Re: Restoration of my B5 Blue 4Spd Charger 500... Blue Thunder debuts...Finally!

[nascarxx29]

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=5567936&Main=5565145

[xs29j8Bullitt]

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=5567936&Main=5565145

Thanks for the link Dave, I had not seen it before.

I received three new pictures from Greg this morning showing the leading of the roof to the quarter panels... I will try to get them resized and posted tonight.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Leading in the quarter panels...  passenger side shown in work in the first two pics, third pic shows driver's side prior to lead work beginning...

[tan top]

   looking good !!  dont forget to drill the charger name plate holes on the sail panel 

[xs29j8Bullitt]

  looking good !!  dont forget to drill the charger name plate holes on the sail panel 

On my list... saved the original sail panels for templates... 

[tan top]

  looking good !!  dont forget to drill the charger name plate holes on the sail panel 

On my list... saved the original sail panels for templates... 

good thinking 

[hotrod98]

I made paper templates from another car and it was still hard to get the holes correct. I should have just left the SE emblems on mine to begin with.

[hemi68charger]

  looking good !!  dont forget to drill the charger name plate holes on the sail panel 

On my list... saved the original sail panels for templates... 

good thinking 

Yea.. that is a good idea Allen.........   

[nascarxx29]

Coming along nicely.Those the new on the market full 1/4s.I keep my friend with the other B5 500 updated.Probably will need the same extent of work

[brianz426]

I'm leaning toward ESPO also Allen. Next week I will stop at the local spring rebuilder here in Baltimore. If they are close to the price of ESPO (within a $100) then I will go with new ESPO. I'll let you know what I find out.

Please do...   

Allen,
I've decided to go with the ESPO springs. My discussion with the local rebuilder was not encouraging. They charge $60.00 per side to re-arc and add a leaf. They claim rebuild kits (sliders etc.) are not available (they are) so they would just reassemble them with existing hardware. They do have new u-bolts and they charge as much as everybody else. I'm just going to hold on to my originals but get all new springs and hardware from ESPO. Seems like the best deal and most people seem to be happy with ESPO. Good luck with your decision. I'll report back in a few weeks when I get the new springs.
Happy Thanksgiving

[Bakaruda]

Attached are a few current pictures that Greg sent to me... Looks like some wiring retainers are missing, and those present are some sort of universal part.  BTW, all of this is the handiwork of the old bodyshop... not Greg's!

Also, does anyone know of a source for repros of the various wiring retaining straps...?... see the last picture below.

Allen

If you are refering to the ones on the bumper filler panel. That is the way it came from AMD.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I'm leaning toward ESPO also Allen. Next week I will stop at the local spring rebuilder here in Baltimore. If they are close to the price of ESPO (within a $100) then I will go with new ESPO. I'll let you know what I find out.

Please do...   

Allen,
I've decided to go with the ESPO springs. My discussion with the local rebuilder was not encouraging. They charge $60.00 per side to re-arc and add a leaf. They claim rebuild kits (sliders etc.) are not available (they are) so they would just reassemble them with existing hardware. They do have new u-bolts and they charge as much as everybody else. I'm just going to hold on to my originals but get all new springs and hardware from ESPO. Seems like the best deal and most people seem to be happy with ESPO. Good luck with your decision. I'll report back in a few weeks when I get the new springs.
Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks Brian... I am still undecided... looking forward to your opinions on the ESPO springs.

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Attached are a few current pictures that Greg sent to me... Looks like some wiring retainers are missing, and those present are some sort of universal part.  BTW, all of this is the handiwork of the old bodyshop... not Greg's!

Also, does anyone know of a source for repros of the various wiring retaining straps...?... see the last picture below.

Allen

If you are refering to the ones on the bumper filler panel. That is the way it came from AMD.

Hi... welcome to the forum.  I was mainly refering to the retaining straps on the driver's side trunk floor extension, below where the bumper jack mounts.  Do those come pre-installed on the extension from AMD also?  See picture below...

BTW, are you Brian C. from the local club?

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Picture in the lower left corner shows an original on my Y2 Sunfire Yellow 1969 Charger R/T...

[C500]

Attached are a few current pictures that Greg sent to me... Looks like some wiring retainers are missing, and those present are some sort of universal part.  BTW, all of this is the handiwork of the old bodyshop... not Greg's!

Also, does anyone know of a source for repros of the various wiring retaining straps...?... see the last picture below.

Allen

If you are refering to the ones on the bumper filler panel. That is the way it came from AMD.

