pics of freshly painted 68

[runningman]

Just went to see the guy that I am having paint my car.  He just finished up another guys 68 RT 4 speed car.  Done in black and looks sweet, bad lighting in the garage so pics aren't the best.

[Silver R/T]

looks nice

[terrible one]

Ahh that is going to be one sick sick Charger! Looks like a really nice paint job too.

[bull]

That looks really nice. Post some more pics when you get it outdoors, kay? Are you getting nervous about that black paint job yet?

[runningman]

That looks really nice. Post some more pics when you get it outdoors, kay? Are you getting nervous about that black paint job yet?

Not my car, I am probably going to go with electric blue.  Would like to go with black but with three kids I am sure it would look like crap quick.......Wanted to see this one he did in black though to check out his skills...........I was very impressed.......decent prices also........

[hemi-hampton]

Was that allready Wet Sanded & Rubbed? LEON.

[runningman]

Yeah he just finished up wet sanding and buffing it last week.

[41husk]

Man, that looks good and black is a color that shows any flaws.

[runningman]

Yeah it really looks nice, six coats of clear and he figures he probably wet sanded two or three off.  He works at GM as a metal model maker, he fabricates alot of stuff for the prototype cars and he has done some of my stuff that I have been getting dipped and e-coated so I know his sheet metal skills.  This is the first time I have checked out his paint besides pics.  He has had a couple cars in the mopar mags and he and his brother did a challenger that they had judged at the mopar nationals.  He has always been a mopar guy, I wonder how he deals with being at GM

[BigBlockSam]

nice!

[1fine69]

damn that thing looks sweet it almost looks like a root beer color when you have the lighting on the front fender thanks for listing the bad lighting and color or else i would've asked the dumb ? what color is it! two thumbs up very nice! 

[Charger_Fan]

Great looking paint job...what I can see of it.

Please give us more eye candy when the sun pops out.

[RT DAVE]

Looks good.  Would you happen to know if it's painted in Chrysler's newer black metallic paint (like on the magnum & charger)?  I think that's why it looks like it's rootbeer colored in one of the pics, maybe... 

[runningman]

No, I don't think it is.  It doesn't look metallic, it was just really bad lighting and it was overcast and raining outside as well.  It has been really crappy out here in SE Mich the last week or so, he has been waiting for a nice day to take the car out and see it in the sun.

[BigBlockSam]

does it get  you excited about your car. he seems to be a killer painter,

[runningman]

Yeah, I have been waiting for him to get done with this one so I can get mine in there.  I have been doing the floors and and trunk areas in mine while I have been waiting.  I think I am going to let him finish the rest of the metal work.  It is getting old trying to fool with that in my little two car garage.  I am going to work on painting the engine and the grill while he is doing the car so I should be pretty much ready to assemble everything when he gets done.  For $16/hr I don't think I could find a better deal......

[PocketThunder]

For $16/hr I don't think I could find a better deal......

HOLY CRAP!  Can i get my C500 in next?  I'll bring it over this weekend!

[runningman]

I know, pretty crazy huh.  He doesn't cut any corners either, uses expensive stuff though.  He was saying that guy had $2500 in materials for that car.....

[cudacharger]

Wow, looks awesome Runningman.  Keep us posted on the progress....I can't wait to see the car when complete.  Congrats!





71 hemicuda                                                                                    68 R/T Charger

[tan top]

looks like the guy does awesome work from the pictures , damn $16 per hour thats a good deal

[BigBlockSam]

$16/hr   

were is he located.

[PocketThunder]

$16/hr   

were is he located.

Michigan.   I think runningman is getting the "he knows the guy" discount.   If not i call dibbs on the guys next car to work on.... mine

[runningman]

$16/hr   

were is he located.

Michigan.   I think runningman is getting the "he knows the guy" discount.   If not i call dibbs on the guys next car to work on.... mine

Actuallly I found the guy on moparts, sent me some of the links to the site with pics of the other cars he has done.  I really didn't even talk to him about the pricing, I found out when I got the first bill.........I couldn't complain....I will give you guys more info once MY car gets there 

[BigBlockSam]

 

If not i call dibbs on the guys next car to work on.... mine   

the line starts behind pocket thunder then me.. Rene

[Dave22443]

Check out reply #577 in this thread.  Me thinks it may be the same car.  (Sorry, I don't know how to link to a specific reply)

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,6.msg195379.html#msg195379

[Blusmbl]

More proof the world is smaller than I'd ever thought possible...

That's my '68. 









What it looked like 8 months ago:





All of the progress pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blusmbl/sets/72057594083101141/

[Silver R/T]

looking nice, more and more I want to paint my R/T black

[Blusmbl]

I suppose I could answer a couple questions...

I have around $2500 in all paint supplies.  Another $1900 in sheetmetal, give or take.  It's PPG Deltron, I think the paint code is 9305, midniht black.  Same as the factory '68 black, nothing special about it, no metallic in it either.

It's eventually getting an Indy EZ-headed 493 stroker and a proshifted 833.  I installed the Dana/SS springs last year.  Everything I removed from it, and I do mean everything, needs to be redone to match the quality of the bodywork.  Complete new interior, new windshield, new trim, I need to find a grill centersection, etc.

It sucks, because it snowballed pretty quickly, but it'll be absolutely beautiful when it's done.

[Dave22443]

Hell Blusmbl, its absolutely beutiful now! 

[Blusmbl]

I'm genuinely worried about picking it up with an open trailer.  I need a bubble for it or something. 

