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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
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Re: It's HEMI time !!! Compliments of NJSteve
Neat Steve...now they'll have to reprint all of the Hemmings Muscle Machines magazines.... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
[ QUOTE ]
Man, that is incredible! Did you tell the seller that they had once been on your Charger? [/ QUOTE ] Yup. I even brought him the photos to prove it. He was pretty amazed. He had them on his old Mustang for about 10 years. I only stumbled across the auction right before it ended, a few hours before the Superbowl started. I was home because I decided not to go to a Superbowl Party for some unknown reason and was on the internet looking for old Cragars. So now do you all believe the car is truly possessed? It is trying to revert back to it's original 1970 state. You know how the engine I have in it now is 21 VIN numbers higher than the car's VIN. Well, I'm afraid to crawl underneath and look but my guess would be that number span has probably just decreased by a few digits. It's probably only 15 digits higher now. Que the Twilight Zone theme, Rod Serling https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif it's like there's something in the water over there. be careful !!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
You can't make this stuff up!!!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
[ QUOTE ]
I only stumbled across the auction right before it ended, a few hours before the Superbowl started. I was home because I decided not to go to a Superbowl Party for some unknown reason and was on the internet looking for old Cragars. [/ QUOTE ] I met my wife that way. No, not on eBay--I went to a party I almost didn't go to. |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
that is fricken nuts Steve,...even got the tires back to.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Unreal!!
I vote to set up another subforum called "njsteve" Between the indepth restoration pictures, the magic rust remover thread, the hemi/snowstorm thread, with vintage pics, the sun link, with sound, and now this incredible ebay stroke of luck..... like I said, unreal. If I was the seller of those rims and tires and you came to my house to pick them up I would have said, keep your 78 bucks....just jot down some lotto numbers for me to play this week! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
2 4 7 24 27 42.
I had those numbers in a dream in 1994. Haven't worked for me yet, maybe they'll work for you guys. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Steve, If your Hemi is going back to the 70s (ala Christine!), then you need a blue hood https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/laugh.gif
Congrats on the find! |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
It will also need the "Rat Roaster" intake, too, with the carbs sticking through the hacksawed holes in the original hood!
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Wow! Even weirder than the time when I had just boarded a plane in Phoenix and my ex-girlfriend sat down in the seat next to me! That was a quiet flight. I guess you have the good kind of Karma....
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Don't ever have that horseshoe removed from your a-- Steve. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif
http://static.flickr.com/39/101821794_9f89aa962b_m.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
That's really up there.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I spent the past few days cleaning the old rims. They are not in the best of shape, they are rather "patina-fied" as most Cragars are. Since I can't seem to find anyone that will rechrome them, I figured I'll just run them as is. I used a lot of Simichrome and cleaned up the chrome (where I could find it) as much as possible and then masked off the center lug nut areas and sprayed them flat black. Works for me. So I guess I am returning her to her "Rat Rod" beginnings.
Here's the extent of the masking and spraying. Not too high-tech: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/hubpaint.jpg Oh, in case anyone is wondering: The original 1970 vintage center cap is on the right. Note the heavier design and thicker walls. The cap on the left is the later 1970/80s cap (made in Taiwan -it figures)... http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/centers1.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/centers2.jpg The other way to tell the old style from the new is that the old style has a slightly thicker font to the letters and no circled "R" trademark under the name. THere is also a noticeable difference to the background "wrinkled" area. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...68/center4.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...68/center3.jpg The finished set: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...268/wheels.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Here's the finished product. While the 38 year old rear tires are not safe to drive on, they look good enough for show. For the fronts, I ended up using those NOS F78x15s that came with that wrongly described set of front skinny cragars I bought last month. So they ended up being useful afterall.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/lftfront.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...68/lftrear.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...268/rtrear.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...268/rfront.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I also gave the car a present: I installed the old, NOS 1972 Mopar tach I had laying around for the past 25 years or so. Since the factory tach is a little on the wild (and inaccurate) side whne you hit the gas, this tach provides a little better estimation of what the engine is actually doing.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/nk15268/tach.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I said it before and I'll say it again now to you... Never take those off! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif Couldn't look more perfect. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I brought the wheels and tires to my friend's garage to change the valve stems and mount the new fronts and balance them all. (It only took 8 ounces each to balance the rear tires! They are not exactly round anymore after all these years.)
While I had the old front tires off the rims I noticed that the 15x4 Cragars have stamped in large block letters, inside the rim, the following text: "FOR DRAG RACING USE ONLY - NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE". This phrase is continued around the entire inside of the rim. I didn't have my camera with me or I would have gotten a photo of it. |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Bummer. Now you can only drag race the car. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
That sounds strange that a 4" Cragar would be for racing only... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif I wonder if those were made lighter (lighter gauge)?
On another note Steve, are you sure you want to leave that redline on that SUN set where it is????? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif ..............(or were you just testing us)? BTW, those wheels and tires are perfect for that car. IT's 1971 again https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Scarily enough that is the actual redline. Hemi's don't have a problem making power up there with an open exhaust, they just run into bottom end oil starvation problems if you don't have the oiling system sorted out. After 20 years of beatings, I think she's sorted out by now! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
------Mopars just look right with Cragars. I dont know why that is, it just is!!! I had two 66 Hemi Satellites over the years and I put Cragars on both of them within a week of buying them. Your Dodge just couldnt look better with any other aftermarket wheel........Bill S
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I got an email from a very observant member who noticed that the wheel offset appears to be different now. Very good eye! Here's the reason: When I found the car it had a narrower Dana rear end with a Direct Connection inboard leaf spring relocation kit. (Another racing modification by the guy that did the "beer drinkin engine assembly." So the wheels sat a little more inboard than now with the correct width rear.
