Disassembling My Charger

[Lowprofile]

Ok guys, after 12+ years of sitting around, I am going to finally start disassembling my 70' R/T. She's in pretty rough shape, and to be honest with you, I haven't really checked her out since I got her all those years ago! I am sure I'm gonna find some critters living in there! I am going to take lots of pics and document everything I can...........My real question concerns the bodywork. Once I strip the car down to the shell, Is it OK to send it out to the media blasting/dip & strip shop, or should I wait until I am ready to do all the body work at once? If it needs any kind of frame repair/replacement, or floor/trunk replacement, should that be done prior to getting it dipped or blasted? I'm located up in Northern Idaho......does anyone know of any good, trustworthy shops up in the northwest?

I'm taking a months vacation starting the end of July. Looking forward to some quality time with my mistress.
Thanks for any help/advice.

Chuck

[Rack]

Once I strip the car down to the shell, Is it OK to send it out to the media blasting/dip & strip shop, or should I wait until I am ready to do all the body work at once?

You should probably get it blasted and primered first. You can't be ready to do body work until after it's been blasted cuz blasting it will reveal (most likely) more body work you'll have to do that you couldn't see before.

That's the way I'm doing it. I just recently dismantled my charger and I'll be getting it blasted soon. I just have to sand off the bondo spots and remove the undercoating first. Also you should blast before replacing any panels (truck, floors) cuz you'll have nice clean metal to weld to. JMO.

My knowledge is about 0.00000001% of what most of the people here know so I'm sure they'll give you much better, more detailed info then I could. I'm anxious to read their replies myself.


One thing though, make sure you have a storage spot (a dry place is ideal) to store all your parts. It doesn't look like it now, but once you get it dismantled you're gonna have a boatload of parts pile up on you. I had to stop dismantling mine and build a storage shed before I could continue. I'm very happy I did so cuz I would of had no place to put all that stuff and no room to work if I hadn't.

[Silver R/T]

there's place here in Spokane, WA that does media blasting.

[Lowprofile]

Thanks Rack.

Yea, I got plenty of space for all the parts and stuff. My problem is my job! I'm on the road for months at a time, and when I am home, I can't spend it all on the Charger! Wife would be a bit angry! So, I'm trying to figure out a plan of attack. I'm gonna try to get the car apart on this visit home. Then in the fall get it blasted & primed, then back to my shop so I can figure out what exactly needs to be repaired/replaced.


Hey Silver, you got a name/number for that shop that does the blasting?

Thanks Guys....

[RogerDodger]

Take a lot of pictures. And then take some more. I thought I took more than I needed until it comes time to go back together. I wish I made notes too.

[moparguy01]

i also bag and tag every part i take off any car. there have been a few times i couldnt remember what went where. now all the zip lock bags and a sharpie really save me a massive headache later.

[Lowprofile]

Zip-Lock bags of all sizes, Plenty of Sharpies, and lots of pics! 

I want to build a set of dollys to put on the car to push it around the shop. Does anyone have a set that can let me know what I need to buy to build it correctly?

Thanks

[Rack]

Zip-Lock bags of all sizes, Plenty of Sharpies, and lots of pics! 

I want to build a set of dollys to put on the car to push it around the shop. Does anyone have a set that can let me know what I need to buy to build it correctly?

Thanks

Are you dismantling it completely? If so, you can build one of these...



That's hemi69's car on his own car dolley. I did the same thing with my charger.

[68chrgrwife]

make sure that you are ready to do all the body work and get it into primer soon after stripping it.  If you don't do everything at once you will have rust on your car soon after.

[Lowprofile]

Zip-Lock bags of all sizes, Plenty of Sharpies, and lots of pics! 

I want to build a set of dollys to put on the car to push it around the shop. Does anyone have a set that can let me know what I need to buy to build it correctly?

Thanks

Are you dismantling it completely? If so, you can build one of these...



That's hemi69's car on his own car dolley. I did the same thing with my charger.

Did you guys use Steel or Heavy Duty Lumber building those dollys? I already have a set of H/D casters.

[Lowprofile]

make sure that you are ready to do all the body work and get it into primer soon after stripping it.  If you don't do everything at once you will have rust on your car soon after.

Thats what I was wondering about.    I guess that I will just take the car apart and document what it needs for now.

[Shakey]

make sure that you are ready to do all the body work and get it into primer soon after stripping it.  If you don't do everything at once you will have rust on your car soon after.

Thats what I was wondering about.    I guess that I will just take the car apart and document what it needs for now.

As mentioned - photos, zip loc bags and labels.  I actually take way too many photos when I am dismantling something.  For example, I'll take a wide shot of the part, then zoom in a nut or a bolt, photograph it, remove it and then take a photo of the nut/bolt etc.  I have tons of photos but very rarely will I have a question as to what type of screw/nut etc. is used to hold something on.

[The70RT]

NICE CAR to start out with. I cut out all my rust and put in new metal and panels. Then I had it blasted and primed. I didn't find much more body work afterwards. Now I can start taking out the dents. I could have blasted first but I replaced a lot of the body and they primered all that so to me it worked out better this way. I also removed all the undercoating and it made it easier for them to blast the bottom. With summer coming on now and other things are demanding I don't have to worry since it is in primer and I don't have to rush anything. Your R/T in a brother to mine I see. I t would be cool to see them both together after they are done

[Lowprofile]

That's a great idea! Ok, who does bodywork? lol  Yes, when they're done we'll have to get them together for some Pics. Are you going with b5 again? I am changing my interior from blue to white, and I'm going hardtop!

[The70RT]

That's a great idea! Ok, who does bodywork? lol  Yes, when they're done we'll have to get them together for some Pics. Are you going with b5 again? I am changing my interior from blue to white, and I'm going hardtop!

I am gonna do some bodywork, but not the finish part. I already did the welding part - quarter, trunk, valance, window rust. Yep back to B5. I have white interior and am going back with the vinyl top.

[dodgecharger-fan]

If there is major rust, cut out the panels that you know you will be replacing.

No sense in paying the media blaster to clean something you will just cut away and toss.

[six-tee-nine]

That's what i'll be doing too.

I'm gonna replace my trunk pans, lower quarters an other rotten sheetmetal first.
Then i'll have the car blasted so the new panels get perfectly ceaned and primered.

Ok maybe you'll find some more smaller things to weld or repair afterwards but IMO it's still the best way to go...