1972 Dodge Charger

[72ChargerDodge]

I just bought my first Dodge Charger. I am looking to turn this into a weekend street racer. It has a 318 with a 4 barrel and headers. The 318 runs strong, lights up both tires, and sounds good. For starters I would like to get some better tires and rims on it. Then it needs a new paint job and a new vinyl top. The interior is pretty good but lacks a center console and slap stick shifter handle. The battery runs dead overnight so I have a shorted wire to find and a bit or wiring to do. The good news is that the car is almost totally rust free and the body is very straight.  I have never restored a dodge before so I don't know where to go to find information. Any direction would be nice. I would like to know where some good mopar restoration catalogs could be found? I will keep pictures coming as I take them.

Thanks,  

Mike

[70charginglizard]

Excellent. Looks like a good starter. Enjoy the journey

[72ChargerDodge]

Found a cool vin de-coder on the net. Heres what I found.

Code    Description
E44     318-2 Barrel
D34     TorqueFlite Automatic Transmission
WH23
W = Dodge Coronet / Charger
H = High
23 = 2 Door Hardtop
G26   
G = 318 150HP(net) or 155HP(net) 1-2BBL 8 CYL
2 = 1972
6 = Newark, DE, USA
2 = 1972
6 = Newark, DE, USA
208474  Sequence Number '208474'
TB3
Paint Code: Petty blue
E6B5
Trim Grade/Style/Color
E = Economy
6 = Vinyl Bucket Seats
B5 = Medium Blue
GB5     Upper Door Frame: Bright Blue Metallic
530     Date Built: 5 / 30 / 1972
192606  Order Number: 192606
VIN     Roof Type OR Color:  Unknown At This Time
U       Built to Specifications for USA Order
B41     Front Disc Brakes Some Yrs. Power
B51     Power Assisted Brakes
C16     Console w/ Buckets
C56     Bucket Seats 1972 up
G11     Tinted Glass All
G37     Left Hand Remote, Right Hand Manual Chrome Mirrors
H51     Single Air /w Heater
J25     3 Speed Variable Wipers
J52     Inside Hood Release
L31     Hood / Fender Mount Turn Signal
M21     Roof Drip Rail Moldings
M25     Wide Sill Molding
R11     Music Master Radio AM
V5X     Black - Mouldings - Protective Insert Body Side
V78     Accent Stripes - Delete
26      26 in. Radiator
END     End of Codes

[Smokey Bear]

Cool. Nice find. I have a 72 318 car myself.

FYI: "C26" as you have decoded is probably "G26", the "G" indicating 318. It can be hard to tell sometimes especially if there is rust or damage.

There are lots of sources for parts, though the 71-74 cars are not as well supported as the 68-70 models. Google away!

[72ChargerDodge]

You were correct about the G C. Thanks for making me look twice. I have updated the vin.

[1972Rallye]

Actually, its probably G2G... First G being 318; Second G being St. Louis.  Chargers were not built DE...
Nice car with a great starting point.  Welcome!

Be sure to visit: http://www.1971-1974dodgecharger.com

Great info base there and a bunch of good guys as well 

[72ChargerDodge]

Any one have a picture of their 72 automatic console and shifter handle. I need a new console and shifter handle and I don't know what it should look like.

Thanks

[71383bee]

Yep G2G

Interesting decode a petty Blue with white top, blue slapstick interior with buckets.

Looks fairly decent.  Just to let you know though the front bumper and grilles are from a 73/74 charger. 

Congrats on your first mopar!

This site and moparts Are the better ones for info.  the 71-74 site is decent, but been real buggy lately and doesn't get a lot of readers. 

Also try www.71superbee.com

There are a lot more parts available now that these cars are starting to become more popular.  For a while it was rough though.  If your looking for a comprehensive list of parts go get a year one catalog.  They are a lot higher in price, but they do a good job or organizing and showing what is avail.  After a while you'll find where they actually get their parts from or who makes then and deal directly with them.

[71383bee]

Any one have a picture of their 72 automatic console and shifter handle. I need a new console and shifter handle and I don't know what it should look like.

Thanks

Yes.  The console is the same for 71-74 and the shifter for 71-73 is the crappy T handle.  the 74 switched to the A body style (and 70 E body) Ball shifter because the T handle was...crappy.  I changed mine to the E body shortly after this photo after breaking my 3rd shifter handle...

[72ChargerDodge]

Your dash looks totally different then mine, I will post some pictures tomorrow after I get off work, mine does not have round gauges,

Thanks for the comments and information, its helpful and encouraging.

[71383bee]

Your dash looks totally different then mine, I will post some pictures tomorrow after I get off work, mine does not have round gauges,

Thanks for the comments and information, its helpful and encouraging.

Yes you have the standard dash.  It is a big square speedometer.  I had one in my 72 charger I bought a LONG time ago and I had one in my satellite.  The rallye dash came standard in the rallye package and I think was optional on the SE for 72.  I think the charger topper packages came with rallye dashes too.  Not hard to change out.  Pretty much bolts right in.  The difficult thing is the rallye dash uses a different wiring harness than the standard.  By harness I mean the ENTIRE harness from block back behind the dash is different. 

