The Dodge Challenger Message Board

MoPar Nats Columbus Ohio Sat/Sun 12,13 Aug. 2007: Anyone going? I am leaving Terre Haute In. with my brother Tom at 5:00 AM arrive maybe 9:00 AM. Year One Tent and Muscle Car Restorations where they invited my car but I couldnt bring it. The money required for transportation just wasnt possible this year due to my Garage/Shop construction planned,($9,000), for the concrete starting line, err, Driveway thats going in next month! Then Chrondeks! I'll take my digi cam and surely post some nice Challengers. Anyone need anything or prices on anything let me know. Yes, females will be scoped and pics taken!

airfuelEddie wrote: Yes, females will be scoped and pics taken!

Be sure to show us these, then. I can't go this year.

If you can take a look at some new sheetmetal (I see someone, maybe Goodmark, made it into the Mopar Performance catalog), and judge the quality (thickness, finish), I'd like to know about that. especially fenders and front valance. If these look good, I'll probably order them straight from Chrysler here.
Or I'll take the hardtop fenders for the convertible, and buy fiber for the hardtop.

If I can get off work and if my wife doesn't mind missing our wedding anniversary, We will be there.

Hey Eddie. I am going this Friday and Saturday. Maybe we could meet somewhere on Saturday. I am contemplating taking my car, but I do not have it pre-registered. I wonder if they will register at the gate?
Bob

David I hope to see you there, check the Year One tent on Sat. Fabian, I will seek those items out for you and report my findings. I hope it meets "our" strict requirements and I too would be interested in case of an accident,(God forbid), Bob, I will call you as soon as I arrive, I have your cell#, as far as the pre-registration I dont know. They are pretty strict from what I have heard, but I cant see them turning your beautiful car down at the gate. That wouldnt be proper in my book! I would however check with their site, www.moparnats.org . I hope to meet as many of you there and wish my friends overseas would accompany me. It would be a blast!

airfuelEddie wrote: I hope to meet as many of you there and wish my friends overseas would accompany me. It would be a blast!

I usually go every other year, so that may happen eventually. Although I'm thinking about Mopars at the Strip for 2008, o even Carlisle (never been to either)...

One more thing if I may ask : I've been looking for a tall scoop on a Challenger hood for a while, and all I found that does not look ugly is the 5" TA lookalike from VFN Fiberglass.
The only picture I've ever seen of that one is on the supplier's web site, so I may be (very) wrong on the ugly factor : http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/7074challenger.htm

If you spot one at the Nats, take a picture for me! Or any nicely made scoop that does not look like a pro-stock scoop or a Chevy inverted scoop.

I'll probably have to settle on a model before winter, to replace the sorry excuse for a paper-thin sheet of fiberglass I have on now...

No problem Fabian, I will check those out as well. Front valance, Fenders, V.F.N. fiberglass hood with scoop or any Challenger T/A style hood. Got it Fabian! Too bad you cant attend! I remember when Ehrenberg attended the French Nationals and thought that very interesting! Contacted Muscle Car Restorations and they are going to have a set of passes for my brother Tom and I waiting for us at the gate! What a class act and now all I need is cash, my bro, My diesel truck that gets 22 MPG!, Digi cam, blow up companion, bottle of abisynth for after the nats, bail money. All set!

Leaving for the MoPar Nats as soon as I type this in! If you dont hear about me for a while send BAIL MONEY or MIKE FORCE!! Pics to follow soon as I return. Hope to see David and his wife, Bob, anyone else ect..

Got back last evening. Had a great time but wish I could have spent more time there. Met Bob at the "Mens room" of all places! Hey when you gotta go.... I saw these two gorgeous ladies and asked them a question, there response to me was.... Stay away from us Sir! Wipe that godawful drool from your chin, you are disgusting! (They wanted me)

Fabian, I walked the Manufacturers Midway three times and was kind of disappointed in the lack of re-pop sheetmetal available there. One man from Advance AutoBody Specialties had some fron valance panels,(Cuda) and had Challenger as well but not at the show. He also said his fenders were sold out at the show. I took these pics of the front valance sections. They appeared to be very high quality but "felt" a little lighter in weight. I asked him if they where the same thickness as O.E.M. He said they were not. They are a "tad" thinner. He stated they where all thinner than the sixties and seventies.

