Rebuilding a front end....what to get on a budget?

[69bronzeT5]

I know I have to get the front end rebuilt on my 69....what should I deffintley replace and whats ok to leave alone?

[bill440rt]

At a minimum, ALL wearable parts should be replaced: bushings, ball joints, torsion bar seals, steering links, etc. If you want to take it one step further, & since it will be apart anyway, you should at least inspect the brakes, calipers/wheel cylinders, lines, etc.

BTW, I ordered a kit from PSC (Performance Suspension Components). They seemed to have the best price out of anyone for a "complete" universal kit. It even came with the idler arm.

[41husk]

At a minimum, ALL wearable parts should be replaced: bushings, ball joints, torsion bar seals, steering links, etc. If you want to take it one step further, & since it will be apart anyway, you should at least inspect the brakes, calipers/wheel cylinders, lines, etc.

BTW, I ordered a kit from PSC (Performance Suspension Components). They seemed to have the best price out of anyone for a "complete" universal kit. It even came with the idler arm.

I agree if you want to save some money go with the original material rather than the poly parts, that should last you for ever unless you are driving it every day.  As long as you have it apart might as well change all the worn parts.

[HITMAN 149]

cody i agree with bill & husk....
replace what ever is worn while you have it apart... no snce doing double work & double $$$$!!!
but also like i said before...... GET HER RUNNNNNNING FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! make sure the motor... trans & rear are all good!!!!!!!!

[69bronzeT5]

also like i said before...... GET HER RUNNNNNNING FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! make sure the motor... trans & rear are all good!!!!!!!!

Im pretty sure the engine and trans are all good. I plan on changing the rear end because I need a 8 3/4 to go with the 383

[HITMAN 149]

does she start?? & move??? 

[69bronzeT5]

does she start?? & move??? 

She did before we moved over to our current house ...but like 6 feet...then it ran out of gas....anymore than that, it would probally blow up the rearend (or so Ive been told)

[HITMAN 149]

get outtta town!!! 
i'm sure you don't have a 900 hp 383 there, that's gonna blow up that rear end!!!!!!! i think your worrying about the wrong things....in the wrong order for your car... trust me..... "been there, done that... got the t-shirt!!!" 

(insert war story here)---->  my first car was a 71 chevelle 2dr malibu w/ a beat up 350!!!  i thought it was the fastest coolest car in the world!!!!( shut up..it was cool back then!!!)  but i was worrying (more like dreaming) about doing all sorts of things to the car.. i wanted to paint it iroc blue w/ black deck stripes...cragar rims...ahemmmm!!! a new steering wheel ...a system (that's what we called stereo's back then!!  )...and this.... and that!!!!
mean while, i didn't have a pot to piss in... let alone a window to throw it out of!!!!  in the end the car sat... it needed all sorts of work... brakes... shocks....ect..ect, then i blew the u joints down the block..tryin to show off !!! LOL!!!  (scared me 1/2 to death) i thought the drive shaft was gonna come thru the floor pans & impale me!!! anyways.. i ended up selling the car for squat!!!  my point is you don't even know if she even runs!!!! (and i'm not making fun of you at all!!!) put GAS in her & get her runnnning first!!! before you waste any more of your $$$ on dreaming about making her look like MR ANGRY.... but have to push her all over the place!!! (ok...now i'm teasin ya a lil) just tryin to look out for ya....
anyone else???  cmon guys!!!!!! steer the kid in the right direction!!!!!!!!!

[terrible one]

I agree totally with HITMAN.

. . . there's no way in hell you're going to "blow up" the 8 1/4

[HITMAN 149]

thank you...thank you... thank you! T.O. 

just like the old guy in christine..... "he tryin to polish a turd" LOL not that your car is anywhere's near a turd bronzey!!! just re-prioritize your resto order!!!!! that's all.

[DukesofHoward]

..and replace your wheel bearings. Lest you find yourself alongside the highway with a left front locked up at 1 am in 15 degree weather about 15 miles from the closest exit.

Been there.

[HITMAN 149]

 

ouch... lucky the coyotes didn't get ya either!!

