building my 69 Charger (tribute to my nephew)

[Harper]

ok so I am starting a build thread, please do not be bored with my slow progress, however if you feel the need to encourage me or have suggestions please feel free to chime in

my plans are to build a GENERAL LEE CLONE out of my 1969 Charger in Memory of my Nephew. Yes its said to be rare having the slant 6 and a manual 3 speed transmission on the column. However he was planing on building a General Lee clone complete with big honkin 440, 727, hd rear end with glass packs, cb, cb antenna, Dixie horns right down to the push bar, Confederate flag on top and 01 on the door. Therefore I will build that exact car of his vision.
Yes its Ratty! it was ratty when we (together, he was like my little brother to me) went an looked at it in 1997-98. I said to him that its "to rusty" don't buy this one...he bought it anyway. lol It took me 13 years to talk my sister out of it. My promise to her was to build it just like my nephew (Jeff) would have. Today I had a new windshield installed in it. It needs a lot (i realize that) but one step at a time.
0. i got it running (DONE)
1. bought new fuel tank (not yet installed) (DONE)
2. rebuilt the carburetor (DONE)
3. tune up with new plugs, plug wires, points, condenser, oil, oil filter (DONE)
4. New tires (different wheels) vectors to follow one day (DONE)
5. New Master cylinder (DONE) and installed (DONE)
6. New brake lines (ordered the wrong ones reordered today) installed (DONE)
7. New windshield installed (DONE)
Next items on the list:
8. install new brake lines and get it stopping (DONE)
9. Install new exhaust (so i don't die from carbon dioxide poisoning) lol and maybe a muffler
10. patch floor panels (same reason as #9)
11. fix shifter handle knob (with the handle My buddy Gil game me today) (DONE)
12. continue making improvements and plans

pictures to follow...
This picture is of my oldest son (he is 23 now if that gives you an idea of about when this was taken) Me and my nephew had gone to get this 69 Charger and brought it back by my ex wifes and picked up my oldest son Brandon I believe he may have been around 3-4 so it had to be in 1997 or 98.

[Harper]

the day i bought it

[lukedukem]

It's a start. I'll Be following this one for sure. Good luck

Luke

[Harper]

thanks...

gotta start somewhere. My biggest fear is the $500-$700 for every part or so it seems...

[70 sublime]

Interesting project

What is the master plan ?

Are you going to get the body sorted out and painted orange with the 01 on the door then build up a 440 for it ?

If not why bother spending money on the 6 cylinder exhaust if you are not going to use it in the end ?

[70 sublime]

Might be more interesting just leaving the 6 in the car and put a turbo on it just to be different
But if something like that was never the nephew's vision I can understand that also

[Harper]

yea the exhaust is mainly a "i don't want to suffocate" thing lol

What is the master plan ?

Are you going to get the body sorted out and painted orange with the 01 on the door then build up a 440 for it ?

pretty much.
I have a running 440/727 located. I may actually install regasket this and install and have a driver and do the body a little along.
The sad part is my nephew had both of these and my sister and brother in law sold all his cars to a scrap yard except this one and a 91 ford f150 i sold him. I wound up buying that truck back from them as well.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Any forward progress is good progress!  Your nephew would be happy to see that. 

Just keep her dry and fix it at whatever rate time and money allows.   

[Mopar Nut]

  

[aerolith]

Ratty is good, RUST is bad!

I'm hoping that the frame rails are still in good shape?

My advice to all budding restorers is, start at the bottom and work your way up.

Once you have a good frame and floor, the 'World is your Oyster'...    (limey talk)

[Harper]

Ratty is good, RUST is bad!

I'm hoping that the frame rails are still in good shape?

My advice to all budding restorers is, start at the bottom and work your way up. icon_smile_big

Once you have a good frame and floor, the 'World is your Oyster'... scratchchin   (limey talk) smilielol

oh there is no doubt. Fortunately the frame rails seem to be good. Even the trunk extensions are fair. I have located a body shop with a few guys that i have known and one i have raced for over 24 years at the drag strip including his father. The owner i have known for over 28 years.
Starting out with a simple windshield install, if that goes smooth, i will continue to work with them.

added a couple pictures when i was putting a good coat of paint on it. Yea its not perfect but, its just a protective coating to help prevent rust...

[Harper]

out with the old in with the new

[alfaitalia]

I wanted a top tint one for mine.....could not find one in the UK and thought the chances of importing one and it making it here in one piece was slim!! So just normal tint it was!

[70 sublime]

I would not rely on the new window to keep the water out 100% if they only used the rubber gasket when the new one went in

I think you mentioned your car cover broke and that is why you were going with the new glass now
Something to keep an eye on

[moparstuart]

I would not rely on the new window to keep the water out 100% if they only used the rubber gasket when the new one went in

I think you mentioned your car cover broke and that is why you were going with the new glass now
Something to keep an eye on

yes the new glass is thinner and leaks 

[Harper]

got my new brake lines in and installed. The old ones rung off when we installed the new master cylinder. 
Then of course i ordered the incorrect ones, then had to reorder, so they came in yesterday and i just installed em. Here are the old lines and the new ones installed. baby steps, but making progress.

[Baldwinvette77]

Awesome dude  please post as many pictures as you can 

[Harper]

old rubber lines off, new rubber lines on

here are the issues i ran into.
I can NOT get the studs out of the hub, scared i am going to damage hub.
the brake drum on drivers side has to be replaced, this one bent in the bolt holes  

my half chocolate lab half husky "BELLE" trying to help

[70 sublime]

Does your car still have left hand thread wheel studs on one side of car and right hand threaded wheel studs on other side of car ?

[Harper]

it did on the drivers front...left hand threads
all others were right hand threads

these lines evidently indicate the left hand threads

[VegasCharger]

here are the issues i ran into.
I can NOT get the studs out of the hub, scared i am going to damage hub.
the brake drum on drivers side has to be replaced, this one bent in the bolt holes  

If you need to replace the hub and or drum, I have parts you can have on the cheap since shipping will be kinda pricey due to weight. I have front drums/hubs both with RH threads and LH threads.

[Edelbroke]

Use a torch to get the wheel studs out. Heat the area around the stud, they should pound right out. Use a punch on the ones that are broke off. And replace with right hand thread ones

[Harper]

If you need to replace the hub and or drum, I have parts you can have on the cheap since shipping will be kinda pricey due to weight. I have front drums/hubs both with RH threads and LH threads.

thanks I will keep that in mind.

Use a torch to get the wheel studs out. Heat the area around the stud, they should pound right out. Use a punch on the ones that are broke off. And replace with right hand thread ones

i have a torch and oxygen but no acetylene

i did spray with PB Blaster and hopeing it will come out today! If that fails i will find a press.

[Kern Dog]

I like the dog.   

[69wannabe]

I like the dog.   

I also like the dog.

[Harper]

havent gotten much done on my 69 lately, the weather has just been nasty, cold and wet.  But tonight i did sand the torque convertor and put a fresh coat of paint on it. 

[Harper]

got a little snow awhile ago...

[Harper]

more snow/ice

[JB400]

I'm sure there's some people around here that could send you some more snow if you want.

[Harper]

JB,
nah buddy thats ok. I really dont care for the little bit we get about once every year or so...
I am sure you guys have had it was worse. Its more of a beauty thing down here since we rarely have it. but thats one reason i love the south,

that and evidently they put some harsh chemicals on the roads up there to melt the ice, another reason i love it down here. We were out about 30 mins ago and they were putting dirt on the roads, lol just plain old dirt.

[BDF]

X3 on doggy.
Making progress