Rob's ongoing slow restoration process of his 69 charger R/T SE

[69charger2002]

lol nice stories.. my family got new olds cutlasses every couple years from about 75-82.. that last 82 i got in 92 for my first car.. somehow i veered off the beaten path COMPLETELY but now my whole family has dodges
trav

I'm still new here, can you explain the awesome picture of all the Chargers, and about  "Charger land"?

well.... that pic is over a year old now. i had 40 chargers in my yard at one time back in 06.. now i have 12.. chargerland is not real, it's just my own little heaven where some of the best looking cars ever made, of course being the 68-70 charger, sleep in my garage
trav

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Chargerland is real. 
That is awesome that Chargerland is in your backyard. Man, keep collecting if you can. 

[moparstuart]

 Is this heaven? no it's chargerland   or iowa ?

[1969chargerrtse]

Just an update on where I'm at with my car.  I don't get much time to work with it as by the time I get home, the little one has to be in bed in less than 2 hours, by then it's dark and cold.  I did get a few hours on it today and have gone as far as I'm going.  I didn't want to pull the steering box, but the saft and box need detailing, and what the heck, the car is just sitting there minus a motor anyway.  The motor guy will start it in a week or two, when I get my A/C brackets, I have a bunch of parts to send to the powder coat guy.  So I stripped it down as far as I can, and now I guess I will have to sand and blend everything, then a friend is loaning me a compressor and spray gun and I'll shoot most of the orange, and blend in the clear.  Thats where I'm at friends, any advise always appreciated.  You can see the original Y2 Yellow, and black from a time when they sprayed the whole compartment black.  Hope your thanksgiving was great.  I'm thankful for being this far along.

[rt green]

i know you didnt plan on doing all of this extra work, but in the long run it'll be better than ever.

[1969chargerrtse]

i know you didn't plan on doing all of this extra work, but in the long run it'll be better than ever.

I agree, especially with the past owner kicking back 2,000.00 to help with the motor.  It's going from a 1977 truck motor with headers and overspray every where, plus the wrong air cleaner, to a Nov 68 build date car with a Nov 68 440 motor with the correct exhaust and air cleaner and a detailed compartment.  I always say I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone, but by spring it will be so much nicer and correct.  Thanks.

[moparstuart]

 so you did get the 2000.00 from the guy ok , and he didnt stop pay on the check ? 

[Charger_Fan]

i know you didn't plan on doing all of this extra work, but in the long run it'll be better than ever.

I agree, especially with the past owner kicking back 2,000.00 to help with the motor.  It's going from a 1977 truck motor with headers and overspray every where, plus the wrong air cleaner, to a Nov 68 build date car with a Nov 68 440 motor with the correct exhaust and air cleaner and a detailed compartment.  I always say I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone, but by spring it will be so much nicer and correct.  Thanks.

Aside from the initial agony, I bet you'll like your end result much better than how it was before.
Looks like you're doing great, keep the updates-a-commin'.

[Charger-Bodie]

i know you didn't plan on doing all of this extra work, but in the long run it'll be better than ever.

I agree, especially with the past owner kicking back 2,000.00 to help with the motor.  It's going from a 1977 truck motor with headers and overspray every where, plus the wrong air cleaner, to a Nov 68 build date car with a Nov 68 440 motor with the correct exhaust and air cleaner and a detailed compartment.  I always say I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone, but by spring it will be so much nicer and correct.  Thanks.

Aside from the initial agony, I bet you'll like your end result much better than how it was before.
Looks like you're doing great, keep the updates-a-commin'.

Thanks Fanman.  I wasn't sure if I should have posted an update, but I've met some really super helpful people here and I thought maybe they actually care?  And you guys do, thanks.

We definitely do care , keep em comin!!

[Charger_Fan]

From here on out, if someone sez they don't care, I'll e-slap 'em! I've got the perfect picture to do it & I'm itchin' to use it.

[TK73]

From here on out, if someone sez they don't care, I'll e-slap 'em! I've got the perfect picture to do it & I'm itchin' to use it.

I don't give a rats... 




