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So Cal challenger

Andrew_r/t

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Jan 30, 2022
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Location
California
Hello all. I had a suggestion to do a post about the details of my car so here we go.

Back in 95 I was fresh out of high School and looking for a car to drive to college and work. I had some bad influences so I was focused on Mopars. I had narrowed my search down to a 70 road runner, 68 charger r/t, and a 70 Challenger R/t. The road runner was a column shift and the guy wanted too much for it ( I think it was like 6500), so that was out. The guy with the charger was asking 5 but the door locks didn't work. I called him up ready to make an offer and he'd just sold it. So I ended up with the Challenger.
It's a real R/t, js23nob25408 vin. 383, auto, power steering, power drums, rear window defroster, plum crazy, but someone had painted the engine compartment black at some point. The owner told me that the original engine blew when the original owner was running from the cops. The fender tag was gone when I got it.
The car ran and drove, but didn't have any kickdown linkage so the guy shifted it manually. The front seats were in bad shape and the carpet was just some loose shag carpet stuff. It leaked trans fluid and the tac and clock didn't work, the rear defogger stuff was gone and the console door was missing. It had some holes in the driver's floor and in the trunk, and it had been hit on the driver's side at some point. It had a mismatched set of dull slot mags on it, but $4500 later it was all mine.
Over the years I replaced the leaky 600 Holley with a modified 750 Holley, did a Mopar performance electronic ignition,.added flow masters and rechromed the exhaust tips to go with the cheapest headers that Mopar performance offered. I'm pretty sure the hassles I went through getting those headers installed cost me my girlfriend at the time but oh well. I had a genuine muscle car.
I drove the car all over Southern California for a few years just fixing little things that I could with whatever parts I could find and afford.
After a while I drove it less and less and it sat for a few years. I met my wife and we had a couple of kids while it sat at my parent's house. Finally I had a garage of my own to bring it home and began the process of bringing it back to life.
After a new fuel system, front end rebuild, disc brake conversion, new cooling system, torsion cars, re-arched leafs, kickdown cable, new shift shaft seal, and some polished 15 inch slot mags it was finally ready to drive again.
I've been enjoying it for the last year or so, driving it as much as I can, trying to push it a little more and fixing things as they come up. I think my next big items include fixing the rust holes in the floor and trunk, redoing the wiring and front seats and carpet, and then preparing a new motor and trans. Nothing crazy, maybe 400-450 hp. Maybe some day I'll give it some fresh paint and clean up the dings and chips as well.
Anyways that's my story!

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Challenger RTA

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A number of us can relate to your story. I got mine from the first owner. After a few girl friends gone by, because they said we need to sell it so we have some more money. RIGHT! So it just sat in the garage until I got to it as life goes by. As far as yours it as if it was meant to be. As mine but that is an other story. You were lucky to get a JS car. And you deserve it because It shows. Thank you for showing it and taking care. It looks very good! As mine it's not perfect but it's mine!
 

Andrew_r/t

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2022
Messages
21
Reaction score
26
Location
California
A number of us can relate to your story. I got mine from the first owner. After a few girl friends gone by, because they said we need to sell it so we have some more money. RIGHT! So it just sat in the garage until I got to it as life goes by. As far as yours it as if it was meant to be. As mine but that is an other story. You were lucky to get a JS car. And you deserve it because It shows. Thank you for showing it and taking care. It looks very good! As mine it's not perfect but it's mine!
Totally agree. I see all the imperfections and work needed but at the end of the day it's still all mine! We're definitely lucky to have been able to hold on to these cars.
 
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