"Project Mopar" & "Bandito Racing LLC"

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2004

"click" on the next year to see the progress

This vehicle has been a race car much of its life, "click" on the year to the left to follow this project as it grows with each new problem as we dig deeper and deeper into its hidden past.

Once purchased and getting the car home a month later the first thing done was check the VIN Number to determine what we really have and what was told we had from previous owner?

Here is how the Challenger body code plate reads, a complete break down of the code furnished by "Chrysler Parts depot of Ft. Lupton, CO.

Breakdown on the body code plate of 1970 Challenger VIN JH23H0B189708

J=Challenger

H=Highline in this case R/T

23=2 Door Hardtop

H=340 4 BBL 275 HP

0=1970 Production year ….. production year runs from approximately 8/1/1969 thru 7/30/1970

B=Hamtramck MI assembly

189708=the sequence number which in this case started with 100000 and had Plymouth Barracudas in the same sequence.

Option Codes

Bottom Line

E55= 340 cid 8 cylinder 4 BBL

Line 2^nd Line from bottom

FC7= Paint Code “Plumb Crazy” - Purple

H6X9= Highline all vinyl black special seat….this is a high back bucket seat

000= interior paint code….in this case black

B12= Projected date of build November 12

001226= the document number used to order and build vehicle

D32= Torqueflite 727 Automatic Transmission changed to 904 Automatic Transmission for weight.

Line 3^rd Line from bottom

V1X= Boar grain vinyl top removed

A01= Light package- Includes Map, Courtesy, Glove Box Ignition w/ Timer, Ashtray, Lamps and Fender or Hood Mounted Turn Signal Indicators removed

A66= Challenger 340 Performance Package ( 4 bbl carb.). changed

B51= Power Brakes removed

C16= Console With Bucket Seats removed

C55= Bucket Seats removed

Line 4^th Line from bottom

G35= Left Hand Remote Racing Mirror removed

H51= Air Conditioning With Heater removed

M21= Drip Rail Mouldings

N41= Dual Exhaust removed

N42= Chrome Exhaust Tips removed

R22= AM 8 Track Tape Player removed

Y98=Cannot read code…..need further investigation

Y05=Built to US Specs

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This was the way the car was found when purchased in MN. It had been sitting in a heated garage for several years after being setup and raced in F/SA and G/SA NHRA classes.

1970 Production year … the grill and hood where changed to 1971 production year items for an advantage of a lower class.

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After checking the VIN information and then doing a close check of what was in front of us it was discovered it was in need of serious repairs with the rusted condition covered with "Bondo" and paint:

quarter panels
front fender repair
inner rear quarter panels
trunk floor pan
rear window panel
trunk lid

* The car had been hit in the rear at one time, then repaired with lots of "Bondo".

sections of front floor pan were also rusted out
rear floor pan needed straightened where the drive-shaft got loose at one time.

At this point we felt the car needed to be pulled down and completely rebuilt to make a bad investment into hopefully a good investment? But before doing so we wanted to test the drive-train. We took the car to our local drag strip Bandimere's Speedway in Denver CO before starting the rebuild process to see how it performed, check weight and handling. After a short testing period in 2004 we felt it was in need of help.

"PROJECT MOPAR" was reborn, work would be completed at a local restoration, race car shop in Commerce City, Colorado. We thank Mr. Daniel Newbold for his advise and top rate workmanship.

2004 with the car's original setup it went across the scales at 3425 lb. without driver.
2004 testing in Denver CO at a mile high we had a best of 12.98 ET @ 101.26 mph.

Almost a second slower than its best time when in competition in Brainred, MN several years before, if told the truth? We realized the car would be slower being a "Mile High" in Denver CO, thinner air than MN.

2004


Brainerd, MN.	Look at car in MN.	Legal stock G/SA.	Old interior.


Not bad looking for having sat for several years.	Should have walked away and went home.	In Denver after cleaned up.	Starting to find problems.


Car has not been taken care of like originally thought.	Everything we get into has some problems.	Lots of body fillers.	Needs more than first thought.

This was built with performance in mind.

*Motor Build Sheet*	Transmission or Rear-end
*Interior-Exterior-Suspension-Drive Train*	SALE'S SHEET

PROJECT MOPAR another

"BANDITO DODGE"

10/01/2011