Time for an introduction.... lol

[War wagon]

Hi Folks,

Think its about time I introduced myself. Been lurking on here for sometime as a registered member but this is my first post.
My name is Chris and I've been a MOPAR guy my whole life.
I have been lucky enough to own a few over the years

I have too say I truly enjoy reading and learning from the members on here.

Years ago I owned a 68 charger 383 2bbl car that I swapped to a 440. Owned that car for 9 yrs but only had it titled and on the road for the first year I bought it. It was too ruff to continue driving so I put it in the garage and started collecting parts for a full resto one day. Had acquired every part needed to make a solid number 2 car and then Life stepped in as so often happens and I had to sell my baby. Promised myself I would get another one day only this time I would buy a car that had already been restored, so I could just drive and enjoy it. The thinking was I could customize it too my tastes as time went on.

Well last spring I had waited long enough and bought another one

I bought a 69 this time 

Here's the thing my 68 was an original B5 blue/ blk int car that had been repainted Spiniker white/blk int with a black vinyl roof when I got it. I LOVED the way the white accented the body lines of the car . Very classy and understated look imho

Well last spring while doing my Daily lol check of the classifieds I spied a 69 R/T CLONE in spiniker white lol that had been given a full resto about 10yrs ago....
Im sure some of you will remember the car as the owner was/is? a member on here.

Not too mention the way he had the car, it was VERY unique.

I've been to the nats a few times over the years and have attended the New Hamburg show here in Canada for 20+ yrs as a spectator.

I drove the 69 the last two yrs into the show at New Hamburg which FINALLY checks one off my bucket list!!!!
Not too say all went off without a hitch, lmao that's another thread!!

My father has owned a 67 Belvedere 1 POST CAR for the past 13 yrs that is a REAL MONSTER

I appreciate any car that is FAST, but MOPARS are where its at for me.

Thanks for making such a great site for lovers of one of the greatest car designs off ALL TIME imho



All the Best,
Chris

[Ghoste]

Great choice!  Welcome to the group and welcome back to the fold.  Don't forget to share some photos of it and register it with the 69 Registry. 
BTW, where in Canada are you?

[bill440rt]

Welcome to DC.com!! 

Great story, post up some pics! 

[firefighter3931]

Welcome to DC.com Chris  

From the discription your most recent aquisition sounds like a car i know very well....assuming it's the car i'm thinking about. Based on the unique markings and white paint I'm guessing you bought Dave's "Arrow"  

I pulled and disassembled the broken 440 for Dave then helped him re-install the rebuilt engine and break-in the new cam. I remember all his neighbours looking to see what the racket was all about....open headers on a 440 revving at 2000rpm for 30 minutes on a sunday evening sure attracts a lot of attention.  

Very nice car and Dave spent a lot of time and money restoring her  


Ron

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Welcome! But ya what part of Southern Ontario 

[4cruzin]

Welcome to the site!  Sounds like both cars are awesome!  A picture would be cool!  I think next year I am going to try to make the Canada show . . . just wish it wasn't the same weekend as the Woodward Cruise . . . .

[War wagon]

Great choice!  Welcome to the group and welcome back to the fold.  Don't forget to share some photos of it and register it with the 69 Registry. 
BTW, where in Canada are you?

Thanks for the welcome
I'm north west of the GTA in southern Ontario

[War wagon]

Welcome to DC.com Chris  

From the discription your most recent aquisition sounds like a car i know very well....assuming it's the car i'm thinking about. Based on the unique markings and white paint I'm guessing you bought Dave's "Arrow"  

I pulled and disassembled the broken 440 for Dave then helped him re-install the rebuilt engine and break-in the new cam. I remember all his neighbours looking to see what the racket was all about....open headers on a 440 revving at 2000rpm for 30 minutes on a sunday evening sure attracts a lot of attention.  

Very nice car and Dave spent a lot of time and money restoring her  




Ron

Yes that's the car
It will be a nice car, unfortunately it had numerous serious issues I wasn't aware of when I bought it.
Mechanically it was a nightmare too say the least and not what I thought I was buying
Please don't take offence too my statement , just stating the facts

It has come ALONG WAY in the time I've owned it

2wks ago I made a 500 mile round trip across Ontario in it and it sure wouldn't have made it as purchased!!

