Opinions needed

Opinions needed - 12/25/12 08:31 PM

There's been some chat the past few days about where popular opinion lies in terms of metal replacement. The patch VS. replace rule I'd call it. I want to tackle another popular opinion because its more directly related to my pink challenger.

The more I dig, the more this car of mine becomes rare. It's one of 5 known FM3 A66 challengers, and the only one with a black top and gut. Should this now become a by the tag/sheet resto? I had plans of adding discs up front and a rallye dash. Does it matter that it won't retain alot of its original metal after? That its missing its original block? That its a complete car using all its original hardware, interior , trim, etc after its all restored? Or is the fact that its a pink E body good enough to warrant an OEM style resto?

Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: Opinions needed - 12/25/12 08:38 PM

I'd find a block with a 'correct' casting date and do it OEM...

One of five is one of five...

Posted By: mikemee1331

Re: Opinions needed - 12/25/12 09:42 PM

i'm not a numbers guy but i think you need to ask yourself, will i be changing anything that can't be easily undone. do you have the budget and time to do it 'correctly'? is that what you wanted from it when you bought it? for me, i would do what i wanted and just make sure it can be put back if i were to sell it.

Posted By: sixpackbee

Re: Opinions needed - 12/25/12 09:45 PM

A loaded question to be sure. If it were my car I would do a "tag/sheet" restoration. Get parts a close to the build date as is possible. It sounds like the mods you are thinking of are bolt ons. My opinion on this if they can be reversed in a few days with no damage then do it. The next person can change it back over pretty easy. The most importatnt thing is to keep the major stuff, original color paint/tops/interior be kept as they were done when new as they are pricey to change back once done and effect the selling price greatly when that times comes.

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: Opinions needed - 12/25/12 10:24 PM

I would tend to think FM3 cars are rare if they are of the V or R code variation, or Trans Am variety...An A66 is rather on the downside, IMHO, regardless of it's 1 of "whatever" production numbers,...IMHO I would build the car the tags specs, but would not hesitate to "option" it out with whatever you desire, be it Discs, Rallye Dash, an OD transmission, desired rear gear set, etc, etc, etc,..

Posted By: superbeeman69

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 12:16 AM

I tend to agree with all of you actually. I know it's not a V or R code or matching numbers for that matter and therefore I'd like to take a few liberties. No I'm not going to change colours or major options but I'd like 15x8 rallyes (which it didn't come with, build date is too far into '70), rallye dash (mint used pieces, including wiring) 3.55s instead of 3.23s and discs up front. Not even power, just discs. Makes me feel safer than 4 drums howling away in the summer heat. The rest will be a by the part number/tag/sheet style resto, including the date coded '70 340 short block I just picked up. Makes me feel better I won't be judged as harshly going forward. Now I just need to find a way to restore the body while retaining as much original pink metal as possible lol

Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 01:24 AM

If'n you want to retain the dinosaur brakes, there was somebody out there advertising a 'kit' with hi-volume master and wheel cyls; kevlar shoes; and, I believe cryogenic drums...

If'n you wanted to...

I got 4-corner drums;not optimum, but still usable if'n you use yer head...

Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 02:12 AM

Quote:

I'd find a block with a 'correct' casting date and do it OEM...

One of five is one of five...

Posted By: 1970mopar

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 05:01 PM

Quote:

It's one of 5 known FM3 A66 challengers, and the only one with a black top and gut.

Convert? or hardtop?

If its a hardtop, its not the only one with black top and interior.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 06:20 PM

Quote:

I tend to agree with all of you actually. I know it's not a V or R code or matching numbers for that matter and therefore I'd like to take a few liberties. No I'm not going to change colours or major options but I'd like 15x8 rallyes (which it didn't come with, build date is too far into '70), rallye dash (mint used pieces, including wiring) 3.55s instead of 3.23s and discs up front. Not even power, just discs. Makes me feel safer than 4 drums howling away in the summer heat. The rest will be a by the part number/tag/sheet style resto, including the date coded '70 340 short block I just picked up. Makes me feel better I won't be judged as harshly going forward. Now I just need to find a way to restore the body while retaining as much original pink metal as possible lol

I see no problem doing as ypu suggest. Gears can,t be seen and i never worry about a change there. Rolling stock, same thing. Disk brakes are a bit more of a deviation but again; bolt on and desireable. Ralley dash is the only item id waffle on, but not a huge deal.

