Hi All,
So I've owned my car a short while and noticed the car was blowing blue smoke on start up and the hand brake cable was stuck. Took it too our local Classic American garage and they confirmed the worst, needs a top engine rebuild. Also brake hoses corroded, petrol tank leaking at the level sensor and play in the drive shaft. So it's in for some work :(
Here are a few photo's:
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1964/43161809700_77ac174571_b.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1911/31100870658_e5fa8a4b5d_b.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1967/44061604165_00b07ec4d0_b.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1912/44925043822_4be549f4e4_b.jpg)
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1941/44925044942_6c0b741488_b.jpg)
Very nice. Looks just like my a66 when I started on it. :perfect10:
It says 7029. Not sure what that means?
Yes, I'm hoping it's the original engine.
Quote from: Mark_B on October 02, 2018, 03:12:24 PM
It says 7029. Not sure what that means?
Yes, I'm hoping it's the original engine.
July 2, 1969. :bigthumb: Same date on both heads ???
Quote from: GY3R/T on October 02, 2018, 04:45:43 PM
July 2, 1969. :bigthumb: Same date on both heads ???
He put the other head on so to late.
The engine's back together, brake hoses fitted, propshaft and steering sorted.
Just waiting on a new handbrake cable now.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1919/44474076745_5a9eb98108_b.jpg)
And the new mid-body stripe is on :)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4907/45071561045_b22f79f05b_b.jpg)
looks beautiful :bradsthumb:
Very Nice !! :bigthumb: What did they do to the heads ?
Looks good!
I like the no-R/T stripe! hate that mine looks like an R/T wannabe from a previous owner...
Ben
Quote from: GY3R/T on October 17, 2018, 09:46:57 AM
Very Nice !! :bigthumb: What did they do to the heads ?
The heads were fine, didn't need skimming. And valves and guides were all recent. Looks like it's had a recent engine rebuild, but who ever rebuilt it forgot to put the valve stem seals on, so the car was blowing blue smoke.
The garage said the car is rock solid and had a lot of money spent on a restoration.
When the car's finished I'm going to blow off the cob webs!
Quote from: benlavigne on October 17, 2018, 01:15:13 PM
I like the no-R/T stripe! hate that mine looks like an R/T wannabe from a previous owner...
Ben
Got that from Graphic-Express, they sell the stripes with no designation.
That engine bay sure looks like mine!
Very nice car!
I like it, nice car!
Quote from: benlavigne on October 17, 2018, 01:15:13 PM
Looks good!
I like the no-R/T stripe! hate that mine looks like an R/T wannabe from a previous owner...
Ben
Ben wasn't the V9 stripe part of the A66 package?
A-66. Transverse Stripe.
Darn: So they didn't have to pull the heads, at least you have peace of mind now anyway.
So I'll never know if the other head was the same date.
Is there another date on the block somewhere?
Yes: The date is cast into the side of the block. Have you checked the VIN stamp on the side of the block to see if it matches the car's VIN?
Do you know where about's on the side please?
Should be on passenger's side of the block, just above oil pan, on a pad in about the middle of the engine...
Great, thanks for the information :)
Nice 340 Challenger! I love the A66's. They are a bucket list car for me. Especially a convert!
Car's all done and back home. So good to drive!
It sure is wide, I have to take care around the narrow country lanes in Oxfordshire, UK, they weren't designed for cars like this :).
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1918/30524180007_cd5b5a1f49_b.jpg)
Congrats on getting it home !! The Chall looks Awesome too !
They are very wide cars & are fun to drive !
So I checked the engine number on the block and it matches the vin stamp near the cowl and vin tag on the dash. So looks like I have matching numbers car :). Very happy!
Thanks for helping me locate the numbers.
What rear end gearing did yours come with?
Quote from: RUNCHARGER on October 17, 2018, 06:21:22 PM
Darn: So they didn't have to pull the heads, at least you have peace of mind now anyway.
That's what I was thinking too! Still better than pulling pistons.
