shes on her way !!

[Pistolpete]

Hey gang,
looks like the deal is finally happening! by this time next week I should have my one of 3,605 - 1969 440 4spd real deal R/T !!
She needs some (ok a lot) TLC but bottom line ITS MINE !! I gotta tell ya I dont know where to start !! I could definitely use some help as far as how to undertake a restoration but I'm torn as to whether I just do a partial and have some fun with it until I can do a "proper" fram off?? any opinions?

[Brock Samson]

congrats but "Frame Off" is a furdandchebbie term, MOPARS are UNIBODIES... 
Don't sweat it though we'll set ya straight.. congrats again! 

[derailed]

well in my opinion if its any way roadworthy which it looks like it might be, id have some fun with it for a year or 2. 

[Recharger]

 

If it's not unsafe, play with it for a bit while you're sorting out the resto.   Are you planning on doing the work yourself or having it done by pros?  If this is your first one, it's going to take some time to gather parts and tools and that's after you figure out what parts and tools you need to gather.  

BTW, nice car!        and welcome to the site

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

PS-----make sure you register her!!

www.1969chargerregistry.com

[69charger2002]

awesome car. 69 R/T 4 speed. hard to beat that combo. good score. keep us updated, and as always, MORE PICS!
trav

[cudaken]

 I would say have a little fun with it first befoe you take it a part. Took me 5 years to get mine back on the road with a good engine. Have a whole 80 miles on her now.

Welcome to the site as well.

                       Cuda Ken                                 

[Charger Aficionado]

  Is that T3 Light Bronze or a faded Y3 Gold???  I'm guessing T3 but could be wrong...

[blackcrowe]

looks so frikin hard just as she is man!!!
got more pics?

[Blown70]

Heck if you can drive her have some fun first get to know her before you tear her down...  

That way you can have fond memories..... I had one charger that I never let drop under 2500 rpms....   She was an angry car....I had a lot of fun heck on the way home I ripped one of the tires down to the belts.....

[Brock Samson]

i drove mine around with tape holding stuff on for the first few years intill i could afford to finally strip her down and do a repaint. 

[BigBlockSam]

restore the mechanical, one componet at a time and drive her , enjoy! that's a nice ride. Rene

[MoparYoungGun]

Congrats !

I would definitely enjoy her a while before you decide to dsiassemble it. The only real work I would do is get her in good running condition, and possibly fix some of those rust areas. Good luck and have fun!

[CB]

i drove mine around with tape holding stuff on for the first few years intill i could afford to finally strip her down and do a repaint.  

yep, me too 

It looks like we (me and Doc74) will give her new paint very soon.

[41husk]

congratulations!  It is hard to resist at least driving her until the bad weather sets in, but like you said "bottom line Its mine" you can do what you like.  Good luck!

[hotrod98]

Doesn't it feel great to know that this car is really yours? You can do anything to it that you want. I'll bet you dreamed all night long the first night you owned it. 
Now go and write this on the board 100 times..."I will not say frame off ever again."
Welcome to our Mopar world brother.
BTW, myself, I use the term "frame up restoration".

[cudaken]

 Get the support parts up to speed like brakes, steering cooling that kind of stuff. Might even do a cheap paint job for now as well. They have there places and $300 to $500 paint job is a can really help the drive by appeal. Have some fun, you will need to be able to remember some good times when you take it apart and turn it into modern art.

If I had not had the fun time I did with mine I would have gave up this last time around.

                                 Cuda Ken

[Pistolpete]