Dave

Posted By: TC@HP2

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 06:22 PM

What are you going to do with the car should be a driving factor behnid component selection. If you're trailering it everywhere and only driving across the fairgrounds that will necessitate some changes compared to driving it every chance you get over many different roads and conditions.

Posted By: superbeeman69

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 06:47 PM

Quote:

Quote:

It's one of 5 known FM3 A66 challengers, and the only one with a black top and gut.

Convert? or hardtop?

If its a hardtop, its not the only one with black top and interior.

Its a hardtop and a console auto. Not to be rude, but show me a fender tag because I have copies of the other 4 known cars. Of course I'd be thrilled to see another one regardless if its optioned like mine! I just want first dibs if its for sale! Lol

My plan is to drive the bag off this thing lol I'm not throwing in a stroker motor but do have plans for a 400hp 340 build. I really wanted this popular opinion before I went further collecting parts.

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 07:09 PM

Quote:

My plan is to drive the bag off this thing lol I'm not throwing in a stroker motor but do have plans for a 400hp 340 build. I really wanted this popular opinion before I went further collecting parts.

I agree with DPelletier. The minor bolt on stuff is not going matter unless you goal is some OE ultra detailed resto. I'd waffle on the Rallye gauge too and maybe run a Redline gauge tach that goes in the non-rallye dash. But you have a ralley dash in your hands. And I don't think it will make the car worth less if you have/want to sell it. I wouldnt run headers or alumium intake though.

It's not a ultra big money type car worth over $60K. Even with the orginal motor and buildsheet.

I'd throw a stroker kit in a personally. Not much extra money in the scheme of things and will make driving the bag off it more fun.

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 07:16 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

It's one of 5 known FM3 A66 challengers, and the only one with a black top and gut.

Convert? or hardtop?

If its a hardtop, its not the only one with black top and interior.

Its a hardtop and a console auto. Not to be rude, but show me a fender tag because I have copies of the other 4 known cars. Of course I'd be thrilled to see another one regardless if its optioned like mine! I just want first dibs if its for sale! Lol

...

Not every car that's still out there is on someones registry. There are still many cars off the radar and owners wish to keep them that way.

Either way, I don't think whether there is one or two black top/gut A66 FM3 Challengers makes them worth any more or less.

Posted By: superbeeman69

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 07:44 PM

I know that not every car is on a registry, I understand that and respect that. I personally think that coming into a convo and telling I'm wrong with nothing to back it up as kind of underhanded tho. I didn't buy my challenger with the notion that it was 1 of anything except odd and a desirable color. The info I've found on them is accessible on the Internet and is public knowledge. Bottom line, I'm exited to see another car like mine, or even another handful of 71 hemi ragtops, but I'm going to need to be showed something more solid than "it's not the only one".

The wealth of knowledge another FM3 A66 could bring I those who own one is large and I'd love to see it. I take no offence to having an exact example of someone else's car. For the record lol

To add to that, and my OP, I haven't asked if going one way or another with a certain type of resto is in some way making the car more valuable. I asked for popular opinion on the route I wanted to go with it. Its a rust bucket at best and isn't matching numbers so I think that takes it out of the running to compete with big dollar cars at an auction or what have you. I have the skill to bring it back to life and I want to enjoy having a real pink 70 challenger. I do appreciate everyone's comments so far and I'm glad knowing that if the shoes were on the other feet, you guys would want to go the same route. When someone's neck deep in a resto like this, the moral support to continue sometimes is what it takes.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 08:09 PM

Id love to see pics, you should consider posting pics etc. In the projects section

Dave

Posted By: Mastershake340

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 08:36 PM

First of all, it's great you are restoring such an unusually optioned Challenger, can't wait to see it!

