Barn Find......psyche..... not quite, first time out of the garage in 10 years.

[Lord Warlock]

Getting ready to send her to the shop, to tie up loose ends, and to get her tuned as I've hit a brick wall on the spark issue.   was going to send it to this shop anyway, after I got it running, so like the old adage, "All it takes is Money son" probably applies.  

dang it, pic links didn't load. will load them to photobook. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

  

[Lord Warlock]

A new beginning, the car is out of the barn, ready to go to the shop to tie up loose ends I missed, and get it running and ready to drive this year.  Shouldn't be too hard, its all assembled as far as I can tell.  Still need to do some color sanding and buffing on the driver and passenger doors. 

Looking better than the day I got it.

[Lord Warlock]

I anticipate sending it to the shop either tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning before I drive to tampa to drop off my 2010 challenger at Mr Norm's shop in Hudson FL to install a new Kenne Bell Supercharger to the 5.7 v8 Hemi.  Should be an interesting week or two.  Something to live for, or look forward to.  

Tomorrow or this weekend will be going to Harbor Freight to get the roller thingies to move the other non running car from right side of garage to left side, so the charger can drive straight in and out when it comes home- wish I hadn't thrown the 4 I had before in the trash because they took up too much space.  Found a couple nicks in the paint I'll have to fix, but have to get some touch up paint to fix those, more to do tomorrow.  

While I really like the looks of the Taylor braided plug wires, I seem to be dealing with wire and charge issues to coil as there is no fire yet.  New harness, etc, but I think all that metal near the distributor probably isn't such a good idea afterall, so I ordered a set of Accel yellow wires which came in the mail today, I used to have yellow wires on the original motor when I first got it, one of the few things I could afford back then, and the goal for me is to outfit the car as close to what it was like when I drove it daily, not what is correct as new.  I  had an underdash cassette player for a while, and I had planned on hanging a more modern radio under the dash, but longer I delayed that it looked more like I'd go Bluetooth, I like Bluetooth with the phones. Once its running I will try to install the Bluetooth Amp under the buddy seat, and wire it to the aftermarket speakers.  Says its a 500 watt amp, but doubt its anywhere close to that, probably 50 a channel.  Will stream music via Bluetooth, and retain the original am/fm in the dash. 

[XH29N0G]

running and ready to drive.    Looks nice.

[VegasCharger]

Damn 

You know how to make yellow look nice

Love the wheel/tire combo.

I'm a 68 guy but your 69 looks great!!!

Good luck on the results from the shop.

[crj1968]

SWEET !!  Looks great man !

[cdr]

Great to see progress!!!!  AWESOME Charger!!!

[polywideblock]

cool   

[Lord Warlock]

Have a new front bumper and bumperettes, and a new rear bumper with bumperettes, not sure if I can put them in the trunk and close the lid, may have to carry them to the mechanic's shop in wife's SUV after I drop it off.  I can handle the rear bumper myself if I had to, but the front is a bit heavy if you count all the bracings behind it, easiest way to get front bumper off is through the wheelwells with the two bolts on frame on each side, and slide it out the front, then disassemble it. 

Kind of like the old stickers I put on there in the 70s.  One says "When green flag drops, the bullshit stops", and the other one says "Move Over, I don't brake for turkeys".  but the back bumper has a scratch and a couple dings in it, and the rear bumperrettes have some scratches and rust showing on them.  So the new ones will look so much better when installed. 

Now I will have to buy myself new tail light trim surrounds (chrome) hard to spend 400 for two small pieces of chrome, but may have to.  The car does look very nice, pretty happy with the build so far.  when I got it out in sunlight today, I could see some dings or imperfections in the drivers door, and will admit I didn't spend much time on that door before painting it, looked straight before, now looks a bit lumpy in places so will try to sand it smooth and buff it back out.  Its been on the wrong side of the car for last few years, couldn't get to the middle of the door panel with two cars in the garage.  Out of the garage, can get to things I couldn't before. 

Also need to have a friend swap out the dash pad, have a new one sitting on back seat, my fingers couldn't touch the existing bolts so knew i'd have to farm it out.   

[skip68]

Looks great.     Excellent progress.   

[Mopar Nut]

Looks awesome! Wheels look great, that color looks good on Chargers!

[XS29LA47V21]

 
  very good.

Thought your car was cream car, Y3 for some reason, is that right?  photos sure appear to be yellow, Y2 ish.  Camera's can do tricks.  Nice looking. I always like the rocker molding on 69s.  You do not see them much for some reason.

Congrat on getting it gathered up..

