My First Post

[BigCE]

Hi Guys,

I've been lurking on here for a few months, mostly reading through some of the longer build threads. I am amazed at the work some of you members are doing.

A little about me, I'm 26 from Canada (Alberta) and ever since I can remember I have been fascinated with cars. Yep another DOH fan, always loved that car before I even knew what it was. I remember asking my step dad when I was watching the show as a kid what kind of car it was. He was a bit of a muscle car guy when he was younger and of course knew it was a 69 Charger. So from then on I knew some day I would have a Charger. I've grown out of wanting a GL but never grew out of wanting a 2nd Gen Charger.


As you guys are well aware these cars are not cheap. I have been "window shopping" for chargers basically since middle school, it was of course a pipe dream at that point but almost every day I would search eBay for 68-69-70 Chargers. I remember when the US economy collapsed and the prices of cars were extremely low, I remember because I was still in high school making minimum wage and I still couldn't afford to buy a car. In the years following I had noticed the values slowly climbing back to what they once were and now there as high as ever. So it would seem it would still be a long ways off before I could get a car.

With money being the biggest hurdle my other issue is location, there are almost zero old Mopars around in southern Alberta. We have "Kijiji" same idea as Craigslist (only better, lol it is actully...A Lot) and on Kijiji there are usually 0 maybe 1 charger for sale at a time from BC to Manitoba, however there are usually a dozen or so in Quebec and Ontario. Unfortunately they are usually crazy expensive (almost always much more $ than a comparable car in the US even when our dollar was closer to par) or they are rust buckets, because well Canada...snow..ice..salt.

May 2016, I was browsing Kijiji as I do most days, when I found a 70 Charger listed for $27,000. It had been on for about 4 hours and already hundreds of views, "Damn" I'm too late I figured. This car was in pretty good shape by looking at these pictures. Now to put this into perspective, currently for sale on Kijiji it was a rare time there were 3 Chargers for sale at the time, 1 was a 69 440 RT powertrain long gone and the car was an extremely rusty hull, basically he was selling the firewall with the RT Vin, he was asking $22,000, it also came with an almost equally as rusty parts car no vin. The 2nd car was another 69 Charger, that was a running driving car but it had some extreme bondo repair done at some time and the bottom half of the car was essentially falling off. He wanted $25k. So by comparison the price looked good.

Well I phoned the seller I was the second person he talked to and the first guy was on his way to look at the car. Long story short it was a young guy who was wasting the sellers time, didn't have the cash. I took the next day off work and drove 4 hours to see it. I have never owned a old muscle car and have never even been around anyone who has anything so I don't know much to look for. I have watched some graveyard carz though lol. I actually learned quite a bit from the show, I knew what fender tags were before but I had a better understanding now. I also learned to look for stamped numbers like in the rad support and the trunk, and also what the factory sound deadener spray looked like. This car had all of it, perfect tag/vin plate/door sticker, also has the original rad support and truck stamp. I knew the car had been repainted but from all indications it looked like all sheet metal was original and the car is almost completely rust free.

We made a deal and I picked it up the next day.

[BigCE]

Some pictures I took at the sellers house,






Loaded up on the way home,



Home, well at work technically.


My other money pit




Sorry this was so long winded. I have some more questions about how to search for the cars history. Also I would like to give you guys my ideas and here your opinions on the car, but first i just wanted to introduce myself. So Hello again and thanks for taking the time to check out my car.

[Mopar Nut]

 Welcome aboard Chad!


Gorgeous Charger!

[Baldwinvette77]

Welcome, and nice car! 

[darbgnik]

What part of Alberta you from? Fort Mac here. I saw that one on kijiji as well. Was thinking it was priced to ggod to be in as good shape as the pics showed. It's good that you got it for that price, if it's as nice as you say! Your pictures look nicer than the sale pictures.

[JR]

Welcome, beautiful 70!

[tan top]

hello & welcome   ,  charger looks good     ,  love the look of centerline/ American racing  type  wheels on a second generation  

[smithenhiven]

Great looking car you got there, Congrats  

[ITSA426]

Welcome!

[69rtse4spd]

Welcome also love center lines on Chargers. Nice looking 70, the other money pit, SS 454 truck, was it built in FT.  Wayne, Ind. at my plant. I think we built all the SS 454s back then. 

[XH29N0G]

Welcome very nice car. 

Look up the 1970 Charger registry, they may have information.

I went to school in Alberta in the early 90's and really enjoyed it. 

[70 sublime]

Welcome

Have a look at the 70 Charger registry also

http://1970chargerregistry.com/index.html

[Dino]

Welcome!

Very nice car and looks like you got a good deal there.   

You need a bigger tach tho' 

[hemi-hampton]

First thing I noticed was the N95 on Fender tag. Same as my car. Which means it was sold new or built to be sold in California with California emmisions. Might account for it being more solid then some other Chargers if it is indeed solid. Nice car. Congrats. LEON.

