Who can do it all

[charger500rt71]

So I was wondering who here at DodgeCharger.com does all their own work. Are you an engine guy but not a painter, a jack of all trades or just have deep pockets and can write a check? Lets be honest, no shame or judgement. I'll start, I do 100% of all my projects myself, that's probably why it takes years and some times decades to finish a car. Of course I don't have a machine shop but I do assemble all my engines, build my own transmissions and do all the paint and body work myself. I think its a control issue.

[68Charger4me]

same here too, that's why it took me 7 years to do it...

[areibel]

Well, I'm at about 90%.  I've done engines and trannys, and my bodywork skills are getting better and better but there are two things I haven't done on a car and probably won't.  First is the finish paint.  I've messed around painting some stuff, an old pick up and other odds and ends but wasn't ever happy with the results.  On the truck it didn't matter but on a car I've built I want it perfect, and with the cost of materials I don't want that to be my place to learn.  I have two buddies that move like robots with a spray gun in their hands, I've tried to duplicate it but no go.  Looks like glass when they're done.   I'll just have them shoot the color on the current rot box when I get it finished.
Second is a rear end, ring and pinion swap.  I can remember when I was a teenager, I watched an old timer set up a rear.  He didn't have any fancy tools, he'd just run a strip of carbon paper between the gears then adjust them a bit.  It was like friggin magic, I had read a little about how to do it and this guy was doing his own thing.  But it ran fine, I probably put 10K miles on the car before I got rid of it and it never made a sound.  That's one area I think I'd let someone do the fine work, I'll stick to the axle bearings and out.

[chargerboy69]

I find the older I get the less I do myself.

My business is busy, I have have less time to do the things to the car, even my daily drivers.  Nowdays I find myself hiring the work out.

[Baldwinvette77]

so far all i've done was bodywork, rust repair, fiberglass, suspension, basic axle work, plumbing etc. never done upholstery yet, never done major transmission or engine work (never had the need to, yet) but im willing to  also do electrical diagnosis 

[Tilar]

I find the older I get the less I do myself.

     Same here. I CAN and have done 100% of it and do it fairly well but like Chargerboy the older I get the less I want to take the time to do. Paint and body work I am real slow on because I am so damn particular and I'll know every flaw, so that part or at least the painting I will probably farm out.

[Cooter]

 Funny you should ask this one...(Inside joke). My hats off to ya' As well...

I do it all. From Interior stitching door panels, to full on paint and body. Engines/Trans/Rears. Even Narrow rearends/roll cages/etc.

Paid a bodyshop to repair some rust ONE TIME and refuse to get hosed again. Same thing with interior work. NOBODY does quality work for FAIR prices anymore. Sure, one can always find a shop that charges $4K for interior work and chances are, it'll look great, but for my money, I'm thinking $1200.00 and My interior is done.

I refuse to try and get anything done one drivetrains as come time for any type of problem, you are pretty much on your own.

[Dino]

I can do all the bodywork, most of the interior, quite a bit of electrical and a bit of mechanical.  But I don't have the time anymore to do much...

[lexxman]

I do want I can.I'm doing the bodywork and painting engine bay,trunk and door jars myself. But sending it to a shop for the mean paint. And the engine and etc I do  with some help from friends.I may send the trannie out. Don't have a lot of money,so no choose.

[cdr]

I am there with COOTER ! although since i have gotten older & i have MS it takes me about 5 times longer to do things   i really like dropping tools & tripping when there is nothing to trip on   it makes life interesting,although i am truly grateful that GOD is helping me to keep on keepin on! workin on my charger is the best therapy for me,when i get something finished i feel good about it. DON'T FORGET if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at..........

charlie  

[Cooter]

I am there with COOTER ! although since i have gotten older & i have MS it takes me about 5 times longer to do things   i really like dropping tools & tripping when there is nothing to trip on   it makes life interesting,although i am truly grateful that GOD is helping me to keep on keepin on! workin on my charger is the best therapy for me,when i get something finished i feel good about it. DON'T FORGET if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at..........

charlie  

Charlie, you are an inspiration to many. Having MS and still keepin' on. I had no idea. Damn, now not only my hats off, but it's in my hand as well.

