A Few Simple Questions

[oneway71]

Being new to the B bodies; I have a couple questions I am hoping I can find the answers to. All my Mopar experience is with A bodies so I am kinda lost....lol

These questions pertain to the '74 Charger originally 318 auto, B1 car I picked up. Body very solid; although I have located a little bondo.

I am trying to figure out what the car is worth in order to know what direction I need to go for the restoration or resto/mod.

1 Production numbers. I am having a hard time locating production numbers. Where can I find these?

2 I am also having a hard time finding suppliers for interior parts that I need to go to original. Dash, front seats, panels, etc. What suppliers are available for the '74?

3 Car has been raced and slightly modified. 440, gauges, shifter, rear end, springs. etc.

So the biggest question is: Is it worth going back to original or could I use a custom interior/dash without losing any value?

Thanks in advance for any replies. I hope it was ok to put it in this forum instead of the specific 74 one.

 

[YY1]

318 car, probably worth more with 440 and mild alteration than bone stock, unless 95+ point unmolested original. Even my extremely highly optioned 318 car is only worth slightly more than a base because it is an SE. I personally think the "official" values for these cars are in need of adjustment. They have a lot in common with E bodies, and 318 E bodies are becoming outrageous. For some reason 72 is worth 2x 73, even though it's 85- 90% the same car.

If it was a BB car, maybe a different story ("officially"), but maybe not, either.

Most 71 and up interior panels will work, if not technically correct, except for the rear sail panel. Sme rear "door" panels will be close, but not exact.

My problem is that no one makes repro SE "brogham" door panels, with the pulls.

Legendary has correct seat upholstery. They also have your non-SE door panels.

Dash will be EXPENSIVE. Just dashes quoted $800-1200 plus shipping about 5 years ago.
I've seen them go (used) on ebay for $400. Frankly, I wouldn't trust a brittle dash to shipping.
I found a "cap" for $80, then I lucked into a 99% good original for $100 at a show

High production for Chargers (including all years) was 1973 (by a landslide), and they made a LOT of 318 cars in 73/74.

Mine's going to get hidden headlights, rallye taillights, a bulge hood, and a 86 318 with Magnum heads and maybe F/I with either the A518 O/D or the new Passon 5 speed "no cut" and pistol grip.

Bitch my SB car (Charger) can fit just about any size tire I care to run, and my factory BB car (Coronet) is severely limited.

 

[oneway71]

Thanks for the reply.

That's pretty much what I needed to hear. I just didn't want to modify it too much if it had a decent value.

After I clear out this '72 Big Block Camaro, then the Duster, I will get to this one. I cant wait and want to do her first; but my customer needs his Camaro first.

I am hoping to start the major work, on it, near the end of the year.

 

[YY1]

You HAVE to do the camaro first, so you can spend the profit on the Charger.

That looks like a clean and straight body. Mine will need both quarters almost totally replaced. I have donor car quarters that will give me about 80-90% of what I need.

I see lots of these cars with no rust and almost as many totally ate up.
Very few have "some" rust.

Aftermarket is pretty much just starting to tool up for these cars. Ebay is your friend for lots of stuff, however, and some prices are still reasonable. That's the "other side" of being undervalued in the market. Also, lots of 71 stuff works, and the market started tooling for those a few years ago.

IMO, the main disadvantage of the G3 Charger, is that it's an awfully heavy car for a small block. Also looks ridiculous with small, skinny tires in the rear, and hubcaps.

You can however, mold the character of the car, depending on what you do to it.

Vinyl roof and wire wheels with flat hood and hood ornament, leather int, p/w and a/c says "luxury". Even with 318/2

Hot (HIP) color, bulge hood w/ blackout, chin spoiler, and 275 rear tires says "still a muscle car, and a BB or hot 360 can back it up (without any traction problems).

These cars could have come from the factory with hood pins, rallye wheels, slapstiks or pistol grips, HIP paint, blackout accents, reflective stripes, killer dual exhaust tips, and a host of other "muscle car" options, including 440s, 400s and 383s (which you couldn't get in an E body after 71). Sounds like a muscle car to me.

 

[Coronet 500]

That front bumper with recessed blacked out grille, huge rear tire up and inside,how about one of those sequential turn signal kits for those big rear lights...or just do whatever YOU want to make YOUR car cool and unique.

 

[oneway71]

Sequential turn signals? Lighting up inside first then toward the outside of vehicle? I can see that!

Yes I will do a bit of custom metal & interior work on this.

 

[YY1]

That's a good lookin' tire size on the rear. What are they?

 

[oneway71]

That's a good lookin' tire size on the rear. What are they?

To give you an idea of when this car was raced.....the tire size is N50 15.. Now what does that equate to in today's sizes?

 

[YY1]

Hey, that's what I had on my 70 Bee! Looked "right" in those wheel wells, too.

 

[oneway71]

I think they are 28 1/2 tall....12 1/2 wide.

 

[oneway71]

A short while ago I was able to check the car over and fire it up. The 400 is dumping at least 2 cylinders. I am not showing any oil pressure on aftermarket gauge and didn't appear to be getting oil in the top of the right valve cover. So a tear down and inspection rebuild is in order. And another bad thing, water got in through the carb and into the oil! ouch!
.
The body on the cars is pretty great! I less than 4 dimes sized holes. So this one will not need my metal working skills. The springs have been relocated and height are adjustable.

The interior door panels and kick panels are ok. The dash sucks and was spray bombed black, dash pad sucks. No headliner and bucket seats are not original. I am not a fan of the B & M shifter.

So the car is decent and I can't wait to rotis it and add paint!

Oh yeah; how do you guys work on these cars? Standing in front of it and I cant even reach the carb! This thing is longer than I thought it would be....lol