[69bronzeT5]

my point is you don't even know if she even runs!!!! (and i'm not making fun of you at all!!!) put GAS in her & get her runnnning first!!!

That is possible but I wouldnt know where to start...I have no clue on what to do...sometimes I wish my dad were still here

[The70RT]

Put some gas in and if you got spark it could start. If it just ran out of gas it should still run.

[69bronzeT5]

My dad took the ignition out of it (dont know why). Also, he ran it off something..he didnt use the tank. Also, Im not sure if anything is hooked up.

[The70RT]

My dad took the ignition out of it (dont know why). Also, he ran it off something..he didnt use the tank. Also, Im not sure if anything is hooked up.

Sorry to hear that. So who is going to do the part that you can't?

[69bronzeT5]

Well my grandpa is a mechanic by trade...hes really good but he lives in Vancouver and Im on the Island....he comes over once in a while and could probally help when he does come over but he dosent come over that often. The resto is starting to get pretty stressful for me, Im trying to do everything by myself and it just cant be done without help....

[71ChallengeHer]

Cody, Is there a garage near you? If there is make friends with the owner , guys that work there. See if you can sweep the floors, stock shelves, etc. If you can find something like that. Those guys will usually give you a hand. 

[69bronzeT5]

I live in the middle of no-where . There isnt really any garages here, just body shops and gas stations...those are the closest things

[71ChallengeHer]

I live in the middle of no-where . There isnt really any garages here, just body shops and gas stations...those are the closest things

Well, some of the guys in body shops can wrench too. Just a thought. I wish you lived close to us. My friends would give you a hand. I started out not knowing anything about cars, just driving em. I started working as the bookkeeper in a garage. I was tired of paying other people to fix my car. So I had the guys teach me. It started out small. Changing my own oil, tuning the car up. I even pulled the motor and trans in my Barracuda. With a little help. But these guys are right. Get it running. I don't have the money to finish Shelby's Super Coupe. And prolly won't until she is out of college. But we got it running and keep it running. Gave it a good tune-up, changed the oil, put a water pump , alternator and battery in it. We just start it and take it for a spin about once a month. A little at a time.

[DukesofHoward]

Cody,

I'm relatively new to the forum so I don't know much about you. I gather from reading most every post on here that you are in high school? Maybe not...

Anyway, does your local high school have technical courses? Ag shop, metal shop, etc.? Back (waaay back) when I was in school the guys that took those courses tended to to be gearheads as well. Do you ever get out to cruise night (even as a ride-along)?

Look for chances to strike up conversations with people driving hot rods - it takes the same basic things for any car to run (even bowties and ovals).

Dave

[Charger-Bodie]

im going to jump in here and disagree with a few on this one .....if that was my kids car id rather the susspension and brakes were in good working order and THEN the gine etc. id just simply rather have it not move at all than have it move unsaftly!

[squeakfinder]

  It would be nice to have it moving under its own power.  so why is Silver RT's profile in your signature?

[gtx6970]

If your planning to actually keep this car , Buy Moog parts and skip the low budget suspension kits

[HITMAN 149]

hey cody....
first off not that your personal family life is my business... but i feel for you.... not havin your dad around to help.
i was gonna sugest the same thing as duke said...
"Anyway, does your local high school have technical courses? Ag shop, metal shop, etc.? Back (waaay back) when I was in school the guys that took those courses tended to to be gearheads as well. Do you ever get out to cruise night (even as a ride-along)?"
don't you have a shop class at school??? i know that if i brought that car or my car now down to my old high school...my old shop teach & the kids would GO NUTS!!!!! also maybe inquire about helping around at the local garage in exchange for some help with the car?

and i also agrre with HOT... on the safety issue!!!  BUT i wasn't saying that he should get the car going... and drive it with no brakes & crappy suspension... i was meerly trying to get hin to forget about BLING shiny trim.. and crap that is pointless right now.. on a car that doesn't even run!!! just trying to get him to  re-prioritize his resto order!!!
cody.... we are alllllll here for you.... (even though we tease you!!! ) LOL just remember..... start worrying when  we STOP teasin you...!!!

