Finally got my Charger!!!

[BrAinPaiNt]

So can you borrow tools from that place you are getting the lift for the motor?

Or is it just a matter of wanting the tools there all the time so you don't have to run between home and the place?

Also Will you be doing all of the wiring and such (panels, break lights) by yourself?

Also the backseats.

You plan on just keeping the frame and springs and having new material put on it.
Hard to tell from those pics but I just kind of figured the leather would be cracked or weathered bad.

 

[Rack]

So can you borrow tools from that place you are getting the lift for the motor?

Or is it just a matter of wanting the tools there all the time so you don't have to run between home and the place?

Also Will you be doing all of the wiring and such (panels, break lights) by yourself?

I have access to those tools. I can also take the car there and work on it in their garage (after hours) if I want to, but I don't like having to rely on others to get the work done. That's why I went and bought my own Air compressor yesterday. Also, I'd have to trailer the car to and from there every time I used it. That's not that big a deal though. Well, it won't be once I get the motor out of it. 3,500 lbs is a bit too much for me to push on and off a trailer by myself.


I bought a color coded wiring diagram so I'm hoping to do it by myself, but there's a guy that works there that is very good at wiring/electrical work so I may get some help from him either by asking him for advice or for some actual physical help.

I want to do as much of it by myself as I possibly can though. I don't want to finish and think "well so and so helped me with a lot of the body work and so and so did the engine work" etc...

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Well I don't envy the amount of work, and probably frustration, you will be putting into it.

However I do envy the know how and finished product.

I wish I was good with vehicles as what you are doing is something I would like to do with a 68-69 firebird or Camaro if I had the know how and money.

 

[Rack]

Well I don't envy the amount of work, and probably frustration, you will be putting into it.

However I do envy the know how and finished product.

I wish I was good with vehicles as what you are doing is something I would like to do with a 68-69 firebird or Camaro if I had the know how and money.

So do I. It would make this project a whole lot easier. lol


I've been reading A LOT about restoring cars though. I've bought like 5 or 6 books about it. Just got one yesterday that is specifically about restoring chargers. Nice color book published recently (2004) and has lots of pictures.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

So do I. It would make this project a whole lot easier. lol


I've been reading A LOT about restoring cars though. I've bought like 5 or 6 books about it. Just got one yesterday that is specifically about restoring chargers. Nice color book published recently (2004) and has lots of pictures.

I would need the car restoring for idiots version...of the DVD, and I would still screw it up.:laugh1:

 

[Yeagermeister]

So do I. It would make this project a whole lot easier. lol


I've been reading A LOT about restoring cars though. I've bought like 5 or 6 books about it. Just got one yesterday that is specifically about restoring chargers. Nice color book published recently (2004) and has lots of pictures.

Just tape every episode of American Hot Rods you can find

 

[Rack]

I would need the car restoring for idiots version...of the DVD, and I would still screw it up.:laugh1:

I actually did buy a DVD too. Haven't watched it yet though.

 

[Calicowboy]

Rack congrats! It's going to be a beast.

Dont forget somewhere on her, needs to be this...

 

[Warick]

Rack, congrats on the Charger, and have fun restoring her. She's a beauty, and a great investment.

A buddy of mine has a 69 Charger RT/SE. It was pretty rough when he bought it, but with a lot of hard work, it's a thing of beauty.

The car has a 440, hemi 4 speed, pistol grip shifter, the works. Blue with black interior. The motor is basically stock, but still fast as hell, considering the size and weight of the car.

I have a 67 camaro that I'm hoping to restore soon. I'll probably create a site like yours when I do.

 

[Rack]

The 440 isn't a hemi, it's a magnum. The hemi (from that era) is a 426.



Ok I have some extremely bad news. First off, try to imagine the time you were the most po'd in your entire life. Try to remember the anger in your heart at that moment....


Now inject a quart of 100% pure rage directly into your heart and you might be able to imagine how po'd I am right now.

The engine is suppose to be a 440. It says so on the auction title. Says so in the auction page. I went looking for the casting number earlier, but couldn't find any casting numbers where they are if the car is a 440 (or Hemi 426). So I decided to look in the spot where the casting numbers are placed for the "B" engines. And what do I see? A few numbers (already bad news). But the three clearest numbers I see are "383".

It's a freakin' 383, not a 440. Nothing wrong with the 383's, but when I pay for a 440, I want a 440. Period.

I'm gonna wait for the mechanic to come take a look at it tomorrow (again) just to verify what I'm pretty sure I already know. There's another spot on the engine that has the casting numbers on it, but it's a bit harder to get to. I'll look at it tomorrow and know for sure.

If it is a 383 I'll be filing a fraud claim with ebay. I'll be getting back all my money and almost all the money it cost to ship. I guaran-dang-tee it.


I'm so freakin' po'd right now Satan himself would be wise to stay the freakin' hell away from me.

 

[Rack]

I just crawled underneath the car and check the casting number on the engine. It was 2568130. That's a 383, not a 440.


