marital relationship I have had in my life! 17 years and counting. In the 80s I was heavily into Mopars having owned a 71 HemiCuda Convertible (the one Charley L keeps sitting in) and two 440 Six Barrel convertibles as well as a number of other hemi cars. Because of this, people would call me to document their cars and give advice on values, etc. In August 1987 I was called out of the blue by a guy in NJ who asked me to look at his Charger and give him some info on the car. When I arrived and he pulled the blue plastic tarp off the car it was like a scene from Steven King's "Christine". I had to have it. So after a few days of negotiating, I talked him out of the car ...and he talked me out of $14000, an unheard of sum for a non-running Hemi car at the time.

At the time, the car had 12,234 miles on it and no one had been able to drive it since the first owner in the early 1970s who grenaded the motor at 150 mph racing a Trans Am on I-287 in Jersey. Everyone who tried to put it back together, blew it up or gave up: The second owner bought the car and reassembled another engine over a case of beer with his buddies: The result? He installed one piston backwards and the motor ate a valve and punched it through a cylinder head. He parked it and sold it to owner #3 in 1977 who collected the parts to fix it and then just let it sit in his driveway before selling it to me in 1987.

The beer drinking, engine assembly was probably the best thing that ever happened to that car as owner #2 was going to cut the car up to be a bracket racer. He had already cut and welded new leaf spring mounts in the frame, modified the trunk floor and trimmed the front corners of the rear quarters for slick clearance. Had he actually put the engine back together correctly, this car would have been destroyed 20 years ago.

I got the car home and started the reassembly process. The body was stripped of its horrible original paint (it looked great from 50 feet away) and over the next three years finally accumulated a new coat of its original enamel E5 Bright Red. (It was actually a 3 week paint job but you know body men: 3 weeks = 3 years).

At the time I was reassembling this car I was also restoring a 1969 Hemi Charger Daytona that had a 1970 motor in it. As the engine in the red Charger was grenaded by the original owner and the motor it was sold with was date code correct for the Daytona, I swapped them. I never bothered to look at the partial VIN stampings on the blocks. Years later while adjusting the clutch on the Charger I looked at the partial VIN on the block and the hair stood up on the back of my neck. My Charger's numerical VIN ends in 171264. The partial VIN on the swapped block was 171285. According to my research it turns out that I stumbled across the engine from the next Hemi car built right after my Charger. I have never looked at the numbers again: I'm afraid if I look again the numbers will have magically gotten even closer! Christine returns!

As for rarity, Dodge produced 112 Hemi-powered Charger R/T cars in 1970: 56 four speeds and 56 automatics. Of those 112, a much smaller number were ordered as the option upon an option R/T-SE (Special Edition) model. For you Chevy fans, this is akin to a Z-28 Rally Sport - a performance and luxury trim option package combination. It is believed that 4 four speeds and 9 automatics were made as R/T-SE Hemi cars.

When I finished the Charger in 1990, it appeared in Musclecar Review. A few weeks after the magazine hit the newsstands I received a large plain-brown wrapped envelope in the mail. It contained the actual dealer file for my Charger. It turned out that the son of the mechanic who worked on the car at Suburban Dodge in Metuchin, NJ currently worked at the dealership. The same day he received his Musclecar Review magazine was the day he was tasked by the management with cleaning out the old file room. After taking a lunch brake and reading the magazine, he returned to work dumping files in the dumpster. What should land on top? My car's file folder. He opens it up and sees 25 different documents pertaining to the car: scribble sheets, order forms, financing agreements, advanced dealer shipping notices, the delivery truck bill of lading and even the dealer prep work order documenting his dad installing a set of headers for new car delivery to the first owner on 01/03/1970. (How is the Steven King -Christine factor going now?) Anyway, he did some detective work and found my address and sent me the entire package. I eventually got to meet his dad and have him fill out the antifreeze decal he forgot to do in 1970. Great people.

The car has not been babied. I do drive it. Since I bought it at 12,234 miles in 1987, it now has 15,770 miles. A bunch of those miles having been done on the drag strip. Best time 12.77 @ 111 mph in 97 degree heat at Bradenton Speedway in Florida. Which reminds me of another bizarre Christine story. I had the Charger at a Mopar show in Miami Florida in 1992, almost 1700 miles from New Jersey. Out of the crowd a guy comes running up to the car yelling "Is that Dicky Wickberg's car?" He runs right past the front of the car and starts looking at the back window. He then yells out: "It is, it is!" I always wondered about the weird scratches in the back window. He then explains that he and Dicky Wickberg, the original owner’s son were retreating from a “wicked bar fight” in NJ in 1971. They went screaming out of the parking lot just as the beer bottles started flying. One hit dead center in the rear window and shattered the bottle, but only scratching the window glass.

The Charger is rather well optioned with the 426 Hemi backed up with the 18-spline A-833 four speed shifter by way of the infamous Hurst pistol grip shifter. It has the Super Track Pak with 410 Dana rear, PDB, AM-Track stereo, SE package with charcoal leather interior, tinted glass, hood tie downs, engine call out letters on the hood and white bumble bee stripe. The only option I added was power steering, as the car was downright dangerous without it.

I could probably write a novel with all the stories I have run across concerning this car and the wild bunch of characters that have surrounded it over the past 35 years. The title? Christine II of course.

http://img46.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/NJSTEVE%20Hemi/chargeng12a.jpg

http://img46.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/NJSTEVE%20Hemi/charg4a.jpg

http://img46.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/NJSTEVE%20Hemi/charginterior1.jpg

http://img46.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/NJSTEVE%20Hemi/chargerrear1.jpg

[shor]

Wow!!
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif
awesome!!

[hvychev]

Totally amazing story!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Charley Lillard]

Arrgh...Cool car..Can I sit in it ?

[JoeG]

Very http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif car--the pistol grip shifter fits the cars-take no prisoners look--------------

[MosportGreen66]

Great looking HEMI car! I LOVE these spot-light rides!

[Mr70]

Nice car Steve.I love the way it sits.
The Dicky Wickberg story alone is priceless. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[njsteve]

Here is a photo of the car when I first saw it back in 1987, moments after the 3rd owner pulled the tarp off it...you can almost hear the Twilight Zone theme playing in the background.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Nice car Steve.I love the way it sits.
The Dicky Wickberg story alone is priceless. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

A couple years ago I called Dicky Wickburg and his dad. They are still in the phonebook here in Jersey. The son honestly sounded scared on the phone that the car was still "alive". It was literally like a ghost from his past calling for him. I offered to bring the car over and show it to him and I swear I could hear him sweating on other end of the phone. He refused to see the car. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

I also contacted the second owner (the bear-drinking engine assembler). He told me he still had the original grenaded block from the car. I offered to buy it from him at whatever price he wanted and he got really freaked out. He started stuttering and hung up. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gifhttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gifI called him back a month later and he said his dad threw out the engine block right after I called. Very strange.

I don't think the car liked them...Luckily I think this car likes our family and wants to stay. It's the only car I've ever had, musclecar or everyday driver, that starts on the first turn of the key. It could have sat for a year and it still starts right up. Kind of like your family dog wanting to go for a walk the minute he hears the leash jingle....By now I've probably scared you all enough, but hey, us Mopar guys are a little weird anyway http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[COPO_Anders]

I love those Chargers ! Great car !
My friend Dick bought a -69 R/T 440 4-speed car, outside Cedar Rapids, something like 15 years ago. I ended up buying the car from him when he needed the space. It was a matching numbers car with discbrakes. Green with black vinyltop and black bumblebee-stripe. I shouldn´t have sold it !
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

The second owner that Dick bought it from, knew that the original owner had traded it in when buying a -70 HEMI Charger !
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

Anders

[Chris396]

Sweet! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[njsteve]

And here is the infamous piston that saved the car. Had the 2nd owner not been drunk and installed it backwards on the rod, the car would have ended up as a chopped up bracket racer back in 1975. I spoke with one of his buddies who was present at the initial startup of the ill-fated engine. He commented that they all wondered what the "ticking" sound was when it initially fired up. And then the engine just stopped. He noted that when it stopped, it came to such a abrupt stop that the whole body of the car jerked to the left momentarily, compressing the suspension on one side for an instant. I now keep this momento in the glove box.

[MikeA]

Cool car and even cooler stories! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif I can listen to those stories all day. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Racefan]

Would you guys please stop coming to Iowa and buying all the good cars and taking them away?!? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[COPO_Anders]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Phil ! Have you heard the story about the -70 Hemi Charger, sitting in a field just a mile from where you live ? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Anders

[427TJ]

Love the flower mags--I wish American would produce them nowadays. I also like the 1987 shot with the skinny Cragars on the front--very "Dick Landy." http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Charley Lillard]

I think you can still get those wheels. American 200S (http://www.americanracing.com/wheels/details.asp?parent=22&wheelid=113&name=CL200S&styl e=202&desc=2-piece%20alloy,%20painted&section=V)

[427TJ]

Thanks Charley. Steve's wheels are the original one-piece cast aluminum type. His also have the original hex-shaped center caps. The current "200S" wheels have a stamped steel rim and cast centers.

[MosportGreen66]

Maybe these will spark your interest?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43955&item=2478304 700&rd=1

-Dan

[427TJ]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

[Belair62]

About time you guys started commenting on these Member Ride cars !! I was starting to think you were all bashful out there !!! These are some cool rides and I appreciate those that are taking the time to send me pics and paragraphs.....which by the way I can use a few more..can't someone sign up those Studebaker guys ? I want to see those things !!!..we also need you Supercar Owners to get out there and send your Supercar pics and article to Chevy454 here on the site so we can have a few of those ready to go too....

[mc25t190]

427 or 426, got to love them both! i have acquired a mix! 2 hemi cuda's and a 3rd on the way, oh BTW, i am not out of yenko's, more of both soon to come! Variety is a spice of life! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Charley. Steve's wheels are the original one-piece cast aluminum type. His also have the original hex-shaped center caps. The current "200S" wheels have a stamped steel rim and cast centers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very observant of you http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif Those are 1970 dated wheels with the 1970 twin, half-circle, logo center caps. American racing changed to a different logo in 1971. I recently picked up a set of NOS center caps from AKH Wheels for about $20 apiece. I always thought the logo colors were black and silver. It turns out mine had faded over the years from the original red and royal blue!

[427TJ]

Yeah, I've been crazy about those wheels for years. In the mid-70s a guy on my paper route had a '70 Boss 302 that had American 200S wheels, 15x7 front, 15x8 back. He ran the original Radial T/A 50s that said "Radial T/A 50" on the sidewall and it had a mean rake. The car had the look of the Bud Moore Trans Am racers. I'd always stop and gawk at that car and especially the wheels. That's how I learned to ID them, sitting on the sidewalk at 13 years old and staring at that Boss parked at the curb.

Oh, and when I first saw the Musclecar Color History book on the Hemi with your '70 on the cover with those wheels I flipped. Yep, bought the book on the spot.

I still think you should have a set of 'Dick Landy' skinny Cragars to swap on once in a while... Perhaps some NOS 7-9" slicks out back?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[newguy]

Super sweet Charger (my second favorite car) and even better stories. I could read those kind of stories all day long, and they are even better with a good ending http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]


I still think you should have a set of 'Dick Landy' skinny Cragars to swap on once in a while... Perhaps some NOS 7-9" slicks out back?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

If you check out the original photo attachment showing the car when I first laid eyes on it, it has the very Cragers you're talking about. Unfortunately they were too rusty to reuse and I gave them away. It did look really evil with the skinnies up front and the big Firestones in the rear. At the time it also had tow tabs welded on the front bumper brackets.