No worries , this one is in good hands now and will see many many miles in the years too come.

You of all folks on here should appreciate all the work I've done too this car in a short time , having worked on it yourself 
Look forward to meeting you sometime

Chris

[War wagon]

Welcome! But ya what part of Southern Ontario 

Northwest of Toronto , but you may spot this car anywhere in Ontario  if it's sunny and warm out it will be out there.........
Pics coming soon...

[tan top]

 hello & welcome   

[firefighter3931]

Hey Chris, it was many years ago that i worked on Dave's car so i'm not sure what had happened since then ?  

After the cam break-in the 440 was running fine, nice smooth idle and seemed responsive. Good oil pressure, no leaks etc....

Perhaps the car sat too long and things deteriorated ? I'd be interested to hear what problems you had with the car. Send me a PM if you'd prefer not to discuss in an open forum  

I do remember the car being in great cosmetic shape....fresh paint and a straight body. Nice interior and brightwork.  



Ron

[Dino]

I had not seen the Arrow in a long time, I'm glad it's still (or once more) in use.  As you can see, I'm partial to white 69's!   

[nvrbdn]

welcome war wagon. nice ride you have.

[JB400]

Welcome to the group Glad you spoke up

[War wagon]

 
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!



First attempt at posting a pic in a longgggg time LOL
If it works I will post more

That's my fathers beast with my son in the background lol

[War wagon]

The day I brought it home

[War wagon]

Motor as purchased....



more too come later

[stripedelete]

 

[firefighter3931]

That Belvedere looks serious.....need some details on that one ! 

Engine bay on the Arrow looks like I remember it....allthough a little dirty 



Ron

[Mopar Nut]

Welcome aboard!

White, interesting color on a Charger.       

[Fred]

     

Does it hurt?   

[Fred]

Welcome. 

[twodko]

Glad you're here! Def what FireFighter said about the Belvedere.

[Mopar Nut]

   

Does it hurt?  

Only when it's spinning.

[War wagon]

last of the "as purchased" photo's

Now..... a taste of what I've done so far

[War wagon]

A few more

[firefighter3931]

Nice....i see lots of improvements 

-Performer RPM intake
-Holley double pumper carb ?
-K&N flo-thru filter
-New headers ?
-MSD distributor/wires
-Denso alternator
-Upgraded cooling system with electric fans
-Dana with CalTracs/Rancho's
-Pistolgrip shifter

Just wondering if you went inside the 440 ? The cam we installed is an Engle K54 fast rate grind with ~.470 valve lift on a 112* LSA. That engine was low on static compression so we had to keep the duration modest due to the stock converter and 3.23 gears. It was built as a cruiser. I was after Dave to replace the Holley 600 vac carb because it was too small even for a mild 440.

That's about all i can remember....like i said it was several years ago and i've wrenched on plenty since then. 


Ron

[War wagon]

That Belvedere looks serious.....need some details on that one ! 

Engine bay on the Arrow looks like I remember it....allthough a little dirty 



Ron

That Belvedere is as serious as a heart attack
I know first hand cause I've had the pleasure of running it down the strip myself quite a few times
Best pass to date is 10.86@125mph but that should drop by ALOT come spring.....
Its a FULL INTERIOR street car that weights 4200lbs with my dad on board
Dad is a class A mechanic and a millwright and built that car himself except paint

A few specs on the belvedere's setup from the last few years, since I know you'll ask LOL

496 cu in (hughes kit)
13.2 comp
eddy rpm heads wet ported by hughes
nasty cam in the 700's lmao
1050 dominator
5500 rpm stall
dana 4:10's


That's the main goodies lol, although things will be a lot different come spring MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[firefighter3931]

Nice....but it's a lightweight compared to my Black Pig   Last time across the scales it came in at 4250 with me in the seat.    I've had her on a diet so hopefully she'll be under 4000 raceweight.  

