I'm not sure if I ever did an introduction post so here's my story:

Five years ago, I bought a 1973 Dodge Challenger Rallye for $30,000 that was advertised as having a numbers-matching 340 4-Barrel with only 43,000 original miles from a guy named Lunardi in Livermore, CA who told me he was the 2nd owner. I was so happy to get in it and head towards home before it blew up on the freeway. I towed it that night to a shop called General Motors nearby in Novato that had a good reputation for restoring classics. The mechanic told me I got swindled. The motor was a 1990 360 LA motor with a Holly 4-barrel and he said the car looked to have at least 200,000 miles on it.

He sent the motor to a machine shop in Santa Rosa, got it back from machining with close to stock numbers, assembled the motor with a peppy camshaft and some other respectable parts from Summit Racing, and charged me about $12,000-$15,000.

Within a couple months and 400 miles, the oil was leaking from the front and rear main seals and probably other places. I told a local race car mechanic about it and he did a compression test and probably some other test. He said there was piston blow-by that was probably pressurizing the crank case enough to force oil out of all the gaskets. The first mechanic blamed the machine shop and the machine shop blamed the first mechanic so neither of them took responsibility and I got screwed.

The original A-904 automatic transmission also blew up (literally blew chunks of metal) so I had a local Mopar transmission specialist replace it with the A-518 4-speed automatic that he was using in his 1970 Barracuda Gran Coup. Now when I'm cruising in the fast lane, I flick this overdrive toggle switch and the car goes right to sleep 8) .

My local racecar mechanic sent the motor to get re-machined. He's decking and blueprinting the motor and stroking it to 408. I decided I wanted to go with a Holly Sniper EFI and race up the entire chassis.

Over the last three years, I've sold all of the original suspension components, the power-steering and linkage components, K-Frame, 8-3/4" rear end, power front disc / rear drum brake system, and wheels on FEBO, FABO, FBBO, FCBO, Mopar-related Facebook groups, and eBay.

My local race car mechanic talked me into having him install all of his favorite custom race parts:

• MSD Ignition
• Blueprinted and decked 360 LA stroked to 408 with a lopey cam
• Holly Sniper EFI System (was my choice for an easy-start daily driver that I can map between pump and E85)
• 2.5" full exhaust system from exhaust port to tip
• Full manual valve body shift kit in the A518 4-speed automatic paired to the existing B&M slapstick shifter
• Ford 9" full locking rearend with 3.50 gears
• Manual rack & pinion steering
• Coil over suspension
• 3-link rear
• Manual 4-wheel disc brake system
• 15"x8" front and 15"x10" rear slot mag rims

I don't feel as guilty cutting, chopping, and changing the bones of a 1973 as I would a 1970-1971 E-Body. And so far, I've placed each and every part, nut and bolt that I've removed from my Challenger onto over 30 classic Mopars from California to Sweden.

I'm sure I'm leaving things out but the most important upgrade is that I replaced the "LUNARDI" license plate with one that says "GUMM B".

I told my local racecar mechanic that I'm not in a hurry to get the car back until I've sold all of the old parts to clear room in my garage for the car. So yes, it's been over three years since I've sat in what's supposed to be my daily driver.

I'm coming here to sell the last few remaining engine parts that are still good and that I haven't lost in my garage from the first mechanic's rebuild 500 miles ago. Once I clear my garage, I'll let my mechanic know that I'm ready.

 

Oh Man, Gumm, Sorry to hear of the terrible experience you have had !!!!! That sucks to be ripped off that way !!!
Thanks for sharing the story !! Hope you get all the parts sold and get your ride back soon so you can enjoy it.
Maybe you can sell the rest of the parts at Spring Fling or Fall Fling here in So-Cal ???
Doing you think you will have it back by this summer?
At any rate, hope you get to enjoy the car very soon and dont have to many more issues, sounds like yalls are doing a great awesome job.
Keep us posted
Cheers

 

Hey Bob, thanks for the kind sentiment! I don't think I'll have it back before summer, but I'm looking forward to the good days!

 

 

That’s some bad luck right there, I think I would have gotten it running and sent it down the road ASAP.