My 6 Speed, 68 Build, "Phaedra"

[6spd68]

Was at my buddies shop this morning, and snapped two quick pics of my Charger; it's a 68, 318 car.  I'm going the modern 5.7 Hemi route, only stroked to 410CI.  I've also got the t56 from a SRT/10 truck, and the DANA-60 from a 69 R/T car.  The body work has taken a bit thus far, but we've geen going at it very slowly.  Here's a couple quick pics, hoping to have the car in primer, and more of an update soon!



Almost there, I'd say the body lines are pretty straigt so far!

[Baldwinvette77]

This was LONG overdue   

[keepat]

Body looks great, did the car have much rust?
Good luck with the build!
Pat

[toocheaptosmoke]

Phaedra, Lee Hazlewood reference?   Sounds like it's going to be a killer project.   

[6spd68]

Keepat, it wasn't too bad.  The floors were done on a rotisserie before I got it; I've just got a few pin holes in one of the doors, and the rear window (where they all rust).  The hard parts have been fixing the quarters (They were swapped, and had to be brought back out), the previous owner also decided to stack parts on the roof  (which has made getting all the little dents out rather trying).  I bought a new rear valiance for the car, then found the original in the trunk. 

And yep, it's a Lee Hazlewood reference.  After all, she'll be done; "Some velvet morning, when I'm straight..."

It'll be a triple black car when all is said and done, and I've fortunately got most of the parts needed to finish.  I'm only missing the emblems, hood mounted turn signals, all fasteners(little clips and screws we can get in kits online), and a set of seats.  I scooped a complete interior minus seats off a member here, and I've got 3 grilles for it.  I'm gonna do a Baldwin-esque fabrication job on my dash, and redo one of my gauge clusters with modern mechanical gauges.

Still debating what to do with my suspension...  I've posted a topic about it before.  I'm basically in a debate between getting the Hotchkiss TVS, or using a combination of Mopar components to achieve similar results.

Either way, as Baldwin said; this topic was long overdue, and I look forward to sharing future progress once the car is in primer.

[6spd68]

Some more quick body shots.  Please note; all fill is less than 1/8th thick, and used strictly for smoothing everything out.  I have some film pics of the car before, and in early resto.  I will scan and post some eventually 

Back of the car


Passenger side looking just as straight.


Smoothing the roof out, and the long proccess that has been...


You can't see it now, but there was a dent that looked like they threw the car into a pole around passenger side tail light


More to come

[myk]

Hotchkis! 

[hergfest]

How big is the tranny hump going to be?  That 6-spd is a big tranny.

[6spd68]

Another member has a thread from his conversion up here, I plan to follow that pretty closely.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,95382.0.html

[6spd68]

Well guys, Myk, would be happy; I've had to go and get the wheels turning on getting the Hotchkis TVS...

Two weeks ago, I finally sold my 87 T-Bird...  I fear if I don't buy this kit; I'm gonna go out on the weekend and pick this up:
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/london/1971-cutlass-supreme/1089871292?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

^ Hey Baldwin, that would be sick no?

[Baldwinvette77]

Sweet ass olds

Hmmm
Suspension parts.. or another musclecar  ....... 

[6spd68]

Right?!?  The struggle is real!

[six-tee-nine]

Sell cars and spend it on parts ASAP or you will end up buying another car..... dont ask me how I know

[Baldwinvette77]

Sell cars and spend it on parts ASAP or you will end up buying another car..... dont ask me how I know

Yeah but.. he could use that olds for parts runs 

[six-tee-nine]

Riiiiight, too bad I have a work van or I could also use that excuse with my wife....

[6spd68]

Sell cars and spend it on parts ASAP or you will end up buying another car..... dont ask me how I know

Yeah but.. he could use that olds for parts runs 

Heh, I actually picked up my grille in the 72 I had last summer...  How funny I looked driving down the road with the corner out the window...

[6spd68]

Ordered my Hotchkiss TVS, MOPAC Auto Supply quoted me about 4 months for Hotchkiss to send them all the components.

And so it begins...

[Baldwinvette77]

Ordered my Hotchkiss TVS, MOPAC Auto Supply quoted me about 4 months for Hotchkiss to send them all the components.

And so it begins...

You are a far stronger man than i, i just get everything through summit, it may cost more in duty, shipping and conversion, but you get it in 4 days tops in most cases 

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/hss-80110/overview/year/1968/make/dodge/model/charger

[6spd68]

I would've, but the shell likely won't get primer/paint until late fall/winter; so I'm really in no rush.

[6spd68]

Today was a good day...  So many boxes lol

[myk]

It's Christmas in September!

[6spd68]

Hey guys!  Anyone have any links or suggestions for power steering box upgrade, as well as 4 wheel disc brake kits?  My car was front disc, but I'm guessing I'd might as well just buy the 4 wheel conversion kit; this way I get everything new (booster/master).

[Baldwinvette77]

Awww Yeah 

[303 Mopar]

Hey guys!  Anyone have any links or suggestions for power steering box upgrade, as well as 4 wheel disc brake kits?  My car was front disc, but I'm guessing I'd might as well just buy the 4 wheel conversion kit; this way I get everything new (booster/master).

Firm Feel Stage 3 steering box is one of the best.  http://firmfeel.com/b_body_mopar_power_steering_box_rebuild.html

I would call Cass at Dr Diff for your brakes.  http://www.doctordiff.com/brakes/

[6spd68]

Hotchkis suspension, and fitting the Dana-60...   HEY! At least there's progress!




Also, older update:
Have started on my 383...  Getting it bored .30 over, and all other machining done in the next few weeks.