[MrsBillyBobcat]

BEAUTIFUL car and great story Steve! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

I'll think of you every time I wear this (see attachment) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Rita http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
BEAUTIFUL car and great story Steve! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

I'll think of you every time I wear this http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif



-Actually, I 'd prefer it if you thought of me when you weren't wearing it!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

P.S. The Charger was shot for Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine two weeks ago thursday. On friday I pullled the engine out to freshen up the gaskets on the motor (old oil pan leak) and replace the aging freeze plugs that you can't reach with the engine in the car, etc. And in the typical "if you give a mouse a cookie" theory, I then decided to have the engine compartment reshot which lead to the block sanding of the entire car for a new coat of E5 red in original style single stage paint. Right now the car is at PRC restorations (the same guy, Rich who did the body on my Z11). Maybe he can post a photo of how it looks at the moment. Here's the motor up on blocks...

[427TJ]

Hey Steve, since you're freshening up the car I think now's a good time to swap on a set of "Dick Landy" Cragar S/S's. Skinnies in front with tall front runners and 7-inchers in back with tires similar in size to circa-1970 slicks.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

You mean these? I thought I threw them out years ago but I found them last weekend at my parent's house up in the rack with the old studded snow tires. They are the original 1970 casting date, 15 x 4-1/2 front rims that owner #1 put on in Jan 1970 (as shown in the earlier photo I posted.) Does anyone know if the currently available Cragers are any different than the old ones? I cant see spending big bucks rechroming these if I can still get the same style versions now. I also don't know if I'd trust them to be safe to drive on anyway. From the Crager website they do still offer the 15 x 4-1/2 size rims.

[427TJ]

Yeah Steve, now you're talking! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

I don't know what, if any, the differences are between old and new Cragars.

What size tires are those on your old 4.5" Cragars?

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]

-Actually, I 'd prefer it if you thought of me when you weren't wearing it!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif



[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Belair62]

Jeeeeeeez gentlemen !!! Better knock it off...I think her husband works for the IRS !!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]
Jeeeeeeez gentlemen !!! Better knock it off...I think her husband works for the IRS !!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

No, no, no, Bob! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

I said he works for "RS" (Rita Schultz http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif), not the "IRS" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

Rita http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Jeff H]

[ QUOTE ]
And in the typical "if you give a mouse a cookie" theory, I then decided to have the engine compartment reshot which lead to the block sanding of the entire car for a new coat of E5 red in original style single stage paint. Right now the car is at PRC restorations (the same guy, Rich who did the body on my Z11). Maybe he can post a photo of how it looks at the moment. Here's the motor up on blocks...

[/ QUOTE ]

Greeeeaaaaattttt, so Rich is painting your car now instead of mine! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif You Hemi guys just can't stand to be last! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Actually, I thought the car looked pretty sweet when I saw it at the shop Steve so I'm surprised you wanted it repainted. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

I had to pull the engine out anyway for the maintenance. And the paint was so thin in spots I could see the primer showing through! I figured it was now or never. It should be out in 2 to 3 weeks because it has to be at the Carlisle Mopar show in July...or else.

[njsteve]

Sorry it took so long for the update. Rich and his crew at PRC had the paint done in time for me to assemble the whole monster in one weekend of thrashing, just in time for the Mopars @ Carlisle show in July. Here's the finished project. I decided to add the hood blackouts that I left off 17 years ago. At the time I couldn't decide if it was a bit too gaudy, but what the heck, it's a Mopar: They're all too gaudy anyway! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[njsteve]

Here's a closeup of the hood blackout option with the engine callout option (V21 and V24 if I recall correctly).

[njsteve]

and here's the engine. I glad I pulled it out when I did. Over the years I've replaced 4 of the 6 freeze plugs in the block. The two I couldn't reach were blocked by the K-frame and impossibe to reach with the engine in the car. When I pulled the engine out and started replacing the oil pan, valve cover and other assorted gaskets, I decided to replace all the freeze plugs as well. The two I never got to actually had holes in them about 1/16 inch wide. The only thing holding the water in the block was the accumulated rust and scale on the inside of the water jacket. Let that be a lesson to everyone: Change your antifreeze often! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[njsteve]

I recently spoke with Galen Govier and he updated me on the pedigree on my car. He indicated that his count is now officially 10 four speeds and four automatics are known to have been produced (a reverse of the previously thought number). Of those 14, mine is the only red one built, so it's officially a one of one! He also noted that the whole sequence of 1970 hemi R/T-SE Chrargers were built in a three month period, none before and none after. Very strange trivia fact.

[Xplantdad]

Cool Deal Steve. Awesome car... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[musclecarjohn]

Great car and even better story...could read them all day long! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Boy,the planets really must have aligned for you with everything that's gone right for you on this car.

I like the hood graphics and the 200S wheels...cool! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[RPOZ26]

Hey Steve, is that the car Vinny D did some work to at CT restoration. Ed

[njsteve]

Yes, many, many years ago Vinny Diguiseppe did the original (first) paint job on it back in 1990 at Connecticut Auto Restorations. It was at his shop from 1987 to 1990. I got my entire law degree during the time was at his shop. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I would commute home every weekend from Boston and work on the car at his shop just to keep the project going. It was finally finished in Summer of 1990.

Rich Pasquelone did the recent one as the enamel paint was wearing thin in places after 15 years.

[RPOZ26]

I worked for Vinny. Ed

[njsteve]

Ed, were you there during the hey-day about 1983 to 1990? That's when my series of 71 Cuda ragtops (the yellow 383, the orange 440 Six barrel and the yellow hemi, as well as the Charger) were painted by the shop.

[RPOZ26]

Steve it was after that,at the time we had a 70 AAR Cuda,70 LS6 Chevelle,66 L79 Nova,69 L78 Camaro,68 Roadrunner and many others in the shop. I don't know what Vinny is doing now,I have not seen him in about a year. Here is a link to his web site. Ed
http://www.oldcarwarehouse.com/

[Xplantdad]

That guy with the glasses on on page 2 of their website looks like Norm from "This Old House". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Casey Marks]

Steve,

AWESOME car !

I did the driveline on a friends '70 lime green R/T with the 440 hood callouts (rare option by the way). I'm just curious, what is the designation for not having the scallops blacked out with the engine designation. I see that yours are body color ?

Great car. I've got a '70 SE 500 - A4 silver.

[njsteve]

V21 and V24 are the two option codes. You could get the call outs on a body colored hood, or with the black outs, or just the black out, or nothing at all.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
That guy with the glasses on on page 2 of their website looks like Norm from "This Old House". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That's Vinny. I have no idea if the shop is still in business at that location. But he still has the link to my old 71 hemicuda ragtop later formerly owned by Kevin Suydam on his site. (see the "one of our finest restorations" link on his site)

[njsteve]

I had the Charger out last weekend. I went to this local hamburger joint that I hadn't visited in about 4 years. The last time I went there I ran into a high school buddy of the original owner of the car who regaled me with the story of how the kid lost control of the car in the high school parking lot and crashed into his algebra teacher's car. This was due to a temporary loss of concentration while he was trying to make out with his girlfriend, while driving.

Well anyway, I park the car and a guy walks up and it turns out he remembered the car from high school, as he was a year ahead of the original owner. In fact, he raced the car and beat it with his tunnel-rammed 327 Chevelle on I-287 in Jersey! He commented that the kid just could not drive the car.

You know, it's kinda fun living in the same area that the car is from: a new story every time you take it out for a spin. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/chargerfront1.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Most excellent!

[njsteve]

And here's a photo (courtesy of 67L78conv) from the June 2006 FAST event at Englishtown. Had a little fun running a 13.80 @ 105 mph. Nothing like cleaning the plugs out once in a while! I also had the opportunity to use their scales at the track: 4300 lbs. It's a heavy car (or I'm a real heavy driver) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/IMG_0396.jpg

[sixbrl440]

Enquiring minds want to know...did you beat that big bad GS 'vert?

[njsteve]

Yes. As you can see from the photo I cut a semi-good reaction time as the green light is still illuminated in the photo and I'm already 1-1/2 car lengths in front of the Buick. I ran a 13.80 to his losing 13.40 (I was on street tires and he was on DOT slicks) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[njsteve]

I brought the charger to Chryslers at Carlisle on Saturday. It seems like more of the "Christine/Twilight Zone" story but every time I go to a show and pop open the trunk, who should appear but the father and son team of Larry and John Ehnat. Larry was the mechanic who worked on this car when it was first delivered. He regaled us with a story how the original owner just could not drive the car and how it came back to the dealership seven days after being sold, to have the clutch replaced under warranty. His son worked at the dealership 20 years later and was the one who, in a twist of fate, found the original sales file folder for the car sitting on top of the files in the dumpster waiting to be hauled away. Some of the docs he found are shown framed, next to the car. People were joking at the show that we had documentation longer than the car -about 18 feet of it to be exact, this is just a portion.

Great people, a couple of true saints. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/ehnatscarlisle2a-1.jpg

[njsteve]

I saw my old orange 1971 hemicharger sunroof car I sold back in 1994. Still looks good. It was kinda funny, the current owner Tim W was giving me grief that even after all these years everyone who walked by would stop and say: "Hey isn't that Steve's old car?"

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/P7070009.jpg

[njsteve]

Here's the photo of the Ehnats next to the Charger. I just can't say enough nice things about them. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif It really is bizarre how they magically appear like a jeanie from a bottle every time I go to a show within a 150 mile radius of New Jersey. Maybe they're the the car's guardian angels? At least they show up on film... I was worried there for a while when the first posting of the photo disapeared.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/ehnatscarlisle2b.jpg

[njsteve]

I just got a gift from the Ehnats the other day: They found an original 1970 vintage Suburban Dodge decal stuck under one of the dealership's step ladders. They were able to get me some photos and I sent them to ECS Automotive ( www.ecsautomotive.com (http://www.ecsautomotive.com) ) and they were able to reproduce it exactly. This particular decal was used by a ton of dealerships back in the 60's and 70's. They can make one for just about any dealer out there. Great people, too. Their phone # is (636) 207-7767. I also sent them the original emissions decal from my 72 Trans Am and they were able to reproduce it exactly and they are now selling them as well. They are known for their 100% accurate Mopar decals but are expanding into GM as well. If you allow them to use your original decal for a pattern, (which they send back to you, of course) you get the new reproduction one(s) for free.

Here's the original:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/subdecal1.jpg

Here's the finished product on the car:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/PC060002.jpg

[bashton]

[ QUOTE ]
I saw my old orange 1971 hemicharger sunroof car I sold back in 1994. Still looks good. It was kinda funny, the current owner Tim W was giving me grief that even after all these years everyone who walked by would stop and say: "Hey isn't that Steve's old car?"

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/P7070009.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

WOW Steve, I gotta say that car has been one of my all time favorite Mopars ever since the first time I saw it back in the 90's when you were still the owner.

If memory serves me correctly, we had a brief discussion at Mopar Nats back when you still owned the 71 Cuda, shortly before it found its new "home" in Oxnard.

I enjoy reading about the history you are able to dig up...keep it coming! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[njsteve]

I am looking for a pair of 15x8 or 15x9 Cragar SS rims. I am thinking about going back to the originals that were on my Charger when the original owner had it back in 70. I had the sense to keep the 15x4-1/2 fronts but cant seem to remember who I lent the rears to 20 years ago! These are the 4-1/2 bolt pattern (not unilug) versions. Anyone have a pair? I will end up sending them out to be restored with my fronts. Here is a shot of them way back when...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/charger1987-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/chargerfront1987.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Good call Steve. Concur they look terrific!

