The restoration of i c e b l u e

[i c e b l u e]

            Well for those who remember me, or more likely for those who remember the car. I am on Christmas break and have finally found the time to organize all of the pictures I have of the restoration.  Something I have been meaning to do for years now, just things like college got in the way. Although I haven't been very active on the board, especially on the new board, I truly would not have been able to complete this restoration to the caliber of which I had; had it not been for the help I received here. Whether it was the advice from chryco, or ron(firefighter), or hearing the hassle's of cudaken, or just reading the tech topics of others, I have learned a lot here that I will never forget. And for all the help this board has given me, I owe it to you, to show you what I have done with the information.
   
For those of you who don't remember or those who are new to this board, my name is Marcus. I started the restoration of my 69 when I was fifteen years old. I purchased the car in November of 2001 for $2000 with some money that I had saved and some loaned to me by my father which I paid off over the years of the restoration.  My dad agreed to the loan stating that I won't buy you a car, but I'll sure help you build one.  With that said, an agreement was reached that he would purchase any tool necessary to complete the job, and I was required to purchase all of the parts.  We were to both build the car, but in turn for his work, every hour my dad spent on the car resulted in one minute of guaranteed driving time when the car was done.  I, on the other hand, was allowed to work as much as possible both on the car and at my job as long as my grades stayed up in high school.
   
Once purchased, the car was flat bedded to my uncle's house to be stored for the winter. After talking with my uncle he agreed to lend me use of his pole barn for the project so long as I was out in 4 years, complete or not. At this time I would like to give thanks to my uncle for use of his pole barn for nearly 4 years with only the exchange of minimal chores.
   
With the barn secured, we moved the car in and began to work. We stripped the car down, taking picture upon picture throughout the process.  We also bagged and labeled every nut and bolt for re assembly. Stripping the car of parts went quick; it took less than three weeks to have the car into a bare shell.  Plus it provided great father and son moments like getting a bath in rear differential fluid, or busting knuckles countless times on jagged objects. Although at times it was rough overall,  it truly was fun.
   
Seeing as neither one of us had any experience of restoring a car there was a lot of un-accounted time spent reading repair manuals or surfing forums and the rest of the internet. For the first six months I spent nearly every night researching the process from how to weld, or what to buy, or any other process needed. I'm sure you get the idea as the learning curve is extremely steep at first. The only difference I noticed between studying for this and school, was that I truly enjoyed learning about it. So the time investment wasn't an issue.
   
Apart from books and the internet, my dad and I also had a lot of friends that gave us there advice and shared their experience, which dramatically cut the learning curve, being able to directly ask questions and be shown how to do things rather than be told. I would like to thank Bill and Tony from body craft, in Antioch IL, for all of their advice and demonstrations.
   
We quickly, found that this car was further gone than either one of us truly realized. So we researched and located all of the sheet metal available, and began to cut and weld. My dad purchased the welder and we went to town practicing. Eventually we got the hang of things and began to cut and replace the rotted metal. Again since we had more time than money, we spent a lot of time saving parts most people would replace.
   
After all the sheet metal work, we began to research body work. We bought a paint gun and again just experimented until we got it right. We fabricated a paint booth with a squirrel cage fan and plastic and used countless inside tips from friends and board members. Again this was nothing expensive or high tech just enough to do the job right.
   
Body work, one word I will now respect for the rest of my life.  Block sanding, taping, massaging body lines, priming, sanding, re-priming, sanding some more; thousands of hours were spent before everything was just right. I remember working on the front fender for roughly 50 hours and then taking it in to body craft, for bill's expert eyes and hands to judge it. After 50 hours of work it took him 2 minutes to tell me all of the flaws I still had. After a few more trips back and forth and countless more hours I was able to get it right.
   
After the body work came the final paint, which would tell us if we had done everything right. We started with the front valence and we were pleasantly surprised with the final outcome. With that boost of confidence we moved on to the rest of the car. With the car painted we could now move onto the drive train.
   
The engine, my favorite part, was left for last. This was due to the fact that if we would have done the engine first, I would have been too tempted to throw it back in the car and drive it. The car would have never been finished.  Although I wanted much more, budget dictated I stick with a stock stroke 440. The basic machine work was out sourced as I did not have access to the machines necessary at the time. From there, we assembled the engine top to bottom paying great attention to detail of every step of the process.
   
Next we tackled the transmission. Again I originally knew nothing about any transmission much less a torque flight. But by reading up and understanding the purpose and role of each component we were able to successfully build a transmission that would stand up to the power the 440 would be putting out.
   
Basically the same trial and error, and research process was repeated for every part of the car, from the restoration of the dash, to re-upholstering the seats, to the front suspension, or to the wiring, absolutely everything was done by us.

