Hello, my name is John Chaney mopar enthusiast and owner of MoparRestorationParts.com.
My primary mission at MoparRestorationParts.com is to help you create the ultimate affordable muscle car of your dreams and have some fun along the way.
My goals are simple.
With the price of cars as high as they are and most parts even less affordable, I am going to show you ways of saving money using simple techniques that I use to restore many parts at home in my own garage.
I am going to show you what basic tools you should have and some more advanced tools that will save you even more money in the restoration process.
So, let’s get that Classic Muscle car out of your dreams and into reality where the rubber meets the road.
Why am I doing this, it’s really simple: “I just love Classic American Muscle Cars”.
I can’t seem to get enough of them. I am thankful at times that life in general has kept me grounded, like a career, one that helps me afford the parts and more Muscle cars.
My daughter who constantly needs things like cloths and new shoe (can you imagine that). And last but not least, my understanding wife who understands that I would spend our last dime on brake rotors and carburetors even though she doesn’t have a clue as to what they are. (you can work this to your advantage)
How am I going to accomplish these goals?
I will be posting step by step guides and procedures that I use to restore the Muscle cars in my own garage.
I will have a comments and question section where readers will be able to share their own techniques and useful ideas and get answers to issues they may be facing.
I will also ask readers to share their first love affair (with a Muscle car). Most of us have a story to tell. Just pull up to any gas station with your car and you can get dozens of them.
I will also review the parts and products I use on the cars that I am currently restoring in my own garage. No arm chair quarterback here.
More about me.
My love affair with cars in general is in my blood. Even at 4 maybe 5 years old when I would get little toy cars from family as gifts. I am told that I would play with them for hours on end.
Fast forward that about 12 years or so to my first car purchase, my very own 6 cylinder 1966 Baby Blue Ford Mustang. It was an automatic with a red interior. What can I say it was only $ 1500 at the time and it could go a whopping 85 miles per hour downhill with a tailwind.
My next car was a 1969 Pontiac Firebird. It was also blue with a dark blue interior. I thought I would own this car forever. It was powered by a Pontiac 350 2 barrel and an automatic transmission.
Then came my decision to serve my country by joining the US Naval Submarine Service. My love of cars took a backseat to the love of my country. But this is America after all and after getting the bulk of my military training and qualifications finished my passion for American Muscle cars would not be denied.
I was all of 19 or 20 and I was in the yards in Kittery Main and my Submarine the USSN Billfish SS676 was getting an overhaul when one of my Shipmates posted his 70 Trans Am for sale on a board in our floating barracks, thinking this was a Pontiac and no Internet at the time I agreed to buy the car which was at his parent’s house in Plainfield NJ. The rest of the story deserves a post of its own.
But what is important was that it was not a Pontiac at all. It was a 37,000 original mile 340 Six Pac T/A Challenger Pistol Grip 4 speed rally dash with an Am/FM radio three speaker dash, console car B5 blue with a black” gator” grain vinyl top not to mention the side exhaust and fiberglass hood.
Well that day I became a Mopar fan forever. Who wouldn’t have at that point.
My qualifications.
My passion for Muscle cars and particularly Mopars has led me to own more than my fair share of them, and to maintain them.
I had to study them. I would take factory repair manuals to sea with me while I was still in the Navy to study the wiring diagrams, engine building, suspension details, braking and almost anything and everything else within the pages.
I also started to disassemble and collect many parts and joined clubs where I found other like minded people. These experiences and my practical use of the knowledge I gained led me to build cars that have gained national attention, like the only real 71 Cuda Convertible found in the Nash Bridges series, the Car Craft 71 Curious Yellow Hemi Cuda and manage the operations of Ultimate Rids in TX, and ClassicIronCars in MN.
Although it has been a few years since these endeavors, I have not given up on my passion and have always maintained a couple of restorations of my own and assisted friends with their projects.
My Current Projects that will be documented in the posts and pages of MoparRestorationParts.com are a 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and a 1970 Plymouth Satellite. Both are convertibles and both will receive the Muscle car treatment. I recently added a 69 Sport Satellite hardtop to the herd as most of you will have hardtops and will relate more to the work performed on it.
So, let’s get started on Your Muscle car!!!
I am here to help in any way I can whether it is a question about parts, procedures, girlfriends or how to get your wife on board, so bring them all.
Most importantly in a time when so many of the values and traditions we have come to love are being threatened, let’s continue collectively to carry the torch and let’s keep this love affair with American Muscle alive so that our children’s children will know it as well.
