Hemi Challenger progress

[njsteve]

It wasn't a shortage issue, it was a product liability/crashworthyness issue involving risk of decapitation of people in the passenger compartment due to a lack of preexisting crumple folds in the brace section under the hood. The later hoods had them. The earlier ones didnt. The Challenger was far more prone to this effect of sheering the hood hinge bolts and shoving the hood through the windshield because there was no front upper header panel like on the Cudas. So when the Challenger ran into something head on, the first thing to get hit was the front leading edge of the hood. This was the "shortage" - until they made the running fix on the hoods, they didnt get put on the cars.

[Tracker1]

Thanks Steve. Yes, that is my understanding as well from Daniel Banker's excellent research on the subject.

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
It wasn't a shortage issue, it was a product liability/crashworthyness issue involving risk of decapitation of people in the passenger compartment due to a lack of preexisting crumple folds in the brace section under the hood. The later hoods had them. The earlier ones didnt. The Challenger was far more prone to this effect of sheering the hood hinge bolts and shoving the hood through the windshield because there was no front upper header panel like on the Cudas. So when the Challenger ran into something head on, the first thing to get hit was the front leading edge of the hood. This was the "shortage" - until they made the running fix on the hoods, they didnt get put on the cars.

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That info is worth the price of membership.

[motionwannabe]

^ definately worth the membership

[CDNL-78]

Lookin real good Charlie, got more pictures??

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It wasn't a shortage issue, it was a product liability/crashworthyness issue involving risk of decapitation of people in the passenger compartment due to a lack of preexisting crumple folds in the brace section under the hood. The later hoods had them. The earlier ones didnt. The Challenger was far more prone to this effect of sheering the hood hinge bolts and shoving the hood through the windshield because there was no front upper header panel like on the Cudas. So when the Challenger ran into something head on, the first thing to get hit was the front leading edge of the hood. This was the "shortage" - until they made the running fix on the hoods, they didnt get put on the cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

That info is worth the price of membership.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's funny how the different manufacturers did the same fix in different ways. Chrysler put the crash creases in the hood sheetmetal while GM on the 2nd Gen Firebirds and Camaros put that giant bolt with the slot in it, on both sides of the top of the cowl to engage the matching slot in the hood if the hood sheared off the hinges in a front end impact.

[Tracker1]

The dates of the "lack of availability" of the Shaker option because of said product liability are generally agreed as Mid October 1969 to Mid April 1970.

[gb70]

Great car Charlie

[Canuck]

I love it that a "Chevy Guy" offers up progress pictures of his rare and stunning Mopar, receives deserving kudos,and pointers all delivered politely and receivesd graciously.
In addition we all benefit from info about why this or that happened and when.
I did not know about those cowl bolts on the Camaro, I always thought someone forgot to put the rubberbumpers on top.
Thanks for sharing this info.
Great looking car Charley.

Paul

[bergy]

Neat car Charley - thanks for sharing the resto. Also great to hear from the pros with regard to the details. My '70 Hemi Challenger is also in resto - please keep posting pics (I'm taking notes). My car has the original grille in it - painted flat black in the center. I thought that it was factory, but must have been sprayed over back in the day.