Just saying hello, new to a 69 Charger here

[OzCharger69]

Hello DC members,

I've lurking in the shadows of this forum for the past 6 months. In August last year I decided I wanted a MOPAR muscle car and the choice was between a 69 Charger, 71 Cuda or 70-71 Challenger. With a big stroke of luck, I found the right one from Canada through a FB group. 69 Charger QQ1 blue fresh 383 auto 727. The owner had the car for 25 years and just finished a full nut and bolt resto with all new sheet metal and rebuilt everything on the car. As soon as he showed the 100+ pics of the resto I said SOLD instantly. I was sick of losing out on cars I thought I was about to buy.

Car was paid for in October and after a few shipping hiccups and a long journey across the salt and multiple transhipments, the Charger landed in Australia 3 weeks. A long 2 weeks passed for customs clearance and I got to drive it for 30 miles to the compliance shop to register the car. I will finally pick up the car to bring it home next Friday.

Driving the car was impressively rewarding, the raw experience was indescribable.

The to-do list is long and as soon as I get the car on Friday I'll start ordering

Fix the tach - It is reading 1,000-1,500 less than it should. I suspect I need an adapter for the MSD ignition
Change the 3.93 gearing to stock 3.23 - this is a cruiser for me not a drag car
Change the radio to Redondo thumb roller radio + new speakers
Classic Air aircondition kit
Fix a dent in the front bumper
Bumblebee stripe
The list goes on and on

In the meantime, I'll surprise my daughter and pick her up from school. Thanks for the great information and comradery in this forum.

[GT]

Looks nice!   More pictures when you get a chance.  Racked up quite a few shipping miles 😎

[doctor4766]

G'day mate.
Welcome to the Aussie US Charger owner's club 
There's a few of us here.
What city are you in?

[OzCharger69]

G'day champ,

Yes I'm on the FB group, a few floating around.

I'm from the Central Coast NSW, I suspect we share the same profession as per your forum name.

Are you doing the COTM this year?

[Kern Dog]

Welcome to the site.
We always hear about how Mopar enthusiasts in Europe comment on how big these cars are compared to most of the cars there. How is it for you? How does the Charger compare to the size of the Australian cars ?

[OzCharger69]

Thanks Kern, I follow your Tremec thread closely because that's one of my future projects.

The Aussie built charger is 2" 4' shorter, so by comparison it is larger. It's probably a bigger car, especially when you think the seller squeezed a spare rear bumper in the boot. Rather than it actually being a big car, it gives the illusion of a big car by being so wide and lots of over hang.

[Mopar Nut]

Welcome aboard!

[Ghoste]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Charger ownership.

[Challenger340]

Welcome.... great looking Charger !   

[1970Moparmann]

Looks awesome!  Congrats!   Welcome to the forum. 

[Charger_Dart]

Welcome and congrats on a nice looking Charger. 

I have read on the net that Australia and New Zealand have pretty tough Covid restrictions in place. Since its summer down there, how are the cruise-in's and car shows? 

[nvrbdn]

Awesome score!!! Welcome to the group.

[RallyeMike]

Looks great. Enjoy 

[JMF]

Nice car , I'm in the U.K. and recently bought a 70

What size tyres on the rear ?

[OzCharger69]

Thanks all

JMF - I'm not sure 285 or 295

Charger_Dart - Australia has been doing very well with barely any cases at all. Yes international flights have been mostly shut for the past year, but that allows us to live our normal lives without too many barriers or having to use masks etc. There are some limits on major gatherings etc but that has barely affected my life in the last year. Most restrictions are gradually disappearing.

[tan top]

 Hello & welcome OzC 69 

[nchrome]

Welcome to the forum  l hope to have mine on the road this year    Hope you keep us updated on your ride

[4cruzin]

WOW great looking car!  Welcome to the site!  Looks like you will fit right in around here!   

[70 sublime]

And he even got the picture thing figured out 

Welcome to the group

[AKcharger]

Hello

[OzCharger69]

AK - I always get hypnotised by that gif

[TTSaleen]

Nice Charger!

[b5blue]

AK - I always get hypnotised by that gif

Welcome! Just recall that chick is about 40 now and you'll snap out of it. 

[OzCharger69]

AK - I always get hypnotised by that gif

Welcome! Just recall that chick is about 40 now and you'll snap out of it. 

If she aged well, it's double the boner

[TPR]

Welcome aboard Mate, very nice find.
That first drive is an awesome feeling.
We'll have to go out for a cruise some time [when I get my '68 back], I'm just down the M1.
I'd like to know more about the import process. I bet it was stressful. Thankfully I bought mine here and skipped all that.
Enjoy it!

TPR

[67440chrg]

Great car congratulations. Welcome!