[olredalert]

-------Have you got the "Parnellis" to go with the Cragars???......Bill S

[njsteve]

Unfortunately, I passed on a set of recapped Parnellis earlier this year that were in the attic of that old speed shop. They might have worked for a static display but they were harder than concrete and unsafe to drive on. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif And I cant seem to find a set of F78 15 black walls other than the vintage pair I have on the front rims at the moment. And there about 35 years old...and bald.

I might go with a set of bias ply N50x15 Pro Tracs/ 215/75x15 front runner front tires

http://store.coker.com/product.php?productid=18050&cat=0&page=1

http://store.coker.com/product.php?productid=17545&cat=0&page=1

http://store.coker.com/product.php?productid=17124&cat=0&page=1


Now that I think about it,I should have kept the tow tabs on the front bumper. I remember torching them off back in 1987 and grinding the brackets back down to get rid of the evidence.

[GTO_DON]

Steve I have a set of f78 blackwalls that are perfect! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

Don, pm me your phone number and what you want for them. How old are they?

[njsteve]

I checked the Charger websites, I think a 15x10 will also fit. (This car has some huge wheel wells!)

[njsteve]

Happy Birthday Charger! It was built 38 years ago today: Dec 8, 1969. I bought her a birthday present. I found a pair of 15 x 4-1/2 wide 4.5 inch bolt pattern Crager SS wheels on ebay that went rather cheap. The even had an NOS set of 205-B78's on them. Now I dont have to try and rechrome the original set of front rims.

The new pair are the two in the center. My original 1970 dated rims are on the outside.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/PC070001.jpg

Here's a closup:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/PC070002.jpg

The tires still have the tags on them. I will probably replace them since I dont feel too safe driving on 30+ year old tires.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/PC070003.jpg

Here's the back side. It looks like they have never been mounted on a car.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/PC070007.jpg

And the date code on my original rims. It looks like a grid with "70" for the year and an block date for the month from "J" to "D". The rims I just bought do not have the same date coding. They have a "RA252" stamped into the outer spoke flange in the same general area as my 70 rims. I dont know if that translates into a date code. Anyone out there know? They have to be rather old since Crager stopped making the single bolt pattern rims and went to the uni-lug in the late 70's (I think).

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/PC070009.jpg

Now I just need to find a nice set of 15x8 rears to match!

[njsteve]

I got an email from John Ehnat today. He sent this "obituary" out to his friends. Looks like the Charger's dealership is finally gone: http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

"Every year the number of friendly, small town dealerships gets smaller, while the number of automotive multi-plex superstores grows at an alarming rate. McDonagh Dodge in Metuchen New Jersey is the latest casualty in the David vs. Goliath type battle. Prior to being renamed about 5 years ago, McDonagh Dodge was known as Suburban Dodge. Suburban Dodge proudly served central New Jersey for more than 40 years. Known for their great service and terrific deals, Suburban was THE Dodge dealer to deal with. Suburban Dodge could also boast parental rights as the original selling dealer of arguable the most photographed and writting about Dodge Charger on the planet. The Red 1970 Hemi R/T SE owned by NJSteve. This Hemi Charger has graced the pages of numerous magazines, and can be seen on the covers of the HEMI book, by Steve Atwell, as well as several other how to books. Suburban Dodge will always hold a soft spot in my heart for the fact that since 1967, there has always been at least one of my family members employed there. My Grandfather, father, uncles, brothers, cousins and myself have have worked in the historic dealership. The building will be used for storage of cars and equipment, and the bodyshop will remain in operation for the time being. However, it will no longer be called a Dodge dealer since Chrysler pulled the dealer code. So...personally I feel like I have lost a friend."
-John Ehnat

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/SuburbanDodge1998.jpg

RIP Suburban Dodge http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

If anyone is interested in the above mentioned narrow 15x4 inch wide Cragars (that are actually 4-3/4" bolt pattern, not 4-1/2"!!!) I have them for sale on ebay:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/313070/an/0/page/0#Post313070

Turns out the guy I bought them from didn't know how to measure bolt patterns! So, maybe someone here can use them.

I am keeping the tires, though. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[flyingn]

just got the hemmings today steve.. Nice article but I had to giggle at the part where the original owners Son grenaded the hemi at *150* mph.. lol yea ok, with 4.88 gears. double ok. LOL with 88's, 115 mph would be more like it.

[njsteve]

With 28" tall tires and the 4.10s I hit about 6800 in 3rd gear at 111 mph through the traps. 115 would be about right if you weren't trying to blow it up!

I guess if you try to go 150, it will probably rev to about 9500 RPM...once.

His buddies said the engine looked like a top-fueler explosion: there was nothing but schrapnel below the cylinder heads, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif hence, the reference to the original motor currently residing along the 2 mile stretch between exits 8 and 10 on I-287. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It probably looked like flaming ME-109 after being shot down by a P-51 Mustang.

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
It probably looked like flaming ME-109 after being shot down by a P-51 Mustang.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif With parts flying back in the slipstream!

[njsteve]

I hooked her up to the old Sun 1115 I found at the local Chrysler dealer. Hear's what it sounds like runnin'

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/th_S7001176.jpg (http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/?action=view&current=S7001176.flv)

Here's the link to the "Sun machine barn-find"

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/315672/an/0/page/0#Post315672

[mockingbird812]

That may well be my new favorite show on the "tube"! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

It makes for some great "white noise". It will definitely put you to sleep...or maybe that's the carbon monoxide in the garage. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[njsteve]

OK, now here's an absolutely un-freakin-believable story:

You know how I posted above, how I am looking for some rear rims to replace the ones from my Charger that I gave away 21 years ago?

Well, I just found <u>MY OLD RIMS AND TIRES</u> on ebay and bought them! They were 40 miles from my house in Jersey! They are the rims with the same Parnelli Jones L60x15 Firestones on them. I paid $78 for the pair and they are now back home and ready to be cleaned up. The guy said he picked them up from a friend of his in town, about 15 years ago and that guy had them for a few years before that.

I guess I have yet another bizarro story to add to the archive now.


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/218f_1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/2041_1.jpg



http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/charger1987-1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/chargerfront1987.jpg

[Salvatore]

You lucky dog! Those tires are rare and still look pretty nice. A good find, especially when they are your old ones. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[427TJ]

Man, that is incredible! Did you tell the seller that they had once been on your Charger?

[Mr70]

Amazing Steve. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Here's The Auction. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cragar-Rims-Firestone-Mickey-Thompson-Tires_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66473QQihZ002QQit emZ120216023546QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW)

[Xplantdad]

Neat Steve...now they'll have to reprint all of the Hemmings Muscle Machines magazines.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
Man, that is incredible! Did you tell the seller that they had once been on your Charger?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup. I even brought him the photos to prove it. He was pretty amazed. He had them on his old Mustang for about 10 years.

I only stumbled across the auction right before it ended, a few hours before the Superbowl started. I was home because I decided not to go to a Superbowl Party for some unknown reason and was on the internet looking for old Cragars.

So now do you all believe the car is truly possessed? It is trying to revert back to it's original 1970 state. You know how the engine I have in it now is 21 VIN numbers higher than the car's VIN. Well, I'm afraid to crawl underneath and look but my guess would be that number span has probably just decreased by a few digits. It's probably only 15 digits higher now.

Que the Twilight Zone theme, Rod Serling http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[x Baldwin Motion]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif it's like there's something in the water over there. be careful !!



http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

You can't make this stuff up!!!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I only stumbled across the auction right before it ended, a few hours before the Superbowl started. I was home because I decided not to go to a Superbowl Party for some unknown reason and was on the internet looking for old Cragars.

[/ QUOTE ]

I met my wife that way. No, not on eBay--I went to a party I almost didn't go to.

[budnate]

that is fricken nuts Steve,...even got the tires back to.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[shor]

Unreal!!
I vote to set up another subforum called "njsteve"
Between the indepth restoration pictures, the magic rust remover thread, the hemi/snowstorm thread, with vintage pics, the sun link, with sound, and now this incredible ebay stroke of luck.....
like I said, unreal.

If I was the seller of those rims and tires and you came to my house to pick them up I would have said, keep your 78 bucks....just jot down some lotto numbers for me to play this week! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

2 4 7 24 27 42.

I had those numbers in a dream in 1994. Haven't worked for me yet, maybe they'll work for you guys. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[KevinW]

Steve, If your Hemi is going back to the 70s (ala Christine!), then you need a blue hood http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Congrats on the find!

[njsteve]

It will also need the "Rat Roaster" intake, too, with the carbs sticking through the hacksawed holes in the original hood!

[scuncio]

Wow! Even weirder than the time when I had just boarded a plane in Phoenix and my ex-girlfriend sat down in the seat next to me! That was a quiet flight. I guess you have the good kind of Karma....

[Mr70]

Don't ever have that horseshoe removed from your a-- Steve. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://static.flickr.com/39/101821794_9f89aa962b_m.jpg

[DarrenX33]

That's really up there.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[njsteve]

I spent the past few days cleaning the old rims. They are not in the best of shape, they are rather "patina-fied" as most Cragars are. Since I can't seem to find anyone that will rechrome them, I figured I'll just run them as is. I used a lot of Simichrome and cleaned up the chrome (where I could find it) as much as possible and then masked off the center lug nut areas and sprayed them flat black. Works for me. So I guess I am returning her to her "Rat Rod" beginnings.

Here's the extent of the masking and spraying. Not too high-tech:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/hubpaint.jpg

Oh, in case anyone is wondering: The original 1970 vintage center cap is on the right. Note the heavier design and thicker walls. The cap on the left is the later 1970/80s cap (made in Taiwan -it figures)...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/centers1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/centers2.jpg

The other way to tell the old style from the new is that the old style has a slightly thicker font to the letters and no circled "R" trademark under the name. THere is also a noticeable difference to the background "wrinkled" area.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/center4.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/center3.jpg

The finished set:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/wheels.jpg

[njsteve]

Here's the finished product. While the 38 year old rear tires are not safe to drive on, they look good enough for show. For the fronts, I ended up using those NOS F78x15s that came with that wrongly described set of front skinny cragars I bought last month. So they ended up being useful afterall.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/lftfront.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/lftrear.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/rtrear.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/rfront.jpg

[njsteve]

I also gave the car a present: I installed the old, NOS 1972 Mopar tach I had laying around for the past 25 years or so. Since the factory tach is a little on the wild (and inaccurate) side whne you hit the gas, this tach provides a little better estimation of what the engine is actually doing.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/tach.jpg

[DarrenX33]

I said it before and I'll say it again now to you... Never take those off! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif Couldn't look more perfect. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

I brought the wheels and tires to my friend's garage to change the valve stems and mount the new fronts and balance them all. (It only took 8 ounces each to balance the rear tires! They are not exactly round anymore after all these years.)

While I had the old front tires off the rims I noticed that the 15x4 Cragars have stamped in large block letters, inside the rim, the following text: "FOR DRAG RACING USE ONLY - NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE". This phrase is continued around the entire inside of the rim. I didn't have my camera with me or I would have gotten a photo of it.

[DarrenX33]

Bummer. Now you can only drag race the car. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

That sounds strange that a 4" Cragar would be for racing only... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif I wonder if those were made lighter (lighter gauge)?

On another note Steve, are you sure you want to leave that redline on that SUN set where it is????? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif ..............(or were you just testing us)?