[cdr]

thanx COOTER i am very humbled by your kind words 

[charge69]

What Cooter said goes double for me, Charlie !!  I am amazed at how much you can do and your Charger is coming along so well!  Congrats to you for the perserverance to keep going! No way I could do all that you have accomplished!

[Daytona R/T SE]

I've done it all except for the final body work and paint.

If I EVER do another one I'll do everything myself.

[spoolinhard]

I can do everything except actual machine work. I don't own a blaster so I don't do any of that myself either.

[C928BRAN]

I do all my own drivetrain, i do interior, i do all my own sheetmetal work. i do everything but spray the paint on. if i had to pay somebody to do all of this stuff, i couldnt afford to restore the car, just blessed i can do it, but i have always loved old cars, not just mopar. it is like my drug. my 69 charger is my favorite car i have ever had. i am within a few weeks of completely restoring the car, and then i am going to finish my 2nd favorite car, 1958 plymouth (christine) I had it about halfway finished, when i found my charger. the charger is the first car i ever wanted, and the last one i found, so i stopped on the plymouth, the restore the charger. what is so wierd, had been looking for a charger for years and years, and this one was only 5 min. from my house. i was at the right place at the right time, and this car was given to me, never had a car ever given to me, and as everyone here knows, chargers are hard to come by.

[JB400]

I can do mechanical work easy enough.  All else, I haven't tried.  But, I have patience and the willing to learn and a basic understanding of how to do it

[bobfist]

Doing everything myself, even painting and re chroming and reproduced the missing charger 69 grille

[ws23rt]

I do all my own aside from engine block and cyl head prep. I started at 14 with a 57 desoto. without money to pay someone I learned by asking, researching , and failing. Have had many mopars and mini money for many years. This gave me lots of satisfaction and fun learning. I got to the point that when I took my C500 all apart I didn't need to bag and tag all the small stuff. That was a mistake My memory is very good but accessing it when needed is a killer.
A big new project can feel overwhelming as our mind sees hundreds of things in a glance but every one of them is simple.
However in agreement with some of us elderly here. There comes a time when we start to run out of gas. Doing what used to be fun tends to turn into a chore. But that doesn't stop that erg when we see something that looks like a maybe one more time. To many projects not enough years.

[A383Wing]

I can tear an engine apart and put it together blindfolded and it will run....Body work I cannot do to save my life

I can't do woodwork either, I can measure & cut a 2x4 three times and it will always be too short

Bryan

[dyslexic teddybear]

I am there with COOTER ! although since i have gotten older & i have MS it takes me about 5 times longer to do things   i really like dropping tools & tripping when there is nothing to trip on   it makes life interesting,although i am truly grateful that GOD is helping me to keep on keepin on! workin on my charger is the best therapy for me,when i get something finished i feel good about it. DON'T FORGET if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at..........

charlie  

In todays entitlement world, it's so good to see someone who just does himself, instead of expecting someone else to do everything for them. For me, the 5 times longer is because it takes me that long to find the tool I just set down.
I really understand the feeling.....when you sit back and realize what ya got done 

[lexxman]

Ya I must say I prefer the nuts and bolts over body work.

[dyslexic teddybear]

Oh yeah......

Major do it myself type. Have done body work.....was actually pretty good at it. I don't really like it, but I can make myself do it. Mechanical......well I have been inside a 14L Cummins, couple of Deere diesels, Deetroit 2 strokes, transmissions.....if I have a service manuel[with pictures], or a good site, such as this one.....I'll do fine.

Never had a problem paying someone who really knew what they were doing to do it. Unfortunately, there are few of them, thus hard to find.