[Lord Warlock]

yes it is a cream y3 car, not y2. 

[dual fours]

Tomorrow or this weekend will be going to Harbor Freight to get the roller thingies

June 2016 Mopar Action Mag. with the General on the cover has a coupon on page 48, your cost is $49.99 for two of them.

[Lord Warlock]

I have the PCV valve for the right side valve cover, but can't figure out how to install it other than hammering it in.  Would like to connect that hose eventually. 

Also have new transmission lines to radiator that I never put in, will see if the shop can do it on a lift, wasn't enough room for me to do it with the engine in the car.  Wasn't ready to remove the engine again, did that twice when I was young, spry, and eager to learn how to do it.  Not eager to do it again, last swap was with an original 69 440 magnum out of a charger r/t, figured it was as close as I would ever come to original, so swapped it, got it to run and drive, then soon afterwards started storing it. 

[Tjader]

Looks great! What are your wheels/tire combo?

[tan top]

    great stuff  LW   

[ht4spd307]

I have the PCV valve for the right side valve cover, but can't figure out how to install it other than hammering it in.  Would like to connect that hose eventually. 

Also have new transmission lines to radiator that I never put in, will see if the shop can do it on a lift, wasn't enough room for me to do it with the engine in the car.  Wasn't ready to remove the engine again, did that twice when I was young, spry, and eager to learn how to do it.  Not eager to do it again, last swap was with an original 69 440 magnum out of a charger r/t, figured it was as close as I would ever come to original, so swapped it, got it to run and drive, then soon afterwards started storing it. 
[/quote     try a little lube oil or spray type crc on the pcv valve as the engine wont run real good without that valve & by the way looks good in y3   i've made up my mind i will stick to the original color on mine as you suggested y3 has grown on me

[XH29N0G]

I found it a little easier with new gromets on the valve covers.  I think mine god old and very stiff with age, making it difficult to put in the valve.

[Baldwinvette77]

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo Thats nice 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Car looks great, but the driveway would annoy me to no end. Needs another section of concrete to ease the transition to the curve. 

[alfaitalia]

Not just me then! LOL!

[Ghoste]

That is fantastic news to hear.  Car looks awesome.

[CDN72SE]

Always wondered what your car looked like, very nice.

[DixieRestoParts]

 

[Lord Warlock]

I tried to get the contractor to add a little piece there, but it would have caused the pattern of the stain so it didn't line up.  That part of the driveway is really just a parking pad, not something I expect to use much.  One car will fit in front of the gate, but it had to curve alongside the previously laid out curbing for landscaping, which I had done years before.  The main purpose for cement there was to cement under the gate so It would open and close easier without having to pick it up to move it.  Now its on wheels.  Fence guys weren't the brightest, putting the cable on the outside, will eventually fix that too.  

I imagine many people wondered what it looked like, only had pics from one angle or side for a long time...10 years since I built the garage out back.  For a couple years it had the whole garage and the stealth was forced to live outside while I did body work and paint, but don't usually post pics of the bare paint stage, not as interesting. This is actually the first time I've really seen what the angle or rake of the car is, despite the fact that it has lower profile tires in the back than in the front, it still looks like it sits higher in back when viewed from the side.  Rear shocks have never been changed, fronts are same as when I got it. 

[Bronzedodge]

I was told by Legendary that a tan top was only in 69, the other years were brown.  Love the looks of yours!

[Lord Warlock]

What are your wheels/tire combo?

wheels are 17x8 in front, and 17x11 in the rear, tires are Nitto 555s in front and 555R 315x35x17 in rear.  These rears are not as tall as i'd like, but if they were taller they may touch the outer fenderwell.  Always wanted to try out a set of drag radials, may make burnouts less likely, but I also have a set of 15 inch tires on rims if I want to smoke rubber.  

The tan tops were not available for a long time, until Legendary got some, I waited years for them to come out then got one despite the fact that it cost 2 to 3 times what the black top cost.  I didn't want a black top, it had to be tan, to match the tan leather interior.  this is only photo I have of interior showing the different colors, will have to get new ones now that I can open the door all the way.  But one handle had a clip holding the linkage must have slipped off, and passenger door isn't working right now.

[Lord Warlock]

Called the shop manager today, and was told while he has room to park it inside, it would be a week or two before he could get to it as they are doing an engine swap on an old fiero which is happening now.  I'd rather park it here than park it there so will hold it another week then have it towed up.  Meanwhile I'll take some time cleaning the carpet and fixing the passenger door clip to the door handle.  Must have knocked it loose when hooking up the door locks.  Now I can open the door all the way and sit down to work. 