BTW, those wheels and tires are perfect for that car. IT's 1971 again http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

Scarily enough that is the actual redline. Hemi's don't have a problem making power up there with an open exhaust, they just run into bottom end oil starvation problems if you don't have the oiling system sorted out. After 20 years of beatings, I think she's sorted out by now! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[olredalert]

------Mopars just look right with Cragars. I dont know why that is, it just is!!! I had two 66 Hemi Satellites over the years and I put Cragars on both of them within a week of buying them. Your Dodge just couldnt look better with any other aftermarket wheel........Bill S

[njsteve]

I got an email from a very observant member who noticed that the wheel offset appears to be different now. Very good eye! Here's the reason: When I found the car it had a narrower Dana rear end with a Direct Connection inboard leaf spring relocation kit. (Another racing modification by the guy that did the "beer drinkin engine assembly." So the wheels sat a little more inboard than now with the correct width rear.

They are definitely my old Cragars. I pulled one of the caps off and it had the same broken edges under the center cap - the very reason I gave them away in the first place back then, and the same gouges in the inner sidewalls where the tire hit the wheelhouses due to...you guessed it, the narrowed rear and the inboard spring mounting kit!

Just another bizarre chapter!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/S7001207.jpg

[427TJ]

That looks GOOD! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[StriperSS]

That does look good alright!
Just a note on the 4" wheels. They were for racing use because the manufacturers felt that a 4" wheel just wasn't robust enough for street use on a 2 ton car. I had a set of 15 X 3 1/2 Centerlines on one of my cars and street driving could provide some 'moments' of excitement.

[njsteve]

I know what you mean about "moments of excitement." I tried backing the car out of the garage after installing the freshly armoralled tires. You can see that the tiny little 2x4 behind the left front tire prevented the 460+ horses from moving the car backwards. Note the skid marks under the rear tires. Those things are about as sticky as a petrified hockey puck.

[Verne_Frantz]

That's because I read your clutch has two settings: On &amp; OFF. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

Why don't you just leave it in gear when you turn it off??? Then use the EB when you start it..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[njsteve]

Took the Charger out for a spin today since it was sunny and it's a week before Spring and my refinancing came in thereby allowing me to afford a tank of gas. She runs great with that new set of NGK plugs. Idles immediately after start up instead of the 10 minutes of warm up with my foot on the pedal that the old Autolite plugs required. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat...6&amp;fpart=all (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Board=lounge&amp;Number=315672&amp;page =6&amp;fpart=all)

As for the tires. Oh Boy! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif It was like driving on the plastic wheels that my son's electric mini-Bigfoot truck uses. Quite entertaining to say the least.

While running down the road, suspiciously slow due to the old tires, I had a State Trooper pull alongside me. He rolled down his window and with a plug of chewin tobacco in his cheek, leans over and asks: Hey, ya got some good gas runnin in that thing, eh? I can smell it over here. Nice car." And then he sped off into the sunset. It was like a flashback to the 1970's all over again. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I love these time machines. They make you feel like a juvenile delinquent all over again. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

We eventually made it home safe and sound.

Are there any shows coming up in the area?

[Verne_Frantz]

Steve, The only ones on my radar now are E-town in April and our picnic May 17th. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
The info is buried deep on the Other Events forum. Can't wait to see you drive the car with a bag over your head. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
Verne

[njsteve]

I just found this ad on the internet. Looks like the tires date from about 1974.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/1974-5314-0009.jpg

[427TJ]

Parnelli's Glenn Cambell haircut sure dates this c74! Everybody looked like that in the awful 70s! (I was there man.)

[njsteve]

Hey, I dig Glen Campbell. Wichita Lineman is my favorite obscure oldie!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P8090006.jpg

[427TJ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

I was in 6th grade in 73-74 and almost all of the boys had Glenn Cambell hair. All the guys on my YMCA after school swim team wore Mark Spitz Speedo swimsuits too.

Please Steve--back to Cragars and Firestones!!!

[njsteve]

After looking at that NOS pair of American Racing 200S "Daisies" I had for so long, I got the itch to finally clean up the 38 years of "patina" i.e. tar, overspray, and road grime that wouldn't come off despite numerous attempts with more and more volotile chemicals each time.

Since I had the Charger sitting on the vintage Cragars over the winter, I spent some time and dismounted the old Daisies and had the centers glass beaded. Prior to the glass beading, I covered the rest of the rims in duct tape and that worked pretty well to protect the polished areas.

Here's the "before" shot from last year:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/1970Charger_beauty_7806-1.jpg

And here is one of the NOS wheels I had. You can definitely see from above, what 38 years did to the finish on the raw aluminum hub area:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/P4090005.jpg

And here she is today after a run to the ice cream shop with the kids:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/S7001325.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/S7001326.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/S7001327.jpg


They came out very well and now look very close to the finish of the NOS pair that I recently sold. I also remounted the tires with the blackwalls out this time. Just for a change in the look so it didnt look so modern with the white "Radial T/A" logos showing.

[njsteve]

Whenever we take the Charger out, my son always demands that I drive it "Speedy Fast", which means screaching the tires while going through the gears. He was funny today perched in his booster seat when, after I hit second gear, he says, "OK, that's enough for now".

I think he was testing me to see if I still had my motor skills and manual dexterity at my advanced age. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

I got a feeling he'll be the one signing the papers to put me away when it comes time for him to "take over" the car. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[mockingbird812]

When yr son made that comment, Mac, did he have a note pad (and crayon) in his little hands taking copious notes on power shifting? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Don't give up all your secrets or soon "Dad" will be dispensable!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Car looks great! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[JRSully]

I get my Daughter to try to hang on to the bench seat head rest as she sits in her fully belted in booster seat in the rear, It's a hoot, (I don't think anybody could hang with a 1-2 6k powershift)" Woo Hoo, burn rubber Daddy" is usually how it goes, tons of fun.

[bashton]

That's awesome Steve and brings back some memories from when my Son, (buckled into his car seat) who is now 25, used to tell me "Go medium, Dad! after the 2-3 shift.

BA

[njsteve]

I celebrated Father's Day Eve by washing the Charger. I have never been one for those gimmicky waxes and cleaning concoctions but I thought I'd try the Mother's clay bar cleaning system since the paint on the car felt really rough to the touch for years, from overspray and dirt and other atmospheric crapola.

I used the Mother's clay bar kit and it was absolutely amazing. I washed the car, dried it and then used the bar and their detail spray in the kit. The difference is unbelievable. Before, you could feel the roughness and flatness in the paint when you ran your hand over the roof. With just one run of the bar over each panel, it became like glass. I then used the wax included in the kit. (I've never waxed this car in the 21 years I've owned it - bad owner http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif)

The paint is so slick now, that I had trouble putting the car cover back on. Every time I tried to place it on the roof to unfold it, it would slide off and I'd have to run to catch it before it hit the ground. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/S7001516.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Yowza! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif She looks FINE and FINE! Happy Father's Day Mac!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[MosportGreen66]

Looks like you had good results Steve! Good work. I have been using clay bars for many, many years and it has taken several years of market wide advertising to bring an article on correct detailing procedure into fruition in Hemmings. Not a knock in the slightest. Just a little FYI - if you think the transformation is good on a seldom used muscle car, you should clay your daily driver! Not to steal the light, but if anyone needs detailing pointers, PM me, I love correcting paint.

-Dan

[njsteve]

I have been itching to add some gauges to the car to bring it back to it's original Day 2 look. (This car has been Day 2 since before Day 1. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

I added the 1970 Mopar tach a few months ago and now I finally found the right gauges. I wanted the original 2-1/16" black face/white needle, Stewart Warners but it was hard to locate the right temp gauge.

All of the current SW mechanical temp gauges have 2 problems:
1) they go to 265 or 280 degrees, which is crazy hot and a waste of half the gauge.
2) they have the capillary tube with the giant nut that has to go through an equally giant hole in the firewall. Not gonna drill. No way!

Searching the catalogs I found that the electrical temp gauges SW makes go to 240 degrees, like the old days and use a small temp sender and some 16 gauge wire to connect to the gauge.

I was trying to be as incogneto as possible in my engine bay so I used the block drain plug next to the front freeze plug on the passenger side and screwed the sender and adapter into it. It worked out great. I then used some 16 gauge wire and fed it along the wiring harness through an existing grommet and under the dash.

As for the oil pressure gauge, I used the 100 psi version since my factory gauge is always pegged at 80 psi when the car is running. So now I know how far off my factory electrical gauge is:

When the engine is cold they both read 80 psi. When the engine is warmed up at idle, the dash gauge reads 80 psi and the SW reads 45. When running, the dash reads 80+ and the SW read 65 psi. Gotta love that good accurate factory reading. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

I used the secondary oil galley plug on the back of the block next to the factory sending unit to mount the oil line.(Hemi's and all big block Mopars have two plugs back there, thankfully) In order to feed the plastic line through the firewall, I found an existing grommet and heated up a metal pick and then just melted a hole through the grommet and fed the line through it, and on to the gauge. I also hid the line underneath existing harnesses.

Here is the finished product:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/S7001659.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/S7001661.jpg

I bought the temp gauge off of ebay along with the sender unit (which sells seperately. I paid $40 with shipping which was better than the $42 for the gauge and $20 for the sender that the speed shops wanted. The 100 psi oil pressure gauge was a little harder to find on ebay so I found the cheapest mailorder place around: www.speedwaymotors.com. (http://www.speedwaymotors.com.) The gauge was $35.99 plus shipping. That was about $15 cheaper than most other places. I got the mounting plate from my local Napa store for $9. I even lucked out and was able to use the existing ashtray mounting screw holes for the faceplate. The two holes in the bracket were in the exact same spot as the ashtray.

P.S. Check out the odometer: it looks like I might actually roll over to 17,000 miles tonight! Gee, it's only taken me 21 years to go 5,000 miles. (Bought it at 12,234) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Xplantdad]

Neat stuff Steve! Now, get out and drive it! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[njsteve]

Here is a shot of the SW electrical temperature sender in the block. Luckily it cleared everything. The passenger side drain plug is actually in a good spot between two cylinders, unlike the driver's side plug which is right next to a cylinder wall and wouldn't have allowed the sender to screw in far enough without hitting the cylinder wall water jacket.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P7260010.jpg

The oil line at the rear of the block. Yup, that's real street driven, New Jersey dirt, oil, and grease back there. Nothin's too good for my old Jersey Girl!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P7260004.jpg

The white oil line going through the tach lead grommet in the firewall. Once the oil filled up the line, it got dark and looked less obtrusive.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P7260012.jpg

And the engine view. Looks just as stock as always... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P7260011.jpg

[njsteve]

And as is the nature of the beast, no good deed goes unpunished.

After I got her all warmed up, I decided to hook her up to the Sun machine and set the idle mixture on the rear carb. (The front is non-adjustable).

I got it to where I was happy, and then went to set the idle speed and, of course, used a screw driver that was too long...I heard a r-i-i-i-i-i-ing, which was side of my hand being buzzed by the fanblade.

Fortunately, my Super-Mopar reflexes allowed me to quickly perceive that 1) That's a weird noise the engine is making and 2) Why is my hand vibrating? and 3) Why is my vibrating hand bleeding on my nice paint? Which lead me to 4) get my damn hand out of my car's spinning fanblade.

Luckily it was only a couple scratches but a wake up call nonetheless.

I guess I have been ignoring her lately, She gets hungry when you don't feed her often enough. (Cue the Twilight Zone theme here) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

That's all for now from the Little Garage of Horrors.

[ORIGLS6]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif I just helped patch up my neighbor from a similar experience. No real damage but it definitely got his attention.