[Dodge Don]

You bought the car from Chad 

Yes please register with the 70 Charger Registry.
http://1970chargerregistry.com/

I do have some history on the car.
dodgedon@1970chargerregistry.com

[BigCE]

You bought the car from Chad 

Yes please register with the 70 Charger Registry.
http://1970chargerregistry.com/

I do have some history on the car.
dodgedon@1970chargerregistry.com

I'm Chad. Should be registered.

About the only history I know of this car is what you told me and the pictures you sent. Thanks again BTW. Wish I knew more.

I'll post some more info tomorrow.

[marshallfry01]

Nice charger!! Welcome aboard!!

[Kern Dog]

Nice score.
The XH29G0G decodes as a base Charger with the 318 built in St Louis. My guess is a build date in October 1969. I say this because my VIN has a higher number, built in 12-69.

[VegasCharger]

Welcome!

Very nice car and looks like you got a good deal there.   

You need a bigger tach tho' 

Nice Charger for it being your first 2nd gen.

Welcome aboard.

And yes that tach is annoying lol.

[TPR]

Looks like patience has paid off. Welcome aboard!


By the way, we like long winded stories. Especially ones which include correct spelling and proper punctuation as you have clearly displayed.
Ain't that right Kern Dog?

TPR

[Kern Dog]

WOOOooooooooooo !!!

[70-500-SE-EXPORT]

Congratulations on the purchase. I was 23 when I bought my first 70 charger 11 years ago. I didn't know what I was looking at and I got ripped off on ebay and was sold a 18K bondo bucket junkyard heap with a quick maaco paint job with a blown engine. I worked on it for 5 years and spent another 13k on it and never got it on the road and ended up selling it for 1/3 what I had into it. Yours looks like it doesn't need much. The XH cars are pretty uncommon. They don't have the padded upper door panels or the tail light trim. Good luck with the car!

[70-500-SE-EXPORT]

double post

[Challenger340]

Good for you in finding what appears to be a pretty darn decent 2nd Gen example  and within a $ range a guy can live with !

Whereabouts in Alberta you located ?

[charger_fan_4ever]

Nice ride.

If your ever looking to go back oem look inside im selling my complete automatic and console set up from my 70. Im in canada too.

[BigCE]

What part of Alberta you from? Fort Mac here. I saw that one on kijiji as well.

I live in Brooks. It was only on Kijiji for about 24 hours when I bought it. However I relisted it in December, more on that below.

Nice ride.

If your ever looking to go back oem look inside im selling my complete automatic and console set up from my 70. Im in canada too.

I am actually wanting to get a center console. I hate the monster tach and cheapo floor shifter. It was originally a column/bench car but I want to keep buckets and install a console. So PM me some more info/pics.

Whereabouts in Alberta you located ?

Brooks, 2 hours East of Calgary.

[500Jon]

Nice One BCE!

Great colour and in real good condition for the money too.
Non-vinyl is always a godsend with a Mopar, no hidden rustyness.
I like your comment about the 'cheap shifter'... a mega shifter is about as expensive as it gets with a B&M lol...

All you need now is a gallon of EF8  'dark metallic green' and a 440... you will be the coolest guy in your Town/City/Country!!!

Luvving the seat cushion too, maybe you have the same problem as me, can't see over the steering wheel?

[BigCE]

As for history on the car the seller knew very little, he told me it was originally from Florida and he bought it from his friend who got it from a guy in Calgary. His friend owned it for a longer period and he was converting it into a "race car" which apparently means adding a over sized Tach and a floor shifter. From what I gather he was also the one who installed the current engine, the seller told me it is a 360 and the trans has a shift kit, unknown if it is original trans or not. Does anyone know where the vin is stamped?

The motor sounds pretty healthy it must have a decent cam in it, however it is a turd. I guarantee it makes 250 flywheel or less. I'm not really worried about it just an observation, it sounds cool doing it at least lol.

I found the registry right away and learned how to decode the fender tag and I also sent Don an email. I know the car is supposed to be Dark Green (wish it still was). 318 car with AC and a column shift with a bench and green interior. I learned a lot more from Don. He said it was last registered to a "Jon" in Calgary and had previously been for sale on eBay in '06
Here is what Don sent me,




So looks like the original 318 overheated and the car was painted in 1991. Timeline is a bit fussy and I don't know if it was painted in Calgary or the US somewhere, again Forida is mentioned. However as some of you have spotted this car is optioned with California emissions equipment. I only figured that out the other day when I learned what the weird vent thing is for in the trunk.



So I think the car has only ever been painted once and just a scuff and spray from what I can tell. They must have had it all apart as it is really hard to find any green on the car. I dont think it has had any repairs, from what I can tell it wasn't sanded and filled anywhere there is definitely some waves and you can still see the factory seam from the rear quarters. As for rust there is very little, I have had it on a lift and checked out the bottom and it looks like factory undercoating or some old undercoating at least, it is mostly intact and there is no major rust whatsoever. There are a few bubbles in the paint here and there, one in the lower rear window area and one in the passenger side cowl below the windshield. There is some paint chipping behind the rear wheel well on the passenger side as well. The passenger side rear quarter is a bit rougher than the driver side but they are both in very good shape IMO.

[Charger_Fan]

...the seller told me it is a 360 and the trans has a shift kit, unknown if it is original trans or not. Does anyone know where the vin is stamped?