[ht4spd307]

do you have a local mobile mechanic some times their no that expensive as every body thinks sometimes its worth spending that extra saves leaving it in a shop for a week risking some cowboy wrecking your car ,taking it to go get the lunch orders etc i've heard some real horror stories i hate leaving my cars in any work shop thats just me 

[Lord Warlock]

I trust the shop owner, have been dealing with him for 20 years with all my daily driver cars.  Know he can handle the electronics which is the issue I've got, its the mechanics on site that I don't know, and yes I do worry about leaving the car in someone elses hands while they go through the whole thing as I asked.  I doubt anyone would drive it as is, but they could probably fix the brakes and e-brake in less than an hour, as all the brakes are brand new and just need adjusting.  (drums in back are new, pads, and springs etc all new, up front has new calipers, rotors and pads, but the brake line needs a little work, the line that I got did not utilize the 2nd distribution block normally used for power brakes.  I'm asking he tap the line and flare it to fit correctly.   I have the 2nd block and the line that goes between the two.

I've decided I will wait a few days before having it towed over as I feel safer with it sitting on my driveway than sitting on the shops lot overnight, he said he can park it inside, and it will draw attention of anyone dropping cars off for work.  Good for business.  Even the wife said it looks nice parked on the new pad beside the main driveway.  So won't be getting nagged to put it back inside.  BUT it is leaking around the windshield gasket, I am going to need to call safelight to come back out and redo the job, meanwhile will probably put a cover on it.   Just to protect it from rain leaking into the inside. 

Since I'm asking them to get it roadworthy, that means someone there is going to have to drive it some,  and if someone handed you a 440 charger r/t I think it would be hard to resist getting overexuberant with it.  Just don't want it in a wreck or off the road somewhere because they forgot how old cars drive.  I will be paranoid as hell with it until I gain some experience behind the wheel again.  Its been a long time.  

[Lord Warlock]

It really would have been nice to have it running this week instead of next 2 weeks or so, The yellow challenger in the garage was dropped off 170 miles south for a shop to install a supercharger this week, will go get it on Friday...and play a bit on the way home.  Would have been nice driving the charger while other car was gone...but still I'm happy its out and ready to go.  I can now do a little work on it this week with the doors wide open, been a while since I could only open one wide enough to squeeze in, the other side could get it open more but still wasn't easy.  Tomorrow, if it doesn't rain, I will pull the door panel on the passenger side and fix the door handle, think the clip came off the rods.  If I take the door handles off, I will likely put the original black buttons on, the chrome buttons just don't look right to me. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Very cool man.  Looks great.  Love the V21

[XS29LA47V21]

 

Sir Warlock, how is it coming.  Getting some driving in yet.. 

[Lord Warlock]

Charger got delayed a bit while I supercharged my challenger.  But good news, I got it to the shop today, then dropped off the bumpers so that they could put those on too.  It should be ready within a few days, but I gave them several weeks to do it, as long as I get it back by my Birthday next month, I should be fine. It took AAA two days to pick it up and get it carried over.

[nvrbdn]

Sweet. car is looking great. It will be fun to get it back.

[1973rallye]

Beautiful car!!!

[Lord Warlock]

It'll be a nice Birthday gift to myself to get it back ready to drive.  It still has a few flaws in the paint to deal with, and a ding under the stripe on one side, crowbar just had to jump off the shelf while moving a different tool , could have been worse. My man cave chair leg also rubbed a dime sized spot on right side I have to fix that too.  But yes, I think its looking pretty good now.  Especially after hiding it in a garage for so long.  Time to drive it, and don't plan on waiting any longer.  Well, not true, have a friend who owns an upholstery shop that I'll want to swap out the dash pad for me, he can use the business, and I can use guilt to get a cheap fix...lol.  (I let him take my challenger for a drive yesterday with the new supercharger installed, and one rib of the 6 rib belt sheared off while he was driving it, so he thinks he broke my new supercharged ride, I should have turned traction control off before he started, think that may have contributed to the belt moving like it did)

[Lord Warlock]

One of the reasons I delayed was that the passenger door latch stopped working and I wanted to fix that before dropping it off.  I eventually did pull off the panel and find the clip that fell off the linkage to the handle button, reinstalled it and had it working until I called the tow truck, then I tried locking the door with the key and the dang clip worked its way off again. 

Its strange, when I bought the car back in 1978, the same door wouldn't open for the same reason (faulty clip) fixed it myself and it stayed good for a long time, but now keeps popping off.  Maybe it doesn't like the repopped door handles and is letting me know.