Sorry gang, I thought "frame off" was just a term for "complete restoration including blasting the frame and what not" I know that it was overkill saying that its one of only 3605 ever made (especially on this site, cuz thats where I originally got the info!!)   - but damn I just love saying it!! Anyway hansens is bringing her up from California right now, her final resting place will be Toronto, Canada (northern thunder kinda has a ring to it don't ya think?) There's a ton of camaros and mustangs up here that have no idea whats comin
In answer to some of your questions I dont know for sure but it just might be original paint (please see pic of , she was originally and arizona car   and then was brought to california, for whatever reasons the gentleman who sold it to me was not able to keep her and I got lucky - dont ask what I paid, I dont think I want to know in case I overpaid for it - I know what they go for finished and thats what I keep my focus on (lol)   I've been looking for over a year now and unfortunately saw whats happening since the movie cam out.
As far as having some fun with her first thats the way I'm leaning, the interior is horrible though it looks like a bomb went off inside it but the body is actually pretty good, no too much rust anywhere, frame seems good also, the engine has been replaced with a 383 so I'm in the market for a 440 preferably 69 "hp" w/ some tricks. anyone got connections? maybe trade for the 383 + cash? ( I will post this in the swap meet section also)
As far as trying to do it myself, I only wish I had that kinda skill, I'd love to do at least some if it myself , maybe the interior and some bolt on stuff? the mechanics and whatnot I hafta leave to the pros. Anyone know any good shops this way?

Anyway this is kinda draggin and I'm sure you guys are sick of new guys droning on about the latest ride. as always any input is appreciated

thanks
pete

[Pistolpete]

heres a couple of pics, I'll post current ones, once she gets to T.O.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Pete, does the car have the fendertag/buildsheet?    Im curious to know it the hood pins are original to the car.......I only have 1 Charger in the registry originally coded for hood pins.

PS---look in the parts for sale section........someone is selling a complete 69HP 440

[blackcrowe]

Are ya gonna keep the rims--it looks ace on em!

[Charger_Fan]

Great looking car, Pete!
Whatever amount you paid is irrelevant as long as you got what you really wanted & it sure sounds like you did!

Congrats on your score & welcome to the site!

[MichaelRW]

You grabbed a good one there. I like that color 'cause you don't see many that shade.

[Pistolpete]

not sure if the hood pins are original, I dont have the buildsheet (I'm really hoping its in the car when it finally gets here, I'm told you can find it under the rear seat?) I do have a good shot of the fender tag (unfortunately not on this computer so I can post it if you like - I had no idea there was ever a factory option for this? anyway - the thing hasn't even arrived here yet and my daughter (with the help of my wife) are leaning on   me to turn it into a General, at least for the time being. Haven't given that any thought yet..
I think I agree with most that I will turn into a driver first then worry about doing a full resto later on.
BTW - what does "concourse" restoration mean?
I have a friend who iwas asking and I assume it just means full restoration??

[Charger_Fan]

Concourse usually means a very meticulous resto, with paint dabs on everything & overspray in certain areas...so it looks like it did the day it rolled off the assembly line.

[hotrod98]

The correct spelling is "concours". It's a term that has been used for many years. It refers to restoring a vehicle to as new condition including flaws. Flaws can be things such as overspray,   etc.   All of the original markings would be used as well as the correct materials for interior, etc.
It's the most difficult type of restoration and in my opinion, the most useless. Once the car has been restored, it cannot be driven without basically ruining the restoration. Enclosed trailers only.   
This term is mis-used almost as much as the term "balanced and blueprinted".   I hear people use this term all of the time and they don't have a clue as to what it means. It's been explained to me, but I don't really remember. It's a complicated procedure involving returning an engine to original specs as outlined in factory documents. There's not a good reason to do it.

My shop is restoring (actually restifying) an all original, rust free, matching numbers hemi GTX 4-speed for a guy right now. He hates single stage paint so we're going with base/clear. It's not correct, but he wants this car to look nice and single stage metallics don't look that nice...period. He's not concerned with markings, overspray or anything else. He just wants it to look perfect.

Enjoy that charger.

[Ghoste]

Looks like a great find.  They are truly an icon.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

If the pins were original to the car, J45 would have been on the tag.
Unfortunately yours doesnt have it on the tag

[Pistolpete]

Oh well, seeing as there not original to the car they'll probably go when it goes in for a repaint. I ran the fender tag decoder and a fewe things showed up as unknown at this time
T2 shows up as unknown but on 69 registry it shows up as light bronze metallic? T3 also shows up in three different spots on the fender tag?
CCT shows up blank but I may be reading it wrong - coulb be CRT for the interior ??
LMV and V8W also show up as unknown at this time, maybe I'm just inputing them wrong? anyone got any ideas??