[green69rt]

I'm a cronic do-it-youselfer.   Doesn't mean I do it well or fast but I enjoy the learning and the fact that I can point to something and say "I did that".   A little ego but it makes me feel good.

Only thing I will not be doing on my car (for now) is the paint.  I just don't have the skill or a good place to do it.  We'll see what happens with the motor and tranny.

[Fred]

I can tear an engine apart and put it together blindfolded and it will run....Body work I cannot do to save my life

I can't do woodwork either, I can measure & cut a 2x4 three times and it will always be too short

Bryan

I can tear a complete car to pieces but that's where it stops!   
No just kidding. I can put it together again too.

[69rtse4spd]

I find the older I get the less I do myself.

My business is busy, I have have less time to do the things to the car, even my daily drivers.  Nowdays I find myself hiring the work out.

Same here.

[Scaregrabber]

I do it all and it's great therapy. I build my engines, trans, axles, do upholstery, make panels and weld them on do the bodywork and I can paint. However with the chemicals in paint I am now shying away from it. That's always the trick, getting the paint done by someone else.
I wouldn't think of letting somebody torque down the maincaps in one of my engines.

Sheldon

[Rolling_Thunder]

I can do it all...   even re-engineer the wheel if needed...    I do usually pass bodywork and paint off to someone else. Although I can do it I just don't have the patience.

[BlueSS454]

I can do it all.  The only thing I won't do is rebuild an automatic transmission or install a convertible top.  As far as everything else...engine & rear rebuilds/installation, suspension, brakes, electrical, interior upholstery, headliners, vinyl tops, cutting/welding sheet metal, body work & paint, full disassembly and final assembly, I can do myself.  I've been screwed over too many times in the past to keep relying on people to do sub par work.  I can also rebuild carbs, distributors, alternators, starters, brake valves, control arms, steering boxes, steering pumps, heater boxes, etc.  Wiper Motors, master cylinders, and boosters I send out as well as engine machine work.
I am also starting to take on side jobs doing this type of work.  I've had several people ask me about doing work on their cars that are willing to pay me so I said why not.  It's something I like doing and I think I am pretty good at.  So far I've done a complete chassis rebuild, rewiring, engine tuning, and interior work on a matching numbers 70 SS396 Chevelle.  Replaced motor & trans mounts and PS hoses on a 68 Dart, and now have a 68 Coronet I just finished doing a disc brake conversion on.  I have a 66 Impala coming for front suspension, then a 71 Malibu for a power disc conversion and possibly a 70 LS6 Chevelle that needs reassembly.

[bill440rt]

Great thread!  
I probably fall in the 80-90% do-it-yourself range. I do ALL my own body & paint, actually my favorite part of the job. I may not be able to do everything, but I know what I can do I am good at.
Some things I can't do simply because I don't have the shop space, or have experience with others. For example I couldn't assemble an engine, but I have done things like a head swap & such. I've never built a rear end center section (gears), but have rebuilt/reassembled the rear end. I usually have my upholsterer do my seat covers, but I can do headliners and vinyl tops, and other interior restoration/repairs. A few things that I will pay someone to do is sandblasting the body, it is a truly thankless job & worth every bit of the $500 bucks I shelled out to have it done. Another is installing windshields or back glass, because if it leaks I don't want to be the one to have to take it out again & risk breaking it. The lifetime warranty is worth it in this case for me.

I absolutely love working on my cars. It's a great feeling to restore one of these cars knowing that you were involved in nearly every aspect of it. I can say that whenever one of my cars were in any sort of special display or judged event, they were one of the very few there that were not "turn-key" restorations.
Having said that I absolutely do NOT judge anyone who does not have the know-how or capabilities to do all their own work. Like BlueSS454 said below I've helped out many friends with their cars when they needed it as well.

[HeavyFuel]

Not me.   I'm mechanically inclined......but not a mechanic.  Your typical "jack-of-all-trades, master of none".

Major assemblies like engine, tranny, etc...got farmed out for rebuild.  The body and paint was done by someone else.....I just don't have the experience, and didn't want to experiment on this car.

