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

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Now, for the 500th reply to this thread... thar's B5 Blue on some C500 parts!         

Allen

Edit: For the record, I was out-gunned for the 500th post by Danny, but he quickly deleted his post so mine could be the 500th.  The "Young Gun" can type a lot faster than me! 

Thanks Danny... I'm still     

[xs29j8Bullitt]

 

You had me cold with your 500th post snipe Danny!  Then you deleted it before I could have some fun with it... Thanks, but you should have left it...    I had a good laugh out of it! 

MoBlue C500 parts...

Allen

[moparstuart]

you should name the car moblue that sounds great

[PocketThunder]

Good idea to put all the bolts into cardboard and spray them.   

[BigBlockSam]

Good idea to put all the bolts into cardboard and spray them.     

i did that with mine ,  then messed some of them up during installation. 

[PocketThunder]

Good idea to put all the bolts into cardboard and spray them.     

i did that with mine ,  then messed some of them up during installation. 

Ya but a little touch up paint and you are back in business.  I had to try and touch up the whole bolt.

[69_500]

Okay I deleted the other post, to allow Allen the glory of taking the 500th post in a thread about his 500. Maybe if and when I ever get around to doing my car, I'll steal the thunder and post for the 500th time about it.


Looks like the car is coming along pretty well there Allen. OH and the other post I asked who "Gary Snyder" was and why he was writing on your pretty 500?

Side note, Allen why paint the entire inner quarter panel blue? Just curious there. I figure you'd apply some paint to it, but I would have thought more of a black instead of blue.

And what is the plan for reinstalling those pretty blue bolts, IE how are you going to do it without scratching the paint off of them?

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Okay I deleted the other post, to allow Allen the glory of taking the 500th post in a thread about his 500. Maybe if and when I ever get around to doing my car, I'll steal the thunder and post for the 500th time about it.

Thanks again Danny... Ya should have seen me typing "fast" trying to prevent someone else from getting the 500th reply... then I had problems attaching one of the pictures... 

Looks like the car is coming along pretty well there Allen. OH and the other post I asked who "Gary Snyder" was and why he was writing on your pretty 500?

Dunno... I'll ask next time I go by the shop... IF I remember! 

Side note, Allen why paint the entire inner quarter panel blue? Just curious there. I figure you'd apply some paint to it, but I would have thought more of a black instead of blue.

Yeah, you are right... I OK'd the body color over sound deadener, but I am having second thoughts... 

I might talk to Joe about spraying more sound deadener over it if it is feasible... or I might leave it as is...   As I have said before, my C500 will not be a prime example of strict originality, but I still want it fairly close.

OK... Non-Binding Survey guys/gals:  As is (body color) or black?

And what is the plan for reinstalling those pretty blue bolts, IE how are you going to do it without scratching the paint off of them?

As was mentioned earlier, some touch-up will be required.  I made the mistake painting the bolts on my `Cuda after installation... PITA... errrr...... I mean neck.  One trick that I have used is installing with cheap six-sided sockets which generally have a looser fit than well made sockets, putting a small piece of thicker type plastic bag material (like from very large Zip-Lock bags) over the bolt head to fill the void between the bolt head & socket.  In fact I think someone even makes sockets with plastic inserts to do the same thing...

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Side note, Allen why paint the entire inner quarter panel blue? Just curious there. I figure you'd apply some paint to it, but I would have thought more of a black instead of blue.

Yeah, you are right... I OK'd the body color over sound deadener, but I am having second thoughts... 

I might talk to Joe about spraying more sound deadener over it if it is feasible... or I might leave it as is...   As I have said before, my C500 will not be a prime example of strict originality, but I still want it fairly close.

OK... Non-Binding Survey guys/gals:  As is (body color) or black?

Here is how the C500 was originally... light coat of blue paint on the inside of the quarter panel with black sound deadener sloppily shot over it... this is the neater side... 

Allen

[hemigeno]

Allen,

It's your car man, so paint it whatever color floats your boat.  It'd look GREAT all-blue like that if you're going for the over-restored look.  Going that route doesn't mean you still cannot pay attention to other manufacturing quirks and details, but what you have on the car would fit much better on an over-restored than a concours-correct type of restoration.

