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

[BB1]

Back to the shop.

I think I'm going with;

http://www.classicbodydesigns.com/

I also need a new trunk lid and I just hope new fenders will be ready for purchase soon.

I know  it will all be gone.


This will be the home of my Hemi, so there will be a lot of new frame metal put in to strengthened up the 40 year old Charger.
Plus I will be putting in a 6 point roll cage.

I expect, there will be very little body flex when I hit the gas on the Big Hemi. 

[BB1]

New full quarters are coming after Christmas. Just placed the order... pics next week. 

No shipping charges before Jan 1.

Santa has been good to me.


New 68 fenders will be produced in March.

[BB1]

PICS!!!

You guys keeping up with the progress.... 


Ok, brand new full quarters from my bud Ron @
http://www.classicbodydesigns.com/

Top notch stuff, I am going to get his door skins too.  & new front fenders.

All new sheet metal men = one beautiful Black Charger. 

Do it right or don't even start!

Body work done in 4 to 5 weeks. 

[tan top]

good progress going on there  will be awesome when finished for sure   looking forward to seeing more pictures as you progress 

[BB1]

Thanks Mr. T, We're trying to get it done by Summer 08, then the drag racing will begin. 

I'm finding great stuff, thanks to all the people here at DC.com. There is a wealth of Charger info that you can't find anywhere else.

The floor pans will have to go too, there are a lot of problems with this particular Charger. Amateur body men for one, cheap junk you wouldn't put on ship because it would just sink. Pictures make it look real nice, but we both know it can be much better.

They lost the dam bodyline by cutting right on the edge of the corners, and leaving no references for the rest of the body to follow.  Hence the full quarters to get it back in line. Don't try this stuff at home, amateurs beware!!


The body is going on a frame-table, and laser measuring devices will put every thing back to better than stock.
Major surgery; going under the plasma cutter next week. 

They're doing a 55 Bel Air also, mini tubs, big block, and a two tone.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

EXCELLENT PROGRESS!  I thought my C500 was progressing well, but your project is really taking off!

I have started a folder for Black Horse... keep the pictures coming! 

XS

[BB1]

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I'm sure your having as much fun as I am right now; love your 500. 

Maybe we can inspire more people to just get it done. Parts have never been so easy to acquire.
So if it's a high dollar resto or low buck resto, at least your doing something positive.

Vote Charger in 08. 

[RD]

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I'm sure your having as much fun as I am right now; love your 500. 

Maybe we can inspire more people to just get it done. Parts have never been so easy to acquire.
So if it's a high dollar resto or low buck resto, at least your doing something positive.

Vote Charger in 08. 

yeah,... but when a primered 73 RR with a wedge spanks his butt in the 1/4 mile... will I get any accolades.. no.. instead they will chastise me and ostracize me back into the corner for being a bad, bad wedge owner 

hehe... we need to set a date and place for the inaugural hemi a55 whoopin by a wedge dont we? hehehehe 

[BB1]

I'm glad your confidence is so high, or might I say "what have you been smoke'nnn." 


Here is a visual RD's Wedge==>  BB's Hemi Rock'en===>

How about a contest on DC.com 

The DC member who comes closest to our best 1/4 mile times, will wins something. Or just a betting pool, loser buys the beer. 

Muaahahahhahahaaaaa

[RD]

sounds good to me... and no NOS... its naturally aspirated or your mama wheres combat boots!

[BB1]

I have been waiting for almost a year for something to brake loose on my Charger.
As you know it is still at the body shop with nothing done to it since Feb.
This is not a bitch or a complaint, I know from you guys that this is the way body shops operate.
Hey, no problem I'm one year into a 3 year project. Many things have changed as the year went by, one is I bought and sold my 426 Hemi.
The reason is I can brake a 440 and replace it twice, for what the cost would be if I broke the Hemi once.

I purchased a 67 440 and a 727. Many mods will be put in both, including Edlebrock heads, stroker kit out to a 492ci, sprag, Hemi drum, shit kit, ext. This is the last thing that will be done.

The interior is basically done, my seats look real nice; I have all the door panels' upper door pads, buddy seat.
I still need a back seat though, not a priority right now, just would like to have one.

All the rear suspension as been purchased, every thing is new from Mancini Racing, SS springs, all the plates and hangers, torque boxes, frame connectors, are in house.

I called Bill at Reilly Motor Sports inc. He can make my Alterktion suspension in 3 weeks, with free UPS shipping.
I'm plan to drag race the Charger for many years, the adjustability with a softer springs will help it off the line.
Also rack & pinion is nicer than the heavy original steering.

Since the bad economic news, the body shop is getting really thin on work. He wants to get started on my Charger. I asked him what he needed; he said he wants to put it on its wheels and work on it on the frame table.
This is a computerized laser accurate unit that brings the body back to factory measurements. Then all the frame rails, torque boxes, can be welded in.
I will also have a 6 or 8 point roll cage.

