Chevy guy needs to build a 68 Charger

[2002TransAm]

Hello Mopar ladies and gentleman I am a diesel mechanic trade and a Chevy guy by choice (insert your quips now). I have a guy that wants to build a 68 charger he just bought into a charger r/t he doesn't have the mechanical ability to do the work so he's having me do it on the side for him. What he wants is a car that looks stock but drives new here is the reason I need some help. The car right now is a 318 power brake power steering car with shifter on the column and a bench seat Ill have pics up of the car when it gets to me this week. If I could get your guys help in avoiding parts pitfalls that would be awesome. Here is the build as planned 408 stroker from blueprint with ez-efi A518 overdrive trans and converting it to buckets and console shift RMS front suspension and 4 wheel disc from RMS new fuel system and cooling system, he wants a/c added into the car. I will have the diff built in-house at my shop and modify driveline. We are going to have someone else do the body and paint but he wants it to look like an R/T with the square brake lights and he wants the console and shifter and gauges to be stock looking. Me being a chevy guy can I get some member help as to which R/T he is talking about he doesn't know which year it is I think from what I've found 69 R/T.  If you guys have suggestions on which parts would work better or problems that I'm going to run into any help would be appreciated. The Blueprint engine is the 425hp 500pdft version with ez-efi he doesn't want a race car but he doesn't want his doors blown off by a Honda civic either.

On a side note its not that I don't like Mopar's just can't afford them a very good friend of mine is Mopar or no car and I helped him race his Dodge Dart down into the 9s. He also owned a AAR cuda' and a 383 powered challenger that would make you weak in the knees.

[cbrestorations]

round tail lights are 68, the more rectangle lights are 69-70. sounds like you already have a game plan, but if ur looking for parts theres alot of guys here who can help. you will need a floor shift steering column and a complete center console with shifter setup. bucket seats will bolt right in with drilling 4 holes to complete the set. vintage air makes a good aftermarket a/c system thats half the weight of the stock setup is not less.

[2002TransAm]

round tail lights are 68, the more rectangle lights are 69-70. sounds like you already have a game plan, but if ur looking for parts theres alot of guys here who can help. you will need a floor shift steering column and a complete center console with shifter setup. bucket seats will bolt right in with drilling 4 holes to complete the set. vintage air makes a good aftermarket a/c system thats half the weight of the stock setup is not less.

Thanks cbrestorations for the great info. As for my game plan I don't know this is just what I've come up with working on researching this project for about a week so if you guys have better suggestions on what parts are best for a restomod I'm all ears his idea originally was a 6.4 hemi and 8 speed trans all new from mopar. Then budget constraints made us step back from that plan.

[Dino]

68s didn't come with a bench seat, buckets only. He likely has a buddy seat between the bucket seats so all he has to do is remove it and install a console. You'll need to weld console brackets on the floor, they are readily available.
Base Chargers and R/Ts look the same except for the badges and tailstripe. Does he want to change the look from a 68 to a 69? That'll take a lot more work and is something I just don't support. He's better off selling the 68 and buying a 69.

[2002TransAm]

68s didn't come with a bench seat, buckets only. He likely has a buddy seat between the bucket seats so all he has to do is remove it and install a console. You'll need to weld console brackets on the floor, they are readily available.
Base Chargers and R/Ts look the same except for the badges and tailstripe. Does he want to change the look from a 68 to a 69? That'll take a lot more work and is something I just don't support. He's better off selling the 68 and buying a 69.

I will know for sure what I'm dealing with monday or tuesday when he gets it trailered to me. I think he just wants the rectangle brake lights in it is it a body mod or bolt in difference. I know he doesn't know all the  changes from 68 to 69 because he wasn't sure exactly what car he saw that he wanted.  The guy I'm doing this for is a longtime friend of my father so out of respect for my dad I'm out of my car mod comfort zone. I can build a chevy and know all the differences and I can build a Semi from the ground up. Where my knowledge lacks is the best places to upgrade the parts and the changes to the cars through the years. What I don't want is a LS powered 68 charger or doing a change to this car that the owner wants and all Mopar guys would shoot me for, remember one of my good friends is a mopar fanatic and if I screw up he will shoot me.

[Dino]

Don't get shot!   

We can help you find the right parts, that's not a problem.

The change in taillights would mean having to replace the tail panel. I'm really not a fan of making one car look like another but it's his car.  You'd need a 69 tail panel, tail lights, emblem, and stainless trim. If you're careful you can drill the spotwelds and weld in the new panel without having to repaint the quarters.

The style of lights have nothing to do with it being an R/T though. All 68s had round tail lights and all 69s and 70s had the long rectangular kind, be it base models or R/Ts.

[2002TransAm]

Don't get shot!   

We can help you find the right parts, that's not a problem.

The change in taillights would mean having to replace the tail panel. I'm really not a fan of making one car look like another but it's his car.  You'd need a 69 tail panel, tail lights, emblem, and stainless trim. If you're careful you can drill the spotwelds and weld in the new panel without having to repaint the quarters.

The style of lights have nothing to do with it being an R/T though. All 68s had round tail lights and all 69s and 70s had the long rectangular kind, be it base models or R/Ts.

Thanks Dino I really do appreciate the help thats exactly the kind of stuff I'm trying to find out he's going to get it repainted as well. It sounds like its just the lower range 68 charger since it has the 318 and column shift auto but I will post the numbers to make sure that I am not dealing with some rare breed that needs to be restored not modified.

