As Promised, Pics of the 68 I'm Trying to Get Up and Running

[jdiesel33]

Any advice would be helpful. Right now just trying to get all fluids drained and replaced and see if I can start her up. Engine is not locked up, so good start there.
Thanks

[TruckDriver]

Looks to be a decent project car


Check for corrosion inside the distributer too, and change the cap and rotor. Changing the plugs and wires would be a good thing too.

[Charger1973]

That looks like a great start for a project. 

[poppa]

good score...

[Charger-Bodie]

68's Are great!!!  Very nice project!!

[jdiesel33]

Thanks everyone. Got the oil, oil filter, air filter, and coolant replaced today. It has been sitting for about 15 years until I had it towed last week. Was my dad's. Nothing really wrong with it when he stopped driving it. I am new to the car fixin' business, so this will take me a little longer than it would for one of you guys, so you may see me post lots more questions!!! I will keep you posted and thanks for the support.

Jimmy

[jdiesel33]

Any members live in Dallas/Ft Worth that may be willing to lend a hand or advice if needed?

[squeakfinder]

Thanks everyone. Got the oil, oil filter, air filter, and coolant replaced today. It has been sitting for about 15 years until I had it towed last week. Was my dad's. Nothing really wrong with it when he stopped driving it. I am new to the car fixin' business, so this will take me a little longer than it would for one of you guys, so you may see me post lots more questions!!! I will keep you posted and thanks for the support.

Jimmy

Looks like it has the tall bumperettes from a 69 .


If you take longer to fix it up then some of us it's gonna take you a looooooooong time .


But it does look like a nice project

[69*F5*SE]

Nice looking project to start with. Hopefully it saves you some metal work trauma.

[Kevin68N71]

Have just got my 1968 Charger running after not being on the road since 1988!  Last year got my Olds Starfire up after not running for several years.

1) I would pull and have your tank flushed out.  Fuel can turn to varnish and who knows what else is floating in there.  You also don't want any unexpected leaks.  Replace the little fuel line off the tank to the steel line.  Everyone forgets about that.  Likely that yours is swollen and rotted.  The fill tube to tank grommet is available at Paddock.  If you are excited and want to skip this task until later, I would at least put on a Fram in-line glass fuel filter to really check what is coming out of that tank.

2) Ensure your wiring is in the correct firing order.  Who knows what has happened these past years.

3) Clean your battery terminals, even if they don't appear to have corrosion.  The inside part of these will likely be dirty and not bright, as they should be.  You want max amps from that battery.

4) There is nothing wrong in pulling your plugs, putting a tad of oil in each cylinder, then hand turning  your engine with a big breaker bar and socket on the end of your crank.  I believe you can even get a spray for this.  Remember, those cylinders will be completely dry and you want to minimize scuffing.

5) Dead time your car so that you can make sure that #1 is truly #1 and your distributor is not way off.

6) Replace your vacuum hoses OR remove them from the intake manifold and plug it temporarily. You might get your car started, it runs horrible, and you take hours playing with timing and dwell, carb and plugs over a stupid vacuum leak.  We've all done it.

7) Replace your plugs.  Make sure that they are truly all the way in.  On my Olds, there was so much gunk on the threads I thought the plugs were all the way in.  Two were not all the way in and created all sorts of problems.  Get a light and eyeball them actually in the heads.

8 ) Replace your wires or AT THE LEAST make absolutely sure that they do not touch any metal parts.  Old wires will leach off current from the wire to any ground and you won't get a hot spark, or any at all.  Plus, it's a bitch to be adjusting your carb, touch the engine or a plug wire and get a repeating zap.  Also, so typical of Mopars, make sure your cables are not resting on the exhaust manifolds.  Make sure your FUEL LINES don't go anywhere near exhaust either.

9) Do not start the car and 20 seconds later start high revving the engine.  The urge will be there to do this, don't.  Let that oil get in everywhere.  Wait to Wide Open Throttle it when you are safely on the road somewhere.

10) Don't screw around with some old battery.  They won't work right, and if they are gassy, you can have a real explosion potential.  Get rid of it.  When you get it running, put a voltmeter on it and make sure you are getting a charge.  You should be over 12V even with accessories running.  If you start dropping to 11--10-9 you are simply "running the car off the battery" and you will need to tend to your alternator and/or wiring.

11) Don't be starting and playing around with this car inside a garage.  Not only will you likely have additional exhaust due to old gas/oil burnoff, you don't know if you are going to have leaks, plus you may be out of tune, etc.  Do it all outside.  Always have a fire extinguisher handy.

I have gotten many, many old cars running after being dead for some time.  I have made many foolish mistakes too, usually because I get excited and want to "hear it run".  Take your time and enjoy the fact that you are getting one more Mopar on the road, and a nice one at that!

I have other tips too for getting the car ready for the road.