What are you going to do on the underside of the car - primer & overspray or complete body color?

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Allen,

It's your car man, so paint it whatever color floats your boat.  It'd look GREAT all-blue like that if you're going for the over-restored look.  Going that route doesn't mean you still cannot pay attention to other manufacturing quirks and details, but what you have on the car would fit much better on an over-restored than a concours-correct type of restoration.

What are you going to do on the underside of the car - primer & overspray or complete body color?

Thanks Gene, I am definitely not going the concours route... maybe the "wee-bit over-restored" almost correct look...    It started out to be the "nice driver" look, BUT.................... 

The bottom will be the correct "primer & overspray" look! 

I am just trying to strike a balance between originality, long term restoration durability, & relative ease of restoration...  still re-thinking some plans though.  What's your thoughts Gene?

Allen

[hemigeno]

Personally (and my opinion plus $0.45 will get you a cup of coffee), I would think if you're going to do primer & overspray on the bottomside, the trunk should look more-or-less like Hamtramck did it also.  It certainly wouldn't be the most heinous crime against humanity if you left it just the way it is.

In a lot of respects, my car is not going to officially be up to "concours" standards by some definitions either.  There are several parts that Vance may end up giving some sort of coating rather than leaving them bare and exposed to the elements.  Like you, I am determined not to build a display-only car, so I'm willing to make some concessions in this area for the sake of durability.

I dunno what would be the best way to get that look from how things are now.  I seriously doubt you need much help figuring out how things were done originally, but some other folks reading the thread might be curious.  From what I read, the sound deadener was sprayed on at the stamping plant before the quarterpanels ever hit the factory floor.  They were shot with overspray from where the trunk floor and wheelwells were painted, but no attempt was made to coat the whole quarterpanel.  I guess what didn't have overspray on it or what wasn't coated with sound deadener would still show the metal primer used at the stamping plant and/or the various primers/coatings that the car got dunked in (depending on which part of the quarterpanel you are looking at).  It's enough to drive you batty when you start studying all the intricate details.

For those who haven't seen them yet, here are a couple of pics Frank Badalson took of the Malcom's V2 (unrestored?) Daytona that are posted on the WW/NBOA site:

[xs29j8Bullitt]

From what I read, the sound deadener was sprayed on at the stamping plant before the quarterpanels ever hit the factory floor.  They were shot with overspray from where the trunk floor and wheelwells were painted, but no attempt was made to coat the whole quarterpanel.  I guess what didn't have overspray on it or what wasn't coated with sound deadener would still show the metal primer used at the stamping plant and/or the various primers/coatings that the car got dunked in (depending on which part of the quarterpanel you are looking at).  It's enough to drive you batty when you start studying all the intricate details.

The sequence that you describe makes sense, but the C500 seems to show sound deadener on top of paint (notice the straight line transition).  Unless the overspray of paint on the sound deadener came off during the 39 years that have passed... 

I will try to peel up some of the sound deadener this weekend to see what is under it... make room at the wall for me...     

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

you should name the car moblue that sounds great

I had considered naming the C500 "MoBlue" as a triple play on words...

1) Its a MoPar
2) From MO (Missouri)
3) Which will be Mo' Fun taking to show than an E-Body...

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I went by the paint shop today, and saw the quarter panels decorating the wall... 

My main reason for stopping by was to check out the Ma Mopar approved reproductions of outer wheel housings purchased from Goodmark Industries.  The repros looked good, and seemed to have all the correct contours...

Some pictures taken today...

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Joe wasted no time... the UPS truck was barely out of the neighborhood, and he was at work taking the rust damaged housings off!

MoPictures...

Allen

[69_500]

I think with a good 3 or 4 more cuts he can have the whole car apart at this stage.    Only kidding.

Isn't it wonderful having access to all of the reproduction panels that are on the market today, compared to back in the 80's or even the 90's? If you wanted to replace that much sheet metal on the car when you bought it, you would have had to have had a whole other car wouldn't you Allen?