Mine's a pump gas build, solid roller, Indy heads etc...and it ran about the same as your pop's car ; 10.90's at 124. I've been fighting fuel delivery and traction problems so the performance is off significantly from where it should be. Hopefully the new fuel system will fix things up. Gonna try and get out for a test and tune at the end of the month...weather permitting  

Cool car....luv them Belvedere's  


Ron


A couple of pics of the Pig below 

[Fred]

Very nice. 

[War wagon]

Nice....i see lots of improvements 

-Performer RPM intake
-Holley double pumper carb ?
-K&N flo-thru filter
-New headers ?
-MSD distributor/wires
-Denso alternator
-Upgraded cooling system with electric fans
-Dana with CalTracs/Rancho's
-Pistolgrip shifter

Just wondering if you went inside the 440 ? The cam we installed is an Engle K54 fast rate grind with ~.470 valve lift on a 112* LSA. That engine was low on static compression so we had to keep the duration modest due to the stock converter and 3.23 gears. It was built as a cruiser. I was after Dave to replace the Holley 600 vac carb because it was too small even for a mild 440.

That's about all i can remember....like i said it was several years ago and i've wrenched on plenty since then. 


Ron

Hey Ron,

Buying a turn key restored car you wouldn't think I'd been in that motor yet. Unfortunately I have
First real road trip last summer I went to grand bend for a car show at the strip. Made it there fine, but blew a head gasket on start up getting ready to leave the show
Limped it home and tore into things....
Heads were sent to active engines for complete rebuild. Had I known then what I know now, I would not have bothered and just bought some aluminum heads. Cost of rebuilding mine was ridiculous IMHO
They called me half way thru the refurb too inform me the heads had CHEVY valve springs in them why?!?! Wish I could answer that one....
Pistons are so far down the hole I'll be lucky to have bout 8:1 comp in this 69 hp motor
Thankfully the bottom end held together once the heads came back and has good oil pressure

Only finished all my upgrades this year 7wks ago, BUT..... In those 7wks I managed to rack up an impressive 2700 MILES

The motor only had to survive this summer, it's coming out this winter and being replaced with something proven
Drivetrain is otherwise done and ready for serious abuse

Some of my mechanical changes thus far......
New shackles, cal tracs, built Dana 60 with 35 spine axles, Detroit locker, 3:73's, wildwood disc brakes (rear), welded in frame connectors, built driveshaft sfi approved, driveshaft loop, carbon fibre scattershield, sfi flex plate, built 727 trans with deep pan, reverse valve body, bolt in sprag, 4200 stall, hurst pistol grip quarter stick, auto meter monster tach, mech oil pressure, temp, volt gauges, bee cool rad with elec fans, alt upgrade, Holley 850 ultra HP, eddy rpm manifold (ported), msd 6al2, msd billet distributor, k&n airfilter, horn switch, horn relay, TTI headers, TTI x pipe and full 3" exhaust, odometer cable, parking brake cables

Some cosmetics I've changed so far.......
Reproduction steering wheel, repro wood grain dash kit, repro OE gauges, American racing T1R rims with bfg radials, new int window cranks

Prolly a lot more I can't recall ATM lol
I do have a borgenson steering box upgrade which will go on this winter whilst he engine is out

[War wagon]

Nice....but it's a lightweight compared to my Black Pig   Last time across the scales it came in at 4250 with me in the seat.    I've had her on a diet so hopefully she'll be under 4000 raceweight.  

Mine's a pump gas build, solid roller, Indy heads etc...and it ran about the same as your pop's car ; 10.90's at 124. I've been fighting fuel delivery and traction problems so the performance is off significantly from where it should be. Hopefully the new fuel system will fix things up. Gonna try and get out for a test and tune at the end of the month...weather permitting  

Cool car....luv them Belvedere's  


Ron


A couple of pics of the Pig below 

Awesome ride
I bought my dad a new short block and heads this summer and he is assembling it as I type lol
My logic was, I'm going to spend same kind of money on something for the charger..... But I want it too remain street able . For the same money I could buy something insane for dad and use some of his take offs for my new motor.

