3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input

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Offline gomangoRT/SE

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3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« on: April 25, 2005 - 12:54:22 PM »
Just returned to the Mopar fold after years of big block Chevelles......I have a few questions and value anyones input......I have just purchased a 70 RT/SE  Challenger  non numbers matching....but very straight western car.   
1.   Car was original go Mango car with white vinyl top and white stripe......I am repainting and wondering about going back with same vinyl top and stripe combo or the black vinyl top and black stripe combo...original interior was burnt orange but was at some point changed to black.......any opinions about vinyl top/stripe combo....  I tend to run toward restoring back to original but is white stripe/vinyl top cool??

2.  I have a 383HP engine date coded 6/69 but it shows not assembled till 6/70    I find this to be strange...sorry i didnt write down the exact day in June engine was cast or assembled......Any thoughts about this......

3.   How can i safely test my gauges that are out of the car.....I want to see what works and what does not.
4.   I would assume any bigblock flexplate would work....assuming bolt pattern matches....
5.   Any thoughts about rebuilding a 440 to put in the car........and in what way would this affect the resale of the car.........sorry for all the questions.........but input is sincerely appreciated.........Kevin




Swedefish

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2005 - 01:02:31 PM »
Welcome to C-C.com gomango,I´m sure you`ll find the right answer on this board ,great members with great skills.Glad you found the way back to Mopars :thumbs:

Offline Street_Challenged73

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2005 - 01:47:27 PM »
Welcome to the site, GoMangoRT/SE!!!   I can answer a couple of your questions, but you'll have to sit tight for a while until other members can answer the rest. :thumbs:  As for your car's color, you may as well go with the white vinyl top and white side stripe.  I think Go Mango kind of works like Plum Crazy does; you can add a black top and side stripe, but the white is what really makes the color combo stand out. :grinyes:

I've attached a photo of one very cool Challenger from Carlisle '04 that has the white side stripe.  Now imagine that with a white top and mmmmm!!!!! :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :grinyes:

A 440 shouldn't affect the value too much seeing as how it's non-matching anyways.  The best way to keep the resale value up is to find a block that's date coded for the car. :thumbs:
1973 Dodge Challenger......................The ongoing project. (00/----\00)
1991 Dodge Stealth R/T Twin-Turbo....The sunny day cruiser (RTBoost)
1990 Toyota Celica GT Liftback...........The new daily & winter driver.
All-American Muscle: 'Cudas and Challengers...Still the Elite and always will be.

                                                                                             
                 
Street_Challenged73 from Wisconsin

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2005 - 01:48:23 PM »
My Opinion:


#1 Good to see you have come to the right side - The MoPar side.  8)
#2 Vinly top and stripe combo is as cool as YOU like, only matters to you.
#3 I would go with a 440, the resale shouldn't matter but try to find a date code correct 440.  ;)


Any photos?  :D


Welcomne aboard mate.  :thumbs:
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60

Offline MAXcuda

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2005 - 03:31:45 PM »
sounds like a cool car.  I vote white/white for the top and stripe. 

Offline purple1

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2005 - 04:25:45 PM »
 :D Hay that was 5 questions!

1 You say the int. is black. Maybe the black top/stripe would work for you.
2 Does it run good? Leave it in. Fix it. There is cast one year before machine work to cure the castings.
3 Not sure exactly how to test all gages out of a car. Ask Cryco.
4 There are two bolt patterns 10 and 11 inch. Depends on the converter.
5 If you want the 440. Go for it. It is all up to you and your bank account.

Dave


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Offline purple1

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2005 - 04:27:21 PM »
Oh and welcome to the board.

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland

Offline 70RT440SHAKER

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2005 - 05:36:56 PM »
About the gauges, the little thing I know is they are driven by 5 volt, (volt limiter) so do not give them 12V directly.

Offline ragtopdodge

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2005 - 08:21:03 PM »
White vinyl tops are a ***** to keep clean.

I propose black top, black stripe (bumblebee for me) and white guts! :beer:
'70 318-auto Chally 'vert
'71 383-auto 'Cuda 'vert (sold)
06 300c SRT8
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Offline 4Cruizn

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2005 - 08:39:42 PM »
White vinyl tops are a B!tch to keep clean.

I propose black top, black stripe (bumblebee for me) and white guts! :beer:


Go WHITE and deal with it!!   Very cool!!  :thumbs:

Offline MoparMatt383

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2005 - 08:49:49 PM »
I say go for the white it will be like a big fast creamsicle.  I have tested guages in the past by just contacting the wires to an electric source and see if they move.  Probably there is a better way to do it, but it has worked for me in the past.

Matt
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RedLine

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2005 - 10:30:28 PM »
RT/SE Creamsicle!  :tongue:  gets the mouth watering.  other than what has been offered here- if your flexplate is 10" you probobly have a stall torque converter -  and maybe the 440 might be a nice combo.  We have an RT/SE with 383 and a stall converter.. we'll soon see how that combo works.  Good luck!

Offline BB73Challenger

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2005 - 06:36:27 AM »
Welcome aboard - you came to the right place

I agree with pic the color/vinyl combos you are happy with.
There was just a topic posted in the tech forum on how to test gauges ( it is 5 volt )
I like the 440 - but then I am biased  :grinyes:. As said, non numbers match anyway.
Jeff from Cleveland, Ohio

Offline BB73Challenger

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #13 on: April 27, 2005 - 07:07:35 AM »
Here is the link for your gauge question

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/smf/index.php?topic=10106.0
Jeff from Cleveland, Ohio

Offline JS27N0B

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Re: 3 questions about my restoration.....thanks for your input
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2005 - 09:00:17 PM »
Go with the white top stripe combo for sure. I think even the burnt orange interior would look great as well.

Block could be cast 3 months or more before scheduled production date of car. when blocks were cast and shelved, the inventory control was not that great so the oldest was not always used first for assembly.

If it's not numbers matching a 440 would not hurt value but I would think increase it.

You can feed the limiter 12 volts but the gauges operate on 5 volts. simply power them with 5 volts on one pin and ground the other, guage will go to full.
1970 Challenger R/T Convertible 383/auto 1 of 516 *now sold after owning for 18yrs
2007 Chrysler Aspen Limited AWD
2013 Tige' RZR 343hp
2016 PCP Challenger SRT Hellcat