I did as much as possible myself, and all of the tear down and reassembly is on me.  Help from others is nonexistent.  I refinished, repaired, reused whatever I could.

This community at dodgecharger.com has been critical.  

The engine break-in next month should be a good time.  

[tan top]

 i'm lucky enough to be able to do everything , to do with cars etc
  , when i done a nut & bolt rebuild/ resto on the charger , only thing i did not do was my self was , engine machining ,  bumper re chroming ( wish i done the bumper repairs / prep my self )   left missed lots of shallow dents &  big dent  twist on front ( can see in aviator picture )       ,  would of only taken 5 minutes to sort it out , )
& balance the wheels , could of done it at work , but a buddy had a new latest balancing  machine where he worked 

[riverratSE]

I do all my own work and enjoy doing so. Chargers are easy to work on anyways as far as I'm concerned. I hate to pay someone else if I can do the work myself.

[cdr]

Not me.   I'm mechanically inclined......but not a mechanic.  Your typical "jack-of-all-trades, master of none".

Major assemblies like engine, tranny, etc...got farmed out for rebuild.  The body and paint was done by someone else.....I just don't have the experience, and didn't want to experiment on this car.

I did as much as possible myself, and all of the tear down and reassembly is on me.  Help from others is nonexistent.  I refinished, repaired, reused whatever I could.

This community at dodgecharger.com has been critical.  

The engine break-in next month should be a good time.  

yea but you have done an ABSOLUTELY AWESOME job .......YOU did this car 

[Cooter]

Yep, They's sumptin' to be said when asked at a show "Who did all the work?" And you can answer "I did". This is not to discourage anyone who cannot do many of the resto work, only to give props to those who can.

DC.com has been a HUGE asset to anyone looking for info, Resto advice, engine building advice, etc. Here every facet of the cars is pretty much covered.

[fy469rtse]

I'm a cronic do-it-youselfer.   Doesn't mean I do it well or fast but I enjoy the learning and the fact that I can point to something and say "I did that".   A little ego but it makes me feel good.

Only thing I will not be doing on my car (for now) is the paint.  I just don't have the skill or a good place to do it.  We'll see what happens with the motor and tranny. i would love to see how some one with your skills and determination painted this car , it would be gorgeous, as for the motor find a good machine shop and assemble it your self, no one will pay the attention to detail like you will on your own motor, everyone on here will help with advise, start a new thread and eveyone will comment with advise and steps, we have all been there and made mistakes, which with all this experiance conbined will be the best help you could get , great guys on this site

[Kern Dog]

At 47, I have been into this hobby for several years. I am competent at most aspects. My welding is improving. I've never built an automatic transmission but I am interested in learning. Body and paintwork is one of my favorite things, though my painting skills have slipped lately. The last few times I've painted I've had more crud and bugs land in the car than ever before despite my cleaning.
I've recently made great strides in understanding electrical systems as well as learned how to crimp and solder instead of using the cheesy strip and crimp connectors. I've been fortunate to have good luck building engines.

[green69rt]

I'm a cronic do-it-youselfer.   Doesn't mean I do it well or fast but I enjoy the learning and the fact that I can point to something and say "I did that".   A little ego but it makes me feel good.

Only thing I will not be doing on my car (for now) is the paint.  I just don't have the skill or a good place to do it.  We'll see what happens with the motor and tranny.

i would love to see how some one with your skills and determination painted this car , it would be gorgeous, as for the motor find a good machine shop and assemble it your self, no one will pay the attention to detail like you will on your own motor, everyone on here will help with advise, start a new thread and eveyone will comment with advise and steps, we have all been there and made mistakes, which with all this experiance conbined will be the best help you could get , great guys on this site

I will try as much as I possibly can BUT I have a real hard time holding my patience because I want this car on the road!!

[Fred]

I'm a cronic do-it-youselfer.   Doesn't mean I do it well or fast but I enjoy the learning and the fact that I can point to something and say "I did that".   A little ego but it makes me feel good.

