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**1970 Dodge Charger STUDENT build!!! matching numbers! (teacher posting)**

SpartanGarage

SpartanGarage

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Hello B Body people! Last year was a great success! Now we are starting the 2026 Classic car build! Take a look at our 1970 Dodge Charger that I was told came out of Oneida New York. We purchased it out of Utica area. Previous owner was in Durhamville New York.

Anywho. Since finding this car am I wrong to push students towards keeping the numbers matching aspect? Does it mean much to anyone that would want this car? Just wanted to ask. I'll post a few progress photos soon. Should be getting vehicle back from paint/body but it will be in primer.

Engine 318.
Transmission A904

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What a great project. Original is never a bad thing but modified and clone cars bring good money when resold. Your choice.
 
That looks like an XH Charger, the base model. The 318 is a great engine but numbers matching matters a lot more with the larger engines like the 383-440.
Good luck with the project.
 
An auto tech shop with a 70 Charger and two Novas, COOL!!!!

Nothing wrong with matching numbers, but a nice stroker kit put in the original block would add additional interest.
 
I would say stick a 440 in it. Either a 727 ( easy) or convert to 4 speed (more work). Add a sure grip 8 3/4. Don't add R/T. Badges. And it will sell for good money to some one who wants a 70 charger to drive around and have fun with.
 
I've been supporting your cause for over 10 years. I buy three tickets every year.
 
Any student(s) that suggest an LS swap are to be expelled for the remainder of the school year.
:rofl:

***
I would just keep the 318/904, but do some performance enhancements. I see the car already has dual exhaust.

Swap out the rear gears to a 3.x:1 ratio.

Upgrade the brakes to power discs.

Add Digi-Tails
1969-70 Charger | DIGI-TAILS

Add an aftermarket air conditioning maybe.

Add a tic-toc-tac.

Use different outside door mirrors, not the square ones in your earlier pics.

Use stock/reproduction chrome exhaust tips.


***
Do you have the fender tag and broadcast sheet? Was the car originally red with a black vinyl top? Interior color? Which front seats?
 
68-70 Chargers are Mopar gold for the moment. This car ought to sell a LOT of raffle tickets no matter the engine.
Since you already have the 318, it makes sense to just add dual exhaust and a 4 barrel intake. A 440 swap means different mounts, brackets and pullies.
Add in a different transmission which means different shift linkage, cooler lines, a shorter drive shaft too.
In some cases, it is good to leave some meat on the bone where a new owner can change a few things to make it their own.
 
Awesome project.

Like others have suggested keep it numbers matching, it's only original once.
 
Since it is a 318 car and it is a student project, I would be inclined to stick a 392 crate engine and silver sport 5 speed transmission depending of your budget. I am sure that it would push the value higher in this car than a base 318. Food for thought.
 
Numbers don't carry a lot of weight for this situation.
Pull and save the numbers parts to go with the car and put whatever you think would be a better learning experience for the students in the car.
Cost is the only consideration in making that choice. Money usually matters.
Body work is fun. Wait till you get to wiring.
 
Work with the engine that is there
Good for the kids to learn about how the original stuff worked anyways
Let the next owner change it up if they wanted
Anything other than a 440 upgrade would need a lot of wires and more money to do than your budget might handle
 
So I'm sure I'm repeating some of what has been said here already, but here is my opinion.
Yes, Chargers are Mopar gold right now so it should generate a lot of interest. But 318's just aren't high performance in a big B-Body, and that's what people want. Number's matching is important for a performance build, but much less so for a car like this. The value of this is in the BODY - it is a Charger!

So I am in the camp to upgrade it. Cars that look original but have comfort and performance improvements (i.e. resto-mods) also fetch big dollars and interest. How you do that is up to you. It could be to transplant a 440, but I also like the resto-mod idea of putting in a more modern 5.7 or 6.4 Hemi. Of course also with A/C and an overdrive. Charger resto-mod, done well, will generate huge interest. Perhaps you can source a 6.4 hemi from a junk yard for a reasonable price. (And you could always include the original number's matching driveline to the winner.)

Bottom line is as long as you build this car nicely, it will generate big interest and should do well. Good Luck!
 
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