68 and 70 Charger?

[G-man]

Hello and Happy new year.

I wanted to know what is the better/cheaper option...

I love the front end of the 68 Charger, I love the 70 Charger rear tailights.

Am i better off with a 1968 and later just cut the back tail panel out, weld in the correct 70 Charger tail light housing, add the tail lights and also drill 2 holes next to the number plate on rear for those blinker/reverse lights

Or

Am i better off buying a 70 Charger which already has all that but instead have to buy 2 68 front fenders, a 68 grill and a 68 hood to have that front i like?

I would think cutting the back out will be cheaper than spending 3000+ on parts alone to do the front. Also i prefer the doors of the 68 not the big scoops on the 70, so might have to include 2 doors as well as front fenders n grill n hood.

Having said this, was the 70 charger built stronger, more rigid etc than the 68 in which case as an overall performing car the 70 would be a bit more improved over the 68, or are they identical in this regard, so whichever one would go for 68 with 70 rear or 70 with 68 front the car would be identical except the year made 68 vs 70.

Also which one had the flat dash board because i prefer the flat one?

And last, was it the 68 the 69 or 70 that had the door lock further forward on the door which would dig into your arm rather than being at the very end of the door?

So the basic end result im looking for is this.

1968 Charger front/grill
1968 Charger doors and hood
1970 Charger rear tail lights and rear reverse lights on the panel below the bumper
1970 Charger dashboard - I think thats the flat one and 68 had the spike in centre.

Which one am i best of getting, cheaper wise to make the above?

Once again, which one is more rigid etc between 68 and 70 to work off for performance or are they the same?

I have seen the black PETROL CHARGER online with the orange hood stripe. That was a 70 Charger n the guy cut the tailights out to add the 68 tail light panel. So i thought in my case its buy the 68 and change the rear to the 70 which is the opposite of what the guy with petrol charger did.

Thoughts? (Other than why would you do that).



G-

[VegasCharger]

Good questions: Keep in mind that you may be better off buying a non R/T Charger if going this route thus it will be a cheaper purchase. If you do and you go in the direction of a 1970 you will not have to worry about the doors having the scoops. But you will have the lock button in the middle but that can be moved to the back like the 68s. And yes 69-70s have the flat dash pad vs pointed on the 68s. Does the round marker side lights come into play? If so I would opt to buy a 68 and save you the hassle of fabricating those. If ypu but a 68 you can switch out the dash pad to a 69-70 style. Most likely what ever Charger you buy it probably need a new dash pad anyways. I think it would be much cheaper to get a 68 and fab in the rear tail panel. If so here's what you got in cost:

These are the major catagories:
New or used 69-70 Charger tail panel
New or used 69-70 Charger rear valance
New or used 69-70 tail light housings/lens
69 or 70 Charger tail panel trim

vs if you buy a 70 Charger
These are the major catagories:

New 69-70 Charger dash pad
New or used 68 Charger front fenders
New or used 68-69 Charger hood
68 Charger front grille
New or used 68-69 front bumper
New or used 68-69 front valance
New or used 68-69 grille support
All 4 Side Round marker lights (if that's your preference) cost and labor

But then again if you do buy a 70 you could sell off that front clip to fund the front clip of a 68 if you're not too worried about the originality of the 1970 Charger. I wouldn't do this to an R/T car or highly optioned 70 Charger. And would you have the funds to go ahead to start the mods before receiving funds from selling the front clip.

So there's alot to decide on when taking on this task.

Just my 

Good luck what ever you end up doing and don't be afraid to ask on here during your project.

[JB400]

Being that the 68 and the 70 grilles are similar in appearance, and you seem to like most of the 70 components more better, have you thought of maybe just painting the front bumper on a 70 body color?  This would give you a similar look of the 68, be easier on your wallet, and if you should end up having to sell it, it'd hold it's value more.