Only thing I will not be doing on my car (for now) is the paint.  I just don't have the skill or a good place to do it.  We'll see what happens with the motor and tranny.

i would love to see how some one with your skills and determination painted this car , it would be gorgeous, as for the motor find a good machine shop and assemble it your self, no one will pay the attention to detail like you will on your own motor, everyone on here will help with advise, start a new thread and eveyone will comment with advise and steps, we have all been there and made mistakes, which with all this experiance conbined will be the best help you could get , great guys on this site

I will try as much as I possibly can BUT I have a real hard time holding my patience because I want this car on the road!!

Patience is an absolute must. The more patience, the better things come together. "Easy does it".........every time.   

[Wicked72]

limited by the tools i dont have and even then i have no choice but to do it all myself

[six-tee-nine]

I'll do mostly everything myself today.

Honestly, If I had to outsource alot of things like the bodywork, this hobby would not be for my wallet. It gets (kinda) affordable to me as long as I only need to buy parts.
Luckily I'm a mecanic for a living, working on engines on a daily base and I also know my way in electrics to.

However the bodywork is still the hardest part for me. I tend to lose my motivation pretty easy. Altough alot has changed. 15 years ago as a teenager without internet things were even more difficult. Nowadays you can just see pictures of how to replace a trunk floor, so thank god for places like this.

Last car I did a complete resto on, I cot screwed by the guy who painted my car (I did all the welding and filling and he would to the final blocking and getting rid of the last flaws I left behind before painting. Only thing he did was shot a coat of paint over the car and called it good.)
I'm thinking about doing all of it myself now even paint, that is if I can stay motivated.....

[Cooter]

Haven't posted much here, but felt compelled. My hats off to you. I'm always willing to let someone know when they are building their own ride, when a job is well done. This guy, has done it in spades.

Just when you think you can fabricate, a thread like this comes along and humbles the hell outta you.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?20375-my-63-2-door-conversion-alterd

[john108]

How many people on this site have the car in the pictures below?  I took the pictures in Redding, CA last week.
There are 2 members with comparable Chargers on this Discussion alone.

[JB400]

One of the better looking GL's I've seen in quite a while   Thanks for sharing John

[polywideblock]

back in the day driveline /mechanicals were not a problem,(never done paint/panel) its been 25 years and I'm a bit Rusty which makes me  reluctant to dive in with the new car. as if i stuff something up  i have weeks to wait for a replacement part and finding someone local that knows what they are doing is near impossible . local trans shops don't even know what a A833 trans is!! one  tried to sell me a rebuild kit for a Borg/ Warner top loader as that's what "all" Chrysler's had you know,even argued with me about it       

[NHCharger]

The longer I own my Chargers to more I do myself. On my 68 project I did all the bodywork myself and ended up painting it myself when my painter backed out at the last minute. Wished I could have practiced painting a Pinto before painting my 68. I'm having a professional shop check the engine while it's out of the car.

[fy469rtse]

I do all my own drivetrain, i do interior, i do all my own sheetmetal work. i do everything but spray the paint on. if i had to pay somebody to do all of this stuff, i couldnt afford to restore the car, just blessed i can do it, but i have always loved old cars, not just mopar. it is like my drug. my 69 charger is my favorite car i have ever had. i am within a few weeks of completely restoring the car, and then i am going to finish my 2nd favorite car, 1958 plymouth (christine) I had it about halfway finished, when i found my charger. the charger is the first car i ever wanted, and the last one i found, so i stopped on the plymouth, the restore the charger. what is so wierd, had been looking for a charger for years and years, and this one was only 5 min. from my house. i was at the right place at the right time, and this car was given to me, never had a car ever given to me, and as everyone here knows, chargers are hard to come by.

sorry to interrupt photos please of the old girl , have one my self in storage waiting for me to finish my charger, 58 Plymouth sport fury 361