Thank you for visiting me,
John, Founder of MoparRestorationPart.com
www.MoparRestorationParts.com
email: GTXJohnC@gmail.com
Disclaimer: MoparRestorationPart.com is not liable for any information or technique that is presented here and performed by anyone reading or viewing posts which results in harm or bodily injury.
I was really impressed with your thoroughness and realize how much you put into this site! You are a great writer and are able to express who you are, not only through your mechanical skills but also your musical skills. I thank you for keeping the dream alive
Brian, I really appreciate the kind words. I hope everyone has some fun and gets something from the site that will help them get their cars back on the road.
GTXJohnC
Any updates on the Apollo motorhome?
Jeff..Appreciate your comments and questions. I have been gathering the parts I will need to get it running, stopping and driving.
I have planned a trip out to CA next month (Oct) when it cools down a little in SoCal where the unit is stored. My primary focus will be to get it running after long storage (5 years). So, to this end I have bought plugs, wires, a new fuel pump, water pump, upper and lower radiator hoses, belts, and I found a matching Carter Thermoquad carburetor to rebuild.
To address the transmission, I have a new filter, a deeper pan and pickup. I hope a fluid change and a few adjustments will be all it needs since it was working well when parked.
The cooling system currently looks like it had antifreeze in it and does not leak. I still plan on a flush and fluid change along with the hoses and belts. I will bring along a new water pump just in case there is an issue and a new fan Clutch to cover all of the bases. I have a good pressure tester to check it all out to make sure it will hold the proper pressure when I am done.
The radiator appears to be in good condition but I will look at it and decide after inspection what path I will take. Aluminum radiators are the way to go to save money.
Brakes will be fun. I have found front pads and there is a local shop that can rebuild the booster and they have calipers in stock. I have not located rear cylinders yet but hope to do so before I leave. I have also not found a source for new Rotors and hope the ones on the unit good enough to use.
I worry about the fuel system and getting the tanks clean enough not to clog the fuel lines and filter and cause any other damage to the engine. I will probably have to rely on a local tank restoration shop to get the job done.
I have also been looking for Onan Generator parts and have collected enough to get it up and running barring any catastrophic issues. I will have to get the fuel system cleaned first before I attempt to even try to start it.
Other issues I have to address is the age of the tires, changing the fluids in the differential and greasing all the joints and replacing many rubber vacuum hoses. I will also have to bring a few deep cycle batteries along with me.
This unit was running and driving when parked, the interior although somewhat dated was restored in the late 80’s and looks well maintained. There are no rodent issues, water leaks or any other known issues. So I am hoping this will be a straight forward process.
Most of the parts I bought were found at Napa and E-Bay. I did buy a couple of service manuals and I was lucky enough to have the owner’s manual and loads of receipts that show what maintenance was performed and where and when it was completed.
I will document the experience on my website and U-Tube channels so any other comments and experiences that you want to share will be appreciated.
GTXJohnC
John has been the only reason i have a completed 70 Cuda. I am so impressed with his willingness to help
Jim..Thanks for the kind words. I hope that you have a B-Body on your horizon some day and we can get that up and running and looking as nice as your Cuda.
GTXJohnC
Looking for the console mtg bracket project
Hi Videos for replacing the trunk pan are missing parts 5,6,7,8 and 9. Where can i find these
Thanks Brett
hi John I have a 66 Belvedere that I’m trying to put 67 GTX seats in the rear seat back has different upper brackets than the 66, is there anyway I can find the brackets for this seat?
Ive never met anyone that has the love and passion for restoring old rust buckets into peoples dream cars. Example the Cuda on Nash Bridges, which at 7 years old, I helped him cut the gas tank out when it was in Virgina beach. It was just shell that needed more then tlc it needed JNC.
So the next time i saw the car i was 9 and it was in New Mexico and was a beautiful purple whith the black Hemi on the back, I got the pleasure of installing the seat belts at that time. John Chaney is my father and i’ve been impressed with his work my whole life and there have been over 350 cars he’s and ive gotten dropped of at school and been the coolest kid in town because of his cars. Dad i just want to say im proud of all your accomplishments and for NEVER given up on your passion even when it hurts to be under that car you will still fo it just to see the end result of another John Chaney master piece. Love you POPs. Ive been all over the country traveling to car shows and i could ask for a better riding buddy then you dad haha guy will go beast mode and drive 2 days straight and it might even just be some original door handles then pick up any good deals on the way back home. Keep it up dad.
Do u have a dash cage I can use for pieces?
John,
I sent you an email regarding the power window conversion kit for your 1968 Coronet Convertible. Please let us know if you’d like to order one!
Trevor
805-306-0795