My free 69 charger R/T ....

[Pat1973charger]

Hoping it's a misprint and shows up under the previous owners history. Trying to get ahold of him now he lives nearby.

[fastmark]

First off, it's easy getting a title to a car here in Texas. I've done it many times. If there is no registered owner of record, it is so old it is off the books and it is NOT stolen or have a lien. They don't purge those records. Here you get a "bonded" title. You get the value, if its less than 3000, you don't have to have a NADA old car guide value. You go to the bonding company for a bond. It cost about $100. It has always had to have a motor. A new law just passed requires a form to make sure it passes an inspection test. You take the vin down to your local insurance agent and get it insured for liability only. My lady never looks at my cars. So you take your running  car down (with proof of insurance) to you fishing/racing buddy at the inspection station, and get that little jewel inspected. Take all the forms back to the DOT and they mail out a letter to all of the parties on their records( which is none) and in about 20 days, you get a letter granting you permission to a  title. Go to the courthouse and file for a title and in about 20 days you get a bonded title back. It is bonded for three years. Anytime in that three years anyone who has physical proof( like and old title) and wants to pursue it, can file a legal action and try and get back the car. It is their burden of proof. the chances of that are extremely slim in this case as in most cases. I've never heard a word on any of the bonded titles I have gotten. After 3 years, they could not take it at all. That is how it works here. I'm sure you have a similar rule there. You can also go through a judge and get a title if you know one.

Having said all of that, and I don't mean any disrespect here, but you don't have a clue what you are getting into trying to save that one. The integrity of the uni body on a rusty car like that is gone forever. It would be different if it was the last 69 R/T on the planet. I don't care if it is free. There are plenty of R/T cars out there, you just have to look.  Some of these guys are commending you for trying to save one, but most know you are making a bad financial decision, must less the quality  of the finished product. I know what I am talking about,here. 18 month ago, I sold a Charger project car. I'm, not at liberty to discuss the price I sold it for then, but if I still had the car, I would price it about 16-18K, give or take some. It was a 69 Charger R/T, 440 4 speed,  3.54 dana 60, rebuilt 18 spline 833 (non matching), a date correct 69 440 (non matching), b-7 blue with blue int. It had a fender tag and a perfect build sheet. It had ZERO rust, perfect 1/4/s, doors, front fenders, grill, floor pans and even a perfect trunk pan,  and no vinyl top. I just sold another one last week. It is a 69 Charger R/T,440, auto, matching motor, fender tag, TWO build sheets, and a fresh driver quality b 5 blue paint job and stripe delete. It was also a no rust Texas car with perfect sheet metal. It was partially apart so I was trying to put it back together enough so I could advertise it. Not many will pay top dollar for a car in baskets, even it is is nice. I sold it for 25K and I am helping him finish some of the car for a little extra. Now, please don't get mad at me for this, but I would rather sell my stuff to the local guys a little cheaper. Otherwise, I would sell all the Mopars out from here and I would be the only one left! Your "FREE" car is going to cost you a lot more than ether of these two cars and you won't have any paperwork at all. My advise is keep looking till you find  a good car and pay the price now instead of fixing that one. Good luck to you. 

[Pat1973charger]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If I had the money stright uo to buy a finished car I don't know that I would. I want to build it with my own hands, to prove the disbelievers wrong and I like the challenge. Just as it's been a lifelong dream to own a 69 RT, I've wanted to build it as much. Where's the fun in buying a car and driving it? The reason I am a licenced mechanic is I love working on cars, so to work on something with meaning like the charger is just a added fun factor.

[MxRacer855]

Wow, I know I already said this.. but you've definitely got your work cut out for you. Literally!  

With that being said, what a damn cool project! I really hope this one gets fully restored. The history behind it and the fact it was in this condition at one point will just make it beyond worth it!

I would have been very deterred if my project started like this, but now that it's in the stages it is.. I really wish it did! Incredible!  

Good luck again! And please keep us all updated on the build!  

Jeff

[Pat1973charger]

Wow, I know I already said this.. but you've definitely got your work cut out for you. Literally!  

With that being said, what a damn cool project! I really hope this one gets fully restored. The history behind it and the fact it was in this condition at one point will just make it beyond worth it!

I would have been very deterred if my project started like this, but now that it's in the stages it is.. I really wish it did! Incredible!  

Good luck again! And please keep us all updated on the build!  

