HaterSaurusReXP build :)

[hatersaurusrex]

Now that work has begun in earnest, it's time to start a thread here to document my car's progress.    I bought her back in January after searching for a couple of years for a complete car that was in just the right shape (not a total basket case but didn't need every single part put on it).   When I found this car way up in Lafayette TN, I called my brother (30 mins away) and asked him to go look it over and store it in his barn until I could figure out where to start with it.   To my surprise, he immediately offered to make it his next project (after he got done restoring a Power Wagon for his daughter) and do the restore for me if I bought all the parts.    Of course I was pumped and said 'DEAL'.  I originally planned to wait until I move back to TN and get a house with a garage/shop, but having him do the work is even better and means I'll be driving it before I turn 40

I couldn't be happier with the scenario.   My current place doesn't have a garage, and my wife's Caliber and '71 bug dominate the driveway along with my truck, plus I'm way down here in Florida.      Don't have to worry about some shady shop stealing my $$$, and since my bro lives and breathes Mopar I know he'll put extra TLC in it and do it right.

She began life as an early-build '68 383 car.   I don't have any documentation on the car's history, except the guy I purchased it from got it from someone in Nebraska, where it was last tagged in 1990 or so.    I believe it was built for mild drag racing for a while after that, as there's an inline engine temp gauge out on the firewall and it has a large aluminum radiator.   Also the original drivetrain is gone, replaced with a '69 383/727 setup and a 8 1/4 out back.   Already picked up a 8 3/4 to swap in.

Car was bright red with a white vinyl top and white interior from the factory, but when I'm done it will be B5 blue with an R/T stripe on the tail, probably some Cragar SS'es or Keystones, and eventually I'll be putting a BB 440 up front.   For now the plan is to make her into a good solid driver.   I want to enjoy the car, not stare at it.

Here are a few pics of the car after being towed back to my bro's house back in Jan:


400922_329771560388628_2144831639_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


395960_329773173721800_328803460_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


401400_329773313721786_1571312437_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


407814_329772447055206_467716230_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr

[hatersaurusrex]

Pics of the toll nature has taken after 45 years:


409572_443663445666105_717769962_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


DSC_0188 by tecmotimes, on Flickr

[hatersaurusrex]

In the shop, floorpans and trunk pans being cut out:


399350_441250245907425_887064764_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


399218_441250202574096_977607206_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


284568_470843699614746_237620902_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr


557851_441250145907435_1332112942_n by tecmotimes, on Flickr

[marshallfry01]

You need to find me a 69 in that kind of shape. looks like a fun project!

[Hemidog]

 

[hatersaurusrex]

Progress coming slowly but surely (I'm sure you guys can relate)

QP's being cut out, guts cleaned/patched and new ones welded in (pics of the welded panels coming soon).   The quarters probably could have been patched but I discovered quickly that once you've committed to putting this much money into a project, all the sudden an extra 3K in body panels seems like a small price to pay to keep from worrying about it down the road:)   Don't even ask me why I bought new AMD fenders too, when the only thing wrong was that one had been tweaked and had a little bit of filler in it.   Then when I bought that one, of course my next thought was 'well hell they HAVE to match, right?.    You guys should have warned me about the 'obsessive' part of this process

FYI for anyone considering Year One for rear quarter panels - they seem well-made overall, but the body line along the top has much more of a smooth radius and isn't as crisp/sharp as the original - thus the decision we made was to cut below that line to preserve the originals.  Anyone else had this experience?


QP_cut_out by tecmotimes, on Flickr

[JB400]

How's things coming?

[Baldwinvette77]

i love it  hopefully my car will look that good when its done 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Want to see more too.