MOPAR JOHNS EK2 SUPERBIRD RESTORATION!!

[Mopar John]

So basically it is just making the idle a bit faster all the time until you turn the key off so the idle drops some and helps the engine stall out ?

Yes!

[FJ5WING]

Another jewel added to the crown! Nice work John! I also had Scott restore my Idle solenoid when he was restoring my Holleys for the Superbird!

[Mopar John]

Another jewel added to the crown! Nice work John! I also had Scott restore my Idle solenoid when he was restoring my Holleys for the Superbird!

Dave,
 Thanks for the kind comments on the Superbird!
I know when you were restoring yours you were trying for that same level of results!
Sad that you no longer have it but glad your still active here.
MJ

[Mopar John]

               SUPERBIRD PASSENGER SIDE VALVE COVER OIL BREATHER GROMMETS
Recently I found a couple of NOS drivers side valve cover PCV valve grommets for my Superbird.
When I checked my stash I did not find any for the passengers side valve cover oil breather?
After doing some checking I found out that there are at least 3 versions out there!
The first version is the factory assembly line grommets that came on our Superbirds when they where built.
These have a 2946 079 part number with a space between the 6 and 0.
They also have a vendor code of 58418 with no Pentastar!
I see these on unrestored original Superbirds and those with high level restorations.
My first 2 pictures show these grommets.
The next grommet came along in the 1970's and are showing up on a lot of the restored Superbirds.
These have a 2946079 part number with no space.
The also have a vendor code of 99201 and have a Pentastar molded in!
I show these in my third and fourth pictures.
The last version which is available now has the same 2946079 part number.
But the top side of the grommet is smooth and the part number is on the underside where you can't see it!
I show this in my last picture.
MJ

[taxspeaker]

The detail continues to amaze me. Thanks for it! Makes me wonder about mine!

[Mopar John]

The detail continues to amaze me. Thanks for it! Makes me wonder about mine!

Thanks Bob!
 I am glad someone is still interested in "ORIGINAL" details!
MJ

[Mopar John]

                    SUPERBIRD ORIGINAL REAR ARM REST BASES 1250BZ1
So for years when I was parting out cars I would save the rear arm rest bases.
Most of them were wore out on the top side but they were reversible side to side.
When I started gathering NOS parts in the early 2000's I started to look for  pair of NOS bases.
I even have a want ad in the parts section on this site!
I didn't find any in time for the Daytona restoration or the Superbird restoration.
So we used originals that were re-chromed.
The originals are part number 1250BZ1
I finally found an orphan NOS base about 5 years ago.
Just recently I finally purchased another orphan to make my pair of NOS bases!
It was listed incorrectly as a front base but did have the correct part number.
My first picture shows the 2 NOS bases and packaging.
The second picture shows a close up of the outside.
The third picture shows a close up of the inside.
I would like to note here that the inside cavities of the back side are gray in color.
Most re-chromes are all chrome in these areas!
The last 2 pictures show the 1250B part number molded in and an AASQ code molded in along with a Pentastar!
ENJOY! MJ

[Wingnut426]

Hi John, Here is a question on date coded 2 piece front rotors. From what I understand the outer part has a date code, but can't be seen once it is swedged onto the actual rotor. Your thoughts? WINGNUT

[Mopar John]

Hi John, Here is a question on date coded 2 piece front rotors. From what I understand the outer part has a date code, but can't be seen once it is swedged onto the actual rotor. Your thoughts? WINGNUT

Pete,
 I have never found a date code on original rotors.
So your theory is possible?
We need someone with a junk original rotor to take it apart and see!
MJ

[Mopar John]

                          SUPERBIRD ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP
 Recently I came across a guy selling restored windshield washer pumps.
The one I have on the Superbird is an NOS unit.
But my original date code correct pump for my 1970 GTX was ugly!
The details of the pump will be the same for our Superbirds.
So I contacted him and he agreed to restore my pump.
First I will post the before pictures of the pump before sending it off.
In the pictures you will see the round mold mark on the elbow.
The superceded parts do not have this and you can see them very easy
by looking under the washer bottle!
Because of where the small thin strip is with the date code
it is often snapped off from removing and installing the hose.
This one is a 111 9 or 111th day 1969 for an early August build.
My next reply will have the after pictures taken from the same views!
MJ

[Mopar John]

                   SUPERBIRD ORIGINAL WASHER PUMP PART 2!
 So this reply has the after restoration pictures.
He cleaned up the white plastic parts and they look great!
He does not have any wire leads with the grommet so he used my original.
The turn around was quick and the pump looks really nice.
I have it boxed and labeled for my GTX!
This is what a correct original pump should look like!
Enjoy! MJ

[moparstuart]

who restored it for you John  ? 

[Mopar John]

who restored it for you John  ? 

Stuart,
 I have sent you a pm with the contact info of the guy that restored my pump.
He does this on a case by case basis based on the condition of your pump
and the parts he has available at the time.
MJ

[FJ5WING]

The pump turned out fantastic! Such an overlooked part that'll make such a difference to the people that do notice!