So come spring my dad will be running a 572 short block from muscle motors with indy 1 heads that have been cnc'd
And my Charger will have a 67 HP block with dads ported eddy heads
Dad should be in the nines come spring, he has been told motor should make in excess of 900hp
The Charger should be running mid 11's with brake lights

[firefighter3931]

Wow, you been busy 

Nice upgrades.... planning for more power i'm sure 

Not sure what's up with the valvesprings ? I gave the cam specs to the machine shop that assembled those heads. I sure wasn't impressed with them after what happened to the shortblock. Long story short ; they messed up on a few of the cylinders and the pistons were too tight and scored the bores. Engines Extra...stay far away  The shortblock was rebuilt with 2 new pistons (different shop in the GTA) and the bore clearances were properly set on the second go around. Unfortunately as you discovered the pistons are waaay down there so that limited cam selection. 

Ya, the nice new aluminum head offerings have made factory castings obsolete. 



Ron

[firefighter3931]

Awesome ride
I bought my dad a new short block and heads this summer and he is assembling it as I type lol
My logic was, I'm going to spend same kind of money on something for the charger..... But I want it too remain street able . For the same money I could buy something insane for dad and use some of his take offs for my new motor.

So come spring my dad will be running a 572 short block from muscle motors with indy 1 heads that have been cnc'd
And my Charger will have a 67 HP block with dads ported eddy heads
Dad should be in the nines come spring, he has been told motor should make in excess of 900hp
The Charger should be running mid 11's with brake lights

Thanks....the Black Pig is an ongoing project.

The 572 is a nice combo....that's what i have in mine currently.  I sometimes wish i'd gone with the aluminum block because the World cast iron piece is very heavy....about double what the aluminum block weighs (300lbs vs 150lbs) and that extra weight off the nose would really help with weight transfer. I did relocate the battery and delete the power steering so it's 100lbs lighter on the nose...which will help 

Your Dad is really gonna luv the torque of that big cube monster 

When i had the 446 in mine with Eddy heads it made 535hp/540tq and ran 11.60's at 116 and the car was 4150lb raceweight. You should be in the same ballpark with your car i would think. 



Ron

[War wagon]

Awesome ride
I bought my dad a new short block and heads this summer and he is assembling it as I type lol
My logic was, I'm going to spend same kind of money on something for the charger..... But I want it too remain street able . For the same money I could buy something insane for dad and use some of his take offs for my new motor.

So come spring my dad will be running a 572 short block from muscle motors with indy 1 heads that have been cnc'd
And my Charger will have a 67 HP block with dads ported eddy heads
Dad should be in the nines come spring, he has been told motor should make in excess of 900hp
The Charger should be running mid 11's with brake lights

Thanks....the Black Pig is an ongoing project.

The 572 is a nice combo....that's what i have in mine currently.  I sometimes wish i'd gone with the aluminum block because the World cast iron piece is very heavy....about double what the aluminum block weighs (300lbs vs 150lbs) and that extra weight off the nose would really help with weight transfer. I did relocate the battery and delete the power steering so it's 100lbs lighter on the nose...which will help 

Your Dad is really gonna luv the torque of that big cube monster 

When i had the 446 in mine with Eddy heads it made 535hp/540tq and ran 11.60's at 116 and the car was 4150lb raceweight. You should be in the same ballpark with your car i would think. 



Ron

From everything I've read and heard from builders they have issues with the aluminum blocks dropping sleeves. That's why I went with the steel for dad's build.
He has the battery in the trunk, standard steering and standard brakes no power assist. Also runs a gear drive instead of timing chain

11.6 in a Charger using a 446 motor is Very respectable IMHO , they are BIG cars

Mine will have either a 446 or a 496 next season, either way will be back to respectable and acceptable power levels for a dodge LOL

[firefighter3931]

Thanks Chris, the old 446 ran good for a mild pump gas build and performed very well for what it was. 

If you can swing it do the 4.15 stroke build.....more torque is better with these heavy cars. 



Ron