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My CH Chrysler Hardtop
This is my car. It's a 1972 CH Chrysler
Hardtop - one of 500 built. I have owned it since 1990, and
until 1998 I drove it every day. Now it gets driven about once a
week.
When I bought it, it had been resprayed a revolting metallic brown
sort of colour (see below), and was a mechanical disaster. But,
despite the abuse by previous owners, it always got me home.
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Over the years I have had it re-resprayed and made various changes,
but always in the sprit of garishness and impracticality to which
this car was born. The interior is bit of a disaster area, but I'm
hoping to fix that soon (I've been saying that for two years).
It has factory 360 cubic inch (5.9 litre) V8 engine, torquefilte
727 transmission, factory A/C, factory-style power windows (probably
fitted by a previous owner), factory power steering, and is Australian
built.
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It was originally fitted with a 2 barrel carb and inlet
manifold, which I have replaced with a Carter 625cfm on a factory
dual plane manifold. The carb is a bit of overkill for the basically
stock engine, but gives me enough room for planned cam changes. The
exhaust is still stock (single two-and-quarter inch), but when it
finally dies it will be replaced with some headers and I don't know
what kind of system. Conventional wisdom seems to suggest that a dual
exhaust is the way to go. But do I really need it for an engine built
for low to mid range RPM? Opinions
welcome! |
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To improve the handling I have fitted the
usual gas shocks, a 27mm sway bay up front, and I'm progressively
switching the bushes to nolathane. The rear has an extra leaf and
reset springs, and I'm considering a rear sway bar.
We also have a "modern" daily driver, which is of a certain
other brand which starts with F. This regrettable situation was
caused by Chrysler's 18 year absence in Australia, but now that
they are slowly making a comeback maybe we our next car will have
a pentastar too.
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