They are definitely my old Cragars. I pulled one of the caps off and it had the same broken edges under the center cap - the very reason I gave them away in the first place back then, and the same gouges in the inner sidewalls where the tire hit the wheelhouses due to...you guessed it, the narrowed rear and the inboard spring mounting kit! Just another bizarre chapter! http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001207.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
That looks GOOD! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
That does look good alright!
Just a note on the 4" wheels. They were for racing use because the manufacturers felt that a 4" wheel just wasn't robust enough for street use on a 2 ton car. I had a set of 15 X 3 1/2 Centerlines on one of my cars and street driving could provide some 'moments' of excitement. |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I know what you mean about "moments of excitement." I tried backing the car out of the garage after installing the freshly armoralled tires. You can see that the tiny little 2x4 behind the left front tire prevented the 460+ horses from moving the car backwards. Note the skid marks under the rear tires. Those things are about as sticky as a petrified hockey puck.
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
That's because I read your clutch has two settings: On & OFF. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif
Why don't you just leave it in gear when you turn it off??? Then use the EB when you start it..... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Took the Charger out for a spin today since it was sunny and it's a week before Spring and my refinancing came in thereby allowing me to afford a tank of gas. She runs great with that new set of NGK plugs. Idles immediately after start up instead of the 10 minutes of warm up with my foot on the pedal that the old Autolite plugs required. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat...6&fpart=all
As for the tires. Oh Boy! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif It was like driving on the plastic wheels that my son's electric mini-Bigfoot truck uses. Quite entertaining to say the least. While running down the road, suspiciously slow due to the old tires, I had a State Trooper pull alongside me. He rolled down his window and with a plug of chewin tobacco in his cheek, leans over and asks: Hey, ya got some good gas runnin in that thing, eh? I can smell it over here. Nice car." And then he sped off into the sunset. It was like a flashback to the 1970's all over again. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif I love these time machines. They make you feel like a juvenile delinquent all over again. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif We eventually made it home safe and sound. Are there any shows coming up in the area? |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Steve, The only ones on my radar now are E-town in April and our picnic May 17th. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
The info is buried deep on the Other Events forum. Can't wait to see you drive the car with a bag over your head. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif Verne |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I just found this ad on the internet. Looks like the tires date from about 1974.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...-5314-0009.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Parnelli's Glenn Cambell haircut sure dates this c74! Everybody looked like that in the awful 70s! (I was there man.)
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Hey, I dig Glen Campbell. Wichita Lineman is my favorite obscure oldie!
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/P8090006.jpg |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif
I was in 6th grade in 73-74 and almost all of the boys had Glenn Cambell hair. All the guys on my YMCA after school swim team wore Mark Spitz Speedo swimsuits too. Please Steve--back to Cragars and Firestones!!! |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
After looking at that NOS pair of American Racing 200S "Daisies" I had for so long, I got the itch to finally clean up the 38 years of "patina" i.e. tar, overspray, and road grime that wouldn't come off despite numerous attempts with more and more volotile chemicals each time.
Since I had the Charger sitting on the vintage Cragars over the winter, I spent some time and dismounted the old Daisies and had the centers glass beaded. Prior to the glass beading, I covered the rest of the rims in duct tape and that worked pretty well to protect the polished areas. Here's the "before" shot from last year: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...uty_7806-1.jpg And here is one of the NOS wheels I had. You can definitely see from above, what 38 years did to the finish on the raw aluminum hub area: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/P4090005.jpg And here she is today after a run to the ice cream shop with the kids: http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001325.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001326.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...8/S7001327.jpg They came out very well and now look very close to the finish of the NOS pair that I recently sold. I also remounted the tires with the blackwalls out this time. Just for a change in the look so it didnt look so modern with the white "Radial T/A" logos showing. |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Whenever we take the Charger out, my son always demands that I drive it "Speedy Fast", which means screaching the tires while going through the gears. He was funny today perched in his booster seat when, after I hit second gear, he says, "OK, that's enough for now".
I think he was testing me to see if I still had my motor skills and manual dexterity at my advanced age. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif I got a feeling he'll be the one signing the papers to put me away when it comes time for him to "take over" the car. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I get my Daughter to try to hang on to the bench seat head rest as she sits in her fully belted in booster seat in the rear, It's a hoot, (I don't think anybody could hang with a 1-2 6k powershift)" Woo Hoo, burn rubber Daddy" is usually how it goes, tons of fun.
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Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
That's awesome Steve and brings back some memories from when my Son, (buckled into his car seat) who is now 25, used to tell me "Go medium, Dad! after the 2-3 shift.
BA |
Re: MY OLD TIRES RETURNED FROM THE GRAVE!!!
I celebrated Father's Day Eve by washing the Charger. I have never been one for those gimmicky waxes and cleaning concoctions but I thought I'd try the Mother's clay bar cleaning system since the paint on the car felt really rough to the touch for years, from overspray and dirt and other atmospheric crapola.
I used the Mother's clay bar kit and it was absolutely amazing. I washed the car, dried it and then used the bar and their detail spray in the kit. The difference is unbelievable. Before, you could feel the roughness and flatness in the paint when you ran your hand over the roof. With just one run of the bar over each panel, it became like glass. I then used the wax included in the kit. (I've never waxed this car in the 21 years I've owned it - bad owner https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif) The paint is so slick now, that I had trouble putting the car cover back on. Every time I tried to place it on the roof to unfold it, it would slide off and I'd have to run to catch it before it hit the ground. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...a/S7001516.jpg |
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