Both full quarters and door skins as you know are from Classic Body Design, they don't have the front fenders made yet, but I am high on their list for getting them.
We're using old fenders to line up the bodylines for now, I don't know how well the rest of the panels will line up, I hope there are close enough.

So, as thing look now he will have it on wheels, painted back to it's original color (black) by the end of winter.
Next year hopefully it will go quicker, as the base body will be completed, then all the jewelry will be hung.

I'll keep you informed.

Thanks for your visit. 

[moparstuart]

cool glad they are going to work on it again

   look forward to updates

[69*F5*SE]

Yes, I can't wait to see it with the new quarters, door panels etc. from CBD. Ron's body panels are literally stamped right down the street from my house by a place called Flex n Gate. I could walk there in 10 minutes. Pretty cool.   Ted

[RD]

tell the truth.. he was afraid of my 440 muwhahahhahahhahahahaha

[moparstuart]

got a 68-69 block 440 ?


   no i need a 69 charger motor but it was build in nov 68 , I need a motor

[BB1]

1967, the same year my Charger was built. I have been running around Nebraska for parts, and next week Iowa.

I see RD, we will have to up the stakes when we face off. 
It's just for fun right... or for pinks. 

Tell Ron I'm waiting.  Get-R-Done.

[BB1]

I've been working at the body shop getting things ready to mount the 1/4's new door skins.

Look at the picture, this is the crappy way to wield a 1/4 to any car especially a Charger.

The morons cut the old 1/4 off right at the very top of the panel. There is no way to get the original top bend to look good when you do this.

Now I have 2 new full quarters going on, the pictures show the POS paper 1/4.
The door jam was cut the same way, hence we have no place to index the new 1/4  to find the original position.

We lined up the old fender and the old doors to the pos 1/4 and there way off. 
Fortunately I have the right guys to do it, they have over 100 years between them doing body work. They are really good.
We're mocking up the suspension to put a load on the frame, so as to keep all the gaps
where they need to be.
The whole Charger will go on a frame table to make sure it is dead on straight.

When done, the only original sheet metal to this Charger will be the roof, hood and trunk maybe.

The whole rear suspension is Mancini Super Stock springs hanger and shackles.

Thanks too,

XV Motorsports-for the radiator brace

Classic Body Design-for 1/4 and door skins

Auto Metal Direct- for the one piece cabin floor and extensions + 18 gauge rockers, right outer wheel house.

atownautoservices-ebay for the 70 Coronet front clip with suspension including the K.

moparleo-ebay rebuilt door hinges

lloydslit-ebay 68 Service manual

Mancini- rear suspension, frame connectors, rearend brace

Ebay guy for all 4 torque boxes, they are thicker.

Texas Acers- torsion bar frame under the seats.

My body shop who I have confidence in. It has been over a year but it's still the same price as it was then.



The price??? who cares.


An no rust on my SS springs, Tony. 

[BB1]

 

This is a resto-mod and as nice as it will look, I will drag race it, road race it maybe Bullrun it till the wheels come off.

My engine is a 492 wedge, hooked to a 727 race modified eventually gear vendor overdrive. An 8 3/4 will hold 4:10 to 2:76
6 point cage with a 5 point harness.

Drilled and slotted rotors 11'
TTI exhaust
Safety fuel tank that will keep me from burning up, and a fireproof body suit for me.

Thanks to Mike for restoring my gauge cluster, can't wait to see it.

[BB1]

When the body is done, I will have the old sheet metal for sale cheap.

Some could be used for patch panels, there is no rust on any of it.

The cab floor: with a 4-speed hump
Both quarters: I think are AMD
Door skins: original
Rockers: original

Here is a picture of the 70 front clip.
Firewall is good
Radiator support is good
Front frame rails are in nice shape
Cowl area

I'm going to need some odds and ends off of it.

I'll post them in the for sale area after body is done.

[moparstuart]

  keep up the good work ed

[PocketThunder]

Back seat will be on the way early next week.. Glad i could help.

Paul

[BB1]

Thanks Paul.

[moparstuart]

Back seat will be on the way early next week.. Glad i could help.

Paul

you selling parts out of my car 

[Back N Black]

This is a resto-mod and as nice as it will look, I will drag race it, road race it maybe Bullrun it till the wheels come off.

My engine is a 492 wedge, hooked to a 727 race modified eventually gear vendor overdrive. An 8 3/4 will hold 4:10 to 2:76
6 point cage with a 5 point harness.

Drilled and slotted rotors 11'
TTI exhaust
Safety fuel tank that will keep me from burning up, and a fireproof body suit for me.
.

Ok, here's my question, how do you get a Charger on a work bench? Nice work BTW. 

[BB1]

Back seat will be on the way early next week.. Glad i could help.

Paul

you selling parts out of my car 

They have a lift and that's how they put it on the body dolly.