Tach &amp; gauges are a nice addition. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

Went to the cruise last night in my town and the odometer is now officially 17,004 miles. I had to drive slow to watch it roll to the zeros. I've done this every time it has passed another millenial milestone over the past 21 years. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I still get a vicarious thrill out of it.

[m22mike]

Hay Steve
You need one of those Ford stickers http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
Mike

[njsteve]

Your right! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

Does anyone with a Camaro out there want to loan me their CAUTION FAN sticker?

[m22mike]

Real funny Steve.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Jeff H]

Steve, did you make it down to Jackson Outlets yet? I went this past Friday and it was a big turnout thanks to the nice weather. I haven't made it up to Flemington yet, but I need to soon.

[njsteve]

Haven't been to the outlets in a couple years. It's a long trip with 4.10s (about 120 miles roundtrip) and too short to trailer too.

I took some friendly advice and replaced the vinyl oil pressure line with a copper line. I got the copper line from Autometer for about $12. Good insurance since those vinyl lines bend and crack so easily once they have some heat and time on them. Here it is:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P8030006.jpg

While I was under the hood (again) I took out the original born-with alternator and had it checked out. I've had Mopars for so many years I took it as standard equipment that the amp guage on the dash shows a discharge condition whenever anything electrical is activated: If you use the turn signal, the needle on the gauge clicks left in time with the signal. Well one of my mechanic buddies commented how dim my headlights were at the last cruise night so I got off my butt and did something about it. It turns out one of the diodes was bad and it was only putting out about 19 amps. I have it at the local rebuilder at the moment. He has done a bunch of alternator rebuilds for all the local hot rodders in town. Should have the alternator back by mid-week.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P8030007.jpg

While the alternator was out I finally rerouted the main fuel line that was between the heater hoses for 21 years. It should be in front of them. Instead of disconnecting the heater hose, I just removed the fuel line from the upper junction block and reinstalled it again, which was immeasurably easier with the alternator out.

[markinnaples]

Love the updates.

[njsteve]

Got the alternator back today and it turns out that the internal leads to the diodes and the stator were broken due to the alternator ingesting some foreign object in the past. Who knows whether it was a giant bug or a loose screw sometime in the past 38 years, but now it works again. The alternator repairman replaced the rear bearing, the brushes and soldered the connections back, and now it puts out 55 amps. It cost $80.25 total.

Oh, happy day! Now the amp gauge actually goes to the right and not just the left. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/P8060002.jpg

[Verne_Frantz]

Well, it's pretty evident that Steve's Hemi has gotten a LOT of justified attention. It's had articles written about it and is on Hemming's short list for the MuscleMachine of the Year. I think I found out what the editors of the magazine REALLY think about this car..........

My latest issue has this in it............



http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif





http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif






http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif






http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif







http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif







http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j320/VerneFrantz/b4819b4c.jpg


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif


Steve, I'm sure you get the magazine, but if you want, I'll send you the card. That way you can save it separately.

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[ORIGLS6]

FINALLY got my issue today, and I noticed that too.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Steve!

[Mr70]

I too voted for the black sock wearing wonder. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/bike2-2.jpg

[njsteve]

I'm away for the week and still haven't gotten my copy yet. Thanks for the moral support!

I think it's time to have my son try and ride the chopper - he's the exact age now, that I was in the photo. It should be fun to watch. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[FANTASY FACTORY]

Raliegh DL-603, I am going to say pre '72 due to the lack of mandated reflectors, and presence of Sturmey Archer "NUT BUSTER" shifter, rivited front badge.
White or yellow? Are those still redwalls, I hated when the occasional knobby would come out of the box instead of the cheater slick. kids screaming I want the slick, like a race car!! I'm haveing flashbacks here.Yea I assembled a few..
a few hundred..

[njsteve]

It was yellow, 1970 model with the taller upper frame rail. It was quite the challenge. Never could manage a wheelie though. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[showyourauto]

Awesome that you made it on the voting block for Muscle Machine of the year, the '68 Shelby GT500 KR CVT is a customer of min'es on the opposite page. I love the fact that you dirve the crud out of her. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif ~Patrick

[njsteve]

She needs the constant exercise - Otherwise she'll get all fat, pudgy, and lazy (like her owner) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[showyourauto]

[ QUOTE ]
She needs the constant exercise - Otherwise she'll get all fat, pudgy, and lazy (like her owner) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

[njsteve]

Here's the same bike: father and son, same age, about 38 years apart...

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/ChopperBoy-1970.jpghttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/ChopperBoy--2008.jpg


Got the bikes out today and tried riding them. The boy and girl picked it up right away and left me in the dust. The son had a bit of trouble shifting, though. It's hard to get used to letting go of the handlebars to shift gears. The wife took some videos. It was quite hilarious. We got her riding one, too.

Peace, brother.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/ChopperKids-2008.jpg

[Verne_Frantz]

He must have LOVED it when you made him put on those black socks......................... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

He was not a happy camper!

But he's a good sport...especially when bribery is involved.

[Mr70]

Great pic Steve..
Is that the exact same driveway too..what,no Country Squire? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[njsteve]

Actually, it is a completely different house but the dimensions of the garage and driveway seem to be exactly the same. I must have subconsciously wanted to duplicate my Connecticut family home from the 1960's.

With 7 people in the family we had a fleet of Country Squires back in the 1960s. They'd all last about 2 years. Dad went to a Plymouth Satellite Suburban in 1972. It was Rallye Red with a black racing stripe - the same color as the Charger. Boy was that wagon a lemon. It was just as reliable as the Griswold's Wagon Queen Family Truckster. After that debacle, Dad bought Chevy Suburbans til the 1990's.

Here's a typical family vacation circa 1970. Note the conestoga wagon tarp covering the 2 years of supplies we needed for the 3-day weekend.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/FamilyVacation-1970.jpg

Gee, we all looked so happy. I just loved having to wear a cardigan in August.

[Mr70]

I can relate..verbatim of what when on in our family too.
Our Ford wagon was white/red gut.My Dad would pack enough items to wait out nuclear fallout.3/4 of the crap we never even used.Just needed a pair of shorts &amp; T and see ya in the tent when the sun went down with smores smeared all over our faces.Then up at the crack o'dawn to do it all over again! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
We would come home so sunburned,tired &amp; smelling of Bactine on Sunday evenings,that nobody wanted to unpack the car.
My parents saying to us all,"DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING INTO THAT HOUSE EMPTY HANDED!".
Awwww.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[njsteve]

Remember: Tires Expire!

I was cleaning out the Charger to get ready for a show today and found these photos from a few years back, in the console. This tire was one of a set of BFG radials that were 14 years old with only about 500 miles on them.

I was driving to a cruise night one afternoon when all of a sudden the steering wheel ripped out of my hands and spun to the right. It would repeat this every 10 feet or so. I pulled over and found nothing. So I rolled along and it started doing it again. I stopped again and couldn't find anything wrong.

Thinking I was either hallucinating, or the poltergeists/gremlins in the car were trying to persuade me to go home, I ignored them and slowed down but kept heading to the cruise night.

Seeing that I ignored the two previous hints from the Almighty, He decides to use a more direct approach: As I kept rolling along slowly, out of nowhere a Minister, dressed in his black "going to church" suit drives up alongside my car and says: "Son, pull over there is something wrong with your left front tire."

So I pull over and he gets out of his car and says to keep rolling until he says stop. He yells out "STOP" and I stop right there. We both look under the car and the enormous bubble in the sidewall is wedged against the tie-rod end, at the bottom of the tire's travel.

It seemed that the internal failure of the tire would let air out into the sidewall when the flawed spot would hit the pavement. When the tire rotated, the air would suck back into the tire. (Kind of like the old Little Rascals episode with the cake that has the rubber glove in it that goes WEEE-WAAAH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

The bubble was so big it was hitting the suspension and forcing the wheel to turn right.

Here's the tire:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/badtire1.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/badtire4.jpg

And the bubble:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/badtire3.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/badtire2.jpg

When we dismounted the tire, the bubble stayed in the sidewall for about two weeks, slowly deflating back to its original shape. I drilled a hole in each tire's sidewall and threw them away (so no-one would try to reuse them).

So let that be a lesson. Don't ignore the hint when God sends you one (or three).

I think I read somewhere that the lifespan of a tire is 7 years and any tire older than that should be thrown away. That's pretty good advice. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[camarojoe]

Looks like taking a scrub brush and some wheel cleaner to the backsides of the rims wouldn't hurt every 7 years or so either... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[njsteve]

Hey that's not grime, it's patina: 16,000 miles and 38 years worth. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Actually those photos were from 2004, before I decided to be nice and spruce her up a bit. It took a gallon of the purple stuff and then a visit to a glass beading cabinet to clean them up properly. Rest assured, both sides are nice and shiny now. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ORIGLS6]

I need to put you in touch with the surgeon that repaired my last three hernias! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ss427copo]

I had 4 "loads of tread left" redline BFG's on my 427 Impala. They were the same typre of 215x65x15's that were used on the TR6's. Dated 7 15 98. Started pulling to the left...then REALLY started pulling to the left. Found out the cord broke on LF. So I replaced 2 with new Cokers and put the BFG's on the back to the front. 200 miles later, another pull to the left! Needless to say........the old ones are OUTTA HERE (said like Phillies announcer Harry Kalas)
Jeff x2 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[njsteve]

OK. here's another one for the Haunted Car With a Million Stories file.

I was working on one of our work trucks today when one of the mechanics comes up and we start talking. He remembered that I had the red hemi charger and he starts talking about his family friend that bought one new, back in 1970 and always wondered where it went. I asked what his friend's name was and he says: "RICHIE WICKBERG."

I said: "Richie Wickberg, Sr, from Edison, New Jersey?"

And he says: "Yeah, how did you know he was a Sr?"

I say: "Sit down, I have a tale to tell..."

It turns out his family has been friends with the Wickbergs for years and the father always wondered what happened to his old car, that he bought new, that his son blew up and sold. He always wanted to see that car again.

I gave him my cel # and told him to call them NOW (which he did, and left a message) and have them call me so we can all get together.

Stay tuned for further episodes...

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/4orderform2.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Cue Rod Serling and the theme music... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cool Stuff Steve!

[KevinW]

Steve, the lucky breaks you get with this car far out weigh the grief! Sounds like a reunion is in order! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Question is, will you let him drive it http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Mr70]

How do you sit still with that horseshoe still up your ***? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[ORIGLS6]

That's great Steve. Hope everything falls in place and the Reunion is a happy one. Get pix if you can, if only for yourselves. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
How do you sit still with that horseshoe still up your ***? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Side saddle http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hey, can I help it if my car is possessed and likes to "collect" people?

[njsteve]

Yesterday I gave a copy of the Hemming Muscle Machines to my mechanic at work. He was having dinner with the Wickbergs on Friday evening and was going to give it to them.

It's 12:30pm Saturday and I just got off the phone with Richard Wickberg, Sr. He called me up and we talked for about 15 minutes. (He had to get to his grandson’s baseball game). Depending on the weather we will all get together in the next week or so. His son Richard Wickberg, Jr. is flying back in from out of town business today. They own a commercial dredging business so they are rather busy.

Richard Sr. gave me some info on the Charger. He said back in '69 he was about 30 years old and a 60 year old buddy of his had a hemi GTX. The buddy was pushing Richard to buy a hemi car, but a Plymouth not a Dodge. Richard liked the Charger body style and the dealership, Suburban Dodge was in the same parking lot in Metuchin, New Jersey, that the local bar was in. All the salesmen from Suburban would come into the bar after work and hang out. That is why Richard made the decision to order his Charger from Suburban. He mentioned that there were two salesmen he remembered, Bernie and Arnold, which he dealt with.

