It's got a freshly rebuilt 440 Magnum motor, 727 automatic transmision (Installed 08/2002). Its color scheme is EF8 (dark Metallic Green) exterior with green interior. She?s got high back buckets seats with center console automatic shifter.
Now I know what your thinking...Cool and original R/T Charger. Well I?m sorry to disappoint you but this is not an original R/T Car. It's a replicar. I did most of the transition work myself and here?s the story:
I bought this Car from a guy in the Seatac area (near Seattle, Wa.) Feb 2001 from a guy named Mike who had owned it since the Spring of 1998. He traded a 68 Dart, 383 motor, and a tranny for the Charger. His work while owning her included installing a new gas pedal, taillight panel in the trunk, treated some of the surface rust on the floors and trunk floor, and cleaned it up a bit. He also moved (at that time Bench seat) the studs on the seat tracks back 1" to gain some leg room. He drove the Charger occasionally, but mostly it just sat in his garage. The previous owner (a guy named Jeff) stated that the car was originally from either Montana or Colorado, he couldn?t seem to remember for sure. Jeff work to the car include replacing the original wimpy 8-1/4 rear axle with the 8-3/4 that is now in the car. He also installed a manual choke, the right side HP exhaust manifold, dual exhaust, and slot mags. He had also replaced the master cylinder, brake booster and started the new headliner swap. (which Mike finished up later) The car temporarily traded hands when Jeff sold the car to a buddy in Oregon around 1996. Jeff took the car back about a year later. In the meantime, his buddy had put a new front windshield in it.
The car at that time was mostly original other than the modifications that Jeff made. By decoding the data plate it was determined that everything matched. The 383 2bbl motor in it at the time was original to the car and given the factory grease markings on the valve covers and the foil insulation package under the intake manifold which where still there when I bought the car from Mike - It would appear that the motor had never been apart or out of the car.
SINCE I'VE OWNED IT:
I've tried my best is the past two years to restore her back to show condition as a R/T Replicar. I replaced the original 383 motor with a nice newly rebuilt 1970 440 service replacement magnum motor. As well as a nicely rebuilt 727 automatic transmission. The new motor has the mopar performance electronic distributor system, mopar hi-performance coil and wires, replaced the old crusty washer reservoir, put in a brand new mopar alternator, Replace the stock 2bbl carburation system with a new Edelbrock 440 performer intake and Edelbrock 750 CFM carb, replaced the stock two speed wiper with a new 3 speed one, Installed a new mopar performance voltage regulator, hi-torque mini starter, power steering cooler. I put in a new carpet and floor mats and replaced the stock front bench seat with an original 1970 charger front high back bucket seats, I?ve replaced the semi-flat black dash panels with original wood grain dash panels, cleverly installed a hidden am/fm/tape deck from my 97 dodge dakota into the glover compartment so I can have some tunes besides AM radio. Changed the stock shift on the column system to an original automatic console shift on the floor, Replaced the right (rotted out) rear 1/4 panel/trunk floor extension/corner pieces. Done lots of body work and had a nice new paint job done the V21 Performance hood treatment- hood R/T stripes and white 440 decals, removed the front grill...detailed and repainted it, installed a new rear blackout finish panel, installed 70 charger door scoops, rear black stripe and all the R/T emblems, bought and installed brand new 15 X 7 front/15 X 8 rear Crager SSrims/Kelly Charger tires.
Recently I? decided to strip the black vinyl top off, deal with all the corrosion issues under it and install a brand new V1G gator grain top which was completed in March of 2005.
I also have plans to replace the 2:76 non sure grip rear end with a 3:23 sure grip one which should be happening very soon. Front and back seats have been re-upholstered with new custom made black and green two tone material installed in Nov. Of 2005. I've also just ordered up a brand new set of correct 68-70 b-body Chrome rocker molding trim. New Chrome front and rear bumpers have been installed along with a brand new fuel cap and dish.
Future plans include but not necessarily limited to converting the motor intake system over to a 6 pack set up. Anyone have 3/4 grand I can borrow. :o)
Well that?s about it for now.
So wish me luck because I still have lots of work to be done before spring.
Kelly (70charginglizard)