Quote from: kawahonda on October 29, 2018, 10:43:32 AM
What rear end gearing did yours come with?
Not sure. The car is a stock A66.
Very nice-Looks like my old A66 car I did back in the mid 90's. I chose to put the side stripe on when I restored it. Really looks good on the EV2 paint
JS27.
That was. Great looking car! The stripe set it off.
Is my car EV2 Hemi Orange? It's got a sort of metallic look to the paint.
Quote from: Mark_B on October 30, 2018, 11:54:12 AM
That was. Great looking car! The stripe set it off.
Is my car EV2 Hemi Orange? It's got a sort of metallic look to the paint.
YES EV2 is Hemi-orange or Tor-Red as Plymouth called it, and yes it should have gold metallic in it. :alan2cents:
Thanks for the information.
Decided I'm not that keen on the standard argent silver grill. So thought time to paint it satin black.
So masked of the lamp surrounds, primered and finished in black smooth Hammerite. Thought Hammerite might give better protection against stone chips.
The Grill is a pain to get out and the front bumper was not shifting, so did it in situ.
So today 3 Coats of primered, then 4 coats of Hycote Bodyshop satin black lacquer.
Looks good! :ohyeah:
What does the designation A66 get you? Nothing jumps out at me as any different than any other Challenger? :thinking:
I prefer the argent grill. It's amazing what a nice spray of WD-40 would do to it (not sure if you tried this before painting)...it darkens it and really makes it look pretty.
@dodj (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/dodj_816) A66 is a factory performance package. A66's are basically R/T cars (HD drums, heavier torsion bars, ralleye hood, etc) with the all-mighty 340. The only thing they lack compared to the R/T is the ralleye dash, R/T badges, and black colored grill. They are becoming, if not already, highly collectable...probably just as collectable as the R/Ts. It's a car you do not want to change much. Some actually prefer the A66s to the R/Ts due to the better balance of the 340 vs a 383.
They came factory with argent grills, R/T hoods, bumblebee stripe, and scat-pack stickers.
I am not a fan of turning A66 cars into R/Ts. A66s are special in their own right.
Mark, I do love your challenger. Our engine bays look near identical. If you ever want to further "stock-ify" it, let me know and I can post some pics. Greatly following your thread!
Thanks for your comments.
Maybe in the States the A66 is known, but not over here in the UK. People haven't even heard of a Challenger, let alone an R/T. My car is all original and matching numbers, but it has been restored. I know what you mean about originality, but I've done that for the last 20 years with my previous classic cars and after a while it can be a bit restraining and dull. I want to keep my car original mechanically as possible but I want it to look as fast as it goes! Maybe a future Owner can return the grill to argent silver, I doubt it would take much.
My other car is a 69 Mach 1 and is an original matching numbers car, no rust, no welding, original paint. That's staying as is.
I like the black better as well.
I actually LOVE the restraint! I wouldn't want it any different. I had an "unrestrained" car once....a 65 Ford Galaxie with a 390. Nothing special at all, but very easy to modify and make your own. It's very easy to spend money on those types of cars....
There's still plenty to spend on when you're keeping something original. Gives you more left over money to drive and enjoy it....I didn't get that chance with the Galaxie because it was all money and time, and no play when I reached the end.
btw, I'm not going "fully" original...only in appareance only. I have no problem switching out rear end gearing, wheels, and doing some performance mods..but I keep it hidden.
The Mach 1 is a cool car. The A66 is a cool car too-the A66 is actually way more rare based on the production numbers alone. :)
What's in the Mach 1? FE engine?
Quote from: kawahonda on January 13, 2019, 12:50:14 PM
What's in the Mach 1? FE engine?
A 351W 4 barrel. It's a genuine California survivor car, they do exist. Has been locked up most of it's life and rarely driven. Has done low miles and still feels nearly new. In the years I've owned it it's costing me almost nothing as it all still works. I changed the wheels to Magnums but that's about it.