[milner]

thanks for those tips kevin

[squeakfinder]

When you get a chance, get rid of those dual windshield wiper blades, they were kind of trendy back in the 80's but don't do a bit of good. Except force you to buy twice as many wiper blades as you need. And put twice as much stress on other parts related to your wiper linkage.

[jaak]

A bit of advise I'd give from experience, take the radiator to a shop and get it flushed out and checked for leaks.

Jason

[terrible one]

When you get a chance, get rid of those dual windshield wiper blades, they were kind of trendy back in the 80's but don't do a bit of good. Except force you to buy twice as many wiper blades as you need. And put twice as much stress on other parts related to your wiper linkage.

Haha I just noticed those! GOOFY!

[jdiesel33]

Yeah, believe me, I will be getting to those. Sooner than later just for the "eye sore" effect. Been too busy concentrating on other aspects I guess.

[terrible one]

Yeah, believe me, I will be getting to those. Sooner than later just for the "eye sore" effect. Been too busy concentrating on other aspects I guess.

Hell yeah, like getting it RUNNING! Not at all demeaning the car. I really love most of the 70's / 80's "trends" on these things. . . the wild paint jobs, the stances, the wheels, etc.

[jdiesel33]

Didnt take it "demeaning" at all. I was a kid then, and thought they were pretty cool then. Now they look like parachute pants or something.

[Charger_Fan]

At least they're not the more popular dayglo pink color.

I'd replace the trans fluid too, you'd be amazed what 12 year old ATF can look/smell like.

[tan top]

looks a  like good project    ... seams  pretty original under the hood  ............

[jdiesel33]

Thanks. I believe everything is really original. I know my dad did have something done to it when I was I kid, but I will be damned if I know what it was. I just remember him or my mom saying that they added a "passing gear" and then going on the test ride with him and feeling like I was about to go straight thru the passenger seat into the backseat. I wish he were still around so I could ask him. 

[tan top]

wow dude must of missed /or forgot   the story on your charger....  awesome stuff ...you must have some awesome storys then ! riding shot gun with your Dad 

as well as what the others  said
if it were me i would remove the plugs then spray i few seconds worth of wd40 in the cylinders then let it sit over night  then turn it over with a breaker bar ! then squirt a little  oil in the cylinders spin the motor over on the starter .. first before putting the plugs back in  check all wiring also .

[Kevin68N71]

Thanks. I believe everything is really original. I know my dad did have something done to it when I was I kid, but I will be damned if I know what it was. I just remember him or my mom saying that they added a "passing gear" and then going on the test ride with him and feeling like I was about to go straight thru the passenger seat into the backseat. I wish he were still around so I could ask him. 

I have a guess.  Many of these cars have had bad mechanics incorrectly adjust the throttle rod.  On the Torqueflite, your downshift under near or full wide open throttle (WOT) is controlled by a rod that is actuated as you push on the accelerator--as the throttle moves back (towards the firewall) the rod is actuated, and through a series of linkages, attaches to the transmission.  To get it to work right, you have to have it move back properly with the throttle. Here are the problems with it if it is not adjusted right:

1) You won't get proper kickdown.  Acceleration once underway at certain speeds feels sluggish until your RPMs work up to the strongest area, or your ideal "torque band".  At certain speeds, it should move to 2nd when you punch it, and at lower speeds, it should go all the way to first.

2) Your throttle rod is adjusted so that it actually prevents your throttle from going all the way open

3) Your rod is adjusted so that it doesn't go back far enough to actuate the transmission

It is an adjustment that takes time to get it right.  When I got my Super Bee, the throttle rod was just laying there on top of the intake manifold!  I guess they gave up.

When I got my Charger, it was all out of adjustment.  I didn't know much back then, so didn't know what I was missing, and I didn't straighten it out until after a year or two.

I am guessing that your dad's mechanic adjusted it, and your dad romped on it at about 35 or so, forcing it all the way down to first gear.  There is terrific acceleration at that point, and that truly is your "passing gear"--and then some.

[jdiesel33]

Hmmm... that could be it. Thanks for the insight. I will have to remember that once it is up and running. Maybe in about a week or 2.

[terrible one]

Didnt take it "demeaning" at all. I was a kid then, and thought they were pretty cool then. Now they look like parachute pants or something.

Right on! It's cool that you remember them from when you were a kid.

[jdiesel33]

Dude, where did you get the idea for that paint job? I liked it when I first saw it, but everytime you post and I see it again, it is really growing on me.

[terrible one]

Dude, where did you get the idea for that paint job? I liked it when I first saw it, but everytime you post and I see it again, it is really growing on me.

Haha oh man like I said I love the 70's/80's stuff. Can't say it was my idea, because I've seen so many Chargers with old paint jobs with it or variations thereof. I've got tons of pictures of it on different cars if you would like some. Some don't like it as it "fills" in a good bit of bodylines and some think it takes away from them, but when your Charger is rusty and beaten like mine, maybe it'll look better!