Hemi Charger Restoration thread (Updated 5/28/10 - Nearly complete!!!)

[gers1968rt]

   Correct me if I'm wrong... is this dodgecharger.com? Is it safe to say that every member here loves chargers? Therefore, many members have a problem with cutting up a donor car, when such a donor is in itself rare. You have been put in an extraordinary spot where someday you'll look back and reconsider all the options. Surely, a 318 charger of the same quality could be found? It might not be convenient for you, but in the long run, what does it matter?  You have a hemi charger, what are a few more problems to work out amount to? Please don't cut up the 4 speed car.

[69_500]

I will say this, 20 years ago no one would have said a single thing about cutting up a 383 car to repair the HEMI car. Because 20 years ago you could find a 383 Charger anywhere you really wanted to. Things were a bit different 20 years ago as well, NO replacement parts were available either. So cutting up a lower value car was definately the best option to go with.

15 years from now people will say the same thing if someone wanted to cut up a 318 Charger to repair a car as well. The older these cars get, the rarer even the lower end models become.

[Ghoste]

You're absolutely correct Danny! 

[69_500]

I'm going to print that post out. I don't think I've been absolutely correct on much. Just ask my wife, she likes to say that I'm wrong on everything. 

[evil1]

I don't know what situation your in financially,or what other cars you have to drive, ect. But, if it were me , I couldn't have two cars and cut up a decent one for one I'd be afraid to drive in the end. Rather than build a challenger convertable , I'd leave the best bolt on pieces at the body shop,buy reproduction sheet metal and take the worst parts home, to slap the 383 car together. Then beat the ever loving piss out of it for the next year, year and a half  while the hemi is being restored. Afterwards I'd build the 383 car to look like the hemi one and beat on it somemore. Eather way I'm looking forward to seeing the restoration pics.

[SFRT]

I am willing to bet that many of the body parts he needs are not available as repro sheetmetal. If you take a real good look at the hemi car its structurally wasted. It needs more than a trunk and a 1/4 panel repair. a lot more. Also, I get the feeling this resto is more of an 'investment' for future return rather than anything else. I think he is coming at this from a different place than others here may be. If thats the case, a unemotional decision to turn 2 cars into 1 very very valuable car, with the 'blessing' of the person that seems to be the 'Expert' makes sense. He is going to turn that 318 car into 60 or 70 grand basically.

Personally, I am not into it, but its his project and I can see the logic behind the decision. It also makes it way easier for the guy actually doing the work. everything he needs is 5 feet over on the other car.

[0X01B8]

I think Galen is a little goofy for saying old sheet metal from a donor makes the car worth more.  How much more could it add to the value?  Bidding on cars in this league move in at least $10,000 increments at Barrett-Jackson so it really won't matter in the end.   

I don't think BZ is having any of this...    So I guess I'll close out my case.  I'll even pre-slap myself for the harsh, over-the-top analogies.     I tend to get a little worked up about it because Chargers have become more like an expensive piece of artwork, or an endangered species.  Or maybe they're like Elephants that get hunted and killed for their valuable tusks.  Some Chinese make soup from Tiger penis because they believe it to be an aphrodisiac, which apparently can help make an ugly woman look good.  I just get drunk.     A hundred packets of oyster crackers thrown on top of Tiger penis soup still isn't enough to make me go near it.   

Anyway, there's not many Chargers left and the Tigers are pretty much gone.  For what?

-john

ps.  BZ, I'm really looking forward to seeing the progress so please don't check outta here.   

[Ghoste]

Agreed, don't leave based on anything here BZ, it's just a brotherly disagreement is all.  I'm one of the ones that doesn't want to see the 383 car cut up but I still want to see the Hemi car saved.
BTW, did Galen mention how a future appraisal "guru" would be able to prove whether a car had used sheet metal or repro stuff?

[bzabodyn]

I am willing to bet that many of the body parts he needs are not available as repro sheetmetal. If you take a real good look at the hemi car its structurally wasted. It needs more than a trunk and a 1/4 panel repair. a lot more.