[Blakcharger440]

Nice find and grab! Its cool that you got the car that you wanted! Its your car but.....please not another general lee clone. They are getting so overdone these days...but if ya like it then get to it! 

[Nupe]

Why is it I'm always drawn to cars like that which are not show, but definitely good looking?   Just love the look of a fresh project.  

Looks like a great start and looks very solid!   Congrats!  

It's the most difficult type of restoration and in my opinion, the most useless. Once the car has been restored, it cannot be driven without basically ruining the restoration. Enclosed trailers only.  

I agree 100%!   And tell your friend with the GTX he made the right choice and we want to see burn out pics when finished.  

[Brock Samson]

Oh well, seeing as there not original to the car they'll probably go when it goes in for a repaint. I ran the fender tag decoder and a fewe things showed up as unknown at this time
T2 shows up as unknown but on 69 registry it shows up as light bronze metallic? T3 also shows up in three different spots on the fender tag?
CCT shows up blank but I may be reading it wrong - coulb be CRT for the interior ??
LMV and V8W also show up as unknown at this time, maybe I'm just inputing them wrong? anyone got any ideas??

Give us All the numbers and we'll be abe to give you a wealth of info..

[Pistolpete]

allright then, the ones with question marks are items that I can't make out the numbers very well. the pic file is too large to post so if we can't figure it out I guess I'll have to wait til the car actually gets here and hope the build sheet is still hidden under the rear seat.

starting from top left

M31 N85 R11 V8W 26 LMV?
A33 C16 C55 C33 L31 M21
T3 T3 CCT? T3 A15 101688
E86 D21 XS29 L9B 178410

thanks

[2fast4u]

   Excellent score pete!!!   If you got the Cash and the Time to restore her....I say do it.  If not....restification works!

2fast

[Pistolpete]

looks like I may have found a couple of good resto shops up here, www.conceptsonwheels.com if I'm not mistaken are the ones that turned that ford van into a general lee, word on the street is they're pretty good !
I also found a small shop in my that does resto's (loves mopar, owner of shop owns a GTX) and he says he's willing to let me hang out and participate as much as I can.  told him I'm great at taking things apart! LOL so long as he can put them back together.

whaddaya think?

[hemigeno]

allright then, the ones with question marks are items that I can't make out the numbers very well. the pic file is too large to post so if we can't figure it out I guess I'll have to wait til the car actually gets here and hope the build sheet is still hidden under the rear seat.

starting from top left

M31 N85 R11 V8W 26 LMV?
A33 C16 C55 C33 L31 M21
T3 T3 CCT? T3 A15 101688
E86 D21 XS29 L9B 178410

thanks

Hi again, Pete!   Congrats on your purchase!!!


Here's my take on your fender tag, starting with the second line from the bottom:

T3 = Light Bronze Metallic Roof Paint Color
T3 = Light Bronze Metallic Body Paint Color
C     = Trim Grade:   Charger
6   = Front Seat:   Vinyl Buckets
  T = Interior: Tan
T3   =   Upper Door Frame Color:   Tan
A15 =   October 15, 1968 Scheduled Build Date
101688   Vehicle Order Number (aka S.O. Number)
A33   =   Track Pak
C16   =   Woodgrain Console w/ Floor Shift
C55   =   Front Bucket Seats (headrests not mandatory until after 1/1/69)
G33   =   LH Outside Remote Rear View Mirror
L31   =   Hood Mounted Turn Signal Indicators
M21   =   Mouldings: Drip Rail
M31   =   Mouldings:   Body Belt
N85   =   Tachometer
R11   =   Radio:   Music Master AM
V8W   =   Stripe:   White Transverse Sport
26      =   26" Radiator Width
END or EN2   =   End of Fender Tag Codes


Some of this info you have probably already figured out.   The items that I think are different than what you've listed are shown in bold print.   Those are my best guesses as to what should be on the tag in that position.