I don't think updating the front brakes to disc will hurt the value any. I'd stay away from the aftermarket conversion that has the GM style master cylinder though, that sticks out like a sore thumb to me when I look under the hood of a car that has one!
As someone else said, instead of converting to a rally dash, why not stick with the standard and add a few guages? The rally dash tach in my T/A was so inaccurate "back in the day" that one of the first things I did on the car, was install a autometer tach on my steering column and installed it such that it blocked the view of the unreliable readings on the factory tach! When I bought my '71 Challenger R/T a few years ago, I was quickly reminded how off those tach are, I've been debating finding a place that's not too obvious to put a good tach, and while I'm at it, oil pressure and temp guages as I don't trust the factory guages at all.
The collector/broker who owned my car at one time added a factory go wing to the car, because he likes them. Although it doesn't help, I don't think it detracts from the value any either. So a few minor deviations from the tag is no big deal IMO.

Posted By: superbeeman69

Re: Opinions needed - 12/26/12 08:57 PM

Quote:

Id love to see pics, you should consider posting pics etc. In the projects section

Dave

Here's a link to the thread I started in the projects section. There's a few pics in there but nothing very specific until the spring. I have a long way to go collecting clean OEM metal.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...e=0#Post7330966

Posted By: chrisf

Re: Opinions needed - 12/27/12 12:55 AM

not everybody is as anal as the moparts members. Most mopar fans (that dont vist moparts) dont care that it didnt come from the factory with discs or any other options. most just like it because its a mopar.
i would build it to enjoy it and if the new owner doesnt like it they can change to back to 100% stock.

Posted By: Morty426

Re: Opinions needed - 12/30/12 04:10 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

It's one of 5 known FM3 A66 challengers, and the only one with a black top and gut.

Convert? or hardtop?

If its a hardtop, its not the only one with black top and interior.

Its a hardtop and a console auto. Not to be rude, but show me a fender tag because I have copies of the other 4 known cars. Of course I'd be thrilled to see another one regardless if its optioned like mine! I just want first dibs if its for sale! Lol

My plan is to drive the bag off this thing lol I'm not throwing in a stroker motor but do have plans for a 400hp 340 build. I really wanted this popular opinion before I went further collecting parts.

I can vouch for the car that he's talking about because I'm the one that found it and picked it up in the middle of Texas back around 1990.

It's FM3, black vinyl top and interior. 340, 4 speed with AC. Numbers matching. No rust other than the trunk.

And if the owner wants to sell I think I should get first rights

Posted By: superbeeman69

Re: Opinions needed - 12/30/12 06:12 AM

You got it bud!

Mine is a 340/console auto, no AC. Same color, but different drivetrain. Do you have any pics or a VIN? I've spoken to the owners of 2 of the other FM3 a66 cars and have pics of 4 fender tags including mine. Because some of the pink cars were made at hamtramck and some in LA, I'm more curious to see how many there are and their production dates, not to gobble em all up.

Posted By: hemi-itis

Re: Opinions needed - 12/31/12 04:51 AM

This is the one from the Chigago auto show.Alot of history with this car.

Attached picture 7525805-113-1325_IMG.JPG

Posted By: hemi-itis

Re: Opinions needed - 12/31/12 04:52 AM

A convert with white gut

Attached picture 7525809-113-1327_IMG.JPG

Posted By: superbeeman69

Re: Opinions needed - 12/31/12 05:49 AM

This is the one from the auto show with the pretty gal standing beside it in the vintage pics? I heard it was found...haven't seen it finished. This car and the survivor FM3 70 hemi cuda 4 speed car would look pretty nice beside each other. Saw a nice FM3 6 pak 70 challenger with houndstooth gut in mopar action a few years back that was pretty nice as well. I love the color, but without metallic in it, it needs contrast like a vinyl top and/or a stripe. I'm happy my car has the top, V21 hood treatment and painted mirrors. Should look nice when it's done!