Gramp's Last Gift for Me...a 68 Charger!

[resq302]

coming a long really nice!  look at all that room you have now!

[ACUDANUT]

I don't think he can keep it there. 

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Great story! Love the progress 

[472 R/T SE]

I don't know if it's an optical illusion or what but the driver's side of the motor looks higher than pass. side.   

[resq302]

More than likely it is an optical illusion since the pass side has all the stuff on it and the driver side is open and clean looking.  Spacing has a lot to do with perception.

[projectanimal]

or the person taking the picture only had one shoe on!!   

[garageguy]

Hey Guys...It's been a three day weekend for me putting up about 24 work hours into the Charger.  Here are some updates and pics;

I started by buttoning up all the undercarriage and suspension bolts torquing to spec's.  Bled the brakes and installed new sway bar links.

I then moved to the motor, installing all the pieces and parts (and uninstalling and reinstalling as I figured out how they went together.  IT FIRED UP ON THE FIRST TRY...I still need to time it and dial in the carb (by the way, I do have the original carb but stuck with the new one that was purchased before I got it).

I then moved to the front clip and installed headlights and grill.  YES, the hideaway doors work on the lights so they open and close with the button.  So cool. 

Here are some pics...the last pic is a bracke that measured about 10" tall and has a 90deg bend....CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE THIS GOES?

[resq302]

angled bracket mounts under the front bumper for your front license plate.  Great to hear you made leaps and bounds in the progress dept.   

[projectanimal]

WOW!!  Job well done!   
We installed the same carb and love it, easy to tune!
Keep it rolling!
Was the sway bar the original or aftermarket?

[garageguy]

Original sway bar.  Just had to by new links/bushings.

[garageguy]

Hey guys...A/C question.  It appears that all the pieces and parts are there and it they look clean (no breaks in the o-rings or hoses).

In your opinion, how do these systems perform?  Should I spend the $$$ and have it repaired assuming that at bare minimum it will need seals, oil and and a recharge?  I don't necessarily care to use the A/C but was wondering if it brings a real value to the car to have it fully functional over just having all the parts and installed.

[resq302]

I would put it back together and bring it some place to see if it holds a vacuum.  If it does, you should be ok to have it charged.

[Homerr]

To me the AC is worth repairing.  Otherwise everything dries out and needs a major rebuild.

[FLG]

Nice car, sorry to hear bout your loss.

IMO ditch the edelbrick now and grab a nice proform or holley dp'er, trust me...in the end itll be worth it, less hassle and better performance.

[bull]

Nice!

[Pete in NH]

Regarding the A/C systems on these cars, I learned A/C repair on these old Chrysler systems and they work very well. The system in my 71 is pretty much the same as your car and it will freeze you right out of the car on even the hottest days. They have an equivalent cooling capacity of about 30,000 BTU's . The RV-2 compressors are extremely rugged and unlike today's compressors have their own internal oil pump to keep them lubricated.

These systems were designed to use R-12 refrigerant and its best to keep them R-12 rather than convert them to R-134A. R-12 is still available with a permit to buy it. If you want to try to get the system back in operation, I would first take the compressor off and dump out any old oil in it.  Then refill it with about 10 ounces of fresh  525 mineral oil if staying with R-12. Check the filter screen behind the suction hose inlet on the compressor and clean if required. Also, check the EPR valve behind the screen and make sure it too is clean. I would also change all the O ring seals in the system. Then change the receiver-dryer. If the system has been open for any length of time the Receiver-dryer is shot. Its job is to remove any moisture in the system and if open they readily soak up water and become saturated. At this point if the hoses are still in reasonable condition I would pull a vacuum on the system and see if it holds at least over night. If so recharge with R-12 into the vacuum, these  systems hold about 3 lbs of R-12 but, check the shop manual. I would not be surprised if the compressor shaft seal needs to be replaced if the system was out of use for many years but, maybe not.  Good luck! I'd be interested in how you make out.

[chargerboy69]

was wondering if it brings a real value to the car to have it fully functional over just having all the parts and installed.

This line sound like a person contemplating selling the car.

Nice job on getting her back together.  You should have no problem selling it if this is what you decide.  I am sure someone here would be interested.

[garageguy]

Thanks all on the A/C advice.  I ask because I'm still not sure of what I'm going to do with the car and selling is still an unfortunate possibility.

I have now been through most all the parts and have identified just about everything.  I'm missing the hood indicators.  This was the factory option so I want to put them back on to complete it back to original.  I have the wiring running through the hood and the terminals at where the light assemblies should be but I'm missing the actual assemblies.  I have some photos from when the car came back from the shop after paint that they weren't on the car (not sure if they were taken off before the trip to the shop or not).  This was several years ago and I'll probably check in with them to find out if they have them (yeah right !).

I'm aware that I can buy the aftermarket indicators for $200+, but does anyone have, or know where I can find, a set of used originals w/ or w/o wiring?

THANKS!

[chargerboy69]

Thanks all on the A/C advice.  I ask because I'm still not sure of what I'm going to do with the car and selling is still an unfortunate possibility.

I have now been through most all the parts and have identified just about everything.  I'm missing the hood indicators.  This was the factory option so I want to put them back on to complete it back to original.  I have the wiring running through the hood and the terminals at where the light assemblies should be but I'm missing the actual assemblies.  I have some photos from when the car came back from the shop after paint that they weren't on the car (not sure if they were taken off before the trip to the shop or not).  This was several years ago and I'll probably check in with them to find out if they have them (yeah right !).

I'm aware that I can buy the aftermarket indicators for $200+, but does anyone have, or know where I can find, a set of used originals w/ or w/o wiring?

THANKS!

Someone correct me if I am wrong, and I probably am. . .  I did not think 68's came with hood mounted turn signals.

[ACUDANUT]

How could you sell the 68.?  Find room/storage

[skip68]

Yes 68's had Hood mounted turn signals.   

[chargerboy69]

Yes 68's had Hood mounted turn signals.   

Thanks Skip, figured I was wrong. . . .  I have never seen one.

[garageguy]

The fender tag calls out this option on my car.

So anyone know where i can find a set?

[tan top]

 charger looks good  

hood turn  signals  

two suppliers  , think every one else sells one of these two

part number 252 -CH68
http://www.beaparts.com/list_items.aspx?body=B&cat=E&subcat=15

parn number CS 112

http://www.chargerspecialties.com/signals.htm

[Plum Crazy 68]

Your Grandfather is smiling down on you!  Great work!