Oh, so how long until you start on the Daytona now?

[pettybird]

I had considered naming the C500 "MoBlue" as a triple play on words...

3) Which will be Mo' Fun taking to show than an E-Body...

Allen

I moved a shaker '71 6 pak car around at work today--as much as I don't like e bodies, watching that hood was mesmerizing...




the pics of Malcom's car don't do it justice.  The car shows just how much of a train wreck Daytonas were from CI. 

[hemi68charger]

Wow Allen !!!!   Looking like a see-thru car now...........................

Looking forward in seeing the reciprocal of all this, back together...............

Troy

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I think with a good 3 or 4 more cuts he can have the whole car apart at this stage.    Only kidding.

... and then you won't want it anymore?...   

Isn't it wonderful having access to all of the reproduction panels that are on the market today, compared to back in the 80's or even the 90's? If you wanted to replace that much sheet metal on the car when you bought it, you would have had to have had a whole other car wouldn't you Allen?

The access to high quality reproduction parts has definitely changed my approach to the restoration!  Without the full quarter panels available now, the repair would have mainly involved removing sections of the lower quarter panels for spot repairs with "patch panels" or hand formed pieces.  A donor car would not have been required, most of the needed pieces would have been about the same shape on any available car.  The initial plan was to spot repair the quarters, but I still think that this is a better approach... I hope!

Oh, so how long until you start on the Daytona now?

Probably a long time... the triple black '68 Charger is next, and the Superbird & '69 Road Runner are battling for the following spot after it.

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I had considered naming the C500 "MoBlue" as a triple play on words...

3) Which will be Mo' Fun taking to show than an E-Body...

Allen

I moved a shaker '71 6 pak car around at work today--as much as I don't like e bodies, watching that hood was mesmerizing...

I like E-Bodies a lot, with 70-74 'Cudas running a very close second to 68-70 Chargers on my all time favorites list.  My FY1 Lemon Twist yellow '70 `Cuda 440-6 is one of my cars that can't imagine ever selling, but I am ready to drive a Charger again!  Also, B-Bodies are a lot more comfortable... especially on long trips!!! 

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Wow Allen !!!!   Looking like a see-thru car now...........................

Looking forward in seeing the reciprocal of all this, back together...............

Troy

Thanks Troy, the C500 should look a lot better in 3-4 months... maybe sooner.  It will still be a long way from finished, but will look like a car again...

The outer wheel housings are almost the final parts to be removed, only the remainder of the quarter panels & rear valance are still due for removal after plastic media blasting.

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I am starting to locate some of the parts needed for the C500 both "in stock" and on eBay and other Internet sources.  The right side headlight bezel was damaged on my C500, and I already had a NOS C500 grille, so I have been looking for NOS headlight bezels.  I bought a NOS left headlight bezel on eBay last November for $56, and later a NOS right headlight showed up... but the seller wanted $375 so I passed on it.

Pictures:

1) The NOS left side headlight bezel bought on eBay for $56
2) The NOS right side headlight bezel on eBay for $375... No Thanks  (BTW, notice it is a RH... but marked LH)
3) My NOS grille & bezel alongside the original C500 grille

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Today I bought a nice used pair of headlight bezels on eBay, but will still to try to find a NOS RH bezel.  I plan to use the NOS parts and keep the nice used parts as spares (I plan to DRIVE the C500!).

When I buy on eBay... I SNIPE!    Below can be seen a prime reason... notice the bid after bid approach of one of the bidders on todays auction... I bid with 8 seconds to go in the auction. 

The used bezels that I bought today were supposedly stored for the last 30 years... they do look nice in the pictures.

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I also recently won an auction on a NOS PN 2901811 taillight panel emblem which has some shelf wear.  If necessary, I will have it "restored".

Some vendor now remakes the 2901811 emblem, but it does not look well done in the only picture that I have of a repro... take a look and compare to the original ones in the pictures below.

BTW, THANKS to Dave H for the heads-up on the auction for the NOS emblem! 

Allen