[2002TransAm]

what is the difference between the small block la and small block magnum. I can buy a 360 magnum engine from one of the guys at work but when I look up 408 stroker kits I can get them for the LA not the magnum on summit. I would like the engine to be a full roller engine and the blueprint engine I'm looking at is flat tappet. Is the magnum 360 block the same as LA 360 block I realise the head difference but what I want to know is if I buy the scat rotating assembly for an LA will it fit in a Magnum. Sorry to ask a question that Im sure every Mopar guy knows but when I google the difference it shows no short block difference but summit doesn't show that the kit is available.

[Homerr]

You're the kind of Chevy guy we like - one who asks the questions instead of going all LS on it.   

Any chance you can get the owner to register here and chime in?

It's been done before to change years on a 68-70 Charger but most of us cringe at the thought.  If we could get a clear statement from the owner we might understand what is wanted for the end result, looks-wise.

Who knows, for the right car a trade might even work better to have a 69 body with a 68 grille - if that's the look.

And then maybe we can all have a come to Jesus moment on what the overall budget is likely to be and see if the owner blinks.  Generally, if this Charger is unrestored then usually the rear glass channel, trunk floor, and at least lower quarters need to be replaced as they rust out - as a minimum.

[myk]

The 68 tail lights are the best; I can't believe some people prefer the later tail lights.  In any case, it'd be interesting to see where this project truly is with some pictures.  Reality has a sometimes tragic way of changing people's plans...

[68pplcharger]

 

[Brass]

Welcome!   

[Baldwinvette77]

Sounds cool!, i cant offer much help, but im looking forward to seeing the progress and the end result 

[Bronzedodge]

There's a fairly good book that describes all the differences.  If you like to read, & have reference books around....

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Big-Inch-Mopar-Small-Blocks/dp/193249457X

The author seems a little biased toward the newer blocks and heads, opinions vary of course....just my take on it.

[charger chris]

  welcome to the site. Can't wait to see pics of the car as it gets done and put together.   oh p.s. Save your money if you want a mopar hell I know you make more money then me. Plus I know g.m. Guys that went mopar and said they would never go back to g.m.  

[2002TransAm]

Thanks for the support guys here are the first pics I have of the car it is supposed to be delivered to me tomorrow.

[2002TransAm]

Here is the passenger side.

[Troy]

what is the difference between the small block la and small block magnum. I can buy a 360 magnum engine from one of the guys at work but when I look up 408 stroker kits I can get them for the LA not the magnum on summit. I would like the engine to be a full roller engine and the blueprint engine I'm looking at is flat tappet. Is the magnum 360 block the same as LA 360 block I realise the head difference but what I want to know is if I buy the scat rotating assembly for an LA will it fit in a Magnum. Sorry to ask a question that Im sure every Mopar guy knows but when I google the difference it shows no short block difference but summit doesn't show that the kit is available.

Other than the taillights, this one is an issue. A real R/T would have had a big block - and not just any big block, a 440 or Hemi. You open the hood with a small block in there and any halfway decent Mopar guy will pick up on it right away (if they didn't already look at the VIN number). The Magnum motors were just the newer version of the LA small block. The primary difference is in the heads (much better flowing on the Magnum). That means a different bolt pattern for the heads (and also the valve covers). Other noticeable differences - the Magnums all had roller cams from the factory and all(?) had serpentine belt systems. You can retrofit the LA timing cover and accessories but you'll need to add a timing eccentric to the front of the cam (or buy an extended cam) to run the mechanical fuel pump (Magnums were all injected). The motor mounts are different from a big block - but also between small blocks. The 360 had larger crank journals so be careful which stroker kit you buy (ie don't try to fit a 340/392 into a 360/408) but all the 408 stroker cranks should fit either version of a 360. Do some research before buying the Scat parts. The stroker kits should be easy to find for Magnum or LA - possibly cheaper somewhere other than Summit. Try these guys:
http://www.mrlperformance.com/

Make sure you get the correct converter for whatever engine and balance you end up with. Magnum engines were balanced differently than LA engines - and you can buy a "balanced" stroker kit.

If you want to swap taillights it required a new tail panel (they don't interchange). Along with that, there are a bunch of other differences between a 68 and 69 Charger (Grill, hood, fenders, marker lights, seats, dash, etc.).

Troy

[2002TransAm]

Thank you Troy thats exactly the kind of info I need. Ill talk to the owner about the differences besides the taillights. He isn't to worried about making the running gear correct or a show car restoration he just wants it to drive like a new one and still look like the old one on the interior and exterior. Could I get someone to post a picture of a correct exterior of a 69 R/T and 70 R/T. I don't want to google it because I won't  know what the actual cars look like without knowing if someone fiddled with them or if that person has an accurate description.

[charger chris]

That's a really nice looking car.

[E86/A47]

Welcome to the site, you came to the right place!

69 front



69 rear



70 front



70 rear




That's a nice 68, great starting point. It's the owners car to do with as he wishes but try to talk him out of changing the tail lights. It will look silly to most mopar fans, the round turn signals, different grill, etc.

It would be like putting a 71 or 72 chevelle front clip on a 70...

[2002TransAm]

Thanks for the pics E86

[Baldwinvette77]

I'd leave that 68 as a 68, it looks good from the pictures, but if it turns out to be a rotted out bondo bucket, then i guess as you rebuild it you can clone it as a 69 or 70. but again, it looks good as it is 

[2002TransAm]

I'd leave that 68 as a 68, it looks good from the pictures, but if it turns out to be a rotted out bondo bucket, then i guess as you rebuild it you can clone it as a 69 or 70. but again, it looks good as it is 

I agree whole heartedly especially since its not my car and not my money. Im just the one putting the time into it and trying to get it done fast enough that my wife won't kill me for being in the garage forever on  someone else's car.

[cdr]

2002ta i sent you a link in the engine section