BB1's 68 Charger Restoration thread *(Update 02/13/09)*

[BB1]

This thread is titled, "The Year of the 68 Charger" it will be full of photos, and stories about getting my Charger on the road in the year of 2008.

Also it is a total focus for one year of all my money, work, and off time to finish the best Dodge Charger I could ever think of.   


First a little back ground....
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,23609.0.html

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,37249.msg409441.html#msg409441


Who am I:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/836223



Greeting fellow DC members, guests and Mafia members,

In Feb 2007, I found my Charger on ebag. It was sitting in a farmers field rusting away, I like many of you, was not going to stand letting another Charger rot away.
So I grabbed it knowing that it was a 383 727, and nothing else.

It came with a vin and a f-tag and a title from 1986.
When I got it home, I contacted the famous DodgeCharger.com for help. It turn out to be a special ordered 2X Black car with some cool codes. One was an 5 speakers 8-track, with cruse control, A/C, ps pb.

The body man,
I found him while I was driving to a shop to get my mower blade sharpened. Just a hole in the wall shop that worked on everything muscle car, and it was just down the block from my house.
Fred has been doing this work for 25 years and is an expert paint and body man. The Charger was going to his shop, because I felt he would be able to make it the way I wanted it. That was very important to me.
He as now expanded to a bigger shop and has his people working with the coolest tools, like a new frame table, spot welder, lifts, paint booth, rotisseries, mig welder.

Me,
I will be the parts man on this. I will have Fred and company build the Charger to my specifications.
I work 84 hours a week (yes 84 hours), and don't have time to turn a wrench on it.
This way I will have the money, and still have a hand in it, and it will be done faster.

You have a hand in it too; I hope you can help me with info to get it finished and fired up.

It will have a 426 Hemi/ Hemi 4 speed/ 4.10 Dana 60.
The frame will be tied together and have a NHRA role cage. I love drag racing, so it will have maybe a 4 link or SS springs, light weight k member, 4 wheel disks brakes.

Lots of parts I have to think about.

Interior will be stock black along with the original 68 paint code BB1 which is Black.

I will keep you informed.

Over and out. 

PS: The Charger is out of the strippers, but since the weather is very bad, it will be a week before it is moved back to the shop.

Hemi is safe, location not disclosed. 

Out.

[RD]

I would like to help, please send the Hemi to Jamey Hancock... blah blah for safekeeping (and the occasional flogging when it is put in my charger).

sounds awesome! keep us posted on the build... oh ... WHERE ARE THE PICS? lol

[BB1]

They're in the other threads, but I will have plenty when he's back from the blasters.

[BB1]

I went to see if I could figure out who built it, and I did.

It is an authentic Indy 426 Hemi 1-Legend 540 hp 500 lb-ft or torque, here is the artical. I'm calling Indy and give them my numbers to see what this engine did. They probably have a data sheet that I would love to have, dyno pulls and torque numbers too.

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/mopp_0607_hemi_engine_challenge/index.html

Said it can run on 92 pump gas, 

Not bad for craigslist. 

[Charger-Bodie]

That shouldnt be in youre mixing room!

[BB1]

Ah nuts you found it. 

[1969chargerrtse]

I would like to help, please send the Hemi to Jamey Hancock... blah blah for safekeeping (and the occasional flogging when it is put in my charger).

sounds awesome! keep us posted on the build... oh ... WHERE ARE THE PICS? lol

See, this is the thing about this forum, we have the nicest people offering to help others.  So sweet.    kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[T3/RT]

Sounds very cool!

[BB1]

Here are the engine stats from Indy...
426 1-Legend 540hp 500lb-ftPrice from Indy is $18000. I saved 5500. off the original price. 


http://www.indyheads.com/images/price3.pdf

[tommymac]

Way to go Ed,Betchya cant wait to fire that up!!!!

[69bronzeT5]

wow, beautiful engine!

[gordo1968charger]

 
I work 84 hours a week (yes 84 hours)




join the club!!!!
i ve just got an invite to the red bull christmas party.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I work 84 hours a week (yes 84 hours)




join the club!!!!
i ve just got an invite to the red bull christmas party.

I hear ya guys - I am currently averaging 90 hours a week while attending school full time  ---  Red Bull Xmas party eh? 

[keepat]

 

Your Hemi looks Awesome! Note I don't think the oil pan will fit in your 68 Charger?
Pat

[BB1]

Your Hemi looks Awesome! Note I don't think the oil pan will fit in your 68 Charger?
Pat

Thanks; Yeah, I plan on changing it to a Milondon Pan. Although we pulled the engine out of a 68 Charger. 

I work 84 hours a week (yes 84 hours)

join the club!!!!
i ve just got an invite to the red bull christmas party.

To think normal people work 40 hours *sheees*.

Thanks Tommy & Bronze

I think I'll put a big bow on the Hemi and send it out as a Christmas card. 

[RD]

i work 40... 4, 10 hour shifts so I can have friday's off to comb junkyards muwahahhahahahaha

oh and bring that hemi to the track next year.. i wanna see how my 73 RR stacks up to it.  We may have to put a keg on it for a wager 

wedge vs. hemi

ron will love this

[BB1]

Bring it on RD, I take on all comers.

Even Hybrids. 

RD-v-BB =  for all.

[BigBlockSam]

wow! great motor, good luck

[firefighter3931]

oh and bring that hemi to the track next year.. i wanna see how my 73 RR stacks up to it.  We may have to put a keg on it for a wager 

wedge vs. hemi

ron will love this

Bring it on RD, I take on all comers.

Even Hybrids.

RD-v-BB = for all.

Cool....nuthing like a friendly Wedge vs Hemi (heads up) shootout 

You guys need to get this on video when it happens ! 



Ron

[BB1]

Maybe I'll slip in some Nossssss FF. 

No pics yet, it is going to snow and stay cold for awhile. We don't want to transport the naked Charger on salty roads.

Plans:
I am now going with an Alterktion front suspension. It will keep everthing out of the way of the headers,
plus give me a lighter front end and a smooth ride.
Also I plan on drag racing it, just like my old high school Charger. I just love that feeling of coming to the lights and launching it like a rocket.

http://www.moserengineering.com/Pages/Axles/customalloy.html
For my Dana 60 with 4.10
SS springs in the back, with slicks.

I could put my Hemi in a Dart or Barracuda, but then again I'm a dedicated Charger nut. 

4 wheel disk, not sure what brand yet.

727 with a stall converter. Don't know yet what that is. Trans kit for shifting and a some kind of shifter?

I need to dl the NHRA rules, to be legal on the strip at events.

Would like a dodgecharger.com letters spelled out on the back window.

I think I will name him Black Horse

Here are some winter projects, that I will be restoring.

[BB1]

Black Horse is back from the strippers.

Remember, both 1/4 and the floor where replaced already, but they where done by an amateur. 
Good for some but not good enough for a Black painted Charger.

They will be replaced again with full quarters, and the pan around the trans replace back to an automatic.

I will try and salvage the sheet metal and sell them whom ever wants it.

The only original sheet metal to this Charger is the roof, cowl, doors and inner fenders, that's it.


Ok now you can look.       Total cost is $950.


Hint, there is a 67 Shelby Mustang next to me, one of 10 ever built.

[BB1]

Pure metal no primer or anything. 

[BB1]

 

[BB1]

 

[Charger-Bodie]

Looks good other some yahoo going hog wild with the seam sealer!

what 1/4s are you getting for it? the ones from Lushia or are you waiting for AMD?