Hi,
my name is Mark and this is a website on my Dodge Challenger 340
Performance Pack A66.
It is finished in Hemi Orange paint with black upholstery and it's
a matching numbers car. The car was manufactured and released in
October 1969, so it's an early car.
The 340 came as standard with the A66 Performance Pack, which included
heavy duty suspension, 340 engine (E55), E60x15 inch raised white
letter tires (U82), performance hood, heavy duty brakes, heavy duty
suspension (S13), Bumble Bee paint stripe (may be deleted), Scat
Pack (bee) decal and the wheel lip moulding were deleted. The A66
was basically an R/T with a small block 340 engine.
This
Challenger has spent most of it's life in the USA and was imported
to the UK in 2005.
The
car was fully restored in the States, including a body off restoration
and an engine rebuild. It is in excellent condition.
September
2018
A service was
carried out by Tornado Automotive. They also fitted a new steering
coupling and 2 new propshaft U/Js.
October
2018
The Challenger
was smoking on start up, so it was decided to carry out a top engine
rebuild. After taking the heads off, it was clear the valves and
guides were all new so the engine had been rebuild recently. And
the head didn't need skimming either. However the valve stem seals
were missing when the previous rebuild was carried out, so these
were reinstated.
A none designated
side stripe was also fitted. I thought long and hard about it as
it's none original to the A66, but I think it improves the looks.
November
2018
I fitted a high
quality Sony stereo to the Challenger, with Pioneer parcel shelf
speakers. Sounds superb!
December
2018
Christmas arrived
and I was given nice new American Racing alloy centre caps. They
look much better than the existing plastic metalized ones.
January
2019
I primered and
spray painted the front grill and head lamp surrounds satin black,
as I didn't think the standard argent silver grill suited the car.
4 coats of primer and 4 coats of satin black. The head lamp surrounds
were finished in satin black Hammerite to protect them from stone
chips.
March
2019
The Challenger
was taken to Tornado Automotive as there was a fuel leak. This was
caused as the grommet from the fuel pipe to the tank had perished.
A new grommet and sender were fitted and no more leaks. New front
brake lines were also fitted. The drum brakes also had surface corrosion
on them so they were shot blasted and resprayed satin black. The
engine air cleaner was also restored. It looks much better now!
April
2019
I took the Challenger
to a car show in Surrey called Wheels Day. The car gained alot of
attention and was published in the June edition of Classic American
Magazine.
May
2019
II took the
Challenger to Brooklands Mopar day, a great car show and and Classic
American magazine again featured the car in it's July edition.
August
2019
The fuel line
to the carb was replaced, as it was looking old and perished.
I took
the Challenger to Santa Pod for the Mopar Euro Nationals. A great
fun day!
September
2019
I restored the
radiator, as the black paint was peeling off, exposing the metal
beneath. I used wet and dry sand paper to remove the old paint and
then a couple of coats of Frosts radiator paint. It's come up a
treat and makes the engine bay look much better.
January
2020
I bought some
bigger tyres for the rear of the car, to give the Challenger that
1970s stance. The tyres were 255/60/15s and they just about fitted
on the 15x7 Torq Thrust wheels.
However the car has had new rear quarters fitted during it's restoration
and the inner wheel arch lips were 40mm deep and hadn't been cut
back. So I decided to get this done. The lips were cut back with
a grinder very carefully. Then the old inner wheel arch was spot
weld to the new arch and then sealed with an epoxy resin. Then the
arch was sprayed with a couple a layers of Hemi Orange lacquer and
then clear coat to finish. The car is now done and looks much better
to my eyes!
May
2020
I fitted some
deeper dish Torq Thrust Classic alloy wheels to the rear of the
car. The size is 15 x 8 -18mm offset and 3.79" back spacing.
Handling has improved and it looks better!
June
2020
The car was
given a service, new fuel filter and refilled the coolant with Prestons.
July
2020
The carburetter
was rebuilt and bigger jets and new needles fitted. A phenolic spacer
was also fitted under the carb to reduce the heat transfer and prevent
the fuel from vapourising in the carb bowl..
September
2020
The fuel vapour
smell and pinking were atribulted to a vacumm leak in the carburetor.
One of the ports below the carb needed blocking off. This was done
and the car is driving superbly now with much more power.
October
2020
The rear passenger
side quarter was repainted by STR8 Paint in Wallingford. Fuel from
the old leaking fuel cap had cause the paint to lift below it. STR8
Paint did a great job of finishing the panel.
November
2020
The car was
given a ceramic coating to the paint by Tom's Valeting. The paint
was moped initally to remove swirl marks and oxidized paint. Then
a ceramic coating was applied, which gave the car a high gloss,
protective finish. It looks really good, the paint has much more
depth.
May
2021
The car was
given a service, including new spark plugs, oil, oil filter and
air filter. There was an oil leak from the transmission, so a new
trans filter kit was fitted and new fluid.
May
2022
The car was
taken to North American Car Co and I had the rear leaf springs upgraded,
as the original springs were sagging. Namco also upgraded the drum
brakes with new shoes and brake cylinders. They gave the car a check
over and said all was good.
The car sits
slightly higher at the back now and has a more 1970s stance to it,
which I rather like!
June
2022
The car was
running quite rich and there was an issue with the Edlebrock carb.
So I decided to fit a Holly carb to the car instead, as the performance
was better. So a Holly 600CFI was fitted, along with a new ignition
kit, a PerTronix Flame-Thrower 40,000 Volt ohm Coil, a new distributor
and new spark plugs. The running issue was resolved with these changes.
There was also a noise when changing gear, it turned out the trans
mount was broken, so a new one was fitted.
July
2022
The Rear brake
lights weren't working. Turns out a fuse had blown, though the fuse
it's self looked fine! And the rear fuel sender seal was fixed to
stop any leaks
June
2023
The car was
given a service with Valvoline oil, a new Wix 51515 oil filter,
a new air filter and new coolant. A new fuel pump hose was fitted.
Also new radiator coolant hoses top and bottom and a new voltage
control unit was fitted.
June 2024
The car was
given a service with Valvoline oil, a new Wix 51515 oil filter and new Prestone coolant.
The front wheel bearings were changed. I used Timkins 10-11" size, as the A66 has the larger R/T spec 11" drums. Inner and outer bearings (set 2 and set 6) were replaced and a wheel seal 8121S.
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