My 68 Charger day 2 resto has started

[Charger_69]

I bought this Charger nearly 5 years ago by word of mouth. A friend who works at a speed shop was payed a visit by a Matco tool guy, he stopped and asked hey is any here into Mopars and he said oh yah i am, the Matco guy said i got this Charger im trying to sell. My bud goes what year etc, he just said it was a blue 68 with a console and 383 engine, and he wants 5k. Well that was a lot more than he could pay so he called me and gave me his cell #. more....

[BLK 68 R/T]

Looking forward to following along on your build.

[skip68]

   looks like a solid car

[tan top]

  ...........

[Charger_69]

(what is frustrating is it will not let me post some photos even though they are 100% renamed) So I wound up calling the Matco guy on a Tuesday and asked about the car briefly and set up a time on Sunday to go see the car and during the wait period hoping someone else didn't get a chance. I called him early Sunday and went to see it early afternoon.

I really didn't know what to expect when we rolled up to his gate i saw a battered front end in primer and grille partially broken and out of aligned headlight doors. Upon walking up to the drivers side and peaking in i saw a ugly GM steering wheel and 70 Charger high back seats, When i looked at the lower 1/4 and back window corners i just couldn't be believe how solid it was. When he open the trunk and when i saw it was 100% solid i was sold!!!! It was sold LOL

[mightywing7]

Nice start.....good luck!! Keep 'em coming! 

[Charger_69]

So I really thought the price was fair and he was throughing in a 64 413 engine and trans i wasn't gonna take a chance of getting bounced out of there so i gave him his asking price and he delivered it 20 miles!! So ive told i should of haggled but i wasn't gonna chance it.

[Charger_69]

It is a 383 2bbl, with air that was missing every component under the hood, power windows, power steering and power 11" brakes. qq1 blue with black top.

[Charger_69]

Its spent most of its life in the California desert, but it did live a hard life but not a bad as the fate of most Chargers. This car sat in a trailer park and the Matco (Chevy guy) traded a 80's Chevy pick up for it. He put a flex plate in it motor mounts and a few other repairs but judging by the shag carpet and the bias ply tires etc this baby was sidelined for a while, at the time i just wanted to drive it and i really don't know but i decided to go further and further and...i wanted to replace the front fenders and front and rear valance cause the end caps were rusted out and it looked like it was pulled out of a ditch buy how bent it was.

[MxRacer855]

Looking forward to this one as well! 
Can always pull ideas for mine. 



Jeff

[Charger-Bodie]

Sweet project

[Rolling_Thunder]

How's the area treating you ?  I ran into you up in Palmdale a few years ago - traded seats.   Small world   

[Charger_69]

How's the area treating you ?  I ran into you up in Palmdale a few years ago - traded seats.   Small world   

I remember you coming up and trading seats...Good!!  i actually moved to a nicer house and was able to build a 2400 sq ft workshop. A few more out of order pics lol

[MxRacer855]

ah yes... the "scraping" stage...       

Keep up the good work! 


Jeff

[charge69]

I remember well the "rotisserie" stage of the restoration of my Charger!  Hard working days but, you could see the fruits of the labor and it made for some satisfying times! Keep up the good work and always keep looking forward!

[Charger440RDN]

That undercarriage is solid, always nice when you don't have to replace the floors and trunk pan.

[Bob T]

Good effort bud.
A 68 in QQ1 is one of the highlights of Dodge World in my humble view , good score 

[TPR]

A 68 in QQ1 is one of the highlights of Dodge World in my humble view , good score 

Amen brother. Seeing that combo in real life is a sight to behold. A white hat looks good on it too.
TPR

[64dartgt]

Did it come with a build sheet?  Any idea if it had white or black vinyl?  I am thinking B5 instead of baby blue with my car's blue interior but am on the fence on going with a white roof, black roof or none (white canopy originally).

[Baldwinvette77]

This is awesome 

[Charger_69]

Did it come with a build sheet?  Any idea if it had white or black vinyl?  I am thinking B5 instead of baby blue with my car's blue interior but am on the fence on going with a white roof, black roof or none (white canopy originally).

Thanks for the nice comments, i have the fender tag, no build sheet it is coded for black vinyl top. more pics soon.

[Charger_69]

 More on the Rotisserie...

[Ghoste]

I always like those undershot photos when a car is painted and everything on the rotisserie.

[Roadrunner]

My 68 is QQ1 with black interior much nicer than B5 blue as I see it!

[Charger_69]

What was just going to be a fix up to drive around with the 383 and 3.23 open turned into a full blown (modified) resto. Upon pulling the shag carpet out someone used a greasy tar like goo all over the floor boards and package tray as a sound deadner or to hold the carpet in place. it was so greasy i needed to use a bumper jack off the console mounts to get the rear seat out.

[Charger_69]

I ordered new AMD front fenders ,front and rear valances and end caps and ultimately a new hood cause my was bend drilled for hood pin holes. pics of trail fitment.

[Charger_69]

Back to the car being 100% taken apart , this is after spending the whole 100 plus degree summer scraping, scaling, hi pressure water blasting, sanding, priming painting, the bottom of the car. looking pretty ugly for sure.

[Charger_69]

Since i decided im going modified via 440 stroker i decided to get a original rebuilt Dana 60 with 3.54 gears, I would up trading a extra rear seat for a set of original 440/Hemi leaf springs that have a nice arch.

[Charger_69]

I wound up picking up a 72 440 engine and decided on a 4.25 stroke Hughes kit.