Here it is:
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1875/43788492534_70680f2a3c_b.jpg)
I pulled my A66 out because of this thread to get some pictures of an "aged" Argent Grille that was sprayed with WD-40 5 months ago. In many cases it comes off "black" if sun isn't on it. Only when direct sunlight is on it it appears that it's argent. I really like it.
Ah, not an FE, but a Windsor engine. Looks like a keeper. IMO, the only "real" muscle Mustang that ford built. Between your A66 and your Mach 1, which car would win in a race?
You can see that i'm missing a vertical "strip" on my grille....I need to get a piece 3D printed to fill it in.
Quote from: kawahonda on January 13, 2019, 01:04:01 PM
Between your A66 and your Mach 1, which car would win in a race?
Wow Nice looking car!! Especially the top photo.
It would be the Challenger, as I've just given it a top engine rebuild and I don't have to worry about it. I'd thrash the hell out of it.
The Mach 1's FMX probably needs a rebuild some day so I'd take it easy with that one.
Thanks! Representing the A66!
Ahh...my Galaxie had the FMX transmission. I think it was originally from a truck as I don't think the 65' Galaxie came with the FMX.
I threw a shift kit in it, didn't rebuild it, and it seemed to have held up. But I only put on 300 miles on it before I sold it for a car to get me through school! :)
Yes, the FMX is a piece of crap, but they seem to like them in the 60s. Much preferred my C4 in my old 72 Mustang.
Any pics of the 65' Galaxie?
Yep!
Quote from: kawahonda on January 13, 2019, 12:05:32 PM
Some actually prefer the A66s to the R/Ts due to the better balance of the 340 vs a 383.
Last hijack question....You couldn't get a 340 R/T?
I prefer your grille black Mark. Ultimately you could go back to argent if you decide to go the originality route.
Quote from: dodj on January 13, 2019, 05:01:03 PM
Quote from: kawahonda on January 13, 2019, 12:05:32 PM
Some actually prefer the A66s to the R/Ts due to the better balance of the 340 vs a 383.
Last hijack question....You couldn't get a 340 R/T?
I prefer your grille black Mark. Ultimately you could go back to argent if you decide to go the originality route.
No. R/T was 383 and above.
The A66 IS an R/T without the badges and the big block. That's how I explain it. You don't need RT badges to be cool!
Superb looking Galaxy and love the color! Thanks for sharing.
What are those wheels? Outlaws?
Quote from: kawahonda on January 13, 2019, 05:05:09 PM
Quote from: dodj on January 13, 2019, 05:01:03 PM
Quote from: kawahonda on January 13, 2019, 12:05:32 PM
Some actually prefer the A66s to the R/Ts due to the better balance of the 340 vs a 383.
Last hijack question....You couldn't get a 340 R/T?
I prefer your grille black Mark. Ultimately you could go back to argent if you decide to go the originality route.
No. R/T was 383 and above.
The A66 IS an R/T without the badges and the big block. That's how I explain it. You don't need RT badges to be cool!
You could get an R/T with a 340 in 1971, but not 1970.
Quote from: benlavigne on October 17, 2018, 01:15:13 PM
Looks good!
I like the no-R/T stripe! hate that mine looks like an R/T wannabe from a previous owner...
Ben
Hey Ben, I'll send you a couple of single sided razor blades, just PM me the address! :))
Great looking car, but judging by the colour of the valves, you might be running it on coal? It's got to be way rich to be carboned up that much, but the leaking oil wouldn't help the situation much either. Teasing aside, good luck with it and enjoy it as much as possible! :cheers:
Thanks for the info. I'm hoping is running leaner now. The valve stem seals were missing, maybe that contributed to it.
Nice car and repairs relatively minor in the grand scheme of things.
Too bad you didn't paint the engine while it was all apart.
Quote from: Mark_B on January 18, 2019, 01:58:19 PM
Superb looking Galaxy and love the color! Thanks for sharing.
What are those wheels? Outlaws?
Centerline racing. Can't get them anymore I think.