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, when I actually start on it I'll will begin to post updated pics etc. I want to restore not only to fulfill my desire to have a 69 charger rt but for his kids who are now in their early 30s and didn't really know him and his old friends and family to see the car he once loved and represent a time of his carefree youth days before the tragedy. He would have only been in his late 20s when he passed

[fastmark]

I'm just saying that you might ought to consider starting with a better project car that what you are showing here. No disrespect intended, but the reason I started doing ALL my own mechanical work is because I saw how "licensed" mechanics treated the cars they work on. Most hurry up and do the work so they can get the job done faster than the book pays so they can make more money. If they don't have the tools to remove upper a arm bushings, they just use and air chisel and let the chips fly. You know what I'm talking about, right? Not saying all 'licensed" mechanics are that way, but I've seen more than my share. I worked on an axle shaft the other day that had torch marks in it where the previous guy torched the race off. I doubt if you are like that, taking on a project like this. Take pictures of every stage on this one because most will accuse you of just removing the vin number and switching it to another car. That will get you criticized, big time. The Moparts board had a guy that bought a highly talked about car years ago dubbed the "Barrel Cuda". It has been seen in pictures for years all over the net sitting on 4 barrels. It was a Sassy grass 71 440-6 cuda. He had way more to start with than you do, but it was still very rusty. He painstakingly replaced every part of the uni body that was rusted out, which was at least half the car. It was all documented with pictures on his website at every stage. I commend  him for his task. He was criticized so bad on the board for replacing so much of the car, they still called it a re body! I think he finally left the board because of it.
Still, good luck with the project. I'm headed to the shop today to see if I can get my 70 R/T rolling again! Time for lower suspension today. And no I did not use an air chisel to remove the bushings!  I made a jig to use with my ball joint remover/installer that works like a champ.   Be sure and get the title deal fixed before you spend any money, though.       

[MxRacer855]

Wow, I know I already said this.. but you've definitely got your work cut out for you. Literally!  

With that being said, what a damn cool project! I really hope this one gets fully restored. The history behind it and the fact it was in this condition at one point will just make it beyond worth it!

I would have been very deterred if my project started like this, but now that it's in the stages it is.. I really wish it did! Incredible!  

Good luck again! And please keep us all updated on the build!  

Jeff

And that is going to make this one AMAZING car! 


Thanks Jeff, when I actually start on it I'll will begin to post updated pics etc. I want to restore not only to fulfill my desire to have a 69 charger rt but for his kids who are now in their early 30s and didn't really know him and his old friends and family to see the car he once loved and represent a time of his carefree youth days before the tragedy. He would have only been in his late 20s when he passed

[500Jon]

Great story going on here Pat!
You can't beat free unless they paid you to take it away lol...

I've fixed worse than that and paid top dollar to buy the bondoed up wreck before hand!!!
Once you fit new rear rails, trunk floor, rear quarters, trunk extensions she will be almost there!

I got a drivers door off a Hemi Charger and a r/h fender off the 'Fast and Furious' 69 Charger, (yes I know its a 70 Charger but its not lol)
Complete hipo 440 and trans with driveshaft...I always find getting a good hood is tricky.

You got white seats, all intact, man you got well lucky.

BEST OF ALL SHE IS GREEN!!!
Good luck with the DMV, they is all aliens.......................

[Pat1973charger]

Great story going on here Pat!
You can't beat free unless they paid you to take it away lol...

I've fixed worse than that and paid top dollar to buy the bondoed up wreck before hand!!!
Once you fit new rear rails, trunk floor, rear quarters, trunk extensions she will be almost there!

I got a drivers door off a Hemi Charger and a r/h fender off the 'Fast and Furious' 69 Charger, (yes I know its a 70 Charger but its not lol)
Complete hipo 440 and trans with driveshaft...I always find getting a good hood is tricky.

You got white seats, all intact, man you got well lucky.

BEST OF ALL SHE IS GREEN!!!
Good luck with the DMV, they is all aliens.......................

Thanks! Not sure the seats are pretty bad shape all foam and covers gone and I think the springs are fairly rusty. No matter I have a set from my other charger just they have black covers that need recovering anyway. This is much better then the xp29 I had even though that one looked more complete as the grille and fenders were on and no accident damage but 32 years in a field made up for that. Fastmark I am not disputing your arguement, but in the end it's ultimately my decision and I intend to fix it. I have some mechanic friends who work at dealerships and are paid peace work or flat rate however you want to label it. They tend to cut corners, I take pride in my work and want to be know for the quality of work I do not the quantity, I am hourly paid to boot. I don't intend to cut corners on this resto, if a panel is repairable I will repair it, of not it will be replaced with a new or donor piece.

[500Jon]

Hey, I worked in main dealer shops too...
Good mechanic Guys are GOOD mechanics, they don't need to cut corners...
Bodyshop guys well that's a different story LOL!!!

