73 Charger Rallye true value

[Paul G]

The car really needs the original shorty pistol grip shifter put back in it, along with a decent steering wheel.

In good time. The column needs to be rebuilt, and a new lock cylinder and a new starter switch block. Oh hell... why not new wiring too.  

I'm wondering... why you didn't check for the engine in it before buy it ?

Because it wasnt realy a concern. Original engine would have been icing on the cake. I would have rebuilt much closer to stock having the matching engine. Now with the matching engine gone, I can resto mod the car.

[6bblgt]

with or without the original block     restomod type modifications erase any value due to the car's rarity, where a "HOT ROD" drivetrain just makes the car "perform" better

[Nacho-RT74]

I'd try to get at least a correct year or casting block, which shouldn't be that hard, no matter if building it a bitt hotter than stock, but keeping it stock look.

as usual just MHO

[ACUDANUT]

 Be happy you got a 383 and not a 400. More HP and hard to hurt.

[Wasco]

Be sure to post the VIN and date stamp from the '68 383 - might be someone on here looking for their original motor!  Although, I thought '68s didn't have VINs?

[VegasCharger]

.....I thought '68s didn't have VINs?

Yes '68s have VINs stamped on the bell housing near the oil sending unit.

Pic below is not mine, got it off the net.

[Hemidog]

Cool 3rd gen 
Hopefully this thread will turn into a build thread?

[Challenger340]

Got it for $5500 plus some additional ac parts. Picking up a uhaul trailer and dragging it home Tuesday.

THAT is one neat f***in car Paul !
keep us posted when home, and of course more pics !

[Paul G]

Been working on the car for several days now, It has a new fuel tank and a $25 inline fuel pump. The fuel pump push rod is mushroomed out on the cam side, it wont come down out of the block. Cant go back to a mechanical pump for now. Took down the electric pump and ran it on the bench, pushed out some goo and glop before it started pumping. Blew out the fuel lines, dropped the tank and emptied the "vinegar vomit smelling God awful swill" and cleaned it out. Did I say that old fuel smells awful! Looks like they put a new tank years ago, put in gas, and let it set till now. 

MrMoparts.net is right here in town. They had a fuel sender gasket, new sock, battery tray and hold down on the shelf. Brought that stuff home last night along with a new battery. I can put the fuel system back together today. I took the Edelbrock carb off and put a good Holley 600 dual feed on it. I know that Holley carb is good. I am sure the Eddie is full of goo too.

Running to a friends house this morning and getting an oil pump priming tool, decided to change the oil and filter before I fire it up. I ran a new 14G wire back to the fuel pump. Going to install a relay feeding it good strong 12 volt power (inline fused) from the starter relay. If I have to switch to a better electric pump it will have good power.

Some things people do.... That old fuel pump wire was run under the car, spliced twice, and a very light gage, running off the AUX circuit in the fuse block.   

I vacuumed out the interior, trunk, and wiped down the inside. Removed the back seat to climb in to the trunk and unbolt the trunk latch to get it open and fix the lock. It was so filthy I was getting myself dirty just working on it. Pushed it out of the garage and hosed down the under side, engine bay, wheel wells, and body of the car. Smells a little less like rats now. Or I am getting used to it, LOL. 

I will take some pics of the under side today before I put the tank back on.

[Nacho-RT74]

Be happy you got a 383 and not a 400. More HP and hard to hurt.

sure... nice to get funds to get and build a more powerfull ( and correct ) 400 in it LOL

[400sforever]

I've got a couple factory rallye 4 speed 400 cars. They are surprisingly pretty dang fast with the 3.55 performance axle package. Very rare cars for sure. I would have bought that car in a heartbeat too! Good find!

[Paul G]

Got the fuel system back together today, finished up with wiring repairs and fuel pump relay install. Found the rear gears to be 3.23's and a sure grip. Changed the oil and started to prime the system. I am done for today. Got to get some fresh fuel, finish priming the engine oil system, disassemble and clean the distributor before re-install, put the plugs back in and reroute the ignition wires off the headers. Maybe it will run tomorrow? Some pics of the underside.

[Challenger340]

The bones on that car are in great shape, excellent candidate for whatever you decide.
Easily worth what you paid.... and then some !
Thanks for sharing and please keep us posted.

[Paul G]

Finally got the car running today. Found so many wiring issues it's not funny. The wiring is crap and will be replaced, repairs made were just to make it run. Had to disassemble the distributor, clean it out, free up the advance, and lubricate it. Works good now. Prelubed the engine while the dizzy was out, went over the plugs and wires, plugs 3 and 5 were a real bitch getting in and out around the header pipe, the plugs and wires are in really good shape. The cheap generic electric fuel pump works much better running on a relay. I can hear it running now, couldn't before the relay install. Here is a video of the car.

https://youtu.be/KUTLeCC8xjs

   

[cdr]

.....I thought '68s didn't have VINs?

Yes '68s have VINs stamped on the bell housing near the oil sending unit.

Pic below is not mine, got it off the net.

Be sure to post the VIN and date stamp from the '68 383 - might be someone on here looking for their original motor!  Although, I thought '68s didn't have VINs?

Not all 68 had the vin stamping on the block, looks like only HP engines got stamped from what I have seen

[ACUDANUT]

 Sounds good !!.. I see I am not the only one who believes in keeping the coil away from the engine heat.  That is a trade make of mine, on all my Mopars.   

[Paul G]

The Charger is running but the battery was not charging. Bad alternator or voltage regulator? I decided to make a little video of how to test the alternator.

  https://youtu.be/FWQaNa1KqiI

[Nacho-RT74]

Just in case!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123475458464

Althought compressor brackets seems to be for Small block

[Paul G]

I just placed an order at Classic Industries. Grill and headlight surrounds, some clutch linkage rebuild parts, seat belts, door hinge rebuild kits, plus more. A $2000 bill for under $1600. Nice up to 40% off sale going on today only. My savings was around 20%

They had parchment A piller trim, but on back order. Mine are crumbling every time I touch them. Got new ignition and door cylinders with new keys too.

[Paul G]

Picked this up last night for $195 shipped. I need the uncut surround, all my gauges work.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/71-74-Dodge-Plymouth-B-Body-rallye-dash-cluster-120-Mph-speedometer-No-Tach-/173696951073?ul_noapp=true&nma=true&si=rglu%252FWz6i0KCxMSM2yW2OGLs7GI%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[tfdub]

I just noticed your gage bezel has the lights and wipers small indicators next to the switches. I can't remember if this was only for a 74 Charger Rallye dash or if the 73 also used this bezel. Good deal on the dash gages anyway.
Terry

[Nacho-RT74]

The "iconed" bezels are just 74 for Rallye and standard clusters.

Also high beams indicator on speedo changed from red to blue on 74

[Nacho-RT74]

If your cluster got the bezel cut, then also the housing, to hold the radio by the knobs. If your cluster is clock or tach, is diff housing than the one you got

[Nacho-RT74]

They had parchment A piller trim, but on back order.

You will be dissapointed with them

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2591591/a-look-at-classic-industries-71-74-b-body-a-pillar-molding.html#Post2591591

[Paul G]

If your cluster got the bezel cut, then also the housing, to hold the radio by the knobs. If your cluster is clock or tach, is diff housing than the one you got

Well that sucks.

They had parchment A piller trim, but on back order.

You will be dissapointed with them

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2591591/a-look-at-classic-industries-71-74-b-body-a-pillar-molding.html#Post2591591

Might cancel them then. Mine are useless, unrepairable. Might have to watch for ebay used.