My new patina'd RR1 burgundy 1968 Charger ("Ribeye")...mostly original paint

[70B5Cuda]

A big push was started so I can hopefully drive it in the spring/summer of 2021. a week ago I tossed some wheels on it, rolled it outside, blew off a bunch of dirt/dust/rust, and took some pics before I transported it to a friend's shop, where he will do some rust repair, weld in new floors, and paint the roof. It hadn't been out in the sun since it was polished up!

[70B5Cuda]

This first issue was a weird one: it looks as though the the factory let this Charger leave with voids/gaps in the joint between the top of the right forward pillar and the roof skin. The vinyl top didn't help things any and the top forward corner of the windshield channel rusted through in several places. It was the only spot around the front window. Before and after pics showing the patches...






The right rear pillar was puffing out at the bottom of the quarter to roof joint/seam. The bottom of the lead joint was melted out to see what was needed. The rusty area was cut out and replaced with a fabricated patch. Before and after picture...

[timmycharger]

Woah!!! holy smokes that looks fantastic. Great job on that paint! 

[70B5Cuda]

This Charger had quite a few hail dents...nearly all the roof dings/dents have been removed.

[Kern Dog]

This Charger had quite a few hail dents...nearly all the roof dings/dents have been removed.

Hammer and dolly work or some other method?

[70B5Cuda]

[quote
Hammer and dolly work or some other method?
[/quote]

several methods:
1. Hammers/dollies
2. spoons
3. stud guns/pullers
4. shrinking disc

[70B5Cuda]

The Charger came with white seats from the factory so when I removed the white seats from the car and found the broadcast sheet for a much earlier 1968 Charger, I was very disappointed. But i contacted the guy who I bought it from and he gave me the name a previous owner. After several weeks of trying to set up a date to meet, it finally happened. His parents bought the car in 1969 when it was only one year old. He told me he had the original seats in his barn. The charger had a harness fire and he had removed them due to the smoke/soot on them (I think they will clean up). The barn had a dirt/gravel floor but fortunately the seats had been sitting on the trunk of a Satellite. I flipped the seat over and the broadcast sheet was there! It was bunched and brittle but mostly there. Together we extracted the sheet and I took it home where I flattened and laminated it. I also struck a deal on the original front and rear seats. More pics of those later...Here are pics of the broadcast sheet.

[Kern Dog]

[quote
Hammer and dolly work or some other method?

several methods:
1. Hammers/dollies
2. spoons
3. stud guns/pullers
4. shrinking disc
[/quote]

Thank you. I would love to learn how to finesse metal like the experts can.

[70B5Cuda]

The guy who had the broadcast sheet came across some cool family pictures that the Charger was in so he texted me some pictures. The snowy picture was from the "Blizzard of 1971" (in Wichita, Ks) and the camping picture was from 1972. Notice the trailer that's hooked up in the camping picture. I love this kind of history!

[XH29N0G]

Thank you for posting this.  I keep looking at this transformation and have enjoyed it even if I'm not posting a lot to let you know. 

It is appreciated.  The recent pictures are fantastic.  I have some of my car with a trailer and also remember sitting in it while camping as a kid during a particularly bad storm.

[tan top]

The guy who had the broadcast sheet came across some cool family pictures that the Charger was in so he texted me some pictures. The snowy picture was from the "Blizzard of 1971" (in Wichita, Ks) and the camping picture was from 1972. Notice the trailer that's hooked up in the camping picture. I love this kind of history!

  awesome !   love  at back in back in the day pictures of our chargers ! thanks for posting 

[70B5Cuda]

The Dutchman's panel was removed.....the plenum underneath also needs replaced...



So it got removed also.




The roof gutters were media blasted and cleaned up nicely.



And roof was sealed in epoxy

[b5blue]

Ya know that "plenum" is such a odd thing, I can't figure why/what it was for? 

[70B5Cuda]

I think it was just to add rigidity/bracing between the rear window lower frame, the forward trunk gutter, and the Dutchman's panel. Even with it The Dutchman's panel still flexes/oil cans quite a bit.

[Kern Dog]

"Plenum" is an inaccurate term as it refers to a HVAC system component. IT is a rather elaborate means to support the Dutchman panel and trunk gutter.

[mopar4don]

The Dutchman's panel was removed.....the plenum underneath also needs replaced...



So it got removed also.

Hi Kelsey
Your doing really good on the car!
Say I assume you will be replacing your deck filler panel with one from AMD?
Did you know these panels are short in length by 1/4 inch?
I have links here and moparts and FBBO looking for input on how everyone is making them work.

Could you post some pics of how you install it?

[70B5Cuda]

You are correct the AMD panel is about 1/4" short. If you look at the pictures, the flange from the old panel was left in place with about a 1/4" of the original panel.  It can either be butt welded or you can can cut the new panel and add A 1/4 strip...which seems like a lot more work.

[70B5Cuda]

This car had lots of door dings down the side and hail dings on the roof, deckled, and hood. My PDR guy I've used for the last 7 years retired so I found a new guy and sent the passenger side door and deckled out for a test run. He did a nice job!

Before..

After...


The door after...

[orange383]

That's awesome work those dents.

[Nacho-RT74]

That's awesome work those dents.

I have a P38 Range Rover which could need somebody with those skills for roof and hood dent fixes LOL

[70B5Cuda]

That's awesome work those dents.

I have a P38 Range Rover which could need somebody with those skills for roof and hood dent fixes LOL

A good PDR guy is super valuable! I just got the hood back and it looks great!

[BrokenHero]

This is a great thread! Also, that's amazing you found the build sheet in the second owner's barn.

Question for original poster - sorry, if I missed this, but is the current burgundy paint still the original that your detailing friend buffed?
Or is it new paint?

Would you be willing to share the method and tools of removing the oxidization? I have a 68 with original paint and I basically want to do this (link below), but am wondering if there's a better way...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8v5ssdQ0WQ

[70B5Cuda]

This is a great thread! Also, that's amazing you found the build sheet in the second owner's barn.

Question for original poster - sorry, if I missed this, but is the current burgundy paint still the original that your detailing friend buffed?
Or is it new paint?

Would you be willing to share the method and tools of removing the oxidization? I have a 68 with original paint and I basically want to do this (link below), but am wondering if there's a better way...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8v5ssdQ0WQ

It's mostly (90-95%) original paint. My detailing buddy said he used Meguiars m110 compound and m210 polish, compounding with wool and finishing with a foam pad.

[BrokenHero]

 Cool, thanks!

[Kern Dog]

Nice work. Thanks for the updates.