My Charger is going under the knife

Not a wagon, but its time for some major surgery on my 68 Charger. Next Saturday my buddy, who has done body work on a couple of my cars in the past, will be picking up my 68 Charger RT. I've had my Charger for about 20 years and it was in need of body work when I bought it. It has deteriorated over the years and it needs some serious help. Probably will need to replace just about every exterior piece of sheet metal (maybe even the roof). I pretty much describe this black RT as looking like the Charger in Bullitt, as it looked at the end of the chase scene. I expect and hope my friend will have it for several years so I can spread out the cost of the body work over a long time. His one condition to agree to work on this car for me was that it remain drivable so he can move it around as needed. So, once body work and paint are complete, then it will be time to address the engine bay.
This thing was originally triple green (paint, interior and vinyl top) with a white bumble bee stripe but a previous owner had painted it black and installed a black & white interior. Since I hate green, I plan on doing a color change to the way I would have ordered it new. That would be red with a black and white interior and white bumble bee stripe and black top.
Tomorrow I need to clean it up a bit, start it up and get it ready to be picked up. Interior and most trim is already off the car.
Its been a few years since I stopped driving it. About 6 years ago I stopped driving it on the street about six years ago with its last trip being a trip to a drag strip for a few passes down a 1/8 mile track. Theres still markings in white shoe polish on the windows from that day.
Heres a link to photos.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25708&id=100001111775214&l=f590e7297f

 

Looking forward to progress reports. Having just gone through 52 months worth of restoration on our 70 SS Chevelle I am keen to see how others projects are going.

This should be fun. I know how exciting it gets when it starts going together again.

 

I'm with Saf57 on that. Loved those beasts.

 

Glad to hear you hung onto her

One of my first cars was a 72 Charger, had the typical rusted out rear frame so the leaf springs poking up into the trunk. Speckle burnt orange with white interior, 318 with headers that were flat spotted from hitting the ground and rusted/blow out.

Some reason my Grandma, yes Grandma drove it to the mall and slammed a curb jackin up the front end which wouldn't of been that hard of a fix, plus allot more parts were around 20 years ago.

Whish I knew then what I know now, would of been an easy fix that everyone made seem impossiable then so I had to see it for parts.
Some scrap steel n a welder and I could of had it allot longer.
Didn't even get to use up the 30 day temp tag on it.

 

I can't wait to see the progress as it unfolds.

Norm you are a Beast.....

 

Have you seen chop cut rebuild on speed?

They are doing a non r/t factory hemi car (ad car)

Yours can't be as rusty as that was!

 

How exciting even thou it's going to be awhile isn't it great knowing it's being done

 

Thanks and yes, its pretty rusty. Pretty much every exterior piece of sheet metal will need to be replaced. I have fenders and doors, and bought quarter skins. But now that OEM type quarters are available, he may want me to get the complete quarters and he may want me to get a new sail panel and new roof. I'm probably gonna be buying a new hood and new trunk lid. As recently as two years ago none of this OEM type reproduction sheet metal was even manufactured.

 

Sounds like AMD will get a lot of business.

 

It sure beats having to build everything or pulling used stuff out of a wrecking yard that is questionable as well. Make sure they are identical. things like the hood latch, trunk lock , etc. Goodmark trunk lid for 70 Chevelle's is not exactly the same. Can't use the original trunk lock , as an example.

 

So this morning my buddies came by and picked up the 68 Charger. I haven't started and move the car since June and it hasn't left the driveway in about 6 years. Once gas started flowing it settled down to a fairly smooth idle despite some old fuel in the tank. The master cylinder was nearly dry and there was no pedal pressure, but we drove it on the trailer. Getting it off the trailer without brakes might be a challenge. I hope I don't need to get the calipers rebuilt. Again.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25708&id=100001111775214&l=f590e7297f

 

Neat stuff. Let the fun and games begin. I see you have an extra on the driveway. Also nice years. Is that a future project?

 

Very cool car, I cant wait to see progress pics

 

I only have the one 68 Charger, but I have three 68 Barracudas. Yes the Barracudas are future projects. The green 318 convertible seen in the backgrond of one photo, needs fairly minor body work, paint and a new convertible top, but it runs great. The turquoise 340 Formula S fastback that was parked in front of the Charger in the driveway, need rear quarters and paint, and the transmission slips, but its got a strong 340. These are future projects. Heres a link to photos of my other cars
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=288&id=100001111775214&l=dd44a48dc0

Part of my deal with the friend thats doing the work is that the Charger remain drivable while he does the body work, so he can move it around at will. Also this friend knows 68-70 Chargers better than anyone I know. He will also be doing some work on the plastic grille while he has it. These are partial reasons why the Charger hasn't been dismantled more. But another reason is that the last two cars I restored each took 6 or more years to complete because I did dismantle them completely. This one will be back on the road not long after the body work and paint. Then in the future, as the budget and time allows, the engine and engine bay can be addressed.

 

Good plan on the resto approach, Jim. From personal experience with the Chevelle I know I won't be doing any total off frame, every bit and piece off the car, restorations again. When I was younger, much younger too boot, it was not a problem. I could work all day, then play in the shop for many hours at night and get things done. That just isn't the case any longer. What I used to do in a weekend is a couple of months now, and I'm just as tired at the end of it. And I have buddies who come and do the heavy stuff and help out in so many ways it is incredible.

I like the Mpar cars, just don't have enough knowledge about them to take one on. My brother in laws (one now deceased) are big into 70 'cuda's and Challengers, hemi cars/engines, etc. and think I'm pedestrian for my Chevelle's and Safari addiction.

Nice pics of your cars. That convertible looks like a real nice toy to play with. For that I could learn Mopar pretty quickly.