Budget 68 Charger build

[70B5Cuda]

I traded for this Charger shell last summer. It had been sitting for 20+ years and needs cabin and trunk floor pans but the rockers and frame rails are surprisingly solid. I have several projects that are suffering greatly from scope creep so I HOPE to keep this one as as budget bomber. Something I don't have a ton of money in. The early plan is to ring/gasket a 440 I have sitting in the shop. I also have an 18 spline 4 speed just waiting to be used. I didn't get much with the car, but I plan to use all the cast off/replaced parts from my other 68 Charger rest-mod build. Paint job will probably be a satin or patina job.

[orange383]

That does look solid.
I'll be watching this thread with interest.

[chargervert]

It looks to have good bones.

[70 sublime]

Looks like you have a few Chargers in your supply line 

The 68 appears to have 69 doors so just remember when you are rounding up the upper door pads

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I'd budget a minimum of 50 to 75 grand if you want to make it very nice.

[70B5Cuda]

I'd budget a minimum of 50 to 75 grand if you want to make it very nice.

This one will NOT be very nice. It will be a fun bruiser. My other Charger will be a really nice one. I'm thinking more like $10K....considering I have a drivetrain and most parts will be donated from my other Charger, I think that might be doable

[70B5Cuda]

Looks like you have a few Chargers in your supply line 

The 68 appears to have 69 doors so just remember when you are rounding up the upper door pads

The other Chargers belonged to the guy that traded me this one. They're all gone now except the two he is keeping. I did notice the 1969 doors. It must have been done early in its life because the exterior of the doors was color matched pretty well to the quarters and the paint has been on the car a long time.

[ACUDANUT]

 Hey fellow Kansan, how did the auction go on the 69 Survivor that got wrecked. ??
On another note. Keep up on the Doctor visits and stay well. Cheers.

[chargervert]

The last time I put a Charger together for ten grand,was 1989.

[70B5Cuda]

The last time I put a Charger together for ten grand,was 1989.

I hear you. In reality it will cost more then that because I have the entire drivetrain (eng, trans, rearend) from a car I used to own. I have 3 grills laying around. I have seats, radiator, cluster, AC box, glass, etc from my other Charger. I rebuilt/powdercoated a complete set of front suspension for another ar and then went with an Alterkation front end so that's just ready to go as well. I plan to do the body work myself. Including the OPPORTUNITY COST, I will certainly be over $10K. And I may still lay out more then $10k, but I plan to be stingy on this build

[chargervert]

If you factor in the value of the Charger shell,parts,and your labor,it will be atleast 25k to put together anything that runs and drives decent.

[70B5Cuda]

I know. I have no illusions but how much they cost to build. I have three money pit resto mod builds in my signature that have educated me well!

[spoolinhard]

If you factor in the value of the Charger shell,parts,and your labor,it will be atleast 25k to put together anything that runs and drives decent.

There are ways to bring that number down significantly. I have been buying chargers and parts, keeping what I want/need and selling the rest.

This has off set the cost of building a car and often times I have ended up with cars/ parts for free after selling what i don't need. Other times I have ended up with nice parts well under market value.

I have seen the OP's online want ads; I have no doubt hat he is familiar with this as well.

Yeah if you just flip out the cash it's expensive. There are other options.

[70B5Cuda]

If you factor in the value of the Charger shell,parts,and your labor,it will be atleast 25k to put together anything that runs and drives decent.

There are ways to bring that number down significantly. I have been buying chargers and parts, keeping what I want/need and selling the rest.

This has off set the cost of building a car and often times I have ended up with cars/ parts for free after selling what i don't need. Other times I have ended up with nice parts well under market value.

I have seen the OP's online want ads; I have no doubt hat he is familiar with this as well.

Yeah if you just flip out the cash it's expensive. There are other options.

BINGO

[chargervert]

I have been doing that for 40 years,thats why I got twenty of them.

[ACUDANUT]

Hey fellow Kansan, how did the auction go on the 69 Survivor that got wrecked. ??
On another note. Keep up on the Doctor visits and stay well. Cheers.

[/b]

[70B5Cuda]

Hey fellow Kansan, how did the auction go on the 69 Survivor that got wrecked. ??
On another note. Keep up on the Doctor visits and stay well. Cheers.

[/b]

Thanks! I forgot to respond! My Dr visits/scans have gone well. Ive been doing physical therapy 3 times per week for the past 2 months...I'll be in therapy for at least another 6 months.

[Dano 1]

I'll be following this one as well, sounds like a great build and very similar to the way I'm approaching my car.
Even today these cars CAN be put together for reasonable amounts of cash provided you're ok with 'driver' quality used parts and don't get hung up on making every nut and bolt perfect. Used parts are out there and can be perfectly usable if you're willing to invest some sweat equity to refurb things as needed. Sure you can be $50-$80k deep if you go nuts with parts catalogs but if you're patient and creative you can get a lot done on even a modest budget.

[Kern Dog]

I have been doing that for 40 years,thats why I got twenty of them.

You really seem to like to let everyone know how well you are doing each time you mention HOW MANY of these cars you own.
This is a recent thing. I don't recall this being a normal habit for you. Why are you bragging  about this ? I have enjoyed your posts from the past but lately you sneak in a comment about your collection in almost every post.

[chargervert]

I have been downsizing myself, I have twenty project cars,only three are done,yet yesterday morning I was out picking up another basket case.  It's a sickness, consider it a cry for help, not bragging!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I have been downsizing myself, I have twenty project cars,only three are done,yet yesterday morning I was out picking up another basket case.  It's a sickness, consider it a cry for help, not bragging!

[chargervert]

It's a real sickness, I get my fix when the next piece of junk is on the trailer.  That said, I still think that it will cost a minimum of 25k to get that 68 Charger in running reliable condition, add 15k more for body and paint if you choose to really finish the car.

[Y1CHARGER]

If you factor in the value of the Charger shell,parts,and your labor,it will be atleast 25k to put together anything that runs and drives decent.

There are ways to bring that number down significantly. I have been buying chargers and parts, keeping what I want/need and selling the rest.

This has off set the cost of building a car and often times I have ended up with cars/ parts for free after selling what i don't need. Other times I have ended up with nice parts well under market value.

I have seen the OP's online want ads; I have no doubt hat he is familiar with this as well.

Yeah if you just flip out the cash it's expensive. There are other options.

BINGO

It's still spending money no matter how you obtain the money, no different if you worked extra hours at your job.  Making money parting out cars is still making money and if you didn't spend it on your car project you would still have the money.  Nothing is free.  Can't believe I had to explain that.     

[70B5Cuda]

I know that time is money...but I tinker with these cars to unwind. And I know exactly what the real costs are... I am just saying I would like to spend ANOTHER $10K and use all the extra parts I have sitting around the shop. And I'm sure I will spend more then that. The point is for it to be a FUN budget driver that looks decent.....not showroom, just decent. I just want to have fun...anyway...lets not talk about the REAL COSTS anymore...or anything related or off topic-no more discussion about that non sense. Just back to our scheduled programming...budget fun:

First thing that bugged me when I got home with it was the bent corner on the driver's side front corner...


View from the top looking down...


I got an old 2x4 and a hammer/dolly and starting tapping away. It's not perfect, but I don't care...

[ACUDANUT]

 With all yours spare parts and not wanting a expensive paint job, I think you can pull it off for 10K.