(Richard actually ordered the car 39 years ago, last Monday)

Richard ordered the car and took delivery in January 1970. Shortly thereafter, the buddy with the hemi GTX traded his GTX in on a 70 Superbird.

Richard remembered that he only drove the car about 3,000 miles and all he ever did was wash it and wax it. I asked him about his son “borrowing” the car and he said he found out one day when he came home from work and saw burnout marks heading INTO the garage. He said that there were tire marks all over the driveway and that his son must have almost ran it through the garage wall. His son eventually became the one who drove the car more and more over the next few years, running it into things and breaking parts.

The longest trip he ever took with the Charger was up to Syracuse, New York one warm November. He went up there for some sightseeing and got caught in a lake effect blizzard. He remembered being the last car allowed on the highway before they closed it down. It took him 14 hours to get back to Jersey, going 20 mph the whole way. He said the car had absolutely no traction on anything but dry pavement.

I asked him if he had any old photos but he said he moved several times and had a divorce in the middle, so he didn’t think he had anything left but would look. I asked him to try to write down any stories he could remember for when we meet in person.

We will be getting together with Richard, Richard Jr., the wife, kids and grandkids in the next week or so. I will keep you updated with the details.

[njsteve]

Ok, it’s 6:30 pm Saturday and I just got off the phone with Richie Wickberg Jr. (the son). He gave me some quick info on the car and we set up a reunion for tomorrow for the car and their family.

He corroborated all the various stories I have collected over the years, from the bar fight and the bottle breaking on the back window, to the crash and pushing his algebra teacher’s Mustang into a telephone pole, even down to the exit location on I-287 where the engine exploded (right alongside the Caterpillar dealership) and how the car went down the highway with flames coming out the bottom looking like a World War II fighter as it got shot down. He said after the engine block was blown apart, the car was towed to the local lot and a mechanic buddy helped him take the engine out and they junked the entire engine from carbs to oil pan.

He asked what hood it had on it when I bought it and I told him it was a blue stock hood. He said he used to run two different hoods, either a 5 inch snorkel scoop or Six Pack style hood. He ran with the dual quad Rat Roaster intake on the motor. He ran 4.56 gears in the Dana and had the trans set up with every other synchro tooth removed so it would shift faster like a crashbox.

He used to drag race the car a lot at the strip. He laughed saying that most of the 12,000 miles on the car were done at full throttle while racing.

He said the best time the car ever ran was an 11.70.

He sold the Charger to Steve Martin (the guy who later assembled the replacement engine drunk and put the pistons in backwards) in 1975 in order to buy a Corvette.

He laughed when I told him about what his Dad said about the burnouts in the driveway. He said that he used to drive the car to J.P Stevens High School in Edison for years before he had his license without his parents knowing it. Every morning his Dad would leave for work early, then his Mom would leave about 10 minutes later. He’d wait five minutes for them to get a head start and then he’d take the car and drive to school with it, terrorizing everyone along the way.

More updates as they come in!

[Xplantdad]

Neat stuff Steve...keep it going! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

This afternoon I had a visit from Richard Wickberg Sr., his wife, his son Richard Wickberg Jr., and his son Richard Wickberg III. It was an amazing time. All three generations got to sit behind the wheel for pictures.

Here they are in order: Richard I, Richard II and Richard III:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/Rich1Backbehindthewheel.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/Rich2backbehindthewheel.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/Rich3behindthewheel.jpg

[njsteve]

When he was sitting behind the wheel I asked Richard Sr. to reach in the driver’s door map pocket and see what was in there. He did and pulled out the early 1970’s Taggart’s Driving School matchbook that has been in there since I bought the car. He then shook his head and said that was the matchbook that one of his post-divorce girlfriends used to light her cigarettes with during the Syracuse blizzard trip described in the previous thread. He said that at the time of the trip, she was the chain smoking, then-current girlfriend of an NFL player from California.

The look on his face is priceless:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/taggarts.jpg

[njsteve]

I asked both Sr. and Jr. if they wanted to take the car for a ride but they both opened their eyes real wide and shook their heads from side to side in unison, while vehemently shouting NOOOOOOO!

They then asked if I would take Richard III for a ride and show him what they went through years ago. I agreed and proceeded to indoctrinate Richard III into what his father’s and grandfather’s old car was able to do. They were both laughing and his grandmother was videotaping as we left the driveway and she recorded the sound as we went for the ride. When we got back to the house Richard III’s eyes were bugged out of head and he had an ear to ear grin. He just kept saying: “I never knew old cars could move that fast.” So now all three share the same bond: they were all scared to death by the same car.

Here's the three generations together by the car:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/3generationsofWickbergs.jpg

[njsteve]

This Charger is getting something of a reputation as some type of a vortex or black hole that seems to keep pulling in more people and more stories over the years. It’s sort of like the Six Degrees of Separation Theory, only this can be called Six Degrees of Hemispheration. Here’s another one from Richard, Sr., to add to the list:

In the early 1970s Richard Wickberg Sr., was helping out with a youth football camp in Putney, Vermont, his kids were attending. He knew Artie Gigantino, who was assisting at the camp and who would later become a coach with the Rams and the Raiders as well as a TV sports commentator. Wickberg was driving the hemi Charger at the time. He was asked to pick up an NFL player for the camp at Bradley Airport in Hartford, Connecticut. That player was Dick Butkus. Wickberg laughed when he commented that Butkus was “a cheap SOB” and he made Wickberg pay the tab at the diner when they stopped to eat, and didn’t even leave a tip! According to Wickberg, years later the subject of the diner stop came up with Butkus and he didn’t recall Wickberg in particular but he did recall getting picked up from the airport in the red Charger.

At that same football camp there were other NFL players there, among them Ted Hendricks, a.k.a. The Mad Stork and one of the Viking's Purple People Eaters, either Alan Page or Carl Eller (Wickberg couldn’t recall which one it was). During that camp there was some incident involving them all driving out in the Charger to a local farmer’s pond and the farmer’s daughter coming out and being shocked at seeing some 7 foot tall, Sasquatch-looking guy standing on a rock in the middle of their pond, with no bathing suit on. That guy was The Mad Stork. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[njsteve]

I asked Richard Sr., about the headers that he had the dealership install on the car. He said he wanted the dealer to put those on because he wanted the car to be as fast as it could be, since his buddy had that hemi GTX convertible and he wanted to be faster than his buddy's car. He also said that the Superbird his buddy traded that hemi GTX ragtop in for, was an orange, Hemi-powered Superbird.

Richard Sr., said that the Charger arrived at the dealership on New Year's Eve 1969 (as confirmed by the original shipping invoice) and they got a call at home from the dealer to come and pick it up. It was snowing when they got to the dealership and they thought about it but waited til the weather cleared a couple days later to take delivery.

Richard Jr., gave some more info on his racing activities. He used to run the Charger at Englishtown frequently. He had tow tabs welded on the front bumper brackets, not for towing the car to the track, but for towing it home whenever it broke down. The best time it ever ran was 11.70 with the slicks he had mounted on 15x10 rims. He noted that the Cragars I have with the car now are the ones that Steve Martin bought when he had the car. As for his racing success, Richard, Jr., recalled winning at least one trophy and some cash at Englishtown when he was a class winner.

(Does anyone have a vintage early 1970's Class Winner decal for Englishtown I could have?)

Richard Jr. provided some more details on the infamous grenading engine episode. He said he was on I-287 North running some guy with a new black and gold Trans Am, probably a 1976, and they were keeping up with each other. The only problem was that the Charger had 4.10’s in it at the time and the Trans Am probably had 3.08s. I asked him what RPMs he was turning since the car runs about 3500 RPM at 60 mph with the 4.10s. He said about 8000 rpm when it let go. The shock wave from the explosion was so severe that the entire front end of the car came off the ground at speed. They then coasted to the side of the road around exit 10 and called a tow truck.

Here is the whole Wickberg clan after I took Richard III for the test drive:

They were all still smiling and Richard III's hands were still shaking. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/TheWickbergClan102608.jpg

[thumper83]

How flippin cool is that! I love the car and the stories that go with it . Thank you for the great read. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[mockingbird812]

Most excellent Mac! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[SS427]

Fantastic story and reunion Steve. I can't imagine how cool that was to have them all together and reunited. I hope to be part of a similar reunion next year about this time. Can't wait. Thanks for sharing all of the photos and story. Priceless!

[Tenney]

Cool.

[njsteve]

Mrs. Wickberg just send me a bunch of her photos.

Very Norman Rockwell-ish. You could title this one "Swapping Stories &amp; Reminiscing."
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/895884120705_0_BG.jpg

[Verne_Frantz]

Steve,
I have an E-town class win decal I won in '69 or '70 with my '62. It's been in my tool box since then so it shouldn't be dried out. You can have it.

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

Verne, I wouldn't want to take one you actually won. That's part of your history! Do you still have the car you won it with?

Does anyone repro these stickers?

[Dog427435]

Great stories Steve!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

Steve,
It's my black '62 that you saw. Since I'm never going to sell the car, just knowing I won it is enough. (besides, my name is in the Raceway Park News as class winner). It doesn't need to be saved as part of a package for the next owner. Your car deserves an original.

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[njsteve]

Verne, is there a way to search old issues of Raceway Park News? Do they have an archive anywhere. I'd love to find out a date and see if there were any photos taken back then.

[KevinW]

Steve, great reunion!

Here is a e-town decal on ebay, Verne, does it look the same as yours?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RACEWAY-P...024107004r14539 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RACEWAY-PARK-ENGLISHTOWN-N.J.-DECAL-HOT-ROD-VINTAGE-RAT_W0QQitemZ370102117473QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ2008 1024?IMSfp=TL081024107004r14539)

[Dog427435]

Steve - I wasn't sure which decal you needed -I have an extra of the one that's on E-bay (but real)- shoot me your address
(just as long as your car doesn't haunt me in the future!!)

[Bruce]

Steve
Great story, I just experienced this very same scenario 2 weeks ago in AZ. with the original owner of my car.
Bruce

[Verne_Frantz]

Steve,
I'm not aware of an "archive" of old Raceway Park News issues. The original text might exist in a paper folder and/or they might actually have saved each issue and have them stuffed away somewhere.

The decal Kevin referred to on ebay is just like the original I have from '69-'70. Those are the ones that were given out in that era. The original actually has some water soluable glue on the face as well, with instructions how to mount it outside OR inside the glass.

If you want it, pm me with your mailing address. (You've probably done that before, but I'm not as organized as I used to be http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

Glenn, Verne, PMs sent. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

More coincidental weirdness: they cloned my car into 1/18th scale just in time for my birthday!

http://www.supercar1.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&amp;products_id=4064

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/toycar.jpg

[njsteve]

Glenn, Verne, thanks for the donation!

The car is happy. (You are now on her "friends" list). http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i30/nk15268a/sticker.jpg

[Xplantdad]

And that is why this site is the best on the net... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[njsteve]

OK, so anyone familiar with the crazy Charger and its haunted nature will appreciate today's episode...

So I decided to go to the local Cops and Rodders show in North Brunswick, NJ. Lots of neat stuff shows up and its for a good cause - the PBA widow and orphan fund.