 

[Charger_Fan]

From here on out, if someone sez they don't care, I'll e-slap 'em! I've got the perfect picture to do it & I'm itchin' to use it.

I don't give a rats... 




 

I didn't think you would.

[Hemidoug]

Well, I haven't read through all the posts on this thread, but I might have some words to put this into perspective. I also went through an engine expense this year. I snapped a rod in my Hemi car. It was bad enough to snap the cam in 7 places (went at 5500 RPM going from 1st to 2nd)! luckily, I was able to save the block, and ended up with a much better engine.. Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is that a 40 year old rod could let loose AT ANY TIME! My motor had about 10,000 miles on it when the rod let go.....10 Grand! My only fault was using stock rods that were resized for the rebuild....stock rods that I had no idea of the history on. So...just because a rod let loose does not mean that you got ripped...it's just the luck of the draw....He would have never had known it was going, nor anyway to predict it. I got bit (to the tune of 7K+) at the beginning of the spring. I'll never use stock used rods in a new motor ever again! Obviously you have decided to do the motor so don't make the same mistake again. I hope you feel a little better about your situation, you got lucky getting 2K from the guy that sold you the car. I don't know that you would have even been able to predict what happened even if you had inspected the car. The only thing that would have accomplished is that MAYBE you would have noticed some of the other things you stated, but I still think you would have made the purchase. Rods let go...it sucks but it happens, and there is NO way to predict, inspect, or prevent it other then not using JUNK stuff in your motor.....Just my  ..

I wish you good luck with the new motor....as time goes on and the car gets used you WILL fall in love with it!

Here is a link to my engine woos...maybe cheer you up a little knowing you aren't alone....Plus there are some really COOL pictures of a blown up Hemi......

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28421.msg311734.html#msg311734

[tan top]

  , good your making progress would be intrested in seeing more pictures as you progress , just curious , did it come with a vinyl top 

[1969chargerrtse]

Well, I haven't read through all the posts on this thread, but I might have some words to put this into perspective. I also went through an engine expense this year. I snapped a rod in my Hemi car. It was bad enough to snap the cam in 7 places (went at 5500 RPM going from 1st to 2nd)! luckily, I was able to save the block, and ended up with a much better engine.. Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is that a 40 year old rod could let loose AT ANY TIME! My motor had about 10,000 miles on it when the rod let go.....10 Grand! My only fault was using stock rods that were resized for the rebuild....stock rods that I had no idea of the history on. So...just because a rod let loose does not mean that you got ripped...it's just the luck of the draw....He would have never had known it was going, nor anyway to predict it. I got bit (to the tune of 7K+) at the beginning of the spring. I'll never use stock used rods in a new motor ever again! Obviously you have decided to do the motor so don't make the same mistake again. I hope you feel a little better about your situation, you got lucky getting 2K from the guy that sold you the car. I don't know that you would have even been able to predict what happened even if you had inspected the car. The only thing that would have accomplished is that MAYBE you would have noticed some of the other things you stated, but I still think you would have made the purchase. Rods let go...it sucks but it happens, and there is NO way to predict, inspect, or prevent it other then not using JUNK stuff in your motor.....Just my  ..

I wish you good luck with the new motor....as time goes on and the car gets used you WILL fall in love with it!

Here is a link to my engine woos...maybe cheer you up a little knowing you aren't alone....Plus there are some really COOL pictures of a blown up Hemi......

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28421.msg311734.html#msg311734

Man, you are 100% correct.  I agree with everything you wrote.  I never blamed the motor on him, I found out when I pulled the heads off that many bolts were loose and several so tight I needed a big breaker bar, so I think it sucked in water somewhere.  My beef with him, and why I feel he gave some back was, I asked him about the fender tag being repro, then he said yes, he never listed it that way, it was after research and a ton of help from Chris69rt that I found out it was an incorrect repro.  So now I had a 30k car with no build sheet or fender tag.  That was my point with him, there were many other things, but after the motor went, come on, you got "buy it now price" give back a little, I'm dying here.   I been through all my pain, I'm excited to build it better and there is no other car old or new I'd rather own.  No complaints, and you owe me a ride in July.  Sorry about your woos, I'll check your site and advise the engine builder about what you wrote.  Thanks, Rob.