Now I'm doubting whether the car is an R/T or now. Either the vin is right and the engine was changed from a 440 to a 383 at one point, or the 383 is the original and the vin is a fake. I'll be getting in touch with the seller later on and if he doesn't give me back $3,500 I'm gonna file a claim. Simple as that. He could either lose $3,500 or $9,500. His choice.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Well that sucks!

I understand you could use the engine or get another, but like you said if you buy something that says it is one thing, and it turns out to be another it is just flat out wrong.

At the very least maybe if it is an R/T and the engine was changed later it might just be worth it to keep it and get another engine.

I only say this because at least if you have an R/T, and you already know the condition of the car, it may be better just to hold onto it instead of trying to find another. Just find another engine.

But if it was never an R/T or never had a 440 then I agree to file fraud and get your money back.

 

[Hostile]

The 383 is a good engine, but if I bought the car expecting a 440, I'd demand my money back too. The engine would make a difference on how much I was willing to pay, or if I would even be interested at all.

Given the wires being cut, the carburator being painted silver, and the engine being not what was advertised, I'd want my money back.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully the seller doesn't try to mess you over on getting your money back.

 

[lzppjb]

That's bull*****. Sorry you had to deal with either a liar or a guy who didn't know what he had. The latter is very possible. I bought a 1970 Chevy C10 after being told it was a 350/TH350 combo. Had the heads redone and came to find out it was a small block 400, not a 350. Not exactly a negative thing, but just an example of a person not knowing what they are selling.

Try to piece it together with part numbers. Check the numbers on the transmission and back axle for the differential. An R/T is also supposed to have heavy duty brakes and suspension.

I'm not a Mopar guy, but that is what I'd do for a Chevy or Pontiac.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Rack]

That's bull*****. Sorry you had to deal with either a liar or a guy who didn't know what he had. The latter is very possible. I bought a 1970 Chevy C10 after being told it was a 350/TH350 combo. Had the heads redone and came to find out it was a small block 400, not a 350. Not exactly a negative thing, but just an example of a person not knowing what they are selling.

Try to piece it together with part numbers. Check the numbers on the transmission and back axle for the differential. An R/T is also supposed to have heavy duty brakes and suspension.

I'm not a Mopar guy, but that is what I'd do for a Chevy or Pontiac.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Excellent advice, lzppjb. I'm gonna crawl under the car tomorrow first thing in the morning and check that out.

I filed a case with squaretrade. Hopefully the mediator gets in touch with the guy and we get this thing settled quickly. I'm asking for $3,500 back. A 1968 charger 500 (rare car) with a 318 in it (and in better condition then the car I got) went for $6,600 the other day. The difference is the engine. If that car had a 440 in it it would of gone for over 10K. Since my car also doesn't have the 440 (and it's in lesser condition and not as rare as the 500) I figure 6K is a fair deal.

I'll keep everyone updated with the situation. And when it's finally settled I'll finally be able to start taking the car apart. I'm so tempted to get to work on it now but 1) I don't want to do work to a car I might not end up keeping, and 2) if I end up returning the car any alterations I do to it might lose me some money (even if they are improvements).

But I tell ya... it's like a bad tease right now. The car is sitting there in my drive way just taunting me. It's like dying of thirst in the middle of the ocean.

 

[Rack]

I just got an email letting me know that the seller has agreed to mediation (through squaretrader). Hopefully that means this will get resolved soon.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I just got an email letting me know that the seller has agreed to mediation (through squaretrader). Hopefully that means this will get resolved soon.

Wow, hate to be jaded but I thought you would have to get nasty.

So sounds like the guy knew he was wrong and wants to get it worked out OR as the above poster mentioned maybe he really did not know what he had.

Eitherway get a few dollars off the thing and still get to work on it.

 

[lzppjb]

Just think...that $3500 can go toward the car now. I know you really want that 440, but I think the most important thing is to get everything else exactly how you want it. Attention to detail. With the extra money, you can now afford to powder coat the frame and suspension parts instead of just painting them. Stuff like that.

 

[Rack]

Wow.

If it's not one thing it's another.


No word yet from squaretrade.com (not since sunday).



But get this... a friend came over earlier to take a look at the car.


Well, before I get to that... I was crawling under the car today trying to get a look at the casting numbers on the transmission (no luck).

Then 3 mechanics came over to try and get the engine running (no luck there either).

So me and these three guys are reaching in and crawling under this car for about 45 minutes earlier in the day.


My friend comes over a few hours later. It's dark so I have my flashlight out.


I shined it under the front of the front left fender and what do I see?


A FREAKIN' BLACK WIDOW!!!


http://img82.*************/img82/4885/blackwidow4ps.jpg


Took a half a can of raid but I ended that sucker!


Tough little *******, he put up a helluva fight.


I'd be in the emergency room right now if I happened to get too close to him earlier in the day.

Now I'm afraid to go near the car. What if it had relatives living nearby?