Another.

RIP Dandy Dick

Something about this car. Besides E-bodies this is what I would buy if I had the money.

Mondo 582 All Aluminum Hemi. Fast I.R. EFI injection, caged, 4-corner I.S. very expensive. The craftsmanship was incredible.

1970 Challenger when it's completed.

I didnt like the way they sectioned off everything. There were "car shows within car shows" in the parking areas they had groups of cars and tents everywhere so it was difficult to see unless you walked the entire area in sections. I guess thats why many moPar fans I know personally wont go to the Nats anymore.

I did spend considerable time talking to the engine builders there like Arrington Racing engines, also 440 Source had some quality parts for decent prices. I am going to order the 474 kit from them in a few months. 1600.00 will get me a 4340 Crank, 4340 H-Beams, 2618 Forged Aluminum Pistons, Pins, Plasma ductile rings, coated bearings for rods and mains, internally balanced,(Hines).

I would have to make sure I had plenty of spending money if I went there.

Yeah Dave, everything is going up in price. It was 135.00 just to get your car behind the "wire" but only 35.00 and 5.00 for parking for you if you kept it in the parking area, odd, there was so many sections that I missed the Viper's and Challenger rows. I would have loved to have brought that stroker kit home. I too, need more spending money!

Another tricked out B-Body,(becoming all too common).

At first I didnt know what the hell it was, E-body B- ect..when it gets to that point, the classic MoPar design has been compromised. It was a "work of art" as far as craftsmanship and huge sums of money. It's not my bag man. Where does one stop?

E-bodies including a 70 Shaker Dodge. I dont like to "dis" anyones car. I didnt see the N96 on the fender tag so.....it was beautiful! I love those plum "caaraazy" MoPars!

another, my brother Tom was mesmorized! He just saw the blondes.

I didnt get a chance to see David. Can't wait for next year! My car is going to be in it for sure and Fred at MCR said it will have an open invite anytime. Kudos to Muscle Car Restorations and their Extreme hospitality towards my brother and I.

I know it's not a Challenger, but this Charger was awesome! And those wheel/tire combo will be on my Challenger before Christmas. Jack T. you are right man, any color other than the correct body color wont look right! This car is beautiful!

airfuelEddie wrote:Fabian, I walked the Manufacturers Midway three times and was kind of disappointed in the lack of re-pop sheetmetal available there.

THanks for the pics, Eddie.
I was expecting the sheetmetal to be thin, so no surprise here.

I'll be asking for prices on that straight from Chrysler here (both fenders and front valance).

About 440Source, the 474 is a new kit? You're starting from a 383, right?

Spent 2 days at the nats and did not get to see all of it. It was great to see you Eddie, even though for some reason you were hanging out at the entrance to the mens room. I agree that I also don't like the layout. It makes it very difficult to see everything. I noticed that attendance was down from previous years and I think and everyone else thinks it is because of the layout. Still there was a lot of beautiful cars. Well worth the trip. They did not have the original concept Challenger. Just the super stock version. I did meet and old buddy who works at the Auburn Hills Tech center. He saw several pre production Challengers in the "shop". He said that the grille is more 70 like than the concept. Still pre production and still just a rumor though. I can not wait for the Challenger to make its return. Feb/06/2008 11:00 am.
Bob

fbernard wrote:

airfuelEddie wrote:Fabian, I walked the Manufacturers Midway three times and was kind of disappointed in the lack of re-pop sheetmetal available there.

THanks for the pics, Eddie.
I was expecting the sheetmetal to be thin, so no surprise here.

I'll be asking for prices on that straight from Chrysler here (both fenders and front valance).

About 440Source, the 474 is a new kit? You're starting from a 383, right?

Thanks Fabian, The 474/400 is using a 1976 400 block. I compared piston Heights to all the strokers available, mine is 1.485 with a little material for the piston pin left and decent piston control in the bores. This is going to be used 98% on the street and I want the utmost in reliability and oil control. Do you think I could go "bigger" with a different combo and still retain true street usage with a similar piston?