[70 sublime]

Think it will come down to what car you can find in good shape to start with

If I had two perfect cars to choose from I think I would pick the 70 body

No cutting required just un bolt things and bolt different stuff on (easier to go back to original set up if wanted someday)
The 70 parts are worth more so it should be easy to sell the front end parts to get the 68 parts

70 is also the first year the key is in the steering column to lock the wheel when the key is removed  

[G-man]

What are both structurally like?

I know with other type cars new year meant more rigid, reinforcement etc... was that the case with chargers as well where the 70 has a better platform to work off than the 68 or they are the same?

I thought about painting the grill... problem is you lose the chrome bumper though that a 68 has. So that wont work for me.

[myk]

For all intents and purposes the three model years are virtually identical, with minor cosmetic differences between all...

[VegasCharger]

Think it will come down to what car you can find in good shape to start with

If I had two perfect cars to choose from I think I would pick the 70 body

No cutting required just un bolt things and bolt different stuff on (easier to go back to original set up if wanted someday)
The 70 parts are worth more so it should be easy to sell the front end parts to get the 68 parts

70 is also the first year the key is in the steering column to lock the wheel when the key is removed  

Just curious, what would be a fair comparison to revalvent front clip parts between 68/69 vs 70? Given the example to the OP's question.

68 front fenders cost______ 70 front fenders cost______
68/69 hood cost______ 70 hood cost______
68 grille cost______ 70 grille cost______
68/69 front bumber cost______ 70 front bumper cost______
68/69 front valance cost______ 70 front valance cost______

Going on good used original sheet metal and a ballpark guess.

Thanks

[JR]

I'd much rather go thru the process of changing a tail panel than I would sourcing an entire 68 front clip.

I vote buy a 68. You'll save so much time. The front clip just bolts on, however finding all the odds and ends would be a huge pain compared to buying a new tail panel online and some used taillights from eBay.

[JB400]

I vote with getting a 68 and changing the tail panel.  You won't have to deal with getting all of the vacuum components for the grille to operate, not counting finding a grille to start with.

[bull]

Just put the Sawzall away and pick one or the other.

[don duick]

how about you buy a 69 and put a 68 grill.

[G-man]

how about you buy a 69 and put a 68 grill.

You should be my financial adviser. 


I was waiting for that to come. That does seem to be the easiest option. Dunno why, guess i like 1970 because its a round number and the start of 70s, so 70 is cool for that reason. On other hand though, 68 was when this shaped charger was born which makes 68 the significant year, which makes 68 cooler. 69 is like a transition period

[don duick]

I have a 70, 68 is my favourite the only thing I don't like about the 68 is the little round side marker lights. 69 and 70 have same tail panel. You can fit the 70 tail light cover/trim on a 69 and remove the 69 chrome strip. My 70 is a xh poverty pack model and has a 69 looking rear.

[1974dodgecharger]

I let strangers drive my car so I know its a 68 and watch em do burnouts, cruise by, etc....but when I get in I know its a 70.


surprised my car is not stolen yet....

[bill440rt]

how about you buy a 69 and put a 68 grill.

DING DING DING!!!   

By far the easiest, cheapest, and less intrusive method of doing what you want to do.
Total bolt in, and all parts are available repro.
You could leave the '69 tail panel as-is, or if you're really into the '70 tail panel treatment it would only require removing the '69 trim, filling the holes, and drilling for the '70 trim and swapping for '70 tail lights.

[JR]

how about you buy a 69 and put a 68 grill.

That is so the best answer I feel silly for it not even crossing my mind.

That would be such an easy swap. Not to mention when you got ready to sell the car you could convert it back so much easier.

[Troy]

Buy a 70. Everyone likes to make them into something else! 70 front end parts are expensive. 68 tail end parts are expensive - but not as much as a complete 70 front - and require welding. No one has ever made their money back after mismatching pieces to their liking so I hope you never plan on selling.

Troy

[Ghoste]

Thats what I think too. 

[G-man]

I sold 2 chargers already, anything's possible when it comes to me.