Anyway. As is the usual procedure I park, open the trunk and wait the obligatory ten minutes for the genie to emerge from the bottle. If you recall, anytime I go to a car show and open the trunk, the original mechanic and his son soon appear like clockwork. And so it happened on cue: Larry and John Ehnat appear once again:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7003133.jpg

[njsteve]

And if you thought that was it, you are mistaken. Within 20 minutes after that, the second owner Steve Martin shows up with his son. I only spoke to Mr. Martin once about 12 years ago for a brief few minutes. He walks up to the car and immediately recognizes it as the car he bought from Richard Wickberg in 1976.

We talked a while and he gave me some more great stories on the car and corroborated a lot of the existing ones as well. He said he bought the car for $1700 plus $1000 for a load of extra parts back in 1976 after Richard Wickberg blew the engine up.

Here he is with his son in the car:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7003154.jpg

While he was sitting there I had him open the glove box and tell me what was there:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7003157.jpg

He started laughing when he saw the original piston that he installed backwards after drinking a case of beer and assembling the engine. This was a priceless photo of his reaction at the time.

We had a fun time talking cars and politics. He also said that he has the original block from the car. He said he bought the original busted up block from Richard Wickberg in the $1000 extra parts package. Though we now have two contradictory stories on what happened to the blown up block, I always side with the optomistic story just in case it's true. I gave him a standing offer of a new block or cash for that old one, plus the chance to drive the car once the original motor goes back in. He said he'll think on it (he is building his own hemi car as a project now and is using that block I think).

All in all it was just another entertaining day in the life of the most haunted hemi car in the universe.

[MrsBillyBobcat]

Steve,

That photo is PRICELESS! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

As far as your car being "haunted"...I have to agree with you on that! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[bashton]

And so...did anyone happen to notice the date that these meetings occurred?

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

[njsteve]

Why it was 4/26 of course. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Remember, coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.

[Verne_Frantz]

And the weird saga continues........... Like with Christine, I think the car likes you and that's why good things keep happening.

I usually make it up to that show, but not this year. Sorry I missed it.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[mchriscad]

The COPO Camaro that we just finished was purchased by Stefano on 4/27! He won't ever forget that date.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
And the weird saga continues........... Like with Christine, I think the car likes you and that's why good things keep happening.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

That's one of the crazy things about this car. If I was ever to sell her, how the heck do you put that disclaimer in the ad?... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

"For sale, slightly haunted hemi car. Better be nice to her or she will get very angry. Seller not responsible for any supernatural acts caused by car's reaction to disbelieving new owner. Sold as is, where is, and with all original spirits intact. Free Bible included in glovebox."

[Verne_Frantz]

I hope you're able to get the original block back. But I wouldn't put it in the car. That just might reverse all your good luck!!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

PS: Whatever he asks for the block, make sure you include a case of beer http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[njsteve]

I think I should give him the beer first and then negotiate later. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

Smart move............ http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[njsteve]

Since I haven't done anything to the car in a while, other than drive it, and I was itching to fiddle with something, I thought I'd try and figure out why it was running hot (allegedly).

When driving around, the factory gauge was hanging in the middle of the gauge around 200 degrees (or so I thought) Even the fancy, shmancy Stewart Warner electrical temp gauge that I installed a few pages ago in this thread was saying a similar temperature, so me, being the trusting type, believed them.

The problem was, that the car never really seemed hot.

So like a good husband, I waited til wifey-poo was out shopping (which usually takes up about 8 hours a day). I went into the kitchen and borrowed (stole) her most expensive Food Channel autographed Emeril Legasse meat thermometer and popped the radiator cap and stuck it in the radiator opening. It read 160 degrees compared to the 200 on the two gauges.

So, it turns out the Charger wasn't running hot after all. It's the standard, multi-voltage Chrysler electrical system.

Just for giggles I pulled the radiator and brought it to the guy that recored it 12 years ago. He said it was already spotless inside and he didnt believe there was a temp problem but said he'd reverse flush it out anyway. He only charged me $20 for his time.

The reason I never installed a mechanical temp gauge for all these years was that I could never get that damn steel 3/4" pipe plug out of the water pump housing to install it. So I pulled the water pump housing and we tried to get the thing out. It had molecularly fused to the cast iron housing and basically stripped out the housing upon removal. Wonderful!

So I decided to buy the Mopar Performance alumimum housing from Mancini racing and a real Stewart Warner mechanical temp gauge with the 96" long capillary tube. I also bought a new 160 thermostat just for the hell of it.
I had dreaded trying to find a large enough, factory stamped hole in the firewall to run the capillary tube and nut through, but I was able to find one and it just eeked through.

Got it all installed and guess what? The car runs at about 155 degrees.

Turns out that the damn thing has been running cold all the time but the standard schizo dash and electrical system in this old Mopar has been throwing off the gauges for all these years.

Anyone who has ever had a mid-60's Mopar knows exactly what Im talking about. At night, the faster you drive, the brighter the headlights get. The readings on the dash gauges (as well as any device connected to the fuse box) all depend on what RPM you're running. It's like their readings are all an extrapolation based on the alternator's speed and engine's RPM. These cars use a non-adjustable, sealed, electronic voltage regulator. The only problem is that is regulates the voltage to a somewhat liberal range...oh, like between 1 and 14 volts.

So in the end, it's running fine. I celebrated by going to the local airport and buying 11 gallons of 100 octane leaded, avgas for about $41 (about $3.75 a gallon).

Here's the new aluminum water pump housing installed. The mechanical temp gauge fitting is in between the two heater hoses. The one other difference between the Mopar aluminum housing and the original cast iron one is the location of the factory temp gauge sender at the top right of the photo, near the power steering pump. On the cast iron housing it's below the alternator triangle bracket.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7003164.jpg

And here is the new, accurate mechanical gauge. Too bad I don't really need about 1/2 of the numbers on the right side:

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7003167.jpg

[njsteve]

Spoke with Steve Martin, the second owner again this week. He had some new info from when he was bought the car back in 1977. I was able to corroborate a lot of what he said with the stack of original receipts from when he rebuilt the engine in early 1978 and had that one piston installed backwards on the rod. I even found the receipt for the original set of pistons bought on 02/16/78 and the replacement piston bought on 04/27/78. Steve said there was only one guy with him when he was rebuilding the engine in his garage, one of the Wickberg brothers, who has since passed away. Steve sold the Charger (to the guy I bought it from) in January of 1979.

When Martin bought the car, the rear suspension work had already been done by the first owner: the rear leaf springs had already been moved inward with the Direct Connection spring perch kit and the rear wheel wells were already radiused at the inner flange and moved inward. The work was done by a guy named Blake Klickner at a shop called Heads Up Performance. Martin did buy the 3800 lb. Direct Connection Superstock Springs (I found that receipt too, by cross referencing the part numbers on the receipt) and he installed them in place of the stock springs.

When Martin bought the car, it had the hemi out of it already and a 318 along with a small block K-member had been bolted in place of the hemi K-member. The first owner had already sold off a lot of the original parts and the speed parts he had with the car, including a set of 13 to 1 pistons, a rat roaster intake and the trans and Dana rear. Martin then spent the next 2 years locating original replacement parts for the car such as the hemi K-member, the correct double banded 18-spline transmission and the Dana rear. I think I have a bunch of these receipts in my pile of documents. There are so many of them and a lot are just part numbers and prices on sales receipts from Central Jersey Speed on Route 22 in Greenbrook, New Jersey dated from late 1977 to late 1978.

As for the race on I-287, Martin says the original engine was blown in a neighborhood incident when the first owner ran it out of oil. So that begs the question whether the original engine was blown up once or twice. If Martin has the original block then that would be proof positive that there was a single engine failure and not the catastrophic failure on the highway as reported by the original owner and several other people I have met over the years. Wow, this is like a paradox and it is making my head spin.

All I know is that I have met a great bunch of interesting people over the years, through owning this car. Each one had filled in another amazing chapter in the never-ending story of this car.

[njsteve]

Steve Martin relayed a great story from the early 70’s:

“At the time, I had a 70 Chevelle 454. One night we were all hanging out in South Plainfield on Park Avenue. Two guys from Plainfield showed up with a fiberglass nosed, Ford pick up truck. They wanted to street race on Park Avenue where we all raced, just off of Oaktree and Park Avenue. These two guys walked into the wrong crowd. We collected the cash and got ready to race. After the money was taken by a neutral guy, Wickberg showed his hand when someone from the crowd yelled out that the car had a Hemi. With two minutes to go before the race, the slicks came out of the trunk of the car and the next thing you know, the two guys took off for the hills when they heard this was a smoking 13:1, cammed, hemi car. Wickberg would never show the motor to anyone, which to my satisfaction drove everyone completely crazy.”

[68427caprice]

Love this story! I am not even a Dodge guy... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[njsteve]

I've been looking for one of "The 500" Superior Industries red metal flake wheels for a few years now. I always thought it would look nicely vintage on the car. It will also save the wear and tear on the original factory wheel's delicate woodgrain finish that my 200 or so miles a year have put on it over the past quarter century.

The early Father's Day gift arrived yesterday and I immediately installed it. Only took about 10 minutes with the still-available Grant adapter kit and horn button.

There's nothing like what a vintage hunk of 40 year-old, metal flaked, rubber and chrome will do to irritate the stock-o-philes.

We have our first cruise night tomorrow. We'll see what the reaction is. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/redwheel1.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Nice touch Mac! Your photo lighting even makes it look like a retro vintage shot! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]

There's nothing like what a vintage hunk of 40 year-old, metal flaked, rubber and chrome will do to irritate the stock-o-philes.



[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

VERY COOL Steve! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

I can't park my car next to yours anymore...... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

PS: What about Tues??? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

[olredalert]

-------What, Verne,,,All the red metalflake wheels gone now???.........Bill S

[njsteve]

Ok, so here's today's Twilight Zone episode.

I guess the car likes the new steering wheel based on the odometer reading...and no it's not 666.666.

Here is the odometer reading when I bought the car in the Summer of 1987: 12,234.75

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/origodo1.jpg

And here is the odometer reading this evening when I pulled into the garage after going to the local cruise night: 17,234.75. You can see the original yellowed numerals 1-234.7 lining back up perfectly in order. Only the "7" is the bright number as it was hidden behind the dial for so many years.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/odo053009a.jpg

Any questions?

[Verne_Frantz]

It's most definitely Haunted! No question about it.

And, No. .....Steve asked me if I had any "spares" of my red flake wheel, and I've never bought another. Just the one that's still on my car now.

You know, Steve......they did make a black glitter wheel too. (silver sparkles) I think you should look for one of those to better match the interior. But then, you wouldn't receive the 2" eyebrow raise that red one would produce..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

PS: Don't shoot yourself in the foot.........(private joke)

Verne http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[njsteve]

Wow, that black metal flake wheel sounds neat. Probably looks like a custom bowling ball. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I do like the red glitter wheel. Got a lot of compliments at the cruise night. Then again, any time someone was about to say they didn't like it, you'd see a flash of light and then they were gone...poof! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[Charley Lillard]

All these years and njsteve has yet to realize that only one digit in his odometer works......

[njsteve]

LOL! How's this one from last Summer Mr. Doubty-Pants?


http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/S7001656.jpg

Don't make the car mad, Charley. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif She has relatives in your garage. Remember that FE5 red hemi Challenger?

I'll tell her you were just kidding.

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]

There's nothing like what a vintage hunk of 40 year-old, metal flaked, rubber and chrome will do to irritate the stock-o-philes.



[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I am all for irritating that stiff crowd. looks Great!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[njsteve]

I just remembered the haunted monster was built 40 years ago today: December 8th (which was a Monday back in Dec '69). I think I'll let the car sleep in today...and the next 120 days or so. Happy 40th!

