Hi everyone!
I have not introduced myself yet, so i'll take the opportunity to do this now briefly: My name is Ralph, i'm 27 y/o and currently living in Germany. US-cars are somewhat rare here in Europe, especially classic cars and even more so classic musclecars. However they have always been an addiction for me. My dad was a professional racecar driver and while he preffered the precise handling of European sportscars, i am more thrilled by the sleek lines of American classics and the rumbling of huge V8s.
When moving to Germany about one year ago, i had to sell my former beloved cruiser - an old Pontiac Firebird. But like i said i'm addicted and soon realized, that i had to get another piece of chrome and muscle, or i'd become crazy. After educating myself through tons of articles and books on classic musclecars, the picture of my dreamcar took shape and turned out more and more to be a Challenger or 'Cuda. A 1970 one to be exact, mostly because of the continuous taillight-bar and the clean front grille. The Challenger then somehow won my sympathy just a tad over the 'Cuda, but this was mostly an emotional decision that i can't really explain, because both cars are equally awesome.
Trying to buy a classic Challenger here in Europe can be a real pain. Either they are rusty and broken, way too overprized, or some weirdos turned them into laughable "fast & furious style" redneck rockets. So i had to look around in the states and import one myself. After reading through countless online ads for weeks, negotiating with private sellers and cardealers alike, i finally found what i believe to be a fair offer. A dealer in Florida was selling a triple black numbers-matching 70 Challenger 383 automatic in said-to-be almost flawless condition for 35.000,- US. Not a real bargain, but fair i guess. And i wanted an all black one anyway, so i took the chance and bought it rightaway without a testdrive or proof of it's condition. Risky - i know. Now i haven't got my hands on it yet, because the car is still being handled by the shipping company. But it should arrive here shortly and i'm sure you can guess how excited i am to finally take my first ride in it.
Some more specs:
I guess it is a base model, because it does not have the vinyl roof, SE or RT was nowhere mentioned, it has factory front-benchseats and (automatic) steering-gearshift instead of a floorshifter. Tri-Y headers, disc brakes, Rally wheels and the original twin-scoop hood.
The dealer could not tell me the actual engine's power output. But from the engine pictures that i've seen, it looks like an Edelbrock two-barrel carb, which would make it around 200 net-hp on the rw if i'm correct. Not exactly a drag racer, but could be worse and can still be improved.
Now i have a couple of questions, since you guys are the experts and i really hope you can help me out:
1.) Right now the car seems to be pretty much in factory condition, although nicely restored - but i'd like to make some minor modifications to it. These would include changing the original (hidden) dual exhaust to the R/T dual double exhaust with the matching rear ground panel, putting on a set of Torq Thrust rims, installing a proper soundsystem, a flip-top-gas-cap, clear turn signal lenses and spicing up the engine with at least a four-barrel-carb or even a sixpack. Most of the parts i plan to install would be (new) reproduction or third party parts. My question: Would these modifications lower the car's value if i decide to sell it one day? Of course i plan to keep all the original parts and destroy nothing, so that the next owner can restore the factory condition easily.
2.) Does a sixpack fit under the factory hood? If not - which one is the best carb to have under the factory hood and what's the difference in performance, compared to the sixpack?
3.) What would be the easiest way to get more power out of the 383, besides changing the carb? I'm talking about most-horses-for-money tuning.
4.) How does such tuning affect the gas consumption? Because gas prices are pretty insane around here these days.
5.) Does a regular DIN size radio fit in the factory dashboard? If not - then what kind of CD- or mp3-radio does fit in without harming the original interior?
Thanks a ton in advance for all of your replies.
All the best,
Ralph
