68 Charger restoration

[jaak]

How do I get the LCA Bushing sleeve out of the LCA?  I was going to take a hammer and chisel to it, but wanted to ask first.  I plan to start reassembling the steering & front suspension shortly.  I want to have it ready for when the car gets here.

That's how I removed it. Take a chisel, and split the bushing sleeve, then you can pull it out with a pair of pliers.



Your car is looking Great!
Jason

[green69rt]

Just wondering what that paint code is??  GM color or what?

[holanae]

Its jalapeno opalescence green by PPG. Not sure on the code but I can get it for whoever is interested. There is small metal flake in it.  I will take better pictures when I get it back in my garage.

[holanae]

I've done alot of work since the last time I posted.  Here is the front end almost finished.  Will be packaging up the GearBox to send off to FF this week.  Once I get the steering & suspension put back together, it will head back to the body shop for touchups.

[holanae]

Went with DoctorDiff for all my braking components.  Didn't get a booster though.  I've been contemplating if it is going to be a necessity for how I will be driving it.  Weekend cruises and car shows only.  I hope I got everything assemble correctly.  I've been going off of what I have read on the forum, and what I can find in Google images.

[holanae]

I'm excited... My body guy is restoring a 70 Coronet just to turn and sale.  It is a numbers matching car, but he has a 440 w/Transmission that he is selling along with it as a package deal.  He said if the motor and tranny don't go with the car, he would make me a good deal on it.  That would cover the Drive-train section of my build.  Otherwise, my family has a old 67 Coronet wagon with a 383 that I was going to pull.  Cars just sitting out on the Farm collecting sun for the last 30+ years, might as well put the drive-train to use.

[green69rt]

Looks like you're really making some progress.  Love the pictures.  I'm really thinking about the Dr Diff stage II brakes.  Which setup did you get??  Everything looks so new and clean under your car.  Don't you kind of hate knowing that it will never look that good after you start driving it.

[holanae]

I went with his stage 2 kit.  Had a fitment issue during assembly but i got work out with my dremeltool.  Trying my best to finish off everything to the littlest detail that I can.  I wont worry to much once I finally get it on the road again.  The joy of driving it after being parked for 18 years is what I am looking forward to.

[green69rt]

I went with his stage 2 kit.  Had a fitment issue during assembly but i got work out with my dremeltool.  Trying my best to finish off everything to the littlest detail that I can.  I wont worry to much once I finally get it on the road again.  The joy of driving it after being parked for 18 years is what I am looking forward to.

Got any pics of the work required to make it fit.  I'm looking at the same kit and would welcome any advice.  Pics would be great.

[holanae]

One of the dust shields bolt holes didnt line up and one of the races on the back side of the rotor needed adjusting.  Simple fixes.  All parts are quality and solid. Plus Cass at DrDiff has always been accessible during the week. If only he was available when I was actually working on the car.

[tan top]

looking good   

[ACUDANUT]

Generally I am not a green man, but that car looks killer. 

[freddyd02]

Awesome build! 

[holanae]

I dont have any pictures of the stage 2 kit but on a scale of 10, it was a 2 to fix.  I am sure if I had called, they would have made everything right.

[holanae]

I know there are alot of people out there that stand by Firm Feel, and the other steering rebuild specialist.  Sorry I can't remember the name, no disrespect.  I am concerned is if it is really worth the repair cost, plus the cost in shipping.  I know they provide a quality product, but I am more interested into if it is worth it to me.  I only plan to take it out for weekend cruising, and to car shows.  Is it worth the extra approximate $300 for a small improvement in steering response.  I have read steering feedback is imrpoved but for the people who mirror my driving style, was it worth the extra cost?

[green69rt]

I know there are alot of people out there that stand by Firm Feel, and the other steering rebuild specialist.  Sorry I can't remember the name, no disrespect.  I am concerned is if it is really worth the repair cost, plus the cost in shipping.  I know they provide a quality product, but I am more interested into if it is worth it to me.  I only plan to take it out for weekend cruising, and to car shows.  Is it worth the extra approximate $300 for a small improvement in steering response.  I have read steering feedback is imrpoved but for the people who mirror my driving style, was it worth the extra cost?

My  .  This is really an individual decision. Is your steering good now and how much better will it feel after the upgrade?   Do you have the bucks to do everything or do you need to save the bucks for something specific?   Since the steering gear is a "hunk" that can be replaced later, then maybe the right answer for you is to use the old stuff.  The things that really need to be replaced now are those that would cost a lot later (like torque boxes, frame rail connectors, etc.)  My guess is these old cars need new bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc before they need an upgraded steering box.  

This is not to say the new box won't make a diff, just maybe other things are higher on the priority list....  like I said, my  

[holanae]

 The original I have got flooded during a tropical storm that hit Houston in the late 90's.  So either way, it needs to be replaced.  But do I replace it with a over the counter from the local autoparts store, or do I spend alot more money for a FF rebuild that may only improve my steering feel but not enough that I feel the extra $300 would justify.  I have done very good with my budget, but this is one of the things I was going to put a little extra into, but now that it is time to send it out, I don't think I can justify the expense for a small improvement.

[holanae]

Green69RT, see attached.  I had to open up some of the holes on one of the dust plates with my dremel.  For some reason, the holes wouldn't line up to the Spindle.

[ACUDANUT]

In my case, I have to have mine replaced soon. The gear box leaks bad. So right now I only have Manuel steering (I disconnected the belt going to the pump)

[green69rt]

The original I have got flooded during a tropical storm that hit Houston in the late 90's.  So either way, it needs to be replaced.  But do I replace it with a over the counter from the local autoparts store, or do I spend alot more money for a FF rebuild that may only improve my steering feel but not enough that I feel the extra $300 would justify.  I have done very good with my budget, but this is one of the things I was going to put a little extra into, but now that it is time to send it out, I don't think I can justify the expense for a small improvement.

Tough decision.  Just looked at FF and a PSB2 was $359 plus shipping (about $40), plus your old unit, plus shipping of your old unit to FF (my guess, $50 via UPS.)  That adds up to  somewhere around $450 total.    So if you can get a rebuilt one locally, for anything less than $200, sounds like you got a plan.

[Charger-Bodie]

I've had both. And my last two rebuilt boxes have come from rockauto. Cheap rebuilt, but neither one leaks. Your driving sounds similar to what I do and for me these are perfect.

[holanae]

I guess I am going to go back tomy rule from the beginning.  Stick with what I need.  I need a new gearbox but I want a FF gearbox.  Local autostore gearbox it is.

[ACUDANUT]

 Wait, you can get a new gear box from an auto parts store ?

[green69rt]

Wait, you can get a new gear box from an auto parts store ?

Not new, rebuilt.  Looks like a PS unit is about $100 plus core.  Not bad if you don't want to go the FF route.

[charge69]

holanae, I see you are in Houston.  There is a place here in Houston that will rebuild your original gearbox for you for a reasonable price and you will get your original back.

When my car was restored, I needed both the gearbox and the power steering pump rebuilt. They rebuilt both and even put new hoses on my original fittings as well as doing an excellent job on both things! Turnaround time was about a week and I was able to drop them off and pick them up in person and talk to the person that did the rebuild personally!  I will have to look at my receipts to get the name of the place but it was around 34th St. just outside Loop 610 on the north side. As I remember, it was less than $200.00 for everything and they did an excellent job!

Let me know if you want their name and I will dig around my receipts and find it for you.