[Pat1973charger]

No disrespect to dealership techs at all I know some who are about quality as well, it's a industry with a bad rep as sad as it is. I was raised to do thibgs as ethical as I can and I try to abide by that. I want my son to grow up respecting people so I will try to emulate that as much as I can to him. Where do you live at 500jon? Probably Cohan arm and leg to ship parts like doors and fenders for these boats lol.

Side thought, is my car F8 green?

[Dino]

Side thought, is my car F8 green?

Yes it is

[Pat1973charger]

Cool thanks.

[TUFCAT]

It sounds like you have the skills, tools, compassion, knowledge and desire to complete this job.

I'm not sure about the money (which will take an enormous amount),  but what the hell, you're young and you only live once right!  

As a motivational tool  I'm posting some of my recent favorite build threads.

These cars were rusty, smashed, and left for dead...

They would have bypassed as lost causes by some of the finest professionals, yet they were resurrected through the diligence of a few extremely skilled and highly dedicated (hardcore) home restorers!

My hat's off to these guys.  They really know how to work with rusty metal.  


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,92289.0.html

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,99159.0.html

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,104414.0.html

[Pat1973charger]

It sounds like you have the skills, tools, compassion, knowledge and desire to complete this job.

I'm not sure about the money (which will take an enormous amount),  but what the hell, you're young and you only live once right!  

As a motivational tool  I'm posting some of my recent favorite build threads.

These cars were rusty, smashed, and left for dead...

They would have bypassed as lost causes by some of the finest professionals, yet they were resurrected through the diligence of a few extremely skilled and highly dedicated (hardcore) home restorers!

My hat's off to these guys.  They really know how to work with rusty metal.  


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,92289.0.html

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,99159.0.html

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,104414.0.html

Thanks tufcat, some of those threads are what made me want to take on a build like this in te first place. I'm excited for the challenge. Am I rich, no, am I poor no, the wife and I have a nice house and vehicles and decent jobs but also have a new baby And so on. I have spare money every month which is what I have been using to buy parts. The occasional cash side job helps A lot! As you said I have time if it takes me 5-8 years so be it. Thanks again for the support!

[Dino]

I did auto body for a long time in a previous life, and most people would not restore this car for mostly financial reasons.  In your position however you can do what you want without a time frame which makes this a very cool project.  I personally love tackling the ones that are really far gone, it's immensely gratifying to bring one back from the dead.   

[Green71R/T]

I have had a lot of cars pass through my hands in the last 30 years and it always surprised me how many had a typo in the registration provided to me, especially the cars registered before dmv computers we common. I would try a search under a previous owners name or try a search with common mistakes such as a 5 for an S.

[Pat1973charger]

Talked to the owner prior to my wife's relative this morning he is going to go to the DMV and see if it still in his file.

[Pat1973charger]

pulled the k frame and rear end today and put the car on the jig.


how do i know what rear end i have? i know its posi and has 3.23s original to the car

[JB400]

Does the rear end have a cover on it as if you're looking at it from the rear of the car?

[Pat1973charger]

Nope hogs heAd style.

[JB400]

8 3/4.  On the drivers side of the center section, up by where the drive shaft mounts, there's a set of numbers.  What's the numbers?

[Pat1973charger]

ill have to look tomorrow all i have is pics of the numbers that were on the ring gear

[fy469rtse]

Look for a casting number on the side,
The last three digits tell you us what it is , 742 is correct for 68 isn't it hard to tell ,
Trac lock centre, steel clutches, not the lazy sure grip tye ,
There's a good chance it's still in it
At least you don't have to pull much apart to start,
On a jig already ? I think this one is in good hands 
.

[500Jon]

Hi Pat,

I'm in the UK, unfortunately for you...sunny England on Sea near France.
On a small Island of Sheeps, in the land of Kent, once owned by King Henry the 8th.
The first ever UK flights were done here by Mr. Charles Stewart Rolls in 1909...
Sorry going off track there for a moment.

It cost me a fortune to ship this stuff from Long Beach LA and it was dear to buy in California.
But if you want rustfree oem Sheetmetal, you have to go there for the best parts....

All the parts you need to rebuild the rearend will be from AMD anyways.
Order the whole lot in one hit and fit it on as one complete unit.
Quarters, rear framerails, trunk floor and extensions, tail-light panel with lower valance.
Whilst your doing all that the Wheel houses are a doddle too....

Sounds hard but I can assure you its not, just look at the pictures of the Mr.Norm C500...

Oh yes and a box full of FLANGE CLAMPS too..........