To Hellcat or not to Hellcat

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 3:20 pm

Cannonball wrote: i can help you out sell me the rusting crap running 69 and you have a bit more dollar to put at the hellcat, i sure know if i wanted a late musclecar this would be on my list the car has evolved to look pretty neat,,,,,

Thanks, I don't think I want to sell it though. I plan to one day get it fixed for old time sake... I think I've had it for like 8 years or more. I have no idea what it's worth

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 3:26 pm

Dave wrote:If the 69 just needs tuning I can do that for you.

Thanks for the offer... if I had more time I would consider taking you up on that.

Many years ago I remember paying a guy 2k to sort the transmission, fix the window, MOT it and and fix the wipers (and probably a couple of other bits which I don't recall).

On the way back it turned out they had put the spark plugs round the wrong way, the steering wheel hadn't been put on straight, then I had a nice dashboard fire where they had obviously screwed the wipers.

I was so annoyed I didn't even bother mentioning it to the garage and just parked it up and that was that.

That car needs a month of going over in my opinion before it's safe or drivable. The lope of the cam is so big it was really hard not to stall it, and the MVB annoyed me not being able to drop to 1st gear on the move..

One day I hope to get it done and put back to a normal drivable auto without the silly cam/torque converter

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Sat Aug 02, 14 3:30 pm

sho ryu ken wrote:
Dave wrote:If the 69 just needs tuning I can do that for you.
Thanks for the offer... if I had more time I would consider taking you up on that.

Many years ago I remember paying a guy 2k to sort the transmission, fix the window, MOT it and and fix the wipers (and probably a couple of other bits which I don't recall).

On the way back it turned out they had put the spark plugs round the wrong way, the steering wheel hadn't been put on straight, then I had a nice dashboard fire where they had obviously screwed the wipers.

I was so annoyed I didn't even bother mentioning it to the garage and just parked it up and that was that.

That car needs a month of going over in my opinion before it's safe or drivable. The lope of the cam is so big it was really hard not to stall it, and the MVB annoyed me not being able to drop to 1st gear on the move..

One day I hope to get it done and put back to a normal drivable auto without the silly cam/torque converter

well i can sort all your transmission issues,,,,

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 3:34 pm

Cannonball wrote: well i can sort all your transmission issues,,,,

Thanks,
I might take you up on that at some point. I need to get the time to go look at the car and remind myself what exactly it needs doing. I don't remember much about it, but the trans needs putting back to an automatic and get rid of that stupid manual valve body I put on.

I'm glad I joined here again. I never lost my love for muscle cars and the only cars I've ever owned are chargers, challenger (and 1 ford fiesta)

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 3:58 pm

So I just went and peeled back the cover.. first time in probably a year. Seems she is still looking pretty good. Bubbling is getting slightly worse around the arches but I'm pleased she hasn't rotted much.

I miss this car... I think it will have to go black though, not really feeling the whole general lee thing anymore

So I'm going to find time to start it up and make a list of what's wrong with it and maybe post it here and see if anyone can give me an idea of what it would cost to get back on the road.

The alternative would be to sell it after all -- anyone got a ball park on its value?

I think I paid 16k for it 8 - 10 years ago.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sat Aug 02, 14 4:25 pm

Takes me a week to tune an engine (weather permitting) and I don't ask for money. You can pay me whatever you feel you should. As long as it at least covers any costs involved. You just have to arrange transport to Newcastle and back.

If it needs transmission work I can identify that and you can send it to Duncan after me.

I might have to wear a paper bag to test drive it though now I see it's a G.L.

Would have to be sometime in September though.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sat Aug 02, 14 4:27 pm

Or next year.

And it needs to be taxed and tested or I will get done.

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 4:39 pm

Dave wrote:Or next year.

And it needs to be taxed and tested or I will get done.

Wow, thanks, appreciate the offer. May end up taking you up on that at some point. I hope to have more free time next year. I would offer to pay fairly for such a service.

I have a feeling the engine is knackered tho... has low oil pressure at idle... when we put it in it was fast as hell, then later it became slow. Could be tuning, I have no idea.

And you're right, the general lee stickers are definitely coming off before I show my face in that again... haha, I was in my early 20s when I bought it and it served its purpose.

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Sat Aug 02, 14 4:59 pm

Hi I remember you I came to look at a gold 69 Charger you had for sale ( needed a lot of work doing to it) and this gen lee was parked in your garage in maidenhead .. Is that right was about 8 years ago .... Surely this can't be the same lee charger ...

Les Szabo · Post by **Les Szabo** » Sat Aug 02, 14 5:32 pm

sho ryu ken wrote:Interesting to hear. Glad you guys are fans of the modern challengers...

thank you

All this talk is making me want to go get my 69 back on the road. It is sitting there miserably getting rustier by the day. It was a great driver, but I stupidly put a 492 (i think) stroker race block in it, big torque converter, manual valve body, huge cam, and while it was fast it was just crap to drive on the street.

It needs a lot of work to make it fun again.

So just put a smaller hyd cam back in, a 2500 stall converter and remove the manual valve body if you don't like it, job done....that'll save you £60k in buying a Hellcat when you really much prefer your '69 I think.

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 5:37 pm

Scooby wrote:Hi I remember you I came to look at a gold 69 Charger you had for sale ( needed a lot of work doing to it) and this gen lee was parked in your garage in maidenhead .. Is that right was about 8 years ago .... Surely this can't be the same lee charger ...

Yup, that's me. And that's the same general lee charger. Unfortunately the 2012 chally relegated the charger to the outdoors

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 5:39 pm

Les Szabo wrote: So just put a smaller hyd cam back in, a 2500 stall converter and remove the manual valve body if you don't like it, job done....that'll save you £60k in buying a Hellcat when you really much prefer your '69 I think.

fair enough.. if it's as easy as that, maybe that's what I'll do next year, cheers.

That won't stop me buying the hellcat though. I still need a daily to get to work.... would be pretty irresponsible to break down every other week in my 69.

I think I derailed my own thread by getting excited about the charger, haha

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sat Aug 02, 14 6:04 pm

Getting hold of a Hellcat is going to be the problem. Lucky if any dealership gets more than one from what I hear. Limited production run. Chrysler are probably making a loss on every one sold just as they did with the 1970 Challenger.

sho ryu ken · Post by **sho ryu ken** » Sat Aug 02, 14 6:12 pm

Hopefully not. But thanks for the info. As far as I'm concerned mine is reserved. I guess I better keep my dealership quiet then in case I end up in a bidding war (!)

Trigger_Andy · Post by **Trigger_Andy** » Sat Aug 02, 14 6:18 pm

Dave wrote:Takes me a week to tune an engine (weather permitting) and I don't ask for money. You can pay me whatever you feel you should. As long as it at least covers any costs involved. You just have to arrange transport to Newcastle and back.

If it needs transmission work I can identify that and you can send it to Duncan after me.

I might have to wear a paper bag to test drive it though now I see it's a G.L.

Would have to be sometime in September though.

I just wanted to say Im really impressed with this. I know we have our differences but I still think you're a good lad at heart.