[Mopar John]

                    ORIGINAL SUPERBIRD HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH
 It's funny how things work out sometimes!
Recently I have been working my way through a milk crate of electrical components.
I dug out all the original headlight dimmer switches and found 4 of them.
I decided to check the internet and see if I could find an NOS one?
Being that every MOPAR made had one of these I was shocked at how few were available!
The next thing was how pricy the few NOS ones were that I did find were!
Then I noticed ALL the NOS ones for sale were WRONG!
Somewhere in the early 70's Chrysler added a shroud in the casting were the wire harness plugged in.
This was probably due to problems with that connecter getting wet from rain and snow.
The NOS ones were also made by a new supplier ESSEX!
So I have attached some pictures of my originals.
The first picture shows all 4 sides of them.
The second picture shows the bottoms with the "RBM" company logo cast into them.
The third through sixth pictures shows the date codes stamped into the bottoms.
The date codes are 498 ( 49th week 1968 ), 219 ( 21st week 1969), 479 (47th week 1969) and 050 (5th week 1970).
The 219 probably came from one of the Daytona's and the 479 probably came from the Superbird!
So now boys it's time to rip up those carpets unlpug the harness and unbolt those switches!
That's the only way to be sure if you have the correct switch in your Superbird!
Does anyone know if there is someone out there that cosmetically restores these?
ENJOY! MJ

[Mopar John]

                      ORIGINAL SUPERBIRD BATTERY TRAYS
I would like for anyone who thinks they have an original Superbird battery tray
to reply with a picture of it.
Recently I had my August 1969 built GTX battery tray restored.
I had drilled a couple of extra holes in it for a drag racing hold down.
With the battery in the trunk now I decided to get the original repaired.
I have attached a picture of it in gray primer.
Next up is the Mopar Performance replacement battery tray.
The outer dimensions are the same but the raised areas are different!
I have a third picture that has white paper in the area in question.
With all the battery trays that rotted out from battery acid
I think a lot of these got swapped out possibly with Superceded parts!
Thanks! MJ

[Impkidd]

  Hello John, here are pics of my dimmer switch, that was still attached to the wiring harness wrapped up in my parts box.
  You have a good eye in spotting these date codes! But, mine are never as apparent as yours. Appears to be 459 on mine. (45 week?)
   Now, I was told that our cars have a 90 day window for date codes for restoration. But my car has many parts at or beyond the 90 day window. The horn, mirror glass, washer pump, headlamps, are a few items i can think of for now in April to June of '69.

[Impkidd]

   Here are pics of my battery tray that I believe is the original to the car.

[Mopar John]

Hello John, here are pics of my dimmer switch, that was still attached to the wiring harness wrapped up in my parts box.
  You have a good eye in spotting these date codes! But, mine are never as apparent as yours. Appears to be 459 on mine. (45 week?)
   Now, I was told that our cars have a 90 day window for date codes for restoration. But my car has many parts at or beyond the 90 day window. The horn, mirror glass, washer pump, headlamps, are a few items i can think of for now in April to June of '69.

Rob,
 Thanks for the nice reply with pictures on your headlight dimmer switch.
So mine was a late build Superbird with a 479 and with yours being a bit earlier a 459 is spot on!
Make sure you clean that one up and use it! The newer ones don't even look correct.
They have a shroud over the wire connection area.
MJ

[Mopar John]

Here are pics of my battery tray that I believe is the original to the car.

Rob,
 I believe that is an original battery tray!
It does look like the dark gray primered tray in my post.
Thanks for posting a picture of yours!
MJ

[Mopar John]

              ORIGINAL SUPERBIRD BATTERY TRAYS PART 2!
  I just wanted to share with you that I have found many REPRODUCTION 1970 style battery trays out there!
So I have added a couple more pictures of my ORIGINAL 1970 battery tray.
In the last picture you will see a series of letters and numbers stamped into it.
The stamping looks like EMF 30 to me?
These could be a supplier die number or part number?
None of the reproductions that I have come across have anything like this stamped into them.
MJ

[Mopar John]

                    ORIGINAL SUPERBIRD IGNITION LOCKS!
  This topic starts about 10 years ago for me!
About 5 years ago or so I purchased a dealership service department lock kit.
About a year ago I started learning how to use it and re-key locks and make sets.
It was during this time That I learned I had made a MISTAKE on the Superbird restoration!
If you go to page 29 of this topic and read post # 711 and 712 you will read
about the steering column restoration.
My first attached picture shows a before restoration of the ignition lock.
I know know this was an original "SATIN" finish lock!
For the restoration I purchased an NOS ignition and door lock kit part number 2999444.
I show that in my second picture.
The new ignition lock was a superceded part and was shiny "CHROME" ! WOW!
I show that NOS lock in my third picture.
So when I realized this I started the hunt for an NOS satin ignition lock.
Some quick lock history here:
The 1970 model year was the first year Chrysler moved the lock from the dash
to the column and incorporated the locking steering wheel.
These new ignition locks had a lever that held them in place.
For the 1971 model year they used the same lock but it was already chrome by then!
Then starting in 1972 they went to a pin to keep it in place.
So to find an NOS or nice one year part 55 years in is tough!
I got lucky one day on EBAY browsing for lock parts.
I found a strange listing for some NOS lock parts.
But the find of the day was an NOS "SATIN" ignition lock with the lever! WOW!
I have been waiting for a day where I had time to take the column
apart and change the lock out. Today was that day!
My last 4 pictures show the column with the chrome lock, pulling the chrome lock out,
installing the correct "SATIN" lock and the column back together!
It was a GREAT day and I crossed another item off the list!
MJ

[A13]

Did the judges know about the satin vs chrome ignition lock?

[b5blue]

Wow....

[Mopar John]

Did the judges know about the satin vs chrome ignition lock?

My Superbird has been judged at several high level shows
      and no one ever mentioned the ignition lock finish to me!
I think OE level judging should start out with the car all locked up.
Then the owner should unlock the passengers door, the trunk,
the drivers door, the console lock if equipped, the glove box
and then the ignition! The same key must unlock both doors and ignition.
Also the same key must unlock the trunk, console if equipped and glove box.
I had to re-key the satin ignition lock to use the same key as the doors!
MJ