[Smokey Bear]

Yes.  The console is the same for 71-74 and the shifter for 71-73 is the crappy T handle.  the 74 switched to the A body style (and 70 E body) Ball shifter because the T handle was...crappy.  I changed mine to the E body shortly after this photo after breaking my 3rd shifter handle...

Actually the 71 console has a open bucket in back end for seat belt storage and the other years an ashtray in that location. They are otherwise totally interchangeable 71-74.

[71383bee]

Yes.  The console is the same for 71-74 and the shifter for 71-73 is the crappy T handle.  the 74 switched to the A body style (and 70 E body) Ball shifter because the T handle was...crappy.  I changed mine to the E body shortly after this photo after breaking my 3rd shifter handle...

Actually the 71 console has a open bucket in back end for seat belt storage and the other years an ashtray in that location. They are otherwise totally interchangeable 71-74.

good point...I think for now he'll take any year.  If I read the codes right it should be Blue which is not an easy find...

[mikesbbody]

Nice Charger Mike  I own a 72 third gen's rule! 

[NHCharger]

Nice looking starting point as long as the underside isn't rusty.
The TB3 paint code is Petty Blue as mentioned above.
Welcome to the site.

[Nacho-RT74]

Yes.  The console is the same for 71-74 and the shifter for 71-73 is the crappy T handle.  the 74 switched to the A body style (and 70 E body) Ball shifter because the T handle was...crappy.  I changed mine to the E body shortly after this photo after breaking my 3rd shifter handle...

Actually the 71 console has a open bucket in back end for seat belt storage and the other years an ashtray in that location. They are otherwise totally interchangeable 71-74.

good point...I think for now he'll take any year.  If I read the codes right it should be Blue which is not an easy find...

you tell me, my car was blue inside and was so hard try to find a decent blue interior parts that ended changing to white ( what I'm not unhappy at all  ). Beside that I got a good trade with a member for my new interior.

The knob handle instead T handle for 74s is still on discussion. Even it could/should be true, I have seen still lot of 74s with T handles. Also all 74s gots T down here, but thats a diff story. Maybe is a mid year change, who knows.

Underdash harness differences is mainly the section arriving to cluster itself. Then also the source what feeds the gauges, being acc on Rallye dash, and blue wire ( RUN source from ign ) on standart. There are also more differences from year to year, some bigger some smaller.

[CDN72SE]

Welcome to the site I have a '72SE and do most of my posting on the 1971-74 site. Nice to see another 72. Alan.

[Foreman72]

welcome

i also have a WH23G2G...looks like you have a great project car to start on...check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMZqOKCzhE

keep posting pics

[BROCK]

Love the 72s & spend time over on the querky site too.

Welcome!

[72ChargerDodge]

Here is a few more pictures I took before the sun went down. Worked so late today, totally beat   for sure. Kenny Wayne's Charger is one sweet ride   thanks for the link. I found a few sources for Charger parts, Year one, Goodmark, Paddock, and some on-line web sites. Can't wait till the weekend so I can get down on some work. First thing to do is get a new motor mount. One side is chained right now. Then I am going to do the oil change and tune up. Going to work on the wiring issues and  inspect everything underneath the car. Make sure all the brake lines look good and check all the brake pads. I wan't to be sure that its safe to cruise, last thing I want is the brakes to go out. Its nice to finally have something to do on the weekend instead of work. Going to drink a couple Samuel Adams and dink around on my new car

[71383bee]

 

Wow the blue interior is still there.  Of course some one painted over it, but its all there. 

I can tell you a restored colored interior is WILD.  Especially the Blue or the Red.  NO ONE does that now a days.  Another reason why these cars are so cool!

[72ChargerDodge]

I plan on restoring the interior back to blue.

Any hints on how to remove the black paint (its slowly removing itself) I would like a wild blue interior???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-74-Cuda-Chall-RR-CHARGER-GTX-CONSOLE-LID-NOS-MoPar_W0QQitemZ350210686611QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item518a2efe93#ht_500wt_1182

This is crazy expensive, I hope to find a cheap one elsewhere (that or I will just have a black console and if anyone whants to know why everything is blue and my console is black I will say "I am cheap").

[71383bee]

I am sure there's an easy way to clean it off of the dash and panels.  Soda blast maybe?  I am not sure.  The seats you can get from Legendary auto.  I don't think the blue is too much more.  The console will be the hard part though...that ebay add is just for the pocket map door!  You may have to resign your self to getting a white or tan one and dying it blue.  They are out there though.  Try tony's parts yet? 

[71383bee]

You may soon find out that Mopar and expensive go together like peanut butter and jelly...you almost can't have one with out the other...

[72ChargerDodge]

I have now bookmarked tony's parts, thanks for the link, they don't have a blue one yet but I will keep checking. I could easily spend thousands of dollars on restoration fast.   If I could only earn money as fast as I could spend it this car could be finished in a week...