I think this is what most people are overlooking - I really don't think I could just use replacement panels - I really need a donor car for this project for the "just-in-case" scenario - who here has actually done a full roof replacement before? I'm guessing few if any - who know what could happen when we start cutting into it... that why I bought the best car for the project regardless of what it is... (even though being a 4-speed is nice since my car is a 4-spd).

I think if most of the people here could see my car in person, their tune would change... "structurally wasted" is probably the best it's been described so far...

Bz

[bzabodyn]

Agreed, don't leave based on anything here BZ, it's just a brotherly disagreement is all.  I'm one of the ones that doesn't want to see the 383 car cut up but I still want to see the Hemi car saved.
BTW, did Galen mention how a future appraisal "guru" would be able to prove whether a car had used sheet metal or repro stuff?

Don't worry guys - I'm not going anywhere... even though if my wife had a say in it she would tell all you to go to hell and do whatever I want and not listen to a bunch of faceless names on the internet (she reads the boards and doesn't like me posting about the resto - she said it's none of your damn business!)

Also, Galen does his appraisals (as well as other appraisers) based on the paper work present as well as the photodocumentation from the restoration... I guess that's where they figure everything in... at any rate, it IS an investment when you're spending this type of money, but that is not the reason we're doing this project - it's been a lifelong dream of mine to own a charger, and has particularly been my quest over the last 3-4 years to own, and now restore to its original glory, THIS particular charger...

BZ

[bzabodyn]

Not that I need to prove anything to you - but I do love chargers... 

[Charger-Bodie]

I am willing to bet that many of the body parts he needs are not available as repro sheetmetal. If you take a real good look at the hemi car its structurally wasted. It needs more than a trunk and a 1/4 panel repair. a lot more.

I think this is what most people are overlooking - I really don't think I could just use replacement panels - I really need a donor car for this project for the "just-in-case" scenario - who here has actually done a full roof replacement before? I'm guessing few if any - who know what could happen when we start cutting into it... that why I bought the best car for the project regardless of what it is... (even though being a 4-speed is nice since my car is a 4-spd).

I think if most of the people here could see my car in person, their tune would change... "structurally wasted" is probably the best it's been described so far...

Bz

I have been quiet 'til now about this and I will have you know that talking down to people is not going to help you're cause! A full replacement of a roof is not that big of a deal.....if that car is really as bad as yousay it is than its probably not a good investment if its basically going to be a rebody blessed by Galen

PS to answer what is probably You're next question I do resto and collision repair professionally and DO understand whats going on with you're car.  My point is that you do not have the first Charger ever restored and ALOT of the people on this website have way more experience with restoring Chargers than you and Galen too, and you should treat them with respect if thats what you would like in return

[The70RT]

I didn't want to say this but If you use the roof, dutchman panel, rear valance, trunk floor, quarters and you said the whole back end is wasted then you need the frame rails too? So you mean pretty much the back half will car actually will be the other car. Looks like you need a hood too. So not much of the original car will be saved? How does a 4spd donor car help your car?..... unless you are using the floor too.

[SFRT]

I am no bodyman, but I's say at least 60% of the car's sheetmetal and structural elements will need to  be replaced, perhaps more. The remaining original core will probaby need some work as well.

[bzabodyn]

the way the car rusted out is really weird - it actually rusted top-down and the lower portion of the car (including frame rails) is very solid...

1hot68 - I'm not going to respond to your post/attack...

BZ

[SFRT]

my car had a bizaare rust pattern, basically just the very back bottom and the rocker panels. the Dutchman-no rust!?

previous owner apparently used it to tow his fishing boat and the rear of the car was regularly dipped into a ramp. I had to replace the trunk floor, extensions, rear valance and crosspanel. the rails where fine. theres no rust from the rockers up to the roof or forwards. there is amazingly almost no bondo anywhere on the car.

I feel lucky.

[69bronzeT5]

my car had a bizaare rust pattern, basically just the very back bottom and the rocker panels. the Dutchman-no rust!?

Same. I see alot of Chargers that have roof, dutchman panel and tailight panel rust wheres my Charger dosent. . Its weird, my quarters and front floors are rusty yet my rocker panels arent that bad. I feel sorta lucky...