The VIN should be stamped on the right (passenger) side of the block by the oil pan, near the oil filter.

Congrats on landing that Great looking Charger, it's a beauty!

[BigCE]

Here are some more pictures of the current condition,

Driver foot well area, previous owner (seller) installed the current R/T buckets (at least that's what he told me they are?) not the cleanest install lol.


Top side, picture makes it look much worse than it is. Looks to be very minor surface rust, mostly just lifting the paint.


Hey look it used to be green,



In the middle of a tach delete




Think there was a mouse at some point
Would this be the original headliner or would it have been green?

[BigCE]

Had to split the post.



Just noticed these 2 bolts in the tank? Some sort of make shift plug or what? Also anyone know what rear this is?








Should have taken pictures when it was on the lift.

[Dreamcar]

Welcome to another Canadian 

[BigCE]

Shiny side,





One of two patches in the car, maybe leaky battery before it got painted??



I think the dash was painted or dyed?


Rad support,


Trunk,

[BigCE]

The VIN should be stamped on the right (passenger) side of the block by the oil pan, near the oil filter.

Thanks, was wondering about the trans though. Pretty sure the motor is not original, I can look though.

[Charger_Fan]

The VIN should be stamped on the right (passenger) side of the block by the oil pan, near the oil filter.

Thanks, was wondering about the trans though. Pretty sure the motor is not original, I can look though.

Oh sorry, I'm not sure about the trans.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Rear diff looks like an 8.25 to me
VIN on the trans is stamped on a pad on the right side of the bell housing, about mid way up.

[darbgnik]

I'm no expert, but that diff and those leafs look like small block pieces to me too.

[70-500-SE-EXPORT]

Looks like a solid car. I see your 70 has a 8 1/4 rear end. My 70 318 / 904 auto had a 8 3/4. I don't get how both cars can be small block automatics but have different rear ends? 

[Dino]

My 69 had a 318/727 and a 8 3/4. I guess you could just mix and match huh?

[VegasCharger]

WOW those long seat frame floor board mounting bolts LMFAO. 

[BigCE]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I also think its pretty solid for it being all original sheet metal.

Here is my big question
My dream Charger is a Black 68 or 69 with some modern improvements as in late model motor and overdrive trans and some better suspension. I appreciate the all original cars but this car being nothing special it doesn't break my heart to do more of a resto mod vibe to it.

That being said, I feel like dollar$ wise it is going to be cheaper to keep this car and change the front clip over to a 69 I'm thinking because then I wouldn't have to change the rear tail lights. I know i'll probably catch some flack over this.

I bought this car because it was a great deal IMO and right from the get go I had the intention on converting it some day. I went back and forth on this for a while, I even relisted it for sale for a time. I had quite a few offers for a decent amount more than I paid for the car but at the end of the day I was doing the math and I wont be able to find another car 68/69 for what I have into this one. My 70 fenders and grille are in pretty good shape so I can likely sell it for a decent buck and offset the cost of the new sheet metal and repo grille.

My thought process on the build would be getting a motor and trans installed over the next year. Have it all running driving and mocked up, then next winter tear it apart and redo the car. Then once its painted the motor trans will just fit right in.


So what do you guys think? Am I banned now?

[Kern Dog]

When I bought my 70, I had the same intentions. This was in early 2000 when there were no reproduction fenders or grilles. The production numbers of the 1970 model are just slightly more than half of the 1969 numbers  so it occurred to me that my car was actually more rare in stock form. That wasn't th deciding factor though. That grille and bumper just grew on me.
I love the 68 styling too. The unobstructed grille just looks great tome. The 69 style has fallen to a distant third place for me now.

[alfaitalia]

Sounds good to me. Similar to my plans for my non number car. Even if it was matching numbers I would think long and hard about not modding it. I bought the car for me to drive and enjoy.....not for some geek with a clipboard (sorry all members who are geeks with clipboards!!) to tell me that I have the wrong metal washer on my woggle valve!!! So I want it to drive and go the way I want it too....I'm not into the modern engine thing so it will be a blown 440 for me!

[sean257]

Looks good.  I like the thought of a modern engine too.
Changing it from a 70 to a 69, well I guess that helps make the 70's more rare...

[darbgnik]

1970 is my favorite Gen 2, with the 68 grille and 69 rear coming in second. The full blacked out grille on the 70, with the rectangular tail lights is the best factory combination in my eyes, without making a Frankenstein 68/69 car.

If you're serious about converting it to a 69, if the fenders are as good as you say they are, they can fetch more than the 69 fenders. The repro 69 grille is cheaper than the 70 as well, and the 70 grille should fetch decent money as well. The 70 hood is handy to those making Daytona clones, as well as the fenders. But having most of your customers south of the border makes shipping prohibitive.

I would sell this one and buy a 69, but that's me. Easiest solution, as long as you don't mind being Charger free, briefly, after you sell yours, and hunt for a 69.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Imo the car in question would be to just drive it as is. Maybe some minor touch ups/improvements if need be. More often than not cars that were drivers got taken in for a "quick make over" have been torn apart never to see daylight for 10 years or ever.