DePouli's 1969 Charger 318
- Thread starter Brian DePouli
- Start date
Brian DePouli
Well-Known Member
I posted this else where but I drove the 69 to the Greenbrier Concours with the family. No Ribbons but had a great time. There was a 68 accepted as well.
When I got there and was trying to find out where to park overnight. I was told I should park in my trailer. They were quite surprised to learn I didn't have a trailer and drove it the 200+ miles
When I got there and was trying to find out where to park overnight. I was told I should park in my trailer. They were quite surprised to learn I didn't have a trailer and drove it the 200+ miles
JimKueneman
Well-Known Member
Exactly, we restored them to DRIVE them!
Brian DePouli
Well-Known Member
So couple things I could use some advice on after the drive home.
Water temp gauge is not calibrated to reality. Realized this prior to leaving to it ran hotter on the gauge than it did on the way there. It shows 230 on the gauge mostly, sometimes 240. Was showing 230 when I got home but laser thermometer pointed on the intake just below the thermostat housing was reading 197. Car seemed to be able to dissipate heat no problem, but obviously the gauge misreading is disconcerting. So any way to calibrate the gauge? It's a repro from YO. I have an OEM or two around which I could have checked and refurbished. Thoughts?
Item #2, this is the first time I've driven the car any significant highway miles with bias-ply tires. It always had radials prior to this most recent restoration. The car was professionally aligned on a Hunter Hawkeye Elite so I know it's good there. It's a bit darty and the steering a bit loose. It doesn't feel like it's caught in the grooves of the payment but more like I need to tighten up the box (more than I already have) and or replace the box which I didn't replace with the resto. Gonna try the box tightening but also thought a little more toe-in might help too. Should note it was pretty weighed down in the rear so the front was probably light cause of that too.
Last thing back to engine temp a bit. She seemed a bit down on power and would definitely heat up when I had to push her up the mountains. She did not like steep inclines. Not bad but noticable. Think I still need to play with timing a bit but the balancer relative to timing is way off and not useful for timing.
Overall none of these are problems it more just fine tuning and relearning what is normal for this car post restoration compared to memory of the car pre-restoration.
Next trip is driving to Hershey for the AACA Eastern Fall National next month.
Water temp gauge is not calibrated to reality. Realized this prior to leaving to it ran hotter on the gauge than it did on the way there. It shows 230 on the gauge mostly, sometimes 240. Was showing 230 when I got home but laser thermometer pointed on the intake just below the thermostat housing was reading 197. Car seemed to be able to dissipate heat no problem, but obviously the gauge misreading is disconcerting. So any way to calibrate the gauge? It's a repro from YO. I have an OEM or two around which I could have checked and refurbished. Thoughts?
Item #2, this is the first time I've driven the car any significant highway miles with bias-ply tires. It always had radials prior to this most recent restoration. The car was professionally aligned on a Hunter Hawkeye Elite so I know it's good there. It's a bit darty and the steering a bit loose. It doesn't feel like it's caught in the grooves of the payment but more like I need to tighten up the box (more than I already have) and or replace the box which I didn't replace with the resto. Gonna try the box tightening but also thought a little more toe-in might help too. Should note it was pretty weighed down in the rear so the front was probably light cause of that too.
Last thing back to engine temp a bit. She seemed a bit down on power and would definitely heat up when I had to push her up the mountains. She did not like steep inclines. Not bad but noticable. Think I still need to play with timing a bit but the balancer relative to timing is way off and not useful for timing.
Overall none of these are problems it more just fine tuning and relearning what is normal for this car post restoration compared to memory of the car pre-restoration.
Next trip is driving to Hershey for the AACA Eastern Fall National next month.
Last edited:
Brian DePouli
Well-Known Member
Updates on above.
I swapped the repro gauge for an OEM and she reads correctly now.
I really tightened the box and drove it today after that significant tightening. It's better but still has too much play in my opinion plus I think the box is leaking. I believe I am going to swap it out.
No update on the timing and power. I did end up replacing the entire distributor at some point cant recall when and since it had points and condenser all set to go I left them. But had the condenser go bad in April so put the Pertronix system in the new distributor and all seems fine, but haven't gone any significant distance.
I never could figure out the factory dual speaker set up so I kinda gave up on that for a bit. However I have slowly acquired all the components of a factory cruise control setup and have slowly been installing it. I'm not done but getting close, but keeping the car running while I do it. I got the power brake booster in, not sure I have that quite right yet, but it's ok. Working installing all the bits of the CC system. I got the turn signal lever in, and the servo in place, but need to run the wiring harness and the vacuum lines. today I plan to put the speedo cables in place.
Today I went to cars and coffee with my partner in crime who claims this car as his.
I swapped the repro gauge for an OEM and she reads correctly now.
I really tightened the box and drove it today after that significant tightening. It's better but still has too much play in my opinion plus I think the box is leaking. I believe I am going to swap it out.
No update on the timing and power. I did end up replacing the entire distributor at some point cant recall when and since it had points and condenser all set to go I left them. But had the condenser go bad in April so put the Pertronix system in the new distributor and all seems fine, but haven't gone any significant distance.
I never could figure out the factory dual speaker set up so I kinda gave up on that for a bit. However I have slowly acquired all the components of a factory cruise control setup and have slowly been installing it. I'm not done but getting close, but keeping the car running while I do it. I got the power brake booster in, not sure I have that quite right yet, but it's ok. Working installing all the bits of the CC system. I got the turn signal lever in, and the servo in place, but need to run the wiring harness and the vacuum lines. today I plan to put the speedo cables in place.
Today I went to cars and coffee with my partner in crime who claims this car as his.
Last edited:
Brian DePouli
Well-Known Member
And since I had the one Charger out and I am going to be putting the other in storage so I can begin a restoration on a 1938 Buick Roadmaster model 87 (one of 6 left know to exist of 466 produced) I decided to get these since I had yet to photograph them together.
RT68440
Well-Known Member
The car looks great. I love the wheel covers and white walls
RT68440
Well-Known Member
What brand and size tires are you running? I like the thickness of the whitewall.
Brian DePouli
Well-Known Member
Firestone 7.75 14 from Coker Tire.
440 Charger
Well-Known Member
Dont Prey.
Similar threads