[Charger-Bodie]

i just think about myself at codys age if in that situation id be really tempted to go out on the street and light up the tires or drive past the high school etc . or whatever

[71ChallengeHer]

Why don't one of you guys give Cody a good safety check list to start with.    So he can check 1 thing at a time.

[69bronzeT5]

and i also agrre with HOT... on the safety issue!!!  BUT i wasn't saying that he should get the car going... and drive it with no brakes & crappy suspension... i was meerly trying to get hin to forget about BLING shiny trim..

Well of course safety is on my mind too, thats why I want to make sure the frame rails and everything is nice and not rusty so when I give it some gas, it wont fall apart . Ive been looking at front disc brake kits too so it will help the car stop better. And like you said, forget the BLING shiny trim cuz Im using used driver quality stuff!!!


Anyways, I checked out the car, it looks like everything engine wise is hooked up. I followed the gas lines and they went from the tank into the fuel pump and then into the carb. So it looks like everything is hooked up. Now brake wise, thats a different story but all I really care about is like you guys said, make sure the engine runs. So basically, if my grandpa were to come over for a few days, we could get the car going probally....except Im not sure if the gas tank is any good and also, the car has NO ignition. Theres a few problems there. Otherwise, I think the car could get running in a course of a weekend. Except with no brakes, no driveshaft and no exhaust, it wont be going anywhere.

[69bronzeT5]

so why is Silver RT's profile in your signature?

Read everything....

"From the thread "Stupidist things you have EVER heard"

Quote from: RD on August 30, 2007, 01:07:01 PM
click below, go to the bottom, click on last posts (and any others you care to search to find)... there ya go!
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=143 "

[DukesofHoward]

YA say the ignition is missing? I take it you mean just the switch. You should be able to find one of those online.

How long has the car been sitting? You very well may have some rust in the tank issues. I'd drop that (not to difficult) and flush it out. Water hose w/spray nozzle should do it. Then dry it out. I've done it and used a reversible vacuum to blow it out. If no air hose or vacuum, then just take it inside where it's warm and dry and let it set - filler neck opening down - near a heater vent and it should dry out nicely in a couple of days. I'd also remove and replace any rubber fuel lines. While they're off, blow out the metal line.

How much of the exhaust is gone? Manifolds and all? Or just tailpipes/mufflers?

[69bronzeT5]

YA say the ignition is missing?

How long has the car been sitting?

How much of the exhaust is gone? Manifolds and all? Or just tailpipes/mufflers?

Yes, just the switch. Ive had it for almost 9 years and its sat inside for all those years. BUT, before I owned it...it sat outside for long periods of time between the late 80s and 98 when I got it. And basically the WHOLE exhaust except the manifolds.

[squeakfinder]

Well, if your not real concerned with having exhaust manifolds with the correct part number, there pretty cheap. Shipping on them might be a bit steep.

  Myself, I would avoid running it without exhaust manifolds. If you do try to run it, do it for a few seconds, I'm not sure what sort of damage running it without exhaust manifolds will do to the valves if you run it for any length of time. Plus theres the chance of catching something on fire under the hood.

Larry

[69bronzeT5]

WOAH!!! 




Sorry, I just noticed my mistake.....I am missing everything except the manifolds, I have those. My bad

[squeakfinder]

OK. I must be a little slow at math. So your saying this motor hasn't been started in 20 years? Have you tried turning it with a breaker bar to make sure its not seized up?

[69bronzeT5]

OK. I must be a little slow at math. So your saying this motor hasn't been started in 20 years? Have you tried turning it with a breaker bar to make sure its not seized up?

No, it hasnt been started in about 7 years. I bought the car in 98 and in about 2001-2002, we put a running 383 into it.

[HITMAN 149]

tooo bad your up in canada. i was at pep boys yesterday and they were looking for help!!! i did think of you right away though!!!
or your other option is keep on playing... become a rock star...then you could buy a nice hemi to put in there & have it all fixed up!!!!!!!!

[69bronzeT5]

or your other option is keep on playing... become a rock star...then you could buy a nice hemi to put in there & have it all fixed up!!!!!!!!

I hope so.......I hope so