First Post! Bringing Baby Home....???

[Dads73Charger]

  Hello Everyone!
     I might be jumping the gun here, but here goes. First, my story(condensed pertaining to Chargers), I have been a Charger freak since I was 8 years old and saw a new 1968 Charger from the back seat of our family's 1966 Meteor, while driving down the 401 in Toronto. WOW! The rest is history, as they say. Over the years, I have dreamed of owning one and have caught myself "drooling", automatically whenever I have seen one since.
       Fast Forward to today....my Lovely Wife of 26 years(a roller-coaster ride most of the time ) has been dealing in secret with some friends from church, who have had a 1973 Charger sitting in storage in their garage for the past 12 years or so. I had only seen it on one occasion, late one cold night with only a 60watt light bulb hanging from the rafters. It was hiding under a tarp with a layers of dust! I really do not know "exactly" what it looks like,(Yet) but this I do know.
  It's : -Dark Green in colour
         -White vinyl roof
         -Green Interior
         -400 cu/in motor
         -2 barrel carb
         -single exhaust
         -Automatic Trans(re-built just before storage)
         -Tires are flat(go figure)
         -Had been in front end accident(was repaired by shop)
          and apparently all numbers match
         - Body in decent shape(some surface rust)
         -one of my sons is foaming at the mouth to get it and Help fixin!

  My big Question and I know some of you old Pro's have probably grown a little tired of Newbie's asking this, BUT
How should I go about bringing it back to life? (I want to avoid overlooking something that might have serious consequences)
  BTW,  I will drive it home(10 miles)

Thanx for listening.......al
(more questions to come about dual exhaust, adding 4 barrel carb and other upgrades for more performance once I get it home)

[moparstuart]

congrad's great wife you have there 

[maxwellwedge]

There is a good article in the current Mopar Action on what to do before firing it up. The car in the article sat way longer than 12 years but there is some good precautionary stuff in there.
Good Luck!

[mikepmcs]

Welcome aboard.

Congratulations!  Oil, plugs, gas, tires, brakes, massive leaks, check all fluids, etc....  This is just to get it home.  Then you can start tearing it apart, flushing this flushing that, changing all fluids.  Actually all this should be done prior to driving it, but I know it's hard to resist.  If you can get it hauled then get it hauled just to be safe.

[maxwellwedge]

 

[Dads73Charger]

 Thanx Everyone for your replies! I'll see if I can find a current copy of Mopar Action and check out that article for sure.
  Al

[mikesbbody]

Welcome  Mike summed up what you should do  whenever possible, post some pics 

[bull]

Cool story and great wife!

One question though; are you going to still want a 68?

[C_stripes]

PSHH,  Who would want a 68 when they can have a 73?     




Only kidding Bull.



Sounds like a great story. I like the third gen chargers. They have a good look to them. Thats awesome of your wife to btw.

[69bronzeT5]

Check all the electrical before you drive it. Anything wrong with it can cause serious problems...such as the car going up in flames. Otherwise, what everyone else said. Welcome to the site btw

[NHCharger]

Welcome to the board.
You should resist the temptation to drive her home. You could do some serious damage to the motor in that short period of time.
Post this question in the engine & transmission section. Firefighter Ron and the others will give you a detailed list on what to do before firing her up.

[skip68]

 WELCOME TO THE SITE Al.       I agree with all.       Tow it home.       You need to flush the whole car out and that will take some time.  Gas, water, oil, ect.   

[FlatbackFanatic]

Welcome!! Good luck in the resto!

[skip68]

OH, I forgot.  WE NEED SOME PICTURES A.S.A.P.   

[jaak]

Congrats!!!!

PSHH,  Who would want a 68 when they can have a 73?     




Only kidding Bull.



Sounds like a great story. I like the third gen chargers. They have a good look to them. Thats awesome of your wife to btw.

I own a 2nd and 3rd gen both, and both are cools cars in there own right! My opinion...when It comes to the exterior...Id have to pick the 2nd gen first (hide-aways, door/hood scallops...just the long sleek look) But when it comes to interior....3rd gen is the best , I just love 3rd gens dashes, doorpanels, etc.
To me the perfect charger would be a 2nd gen with 3rd gen interior (sorta like the Petrol Charger)


Jason

[BROCK]

Yep the Petrol Charger is cool.  I'm biased though, since I have a 70

I also have a 72 & must admit the tach in the 72 is actually placed much
more ergonomically than the awkward semi hiding behind the clock / semi
hiding behind my left hand 70 version

[Dads73Charger]

ok this is his wife lol and  the charger is mine all mineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Dads73Charger]

  Hope to go out today and check out a couple of shops today and price out plugs,points,cap,etc and maybe fantasize about converting it to dual exhaust and 4 barrel carb. I would eventually like to increase the performance of the 400 ci motor and take out all the "anti-pollution" crap once I figure out what I am doing. Any pointers let me know. Yeah the wife snuck on the computer last night, while I went to "check the plumbing" and she commented on the ownership of the car!
  Oh BTW , this came about when last years Mothers Day I bought her a totally restored 72 VW Super Beetle painted PINK . Chromed out engine and new upholestery. We are selling it now and were hoping to get another car. It would be nice to parlay this into a 2nd Generation Charger for ME to drive!  I would post some pics, but after all this is a CHARGER forum! Al

[Dans 68]

PSHH,  Who would want a 68 when they can have a 73?

Why not have both? 

And congratulations on your new arrival!

Dan

[Finn]

 

[Dads73Charger]

 Here are some pics I took tonight of the car. Hope to get it home, once my garage pad is done(hopefully 2nd week of July)

[69bronzeT5]

I don't see any pictures?

[Dads73Charger]

Crud! I cannot seem to get the pics to load up on the site.....ARRRRGGGHH!

[69bronzeT5]

Email them to me at cole_383@hotmail.com and I'll be glad to get them up for you

[tan top]

hello & welcome  .....looking forward to seeing pictures 

[69*F5*SE]

Welcome to the site.  Hoping to see pics soon.    

[r_biccum]

why does everyone have such a hard time loading pics  it really isnt hard 

[Foreman72]

why does everyone have such a hard time loading pics  it really isnt hard 

i like to see them myself

congrats on the car

[Ghoste]

Could it be background software?  I used to have an unreal time trying to load them and now it isn't that bad.  The only thing that changed in between was the anti-virus I was using.

[69bronzeT5]

Weird place for a radio!

[Foreman72]

thats the first thing i noticed too... odd

[mopar73]

Nice car   The radio must be one of the custom dealer installed options

[viper r/t]

A '71 I had,, had the radio in that spot 

[Dads73Charger]

Thanx Cole for posting the pics for me.
  Yes, I wish the cassette player was not put in there. Apparently, the factory radio is still in the proper place! Oh well, I should be towing the car home hopefully the 2nd week of July, after the garage pad is done. Then I will start with the draining/changing fluids and pulling the plugs and spraying some penetrating oil into the cylinders.
   I guess the previous owner had started the car about 4 years ago, so I am not sure what damage was done then as it had not been started for about 8 years before that. It is in surprisingly good shape with bizarre localized rust holes on the top corner of fender(drivers side pic) and along the backside of the trunk lid. The Trunk interior looks good and appears to be only surface rust around the wheel panels. Of course the vinyl roof requires replacement and there is evidence of "bubbling" underneath, indicating rust.
  Not sure how to repair the top fender rust hole or address the "bubbling" under the vinyl roof I was surprised that it has a dual exhaust with only a 2 barrel carb. I am open to suggestions on what 4 barrel carb I should buy, with respect to correct CFM.  Looking forward to start on the car. Just have to wait a little longer...al