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/nk15268b/1970Charger_2a-2.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Happy BD Christine, um-er, Charger!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[KevinW]

Let sleeping Chargers lie http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Plus there is salt on the roads http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

Steve,
I wonder if it gets more "cranky" like the rest of us do as we get older? Make sure you say something nice to it before you turn the key the next time http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif
And don't try to get it moving too early in the morning.....http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[njsteve]

I think "curmudgeonly" is the more accurate term...just like its owner.

She seems to be snoozing happily while I work on the Poncho in the next stall. Though, I think she kinda looks down on those post-1970, low-compression, GM cars.

She's one hauntingly possessed Diva.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[njsteve]

Took "The Diva" out for the first run of the year. Had both kids in the car. My daughter had just seen American Graffiti in her film class in high school and astonishingly wanted me to rev the engine and do a burn out from every stoplight. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seemed like everybody had the same idea today. As I pulled onto the main road I saw a beautiful, black 1969 GTO ragtop cruise by, and a few minutes later a green 1968 Mustang GTA 390.

Now that she's been educationally "enlightened" by her elitist film class experience, it now seems she's really into cars (finally).

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Seemed like everybody had the same idea today.

[/ QUOTE ]

I had my Camaro out on Friday for the first time in a few months and I saw a dozen or so other 'play' cars out there too. Down to the 76 in Auburn for some pump 101 (Trick) and then an hour of freeway-highway-town cruising. Spring is here!

[njsteve]

Jeez, I just realized that the only time this car was on the road this entire year was that one drive back in March. I've been spending so much time on the T/A I forgot I had this car. Started her up to get the Stabil fuel stabilizer through the fuel system today, just in time to put her to bed for the winter.

[smallblockhero]

hey steve.

I just saw this thread for the first time. amazing car by the way. i think a caught a shot or 2 of your car at musclepalooza a few years back. Im pretty sure you won best of show right?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/drillsgt98th/lsi/0527071559.jpg

[njsteve]

Yup, that was me and &quot;the other woman&quot; at Musclepalooza 2007. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

I think she won best Mopar or Dodge or best red 70 charger driven by a crabby old guy in a cowboy hat? There were a lot of awesome cars there that year.

Here's a youtube link from that show, with the car sounding angry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vftNDiEzQX8&amp;feature=channel

and again at the 2:20 time on this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD2L8_V4jrY&amp;feature=channel

You can also see some other guys' cars from this site on the videos.

[njsteve]

Took her out for the first time this year (the last local cruise night in town for the summer).

Since it was &quot;race car night&quot;, I put the original owner's set of 1970 15x4 and 15x7 Cragars on. Those 40-year old Parnelli Jones Firestones were no fun to drive on. On the drive over, I didn't go over 40 mph due to the fact that they have hardened into something resembling bakelite.

I even had a bunch of trouble trying to just get out of the garage this afternoon. The car wouldn't back over the small 2&quot;x4&quot; block of wood I use as a wheel chock. The tires would just spin in place. It reminded me of those old AFX slot cars, you had as a kid when you tried to duplicate a real car doing a burn out by holding it in place and hitting the throttle. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/S7007175.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/S7007177.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/S7007184.jpg

That 56 Vette in front of my car is owned by a buddy of the guy I bought the Charger from back in 1987. The car has been a race car for a few decades.

[Xplantdad]

Neat stuff Steve!

[SmallHurst]

Steve,

I know that the other woman is up for a new home, but while she is still being seen on the town with you..... buy her some shoes!!!!!!!!


Call me for some L-60 Polyglas!!!

[black69]

that charger looks so dam good with those wheels and tires....

[njsteve]

Spent the day printing out some photos and text for the display at MCACN next week.

This one is the sequence of the three prior owners, and their reunions with the car, plus the original mechanic and his son on the right (four generations of his family worked at Suburban Dodge over the years)

I have enough of these frames now, with the original documentation and paperwork, I can encircle the entire car!

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/Ownerrecord.jpg


If you are at the show, come on by and say hi. I'll be in the SYC display. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[njsteve]

We just made it home from MCACN 2011 at 5:00PM Monday, after leaving at 7:00 PM Sunday night. (Stopped for a 5 hour catnap in Indiana at midnight).

Average diesel fuel mileage with the old 95 6.5 Diesel Suburban was 9 mpg for the 1,754 mile round trip. I weighed the rig after a fillup and the total truck and tralier weight was 16,540 lbs (8,550 lbs for the K2500 suburban and 7,900 lbs. for the trailer with the 4,040 lb. Charger inside).

I never realized the entire freight train was that heavy!

It was an awesome show and I got to meet a great bunch of equally warped individuals (like me). Cant wait for next year.

Here's a couple shots of the charger surrounded by &quot;The Ring of Paper&quot;....

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/S7007501.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/DSC05050.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/DSC05052.jpg

[njsteve]

Oh, I almost forgot...another story from the road.

As usual where ever I go with this car, someone inevitably pops up with some more material for the never ending story.

I was hanging out next to the Charger and a guy comes up and introduces himself as a doctor who remembers my car from back in 1991 when he was a resident in Gainesville, Florida.

At the time he decided to go to his first car show event, which just happened to be SuperFord Sunday at Gainesville Raceway which was sponsored by Dobbs Publishing Group (the guys that put out Mopar Muscle, Musclecar Review, Mustang Monthly, Corvette Fever, Superford, etc). I was a tech editor at the time and me and the girlfriend (now wife of 18 years, or so) drove the Charger up to the event.

The Doctor told me how he looked across the staging area and saw me pull up in the Charger, open the trunk and drag out a pair of slicks and swap them out for the street tires. He said I then proceeded to &quot;beat the pants off of every Ford I raced&quot; (his recollection, not mine <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif)

While this alleged superhuman feat was being accomplished he said the &quot;really hot chick&quot; I arrived with was loyally sitting on my street tires in the staging lanes so no one would steal them.

He said he has all sorts of old photos of the event that he would send me when he gets back home.

I couldn't wait to tell the wife, so I texted her the following:

<span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">&quot;Honey, guess what? A guy here at the show remembered me racing the Charger and beating a whole bunch of cars back in 1991 in Gainesville. He has photos! He said I was with some really hot chick who sat by and made sure no one stole my tires. Any idea who that girl was?&quot;</span></span></span>



Her response was as follows:

<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">F#$% #*0</span></span></span>


She is such a great gal. I really need to get her a new phone. There's gotta be something wrong with those text keys.

[mockingbird812]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif


Good one Steve. Nice to finally meet you and Christine, um, er, <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/blush.gif I mean your Red Charger! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

Does the doctor have any photos of the &quot;hot chick&quot;..?? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

[njsteve]

Yes he does. He's sending those, as well. I will post them as soon as they arrive. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[CC Rider]

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[L89DRMR]

Steve,

I look forward to your updates and getting constant laughs.

Dave

[SS427]

It was great to finally meet you Steve. We have all enjoyed reading about this and your other cars and it was a pleasure to finally put a face with a name. I glanced over at you several times during the show and you always had a smile on your face and certainly appeared to be loving the show. It was in fact a great time!

[RPOLS3]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It was great to finally meet you Steve. We have all enjoyed reading about this and your other cars and it was a pleasure to finally put a face with a name. It was in fact a great time! </div></div>

x2

Jake

[njsteve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I glanced over at you several times during the show and you always had a smile on your face and certainly appeared to be loving the show. </div></div>

Must have been the medication I'm on. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

But seriously folks, it was an awesome time. It was great to meet everyone. We need secret name tags next year so we can identify each other.

Best show ever. Just wish the show location was closer to me...and more frequent.

[Steve Shauger]

Hey Steve it was really great meeting and spending some time with you. I will keep you posted on the SD my friend just bought. Your meds were really kicking in because you had a smile all weekend long.

[Xplantdad]

Thanks for sharing Steve...I can't wait for the photos. (BTW, look at Darren looking at your Charger's interior!) <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[x Baldwin Motion]

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/DSC05050.jpg

Hey Darren!!, I sure missed seeing all you guys and the cars too. Next year, for sure!!

[njsteve]

One of my buddies just sent me some photos. Great overhead shot...and he is only 5'7&quot; tall? I asked him what kind of camera he was using because it was able to get a nice photo and compensate for the weird sodium vapor lighting system they were using in the complex. Havent got an answer back yet.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/DSC_0312-1.jpg

[427freak]

Ditto on meeting you at the show. We were across from you the entire weekend and you were holding court the entire time. I am glad I caught you in between appointments and finally got to see the car in person and hear some stories. Did any parts from the other Mopars' end up on your Hemi after the show? Maybe that is why they put all the Chevy's around you. Love the 'Haunted Hemi'

[njsteve]

Yes, the Maginot Line of Chevies kept her at bay. No extra parts, but the gas tank read 1/2 full when we got back home after being 1/4 at the show. Must be those pesky poltergeists again. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

Great to meet you, too. It was a wonderful show. Can't wait for next year. I can bring a lighter car and maybe get 9-1/2 mpg towing it.

I was glad my three-month trailer restoration passed the road test! That was my main worry...that and the 111,000 mile 6.5 diesel surviving. The truck worked fine. The trailer looked like hell, but performed great. You can see my new 3/4&quot; replacement plywood extension ramp complete with 3/8&quot; stainless steel piano hinge in this shot. (Those heavy duty piano hinges were sure hard to find).

Oh, and of course here's my trusted friend Al, helping out. He's a great guy. If anyone ever needs an honest, old school (and new school, too) mechanic in Jersey, drop me a line and I'll give you his contact info. Some of you guys talked to him at the show. He is a wellspring of automotive knowledge and trivia. He worked as a mechanic in Newark in the early 1970's and has all sorts of scary stories from back in the day. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt77/nk15268c/6356958313_3bdf8a12cd_z.jpg

[njsteve]

Happy Birthday Charger! 42 years ago today she rolled off the assembly line in St. Louis...and the haunting began!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[njsteve]

OMG! They stole my car for the KFC Chicken Pot Pie commercial...and who is that riding with me?

http://youtu.be/KqGfO99XLQ8

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OMG! They stole my car for the KFC Chicken Pot Pie commercial...and who is that riding with me?

http://youtu.be/KqGfO99XLQ8 </div></div>

Darnell Turner from My Name is Earl?

[njsteve]

Here's the updated KFC commercial link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4RvvLx-vZM

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

[K code Mustang]

Steve, every Tuesday night, my wife has a doctor appt. in the north end of town. I have to drive past the Wickbergs old house on Stephensville parkway to get there. Every single week I say &quot;That's where the Charger used to live&quot;. The first couple weeks she smiled, the next few weeks she ignored me, the next few weeks she rolled her eyes. Last night she yelled out &quot;shut up, I know, I know, I've the shrine you have with all the pictures and models of that car and I've heard all the stories from you and your dad&quot; ...priceless

[njsteve]

As part of my mid-winter routine I started all the cars today and drove them around a few miles. I got the Charger running. As usual, I just hooked the battery up, let the electric fuel pump fill the bowls, and then turned the key. She started on the first crank.

I topped off the air in the tires- after a year they all lost exactly 9 psi each. Went for a slow drive on the 40 year old tires which felt like I was driving a shopping cart. Boy, I forgot how much nicer these things ride better on radials.

Stills idles and runs very nicely. She is quite &quot;peppy&quot;, a term my Gramma used to say about her 1964, 426 powered Dodge. There's nothing like a hemi with headers. It sounds like a 1970's SuperStocker. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/usergals/2013/01/full-1359-2359-p1000097a.jpg