[OzCharger69]

Hey mate,

Good to know that are other MOPAR fans around. I live on the Central Coast so not too far off. Hopefully we can meet soon.


Chris

[doctor4766]

G'day champ,

Yes I'm on the FB group, a few floating around.

I'm from the Central Coast NSW, I suspect we share the same profession as per your forum name.

Are you doing the COTM this year?

Unlikely we're of the same profession but no stress.
I live in WA so Chryslers on the Murray is a little too far to travel currently, although I have driven through Albury/Wodonga on my way home from Brisbane to Perth once.
Looks like you scored a nice Charger there too mate.
Congratulations
I hope you're ready for all the attention it will bring you 

[tcs69rt]

AK - I always get hypnotised by that gif

Welcome! Just recall that chick is about 40 now and you'll snap out of it. 

Is that chic comedian Sarah Silverman? Or is it from some movie?  TC

[darbgnik]

AK - I always get hypnotised by that gif

Welcome! Just recall that chick is about 40 now and you'll snap out of it. 

Is that chic comedian Sarah Silverman? Or is it from some movie?  TC

She's the olympic Hurtler (from Australia I think?). She actually won the race too.....

[VegasCharger]

Welcome aboard, nice find.

[OzCharger69]

So driving her home was quite a journey. The car stalled after the first 15 min driving. I had just refuelled so I thought maybe she didn't like the fuel and needed more octane. With my support vehicle I buy jerry cans and a hose, empty the tank and refill. Car starts but dies after another 15 mins drive in the middle of a busy tunnel. She had to be towed home.

The issue was weird. The car would crank and crank but no go. It would start if I drop fuel down the carb throat. Cracked the fuel hoses and there was sluggish fuel flow coming out. So I start taking the fuel system bit my bit, and pull the Edelbrock fuel pump off (which is brand new). Then I pull the fuel cam pushrod out and voila!! The pushrod, as seen in the pics, is FUBAR. It's 3" long where it should be 3.25" I spoke to Luke who is our local Charger guru and he informed me he went through x3 pushrods with the edelbrock pump because the lever spring is just too strong. Now I ordered a Carter pump and pushrod and hopefully happy days after that. There's a good feeling about getting dirty with these cars.

[Back N Black]

I had the same issue with the  Edelbrock pump. 1000 km and the rod as worn to the point it would not fire up.

[OzCharger69]

Back n Black,

Did you suffer any internal damage from the metal debris?

I'm toying around the idea of dropping the pan and an oil flush + filter change

[Kern Dog]

This is interesting news.
I'm putting stuff back together in my "Jigsaw" Charger and trying to use as many used parts as I can from what stuff I have saved over the years. I had a couple of fuel pumps that were polished aluminum with black rivets/screws that looked like a Holley or Edelbrock pump. One of them had a really stiff lever that was really difficult to move to the point that I thought it was seized. I wondered why it was so hard to press and what benefit that would provide. Is it so it doesn't float at high rpms??
Regardless, I'm going to use a different pump. I'd rather lose some 6000 rpm rev capability to avoid a pushrod failure.

[Back N Black]

Back n Black,

Did you suffer any internal damage from the metal debris?

I'm toying around the idea of dropping the pan and an oil flush + filter change

I did drop the pan but it as all good no issues. I have put on 10,000 k since the incident.

[OzCharger69]

This is interesting news.
I'm putting stuff back together in my "Jigsaw" Charger and trying to use as many used parts as I can from what stuff I have saved over the years. I had a couple of fuel pumps that were polished aluminum with black rivets/screws that looked like a Holley or Edelbrock pump. One of them had a really stiff lever that was really difficult to move to the point that I thought it was seized. I wondered why it was so hard to prose and what benefit that would provide. Is it so it doesn't float at high rpms??
Regardless, I'm going to use a different pump. I'd rather lose some 6000 rpm rev capability to avoid a pushrod failure.

Yep that edelbrock pump lever is stiff as a poker

[TPR]

I had the same problem a few years back.
Even a Carter pump will eventually wear down the push rod over time.
Who knows how old my push rod was before I replaced it. No internal damage fortunately.
Glad you got her home after all the drama.
TPR

[OzCharger69]

I had the same problem a few years back.
Even a Carter pump will eventually wear down the push rod over time.
Who knows how old my push rod was before I replaced it. No internal damage fortunately.
Glad you got her home after all the drama.
TPR

That's no good. My major concern is the metal debris floating around the block.

[Challenger340]

I had the same problem a few years back.
Even a Carter pump will eventually wear down the push rod over time.
Who knows how old my push rod was before I replaced it. No internal damage fortunately.
Glad you got her home after all the drama.
TPR

That's no good. My major concern is the metal debris floating around the block.

I wouldn't worry about it as by now the Oil Filter will have caught any residual debris. You're good to go.... and BTW, NICE Charger