[1969chargerrtse]

, good your making progress would be intrested in seeing more pictures as you progress , just curious , did it come with a vinyl top 

Yes, and more and more I'm leaning on putting it back.  I saw a video the other day of Chris69rt car going to PA (pretty sure it was him)  and when I saw that black top on that red (or orange), man O man, sharp.  Got to get it togther first, maybe next year, the top.

[Hemidoug]

I can understand that...he was not being 100% truthfull that's for sure. Like I said...I didn't read everything before I made my comments. I was commenting strictly on the rod issue. The fact that the old block was a 74 block means that it was a thin wall casting anyway...so you are probably better off with something with a little more beef. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on fender tags/build sheet. The fact that you don't have them just places you on the same ground as 75% of the other Mopar owners. I would say that you are in a better position then 75% of us in that the car has ORIGINAL sheet metal. I would take that over "pedigree" paperwork any day of the week. I know you feel a little ripped off, but you did get a very nice car. That crap only really means something on a numbers matching or multi-carb car anyway so I wouldn't sweat that too much. You bought your dream...that's why you plunked done the coin. Now you have the chance to make your dream happen, with the freedom of NOT being tied to a numbers/documented car. THAT my friend is not a bad thing. Yea, maybe you paid a little too much for something and found out it was 80% of what it was supposed to be....welcome to Mopar world. Been like that since I was a kid, only more people know the tricks. Besides, if you had that crap, all the purists would be complaining that the car wasn't "factory this" and "factory that". I've been in this hobby long enough to have seen it all. Celebrate your freedom from all that BS and make the car what YOU dreamed of...not what someone else dreamed of.  Hell, if I were you, I would be looking strongly at a stroker setup for the rebuild....Make that Mopar FLY! It's a little extra $$$$ but MAN, what a difference (with all NEW parts)! It is what it is...now make it YOURS!

PS...Come look me up and the ride is yours!

[TUFCAT]

I really enjoy reading all your updates....and you're a great asset to the site - - especially the positive attitude - - with all that's happened since buying the car. 

[1969chargerrtse]

I really enjoy reading all your updates....and you're a great asset to the site - - especially the positive attitude - - with all that's happened since buying the car. 

What a nice thing to say.   It's funny because I started out on this site pretty upset and negative, but it was the people here that made realize the love for these cars we all share.  That's where I'm at now, and nothing will change that.  This is the first forum  for me, I didn't even know how to respond back then,  Anyway, the love and dedication from the guys that gave me a piece of their mind when I blamed the car at first was the turn around for me, then comments like, you said you wanted one of these since 69, now get it back on the road.  It was you guys, you included  (I remember the cat)  that pointed me in the right direction, and I thank you.   

[69bronzeT5]

Good to see that things worked out and you got your money from the previous owner. Keep up the good work! Glad to have you on the site. And like TUFCAT said, you're a great asset to the site and you have a positive attitude. I totally agree with him!!! Also, its good to see that your site is doing good. Cant wait to see the car on the road again, its beautiful

[1969chargerrtse]

Good to see that things worked out and you got your money from the previous owner. Keep up the good work! Glad to have you on the site. And like TUFCAT said, you're a great asset to the site and you have a positive attitude. I totally agree with him!!! Also, its good to see that your site is doing good. Cant wait to see the car on the road again, its beautiful

Thanks again, as for the site, I wish I knew more about the net to get it out there.  If it wasn't for you guys, there would probably still be just 2 cars on there.  Thanks guys.

[1969chargerrtse]

Here's an update on my updates.  I sanded and painted the engine compartment today, It came out real nice , especially compared to what it was.  I have a minor issue of the new paint looking a little newer than the older paint it mates up to, but that's o.k.  Next is cleaning the brake booster, steering, box, windshied wiper motor,fan, K frame and T bars, and then shooting them semi black.  That be it for now, thanks for looking.   ( I'm the balding guy) Just found out the wife wants the heater back. Sorry, not happening.

[69bronzeT5]

Looks great!

[tan top]

 good progress is being made , nice work

[Charger-Bodie]

great to see progress Rob Keep it up!!!!