[Pistolpete]

Thanks hemigeno, thats awesome, where did you get all that info? I got what I could off the '69 registry but it was incomplete.

Just out of curiosity, do you actually own a hemi ??

[PocketThunder]

Thanks hemigeno, thats awesome, where did you get all that info? I got what I could off the '69 registry but it was incomplete.

Just out of curiosity, do you actually own a hemi ??

See those cars in his signature line??      the 1st one is a HEMI 

[Ghoste]

And an extraordinarily nice one!

[Pistolpete]

well don't I feel shtoopid?
woops

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Thanks hemigeno, thats awesome, where did you get all that info? I got what I could off the '69 registry but it was incomplete.

Just out of curiosity, do you actually own a hemi ??

All those codes are on the registry, just too many of them.
I have to trim that list down to only include those codes found on a 69 Charger tag to take away the confusion.........its in the making!

I would guess its only END as cars with EN2 are much later build dates......towards the end of the run...starting around May 1969

[Pistolpete]

thanks, believe me I appreciated getting the info I did off the site, is there any decent books and or sites to help me start this resto??

[hemigeno]

Thanks hemigeno, thats awesome, where did you get all that info? I got what I could off the '69 registry but it was incomplete.

Just out of curiosity, do you actually own a hemi ??

See those cars in his signature line??        the 1st one is a HEMI  

Yep, although I dunno about the extraordinarily nice part (thanks Ghoste!)     Cudaken has taught me too much about bodywork for me to look at it the same.

As far as where I got the info, I have a large stack of stuff I keep handy by the PC at work.

Here's a link to the source I use for most fender tag decodes... it might be the same info that Chris has linked to on the registry...

http://users.erinet.com/30561/broadcast.htm

Speaking of Chris, I actually hadn't noticed about the END vs EN2...   My R/T (Jan. build date) has END, and the Daytona (June build date) sure enough has EN2...   Learned my factoid for the day...

[694spdRT]

Great looking car PistolPete!  Looking forward to your progress reports

True 4 speed R/T's are hard to find these days. I guess you could say I went the "over restored" route vs "concours" with mine. I took it down to the bare shell on a rotiserrie and worked up from there. The bad thing if you go that route is be prepared to NOT enjoy driving it for quite awhile. Good luck either way.

On a side note:

Chris and Hemigeno,

I believe my fender tag has END on it as opposed to EN2. As you know my car is a very late build date...did the guys in St. Louis not follow proper protocal?     

[hemigeno]

That might have something to do with my tags too - the R/T (with END) is a St. Louis car, and the Daytona (with EN2) is a Hamtramck car...

You know us Missourians - we gotta be different!


Hey Ty, did you ever scan in that blurb from Musclecar Enthusiast?   I finally found a place that carries that mag, but of course they still had October's issues out...

[Spartan]

Nice car Pete.  As far as what to work on first, I did mine backwards out of necessity.  I redid the motor 1st to get it on the road and I can play with it.  Second I am currently redoing the interior since the vinyl was shot and it smelled musty. Carpet was due for replacing.  The body work will be last since the other items were more important for me to get the car on the road and enjoy it while I planned the next stage.  I am doing some prepwork for the next stage while I go so I am not having to redo things over again.  Have fun with it.

[694spdRT]

Hey Ty, did you ever scan in that blurb from Musclecar Enthusiast?  I finally found a place that carries that mag, but of course they still had October's issues out...

Sorry, I didn't know you wanted me too scan it.

I don't have a scanner at home...I will see if I can do it at work for you. The pic is rather small but, if it is your first one in a magazine that is one more than I have. 

[hemigeno]

[thread hijack]

Ty, MoparMuscle had a shot of me and my car two or three years back, but it was a small one too.  I'm never gonna complain though.

[/thread hijack]


Pete, you should look over 69Hemi's website.  Its a tremendous resource when it comes to restoring and detailing a '69 Charger.

http://www.69hemi.com

[Pistolpete]

thanks guys, cant wait to get started, I'll check it out I can use all the help I can get
I'll post pics along the way