New here with a few questions.

[BlaineKaiser450]

Hey guys/gals im a new guy here so id figure id say hi! I have a few questions about making a Hemi-clone car. Ill be driving in 2-3 years and since i have wanted a 68-70 Charger since i was 5, my dad and i were thinking that it would be really fun to get a Charger that needs restoring and make it a Hemi clone car. To be able to fit a Hemi into one of these cars, would i need to get a car that originaly had a big block, or could i get a 318 (or something) car and drop a Hemi in? Is there anything else the car would need to originaly come with for this to work? I was thinking of painting it either green or red, so what color options for the interior, rear stripe ect. ect. would be needed to make it look original? Anything else? Thanks to whoever can offer me a little bit of help and if im not clear on something or whatever, tell me and ill try and make it clearer.
Thanks!

-Blaine

[Chad L. Magee]

Hello, good luck on you potential project.  Here is my advice:

You can make a hemi clone car out of a small block Charger, if you do the right upgrades to it (suspension, frame supports, etc.).  The K-member will have to be modified to fit the hemi for starters.  Factory hemi cars got special bracing underneath and upgraded Hemi-specific parts thoughout, so making an accurate clone is going to cost some big $.  It is much easier to make a driver style clone with some of the hemi upgrades for performance.  Buy a hemi kit engine rather than a vintage 426, as the old ones are more expensive and really belong behind the fenders of a real hemi car.  Correct hemi radiators cost big $, but they might be reproduced now.  Whatever you decide to modify on your clone, do not change the VIN, fendertag or frame numbers to a hemi car on a non-hemi car, even if it become tempting to do.  It is fine to make a hemi clone, but do not misrepresent it as an orginal one.....

[69bronzeT5]

You're 13? Thats sweet, I'm 15. I'm Cody.

My '69 was a 318 originally but now its a 383. From what I've learned here, if you have a 318 and you want to put a bigger motor in it such as a Hemi in your case, you would have to change the transmission and rearend. You would probally want a Dana 60 rearend if you put a Hemi in it. Now, if I'm correct, alot of the Hemi cars (Actually I think all of them) were R/Ts. In 1969, R/Ts had a stripe across the rear (white, red or black) or you could do a stripe delete which is no stripe but instead, a R/T emblem on both quarter panels. Interiors came in all variety of colours. They had woodgrain dashboard faces and consoles. Now this is just for 1969...thats my base experience. I'm sure more knowledgeable 68-70 gurus will chime in.

Here are some links to check out.
http://www.1969chargerregistry.com/
http://1970chargerregistry.com/

There is no '68 registry yet.


Just make sure you stay away from these guys. http://www.hlpag.com/. Alot of people have had bad experiences with them. They sell bondoed up rusty pieces of crap.

[68charger383]

As far as the car....it depends on you...its open and you can make it whatever you want, there is no wrong choice as long as you like it!

As stated it will probably be easier to start with a BB charger for the future hemi, but most came with BB so it will be easy to find.

Checkout the "cars for sale section" for prospects and to learn what these cars go for in a certain state of repair. It is also helpful to read through some of the posts to see what it may cost to fix or restore an item...so you may want to look for a car that does not need this or that.

[700jfm]

Welcome  That's what I'm doing to a 318 charger, hope to put a Hemi in it some day. But I'm a long ways from that day. My plan is get a tubular K frame with suspension conversion. The car will be raced.