^The day I got it

[70 sublime]

Is there enough room to turn the bolt the other way around on the front end of the rear spring and put the nut on the inside ?

That way in the future you would not have to take the 4 bolts off the perch to get the spring out 

[6spd68]

Will check it out

[Baldwinvette77]

Awesome!! 

[invincibleextremes]

Hit me up on the disc brakes... it'll cost you less than $800 for a complete setup for 13.2 inch fronts and 11.8 inch rears...  or less depending on how good you are with deals.  Garner snagged a brembo set with reas for 400... he got the fronts installed, still waiting on me to get him the rear setup.

[6spd68]

Hit me up on the disc brakes... it'll cost you less than $800 for a complete setup for 13.2 inch fronts and 11.8 inch rears...  or less depending on how good you are with deals.  Garner snagged a brembo set with reas for 400... he got the fronts installed, still waiting on me to get him the rear setup.

Will you ship to Canada?  Are you also supplying the booster/master?  If so I'm game

[invincibleextremes]

No problems shipping to canada, might cost $10 more, but no issues...I only supply the adapter kit.  Fronts and rears for $250 or just the fronts for $110 .... theres a thread on it in the chassis forum here.   

heres the breakdown if what it will cost if get them.

$250 for the adapters.

$175 for the front brakes off a 2011 through 2014 mustang
$175 for the rear brakes off said mustang.

Thats $600 and leaves you with $200 for whatever master cylinder and booster setup you desire to keep everything around $800 to $900...

I wouldn't really have a problem putting together a complete at the wheel kit but I tend to hesitate selling people used brakes, (I recomend it, but I myself will not)  which would mean I have to buy the parts new.

Which in turn would bring it to around $900 using all new componets for just the brakes without a master cylinder.

Sorry if its confusing ;-)  theres a couple of install videos of the prototypes on my youtube channel, check them out if you like and see for yourself.   Www.youtube.com/invincibleextremes

[redmist]

By the way Invincibleextremes,

I passed you on the freeway around the Mt. Home area a few weeks back. Looked like you had an orange engine block on a trailer?

[invincibleextremes]

I must've been heading back east... i think that was a generator you saw... ;-)

[6spd68]

I actually saw your video just before you commented on my thread...  PMing you now

[6spd68]

Sway bar is in ...  Getting my mind ready to chop open the floor to fit the 6-speed...

[6spd68]

Hit me up on the disc brakes... it'll cost you less than $800 for a complete setup for 13.2 inch fronts and 11.8 inch rears...  or less depending on how good you are with deals.  Garner snagged a brembo set with reas for 400... he got the fronts installed, still waiting on me to get him the rear setup.

Found Rotors and pads for 125$ front/back ...  Just need to get calipers, and your adapter plates now.  We're in business sir 

[6spd68]

Picked up my 6-speed:



Still need to open it up...  As it's a Corvette S6_40, I'm wondering if I'll need hardened/upgraded gears(383 will make about 500HP or so)?

[6spd68]

Also, curious if anyone knows where I could get a bell housing for this trans?  I've only been able to find them for the Corvette T56(newer trans)

[6spd68]

Same day update:
Am going to go with a fully rebuilt Richmond 6-speed(3500$ later womp womp womp).  I can't find a bellhousing for this tranny(ZF S6_40) ANYWHERE!  Will post pics of the Richmond, and more progress as it comes in

[GT]

Did you try contacting Quicktime?  They *might* have it.
Would have been easier if it was the Viper T-56, as they have a RB to T-56 bell housing.

[Baldwinvette77]

Yeah contact quicktime, the bellhousing i bought to fit a 95 viper trans to a big block wasnt on the summitracing site for a while.. im not sure if its back now, but quicktime has it listed. 

[6spd68]

Axels installed on the Dana.  Had to cut them as they were JUST A BIT longer than needed.  Also shown: the bracket installed for the Mustang Brake setup from Vlad(InvincebleExtremes)

[invincibleextremes]

Nice.  Are those sealed bearings?  Look like it, cause the adjuster isnt on the retainer.  Making progress, i'm glad.

[6spd68]

Well guys...  After a long wait, and much talking about other things;  here's how the body is turning out thus far.  The hood needs a little more work, but we've done pretty good thus far I'd say.  Let me know what you guys think  

Back end:


Side:


Body lines:


Close Up:


Hood:


Hood Straightening:

[Baldwinvette77]

Just in time for winter!!   

[68 charger freak]

Looks good  , I'm still digging out the interior stuff for you ..

[6spd68]

Looks good  , I'm still digging out the interior stuff for you ..

All good!  As you can see, you've got LOTS of time 

[Charger-Bodie]

Looking great!

[70B5Cuda]

Saw that you sold a 68 Charger. Was it this project? If so, what happened?!?!?!?

[6spd68]

Saw that you sold a 68 Charger. Was it this project? If so, what happened?!?!?!?

Unfortunately so.  Long story short, my buddy(who's shop the car was at) is closing down, and I didn't have much time to get the car out of there.  I had the choice of putting the car into storage, finding somewhere else to finish it, or getting my own space to finish it myself.  I honestly think the car needs about 15-20K to finish, and I just didn't want to take on that much debt with the uncertainty if it may one day be done.  After all, life has a funny way of jumping up and kicking you in the pants(just like this).

I didn't come to the decision lightly, but I feel it's for the best.  I've given the new owner links to this forum, and hoping he'll see it all the way through.  He got a decent deal on the car, and it's a great foundation to be something awesome.

Hopefully I'll get another one someday, but for now I can at least say I owned one.  Albeit a slow money pit that handled like sh!t  <get it?

Phaedra, I'm sorry that velvet morning never came...