Hi... welcome to the forum.  I was mainly refering to the retaining straps on the driver's side trunk floor extension, below where the bumper jack mounts.  Do those come pre-installed on the extension from AMD also?  See picture below...

BTW, are you Brian C. from the local club?

Allen

Yes, the wire straps (2) on the trunk floor extensions are attached on the AMD extension panels drivers side. I have a set here brand new, and they look great.

[66chargerkid]

Keep up the good work Allen!
Q

[hemi68charger]

Yes, the wire straps (2) on the trunk floor extensions are attached on the AMD extension panels drivers side. I have a set here brand new, and they look great.

Why are there only 2? There should be 3.............

Troy

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Yes, the wire straps (2) on the trunk floor extensions are attached on the AMD extension panels drivers side. I have a set here brand new, and they look great.

Like Troy said, there should be three... one hides behind the rear jack post mount.  Are they long narrow tabs as they appear to be in my picture?... or wide like the original in my Y2 R/T?

I updated my original post, and will update it again when the details are known...

Attached are a few current pictures that Greg sent to me... Looks like some wiring retainers are missing, and those present are some sort of universal part.  BTW, all of this is the handiwork of the old bodyshop... not Greg's!

Also, does anyone know of a source for repros of the various wiring retaining straps...?... see the last picture below.

Allen

Edit - CORRECTION on 12/3/2009 @ 5:10 PM CST... I have been told the universal appearing retainers on the driver's side trunk floor extension were on it when it was recieved from AMD... I will look into it and update again...

Allen

[hemi-hampton]

Those wire tabs are easy to make, I make them all the time like on this 69 Roadrunner with cheap sherman extension. Some have a black rubber coating on ends. I just use that black rubber coating in a can for Tools Handles ect, Think it's called Plastisol. Dip or brush on. LEON.

[hemi68charger]

That body line does suck Allen........... I would have flipped out as well.... If that's an example of their work, then the level of "attention to detail" is very low. I can understand a body man having a bad day, but come on......... He/She would have/should have caught that later on after a full cup of coffee........ Looking much better now... There's nothing worse than the body lines on a 2nd gen. Charger not lining up........... Well, maybe if you've paid a gluteus maximus amount of money and it still looks like that, that's worse....

Troy

[hemi68charger]

... You know the best thing to do is just let this stop now. I have no issue with you...
Cary

Apparently Cary, you're speaking on behalf of the body shop.. I now for Allen.... You are right, it is best to stop this now.....

Let's not hijack this thread and stick the purpose, the restoration of Allen's '69 Charger 500, for better or worst. I myself went through a very similar situation and felt it was necessary to chronicle the complete process, especially to those that live near me....

ditto on PM..
Troy

[Aero426]

First things first, I am not speaking for anyone. Me and you talked allot about how you were wanting the quarters done that is what I mean. You know the best thing to do is just let this stop now. I have no issue with you. The car thing was just plain bad at the end. You like very nice cars and he has turned out very nice cars. This was just not one of them, although it never got finished. I hope all ends well. If I felt I was screwed like you feel you were I would take it to court. I am sorry for you that it ended like it did.


I am just here to watch it get done. I will continue to read and watch it as you progress. Good luck with the project.



Cary

For as much dough as was spent, and time wasted with that car in the shop not getting done, if anything, it should have been pulled sooner.    I'd be embarassed to treat a customer like that.  It seemed that Allen was getting milked and sucked into a bottomless black hole by the first shop.     

[xs29j8Bullitt]

For as much dough as was spent, and time wasted with that car in the shop not getting done, if anything, it should have been pulled sooner.    I'd be embarassed to treat a customer like that.  It seemed that Allen was getting milked and sucked into a bottomless black hole by the first shop.     

You are absolutely right Doug... and I am more than a little embarassed at how badly I was taken.  There were contributing factors like personal and family health issues, but the bottom line is that I should have taken action much sooner!  I have always been amazed by people that allowed themselves to be scammed by the various schemes that go around... maybe I was just as gullible.  An incredibily expensive lesson, and now I find it difficult to trust anyone...

[69_500]

Allen the good new here is that now it is going be done very nicely by the shop that is currently working on it, and hindsight is always 20/20. Things never look as bad as they are until you take a few steps back and admire them from a distance. That being said I"m looking forward to seeing the 500 done one of these days so that I can  all over it. Looking forward to seeing you in St. Louis this year Allen.

[hemi68charger]

.... Looking forward to seeing you in St. Louis this year Allen.

Me too.. I think I need to make it my New Year's resolution to attend Monster Mopar Weekend 2010...

Troy