mopar73dge
Well-Known Member
After many years of working on this Charger (37) and the many parts changes I have done,
I have come to the conclusion that todays parts do not match what the factory had in quality and longevity.
I am now on my 3rd water pump 3rd starter and 3rd distributor.
The original pump lasted over 80000 miles, the second one, some how let go and the impeller started rubbing inside of the housing, only after 7000 miles and that was a new one The 3rd, the gasket that came with it decides to seep, it is those black ones like paper or something, not knowing I used it. This last one the 4th,is a new heavy duty Car Quest for police duty. It too had the black gasket, thin paper like, well I purchased the Fel Pro blue, thicker and a better material. for only 2.29 more, The starter I replaced lasted 100000 miles, was original have since replaced with a heavy duty many years ago and still going... The distributor, new they claim the shaft was bent out of the box,the reluctor hit the pick up coil, returned it, bought a even better quality for 20.00 more, so far so good. The original dist. lasted over 1000000 miles and of course the bearing wore out.
The heater hoses I purchased, sorry no pics. yet from Year One Inc, reproduction, very thick and very hard to install has anyone had this problem?, well just replaced and the 5/8 going on the pump side, seemed to come apart at the end when I just re installed with a clean cut end, the pump nipple some how pushed against the hose end causing it to leak which I thought was the bypass hose all this time. Hours of extra work, the hose seems to be made in two layers, well I went to the parts store got the Gates 5/8 inch hose does not look like the original but went on in a few sec and every thing is back and with out leaks, so much trouble. I remember having the two original Chrysler 5/8 heater hoses from the valve to the heater core, thinner material original with 135000 miles on them still like new always came on and off very easily for projects under the hood over many years, It goes to show you these reproductions are not that accurate when compared to the originals. Those aluminum straps that tie the hoses up for 73 models, it is not like the original material. Mine is a softer aluminum the re pros are stiffer and harder mix of material.
I have learned to do some home work over these years and not accept poor designs or poor quality. There are many other parts I have found that are NOS and I am happy they still exist. My 318 Charger now has 168000 miles on it. I will have my original Chrysler radiator rebuilt by Glen Ray in the Spring.
I have come to the conclusion that todays parts do not match what the factory had in quality and longevity.
I am now on my 3rd water pump 3rd starter and 3rd distributor.
The original pump lasted over 80000 miles, the second one, some how let go and the impeller started rubbing inside of the housing, only after 7000 miles and that was a new one The 3rd, the gasket that came with it decides to seep, it is those black ones like paper or something, not knowing I used it. This last one the 4th,is a new heavy duty Car Quest for police duty. It too had the black gasket, thin paper like, well I purchased the Fel Pro blue, thicker and a better material. for only 2.29 more, The starter I replaced lasted 100000 miles, was original have since replaced with a heavy duty many years ago and still going... The distributor, new they claim the shaft was bent out of the box,the reluctor hit the pick up coil, returned it, bought a even better quality for 20.00 more, so far so good. The original dist. lasted over 1000000 miles and of course the bearing wore out.
The heater hoses I purchased, sorry no pics. yet from Year One Inc, reproduction, very thick and very hard to install has anyone had this problem?, well just replaced and the 5/8 going on the pump side, seemed to come apart at the end when I just re installed with a clean cut end, the pump nipple some how pushed against the hose end causing it to leak which I thought was the bypass hose all this time. Hours of extra work, the hose seems to be made in two layers, well I went to the parts store got the Gates 5/8 inch hose does not look like the original but went on in a few sec and every thing is back and with out leaks, so much trouble. I remember having the two original Chrysler 5/8 heater hoses from the valve to the heater core, thinner material original with 135000 miles on them still like new always came on and off very easily for projects under the hood over many years, It goes to show you these reproductions are not that accurate when compared to the originals. Those aluminum straps that tie the hoses up for 73 models, it is not like the original material. Mine is a softer aluminum the re pros are stiffer and harder mix of material.
I have learned to do some home work over these years and not accept poor designs or poor quality. There are many other parts I have found that are NOS and I am happy they still exist. My 318 Charger now has 168000 miles on it. I will have my original Chrysler radiator rebuilt by Glen Ray in the Spring.