[Shakey]

Seems to be a lot of folks worried about what one guy does with a donor car yet I see countless Chargers for sale on e-bay, Show Your Auto and in Hemmings, MCG, Auta Buy - what are you folks waitin' for - get out there and save all of those Chargers.   

BZ - you've got a pretty smart Wife.   

[69_500]

I think that some peoples tune would change if they had seen more of the car. In other words from the photo's shown so far, there doesn't seem to be near the amount of damage that needs to be repaired as your describing? I mean yeah I see rust in the quarters, and where the quarters go up against the roof, and well spots of rust all around. And granted you won't know the true extent of the rust until you get the car totally stripped and are able to take a look at it.

However I will still stand by the fact that I think that everything that I see that needs to be replaced could be done by another route, and within the same price range. Once again though that is my opinion, and its not a SET IN GOLD quote or anything. Which is what I think that some people think of others paid opinions.

[TUFCAT]

Everyones so concerned about the decison to save one 383 Charger......the real asshole was the perosn who let the Hemi car rot away in the first place!  That's who should take the blame....and I don't hear anyone convicting that moron for leaving this rare Hemi car for dead.  Brandon's just trying to save it.  Here's the score...... (the same score when Brandons done) .....two Chargers, one dead, one alive.  He wasn't responsible for the death of a Hemi car.  Maybe we should be PISSED at the idiot who was. 

[ChargerSG]

Hang in there, personally i would have spent 5 years on welding since its a Hemi Charger, but getting a donar car is allot smarter. A Hemi Charger as to be saved what ever it may take. Say like TUFCAT, what an idiot that left it to root in the first place.

Good luck with car

[bzabodyn]

Everyones so concerned about the decison to save one 383 Charger......the real asshole was the perosn who let the Hemi car rot away in the first place!  That's who should take the blame....and I don't hear anyone convicting that moron for leaving this rare Hemi car for dead.  Brandon's just trying to save it.  Here's the score...... (the same score when Brandons done) .....two Chargers, one dead, one alive.  He wasn't responsible for the death of a Hemi car.  Maybe we should be PISSED at the idiot who was. 

Yeah, but I can't be too mad at him - if he didn't leave town 18 yrs ago or whatever, I probably wouldn't own the car right now... and it wouldn't be making a comeback in 2008/2009 either! 

[bzabodyn]

Everyones so concerned about the decison to save one 383 Charger......the real asshole was the perosn who let the Hemi car rot away in the first place!  That's who should take the blame....and I don't hear anyone convicting that moron for leaving this rare Hemi car for dead.  Brandon's just trying to save it.  Here's the score...... (the same score when Brandons done) .....two Chargers, one dead, one alive.  He wasn't responsible for the death of a Hemi car.  Maybe we should be PISSED at the idiot who was. 

Yeah, but I can't be too mad at him - if he didn't leave town for good 18 yrs ago or whatever, I probably wouldn't own the car right now... and it wouldn't be making a comeback in 2008/2009 either! 

[jeff69]

BZ,
Did you ever get the the fender tag back?

Since you are going to use both cars would you have to dip(acid) both cars to see how bad they are metal wise? 

[bullit68]

bz.thanks for posting about your hemi charger resto.i always check out that thread as i too have a 69 rt hemi 4spd project car.i'm sure you sometimes wonder why you do it ,when you get all that negative response.its only because the people here are PASSIONATE about their chargers.why else would they be here?i agree that sometimes you need a good solid parts car to cut up.the stickler here is that you are cutting up a rare one to do it.as far as production numbers go,thats open to alot of debate.the 432 and 207 being 4 spd's i agree with as they have been published and generally accepted for years.its also well known that chrysler never kept records of option combinations so to say 1 of 10 with this and that option is purely speculation.even for the experts.for years now the mopar mags have printed stories about the "only two produced" 66 hemi chargers painted in mauve metallic paint(mopar action aug 03 i think).they take those quotes from the experts.well i have one.which makes three.there is/was probably more.my point is there is no way of knowing exactly.rare sure,how rare,who knows.