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1968 Hemi

68HemiCharger

68HemiCharger

Member
Local time
10:11 AM
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
17
Reaction score
48
Location
Michigan
Hi Everyone. I'm new here and my father in law just purchased an original 1968 Hemi Charger. Whats great about it is, he bought it and I get to work on it and drive it too! 68 Charger is my dream car.

Anyway.. two things. When this car got delivered I noticed the idle speed was ridiculously high at 1800 RPM in Park. Drops down to 500 when in gear. I've only messed with carbs with manual transmissions on classic pickups. Not use to the dual quad performance engines and automatic transmissions. But really where should the idle speeds be at in park and in gear? Ive lowered the idle speed in park to 1100 rpm and in gear it drops below 500 and doesn't seem to like being that low.. what do I need to do to get this right? The engine is apparently all stock original low mileage never rebuilt.

Also where can I obtain a replacement air filter for this thats NOT a K&N or a filthy NOS one thats been sitting on a shelf for years. Just want a simple dry replacement filter.. apparently no very easy to find..
 
Welcome from North Florida.
I am sure someone here can answer your questions.
Introduce yourself on the "Welcome Wagon" thread and we are definitely going to need to see some pictures of the Charger.
And joining on national HEMI day as well :thumbsup:
 
69 Sleeper Bee said:
Welcome from North Florida.
I am sure someone here can answer your questions.
Introduce yourself on the "Welcome Wagon" thread and we are definitely going to need to see some pictures of the Charger.
And joining on national HEMI day as well :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

20210418_183534.jpg 20210418_183632.jpg
 
Welcome aboard! Big fan of 68 Hemi Charger's. I've had three different ones over the years. Your pictures look like the car that ran through Mecum recently in Houston. Is it??
Take a look at the ignition timing. Where is it at in park/Neutral?? I'm at work right now and going off of memory but I think it's TDC or +2.5 at 800 RPM ?? I think I'm at least close on that. Also check for any slight vacuum leaks. It's possible the seller jacked up the idle a little bit to cover a slight vacuum leak.
 
Yep this is the one from Houston. Thanks for the tips. I'll check on the timing and check for vacuum leaks. I appreciate it
 
68HemiCharger said:
Yep this is the one from Houston. Thanks for the tips. I'll check on the timing and check for vacuum leaks. I appreciate it
Click to expand...
I own a 68 gold hemi dodge charger Nice car you bought Bob H 708 687 1187

goldie.JPG
 
nice charger!
For the idle drop, first thoughts that come to mind is possibly a vacuum leak? Maybe timing is off?
Should get out the timing light and see what's going on... at that high of an idle in park, maybe the centrifugal advance could be operating--> idle drops when put in gear ---> loss of timing-->poor idle
let's get that Hemi running right!
 
Welcome aboard from Cincinnati. :)

Great color combo! Don't see many EE1 cars. One of my favorites.
 
68HemiCharger said:
Hi Everyone. I'm new here and my father in law just purchased an original 1968 Hemi Charger. Whats great about it is, he bought it and I get to work on it and drive it too! 68 Charger is my dream car.

Anyway.. two things. When this car got delivered I noticed the idle speed was ridiculously high at 1800 RPM in Park. Drops down to 500 when in gear. I've only messed with carbs with manual transmissions on classic pickups. Not use to the dual quad performance engines and automatic transmissions. But really where should the idle speeds be at in park and in gear? Ive lowered the idle speed in park to 1100 rpm and in gear it drops below 500 and doesn't seem to like being that low.. what do I need to do to get this right? The engine is apparently all stock original low mileage never rebuilt.

Also where can I obtain a replacement air filter for this thats NOT a K&N or a filthy NOS one thats been sitting on a shelf for years. Just want a simple dry replacement filter.. apparently no very easy to find..
Click to expand...
Welcome from nearby Ontario. Good score on the '68 Charger. You get to work on it and drive it, and don't have to pay the bills. It doesn't get any better than that! Try Mancini's or Roseville Dodge for air filter.
 
It should not drop that much if it has a correct Hemi torque converter which is generally pretty loose. Could be a vacuum leak or way too low on initial timing. Check to make sure idle mixture screws are correctly adjusted on both carbs. Some PO may have thought it was supposed to idle on only the rear carb rather than both. Could also have an incorrect torque converter but even with a tight one dropping from 1100 to below 500 rpm would be unexpected.
 
My money is on vacuum leak or serious timing issue . Thats WAY to much drop from idle to in gear RPM

mine idles at maybe 1000 and only drops to approx 500-600 in drive
 
Ps,

LOVE the EE1 dark blue.

I built one for a friend a few years back. EE1 , white interior and stripe , but 440 4 spd car

right-front.jpg.cb7ddce5adc7f92e56da3cdea6991d23.jpg
 
Great car!
Would have also gone the hemi route if i had the dough...
 
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