I don't have the cash to finish all of it quickly, so it probably won't be on the road for at least another year.  But, the major hurdle has been cleared, the work I know I couldn't have done myself turned out better than I'd ever imagined, and I honestly didn't think I'd ever see this day when I bought the car back in December of 2001.

[2fast4u]

      I just love it when a paint job looks like glass......especially when it's Black!!   


2fast

[runningman]

Hell Blusmbl, its absolutely beutiful now! 

Yeah I agree, I saw your car before it was painted when he was doing some of the trunk metal work.  I can't believe how nice it looks, I should be bringing mine in within a month or so.  He has already done the parts I had dipped and ecoated...doors, hood, fenders and trunklid.  All those parts are pretty close to being ready for paint.

[BigBlockSam]

I'm genuinely worried about picking it up with an open trailer.  I need a bubble for it or something. 
 

hey
are you gonna have a bubble around it when you drive it. sooner or later your gonna have to get the car into the wind. Rene

[Brock Samson]

LOOKS FANTASTIC!!!  i'd wrap it too...

[340_duster]

Thanks for the compliments guys.After Nick(Blusmbl) sent me an email about this topic I thought I better register and at least say hello.I am mostly an A body guy, and presently own 2 70 340 Dusters and 2 68 fastback Formula S Barracudas.But enjoy all Mopars ,even though I do work for GM.As Nick and Matt both said I am from Moparts and pretty much do not post very often, but really do enjoy reading and learning from all of the topics that are posted.I have been very fortunate, with my hobby over the years, it has introduced me to a great group of people, and allowed me to put together some award winning Mopars ,that I am extremly proud of.
If any of you guys are looking for restoration help.I would be more than happy to talk to you.
Thanks again,
Bob

[runningman]

Welcome Bob, I figured you would find your way in here eventually.  I was going to ask you if it was okay to give out your contact info.........AFTER mine was done 

[1970440RT]

     blusmbl, I noticed you still have the holes in the quarters for the vinyl top trim.  Are you going to put the trim on without the vinyl top?  I am doing the same color on my 68 and was wondering how it would look with the vinyl top trim and a painted roof.

AWESOME looking car by the way.  I am painting my car in my garage and if it turns out half as good as that, I'll be happy.

[Blusmbl]

Thanks for stopping in, Bob. 

     blusmbl, I noticed you still have the holes in the quarters for the vinyl top trim.  Are you going to put the trim on without the vinyl top?  I am doing the same color on my 68 and was wondering how it would look with the vinyl top trim and a painted roof.

Good eye.  Believe it or not, I'm putting a vinyl top back on over that nice paint.  We fully painted the roof just to add an extra layer of protection so it doesn't rust out like it did before- under the vinyl top was a mess on my car, but most of it was due to a previous owner grinding through to bare metal with a d/a before gluing the top down.  I like how the vinyl tops look on 2nd gens, it makes them look more classy and sophisticated.

Rene- the bubble thing was kind of a joke.  I'm probably taking it down to my place of employment to have a 6pt bar put in it, and it may end up being raced in the NMCA's Nostalgia Musclecar class.  It was my daily driver for years, and even with the nice paint I'm still going to drive it!

-Nick

[BigBlockSam]

Rene- the bubble thing was kind of a joke.   

it reminded me of a custom harley i built. took me 6 months to build and paint. then the first time i took it for a ride a little rock hit the tank and chipped it. i was so pissed. then i realized the only way i was gonna keep the bikes paint perfect was to keep it in my living room and not ride it. i like that your gonna run the car. ya gotta enjoy them. Rene

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

SWEET CAR DUDE!!!!!cant go wrong with a triple black 4spd 68 charger r/t,isnt it ironic that the 1st charger ever 2 see the big screen was the toughest combination for the charger of all? coincidence??? i think not.- -MATT

[hemi-hampton]

Blusmbl or 340 Duster (Bob). I have one Question. How many hours total did it take to complete this cars Bodywork & Paint? 400 hours? 600 hours? 800 hours? More? Let me know? Curious? THANKS, LEON.

[fastback]

Looks Great!
Where do I get in line for the next resto?
Nothing like a Black 68.

[hemi-hampton]

I guess my last Question was a real thread killer, Never heard back from anybody. If the hours Spent is Top Secret, just e-mail me the answer at hemihampton@wowway.com. I wont tell. LEON.

[Blusmbl]

Blusmbl or 340 Duster (Bob). I have one Question. How many hours total did it take to complete this cars Bodywork & Paint? 400 hours? 600 hours? 800 hours? More? Let me know? Curious? THANKS, LEON.

A fair amount.  If you look at my flickr site (flickr.com/photos/blusmbl) you'll get a decent idea of how much work went into the car. Mini-tubs, decklid, trunk gutter, vinyl top, filler panels, you name it.  None of the aftermarket panels fit worth a crap, either.

Rene- thanks man. After all, it is just a car. It does have some really nice paint though.   If you don't drive 'em, what's the point of owning them?

Matt- you know it.  I don't think there's a meaner, more menacing-looking musclecar ever made than a triple black '68 Charger. That's why it's black.  If I walked into a car dealer in 1968, I'd order it triple black, no questions asked.

[hemi-hampton]

Blusmbl, Let me rephrase my Question. How much did this body work & black paint job cost you? $10,000? $15,000? $20,000? Or did I just kill this Thread again??? LEON.

[Blusmbl]

Answer: D, none of the above. 

I'd rather not disclose it, I work very, very hard for my $$$ and I was more than pleased with what I spent and the final product.  That fair?

I will say it was nowhere near $20k.