But thinking about it all, if i was not to change anything.... I would rather tail lights of a 68 than a front end of a 70. + i like the side marker lights of the 68. Has a cleaner finish than those huge rectangles and i like the 68 doors as they dont have the big air scoops. I also seem to like the hood of a 68 more.

So if anything, i would probably get a 68 again. And one day, if i dont sell it like the other 2 to buy a mustang or chevelle, or something else, i would then just change the tail panel.

I mean, end of the day, if the value of car gets effected by 5-10,000 for having wrong tail panel, can always cut the 70 tail out and re weld in the 68 tail panel. Would keep the lights and rear valance  panel  of the 68 after it got taken off to convert to 70 style. So if the back can get cut to change to 70 im sure it can get cut to change back to 68 and i would still have the needed bits for it.

[Vector]

I sold 2 chargers already, anything's possible when it comes to me.

But thinking about it all, if i was not to change anything.... I would rather tail lights of a 68 than a front end of a 70. + i like the side marker lights of the 68. Has a cleaner finish than those huge rectangles and i like the 68 doors as they dont have the big air scoops. I also seem to like the hood of a 68 more.

So if anything, i would probably get a 68 again. And one day, if i dont sell it like the other 2 to buy a mustang or chevelle, or something else, i would then just change the tail panel.

I mean, end of the day, if the value of car gets effected by 5-10,000 for having wrong tail panel, can always cut the 70 tail out and re weld in the 68 tail panel. Would keep the lights and rear valance  panel  of the 68 after it got taken off to convert to 70 style. So if the back can get cut to change to 70 im sure it can get cut to change back to 68 and i would still have the needed bits for it.

Hey G-man,

Good having a chat with you on Sunday, if I were you I'd go the 68 but if you're dead set on the mix front and rear I think the 69 option suggested above is a winner, just the grille setup to change.

Cheers

[Homerr]

Please consider not cutting up a 68.

Hang a 68 grill on a 69 or front end on a 70.

If you are ever in a position to sell the car if you've put a 70 rear on a 68 you'll have a difficult time selling it unless you find the perfect buyer at the right time.  Also, this assumes you are competent at replacing the panel.  If you butcher the hell out of it you'll have our wrath.   

[Bob T]

Gidday G-Man, long time no hear, maybe its just me.

68's are King and look great just how they are. Buy a 69 or 70 and cut the hell out of that 
Just thought I'd throw that in, had a few Peroni's already 

[G-man]

It is not just you Bob. I think I did not post on this forum since months and months ago when I got the 70 Chevelle. But then again, I did not really post since I had the mustang prior to that either. Last real posting was when I had Alan's QQ1 Blue Charger with the white top (41Husk or something?).

Well, I got rid of them to try everything else... and here I am back to wanting my long gone charger. I guess Mopar is Mopar n that is that.

Hi Vector, you to. I think from a what I would in reality end up doing... is be stuck with whatever I bought as is. In which case 1968 is what I would rather be stuck with as I dislike the front of a 70 more than I do rear of a 68.

68 is the go for a 3rd and final time. I wont change it this time 

[HPP]

Can't the grill centers be interchanged between '68 and '69 without getting into all the headlight mechanicals?

If so, I'd say pick up a '69, put the '68 grill center and the '70 taillight trim on it. Instant model hybrid without much cutting or welding.

[G-man]

Can't the grill centers be interchanged between '68 and '69 without getting into all the headlight mechanicals?

If so, I'd say pick up a '69, put the '68 grill center and the '70 taillight trim on it. Instant model hybrid without much cutting or welding.

I think I am looking at it from the perspective that I may never change it (knowing me, highly possible)... in which case I would be stuck with what I bought, in which case I would wish I was stuck with the right front to begin with (68) and round taillights. The round rear lights don't look bad at all, I just think the 70's look that little bit more aggressive. That is all. Besides I do like the round marker lights more than the rectangle ones, just because it seems to be a 'cleaner' finish, not much going on vs the big rectangles which add a lot.

Thanks for feedback though.