New member from Walla Walla, WA

[JP426]

Hello,
I have a 70 Challenger RT/SE , JS29V0B car, 727 with a Dana 60. It was sold new at Jim Traveller Motors in Bremerton, WA. I purchased the car in Tacoma, WA in 1985, the engine and transmission were missing so I installed a 426 Hemi. My original transmission was recently found at Ben Snobar's and I will be attempting to purchase it at the upcoming auction. This might be the spark for me to put the car back to it's original drivetrain configuration.

I am originally from Walla Walla but I lived in Puyallup, WA for about 30 years. I moved back to Walla Walla in 2011.

I purchased a 2016 Challenger Hellcat last year so I haven't given the 70 as much attention as I should.

Glad to be a new member. This site looks really impressive with lots of great information.

[J-Code Jeni]

  @JP426 from SW Washington State! How wonderful to have two awesome cars competing for your attention- you're a lucky guy!! Beautiful car!!

Your picture is labeled 'Sunburst'- were you there last year? We were there too & it's such a great show and swap!

[JP426]

J-Code Jeni thank you for the welcome.

The last time I had the car at the show in Graham was 2010. It is a great show. I was a member of Mopars Unlimited Tacoma when I lived in the area.

[CudaMoparRay]

Lucky guy indeed, welcome from Sylmar, CA

[71vert340]

Welcome. I live in Kennewick. I remember your car from awhile back.
Terry W.

[Cuda Cody]

Welcome Jack!!!  I was just at Ben's place yesterday and had my hands on your transmission.     Looks like it's in good shape.  Sorry to hear the auction company will not let is be sold before the auction.  Was talking with Tom and we are hoping that everyone there will respect that the trans belongs in your car and not bid on it.  You're going to be there to get it, right?  I'm not going to bid at all on it. 

Thanks for sharing the photo of your Challenger.  Great color!   

[JP426]

Hello Cody,

Thanks for the welcome, great site you have here.
I talked to Tom this morning, I will be at the auction to try and purchase the transmission.
I hope I am able to take it home.

[TobiasM]

  aboard,  @JP426 , from an overseas-owner of another JS29V0B...

Sounds like 426Hemi`s were readily available in 1985, when you put in yours...lucky you! Great engine, have one in my RR, too!

EDIT: an the best luck in purchasing your #-matching tranny @snobar-auction for a reasonable price...already read in the snobar-thread that there is one lucky person who could be traced down to eventually reunite car+engine...so it was you ;-)

[Cuda Cody]

What's the details on your 426 that is in your car now?     Is it a date coded Hemi?  Keep me in mind if you ever want to sell it.  I have a few 1970 and 1971 440's that I have been saving for my V Code projects, but one of them might be a good fit for your car.  I have a 1970 non VIN stamped 440 service block too.   

[Chryco Psycho]

Beautiful Chall !
Welcome to the site
  I believe you  should be able to get the trans for your car .

[MoparJunkie]

Welcome from Spokane WA!

Very nice cars, you have the perfect setup, old and new! I gotta get me a Hellcat one day. I heard rumor that they might install the wide body kit on more models than just the demon. While I'm not sure if I love the wide body, I sure do love the room for some extra tire to give that hellcat some traction it needs!

I will be crossing my fingers for you, that you get your matching transmission back. That would be very cool to recover after all these years! Now, if only you could find your missing engine to go along with it! I would imagine the next best option would be a non stamped service block like Cody has.

[JP426]

aboard,  @JP426 , from an overseas-owner of another JS29V0B...

Sounds like 426Hemi`s were readily available in 1985, when you put in yours...lucky you! Great engine, have one in my RR, too!

EDIT: an the best luck in purchasing your #-matching tranny @snobar-auction for a reasonable price...already read in the snobar-thread that there is one lucky person who could be traced down to eventually reunite car+engine...so it was you ;-)

Thanks for the welcome!

426 Hemi's were still pretty tough to find in 1985. I paid $2500 for the engine, that was same the price for a nice 70 GTX that was for sale at the same time. It was a tough decision but I always wanted a Hemi so it won out.

Yes, that's the transmission for my car, hope I get lucky again!

[JP426]

What's the details on your 426 that is in your car now?     Is it a date coded Hemi?  Keep me in mind if you ever want to sell it.  I have a few 1970 and 1971 440's that I have been saving for my V Code projects, but one of them might be a good fit for your car.  I have a 1970 non VIN stamped 440 service block too.   

The 426 is a 66 casting with a mid to late 66 build date near the oil pan rail. It has 67 auto carbs on it. No serial number on the block. The guy I bought it from had a few 426's and couldn't remember what this one came out of but thought it was a 67 B-body. I bought the engine in 85 before I got the Challenger. I was looking for a Hemi body but they were tough to find. I heard about the 6 pack Challenger and it fit the bill with torque boxes and a Dana. I paid $1500 for the Challenger roller and it needed paint and a few other things.

I had the Hemi rebuilt by Ray Barton in 2001, it is .030 over, 10.5 compression with a little hotter than stock solid lifter cam.

My Challenger had a warranty short block installed after the original had oiling problems. It has a tag under one of the hood pin lanyard screws. I talked to the original owner and he said the replacement had problems also. He put a 383 in the car after that. Somewhere along the line the engines and transmission became separated and the car was a roller. He traded it to someone for some work but the title was never transferred, that is how I tracked him down.

I'm not sure if I could let the Hemi go. It was tough for me to get at the time and was a dream come true.

I have thought about putting a 440 Sixpack back in the Challenger and swapping the Hemi into another donor body. Main problem for me now is storage and garage space.

[Cuda Cody]

Great story.  If I was you I would probable keep the Hemi engine too, even if you put a 440+6 in the car.   

[RUNCHARGER]

Welcome from Chilliwack B.C.