1970 Challenger RT Convertible

Hello Everyone

I am new to the site, I recently accured a 1970 Challenger Convertible with 25000 miles on it. It has been off the road since 1988. It was stored inside buy not well taken care of. The cast tank in full of rust and now leaks. Who make a good repro tank? Paint and interior are in good condition. I would like to keep it original and show is as a survior. The jack has never been used. Most of the marking a still on the car. I would like to clean it up and get it running again. The heads were pull off to check the cyclinders. They look really good. The brakes are still hard. I would like some information on how to bring it back to life. The paint needs cleaning and buffing. There is some 40 year road crud and what appears to tar. The door panel are white and has turned like a cream color from age. Does anyone make a paint or dye for them? It has the orginal carb. Should just buy a replacement or have someone rebuild it? The color of the car is mango orange with a white top and interior.

Be careful. Survivors are hard to come by. Try and disturb as little as possible. Don't replace the carb, get it rebuilt by a knowledgeable builder. Get the tank refinished if possible, not replaced - there are folks who can check the inside of the tank for rust and dip it in a solution that removes all scale and rust. Is the engine free? or stuck? Put the heads back on with fresh gaskets, change the oil, put on a new filter (save the old one if it is Mopar). Use a good zinc-content oil like Valvoline Racing Oil or Shell rotella. Remove the distributor and drill up the oil through the engine using an old mopar distributor shaft stuck in a high-speed electric drill.

Remove your plugs and spray a good loosening agent down the cylinders every day for three or four days. When you stick the distributor back in, keep the cap off and check that the points are opening and closing properly - if not, replace them.

When you go to start the car, have help - someone to prime the carb etc., watch points...

Hook up the battery and use booster cables on another car or a battery charger with a "helper" setting for extra help spinning over the engine - fast turnover speed is really important.

You're lucky. Sounds like a fun project. Survivors are a badge of honor, don't worry too much about the dis-colored interior, people will love it at shows because it's "patina"

I sent you a PM.

Any pics for all of us to drool over?

Carlisle has a "barn finds" display. I wouldn't touch a thing and show it in there for the first year. Then I would display it in with the survivors.

BARN FINDS AND TIME BANDITS BARN FINDS AND TIME BANDITS
Less than perfect time capsules

The 2010 Barn Finds display was such a huge hit that we have decided to make them a regular part of the show. If you have a car that’s solid but not nice enough to be considered a Survivor, why not do the mechanical repairs to make it safe and reliable? Once it’s roadworthy, drive it!! You can always restore it later but this way you can start having fun with it now. Call us at (717) 243-7855 or register online today!

My two cents worth...I'd look for a nice used gas tank. Also, verify the color really is off on those door panels. Although the whites were notorious for fading and decaying, they were never really white to begin with. If you do need to paint them, I think Just Dashes sells the correct color. I've also heard of people wiping the plastic with one stroke of a turpentine dampened cloth to remove the dead layer of plastic with some luck, but definitely practice first or try it in an unseen area.

My neighbor just bought a 69 Charger RT (440) one owner survivor. I've known the owner (and the car) since he bought it here in SOCAL at Crenshaw Dodge in 1968. Anyway, neighbor is going through the same "survivor" deliberations.

The car sat for about 10yrs. The gas tank had a big dent and a plugged hole (owner occasionally used it for camping ) so we replaced it. Inside was NASTY. Fuel lines were OK. Orig carb was totally gummed up - rebuilt. Steering gear leaked badly so he had it rebuilt. Trunk floor is very rusty, so (after much debate) he's having it replaced. Instructed the bodyshop to take pix of the panel seams and reproduce the "factory" look - sloppy. Rear window lower channel showing some signs of rust, so he's having that taken care of also. Can be difficult to balance the survivor, safety, and rust considerations.

You should bring it to a shop that knows how to work on survivors w/out ruining their survivor status. I would contact either Frank Badalson or Mike Mancini. Both shops know how to handle survivors.

Mikes shop is American Muscle Car Restorations, Inc 401-267-0055
Franks is American Performance LLC 804-275-2155

I think the gas tanks made in Canada are just fine. Forgot the name. Think you can buy them from any vendor, like Herb's, YO, etc.

I'd try to find an NOS sending unit.

Buy some new stainless brake and gas lines. Probably have to rebuild the carburetor; no biggie.

Let's see some pics of this thing dang it!

The car was on eBay a few months ago out of NJ. Looked very nice but the cost was high. You got a nice one there.

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I think the gas tanks made in Canada are just fine. Forgot the name. Think you can buy them from any vendor, like Herb's, YO, etc.

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www.spectrapremium.com

Cool car; don't get to aggressive with the cleaner, don't paint anything and if you replace anything (like the fuel tank) make sure you keep the original.

Dave