[i c e b l u e]

Well the car has been done for over three years now. The engine was rebuilt again because it wasn't fast enough and I had a newly acquired job at a speed shop which gave me access to all the machines I wanted. I rebuilt the transmission again after forgetting one thrust washer the first time. The car has been driven long and hard, and other than the transmission rebuild after the one year anniversary of completion has been trouble free. In fact, I have been given countless compliments on both appearance and how well it drives.
   
The car has done more for me than I will ever know. From all stand points, learning, father and son bonding, managing time, my first drag race, women like it , and personal accomplishment.  It is for all of these reasons I am glad I took on such a challenge, and it is for all of these reasons I would recommend it to someone else.
   

Well this is already getting much longer than I intended it to be. My intention was to pay my respect to this board and to all those who have helped me.  I also wanted to give insight to the people who are starting new projects or to those who may be losing sight of the end goal of an ongoing project. Especially since economic times are not looking so good. But know this, I knew virtually nothing when I started, the information is out there, and so are the resources to do it. I was able to do it in just under four years; on a near minimum wage budget, still going to school and getting good grades, and still having a girlfriend and a social life. I'm not saying it is easy, because it is far from it; but it is possible. I am not trying to brag by any means, just encourage those who are going through rough times.  I know what it's like to dread going to work on a project that seems to have no end. But for all those times I wanted to quit, it makes me so much more thankful for staying with it till the end. I know I was fortunate to have a place to do it and a father to help me, but if you want something bad enough; you will find a way.  Thanks again to everyone who has helped me along the way especially my father. I hope you enjoy these pictures, as I know I do. You have helped me do something in my life that I can cherish forever. I now hope I can return the favor with some advice of my own. If you have any questions please feel free to ask, as I am now here to answer those questions I know the answer to. After all, all of us are still learning.

1) Before the resto:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023529&l=7ea61&id=194403318

2) Beginning of resto: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023530&l=e53e4&id=194403318

3) stripping/blasting: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023531&l=ce8de&id=194403318

4) welding/fabrication: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023532&l=c62e1&id=194403318

5) front fenders: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023533&l=4a36a&id=194403318

6) floor pan/torsion: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023534&l=b4d21&id=194403318

7)Rear ¼'s/doors: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023577&l=da5d5&id=194403318

Trunk pan/deck lid: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023580&l=7f207&id=194403318

9) Priming: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023581&l=3362b&id=194403318

10)por 15/tie coat: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023583&l=0471e&id=194403318

11) 1st shot of blue: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023584&l=1aba2&id=194403318

12) final paint/buff: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027899&l=75c94&id=194403318

13) interior: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027900&l=2893f&id=194403318

14) grill: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027901&l=d66f1&id=194403318

15) engine/exhaust: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027902&l=1f218&id=194403318

16) final touches: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027905&l=6d494&id=194403318

17) 1st time at the strip: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007131&l=33040&id=194403318

18) good pics taken by friend: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023138&l=59381&id=194403318

19) seminary pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006646&l=972af&id=194403318

20) My next project that I will be starting once I get out of college. 1970 cuda, pro-touring, 3 link rear suspension w/ watts link, alter k front suspension, all aluminum hemi, shaved handles and markers, T-56 6 speed, etc

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023071&l=4cfe6&id=194403318

[magnum]

  WOW beautiful car! Nice job .

[mikepmcs]

Marcus, thanks for sharing a great story.  It's gonna take me a while but i'll get through all the pics and links.  I remember commenting on this car way back in another thread and now I know some of the rest of the story.  You appear to be way beyond your years young sir.   Nice to hear about a father and son actually bonding. 
Man, I really am digging that color.
v/r
Mike

[teamroth]

Great story, I wouldn't have thought I liked that color until I saw your car. Looks phenomenal!! Nice work

[histoy]

Marcus, I believe that you and your dad parked next to our '64 Max Wedge Belvedere at a cruise-in at Crystal Lake, IL in 2006.   Your car is awesome!  I really like the color.   Glad that you're happy with the final result of all your efforts.

[BigBlockSam]

Nice car,

[tan top]

 ....... Good story Marcus  ... done a awesome job there Dude .... good lot of resto pictures ..love looking at stuff like that  ..wish i took that many now when i done mine  .
thanks for taking the time to put all that lot up ... makes for good viewing    
 

[squeakfinder]

Thanks for the story. Love that cars stance and color.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

B3 on any 69 charger is rare & even rarer to actually see one restored....Ive said it before & Ill say it again...

[69*F5*SE]

Umm.......Wow!  Very cool.   

[The70RT]

Cool Story. Congrats on doing it all yourselves 

[tick68charger]

 :cheers:Nice charger like the color and those custom magnum rims with the deep dish
they look like my rims. they look bad on your charger

[SFRT]

YOU RULE

[Finn]

  Respect!! 
You got an awesome price on the charger too! Where/how did you find the 70 cuda?

[hemigeno]

Hi Marcus!   

I met you last spring up at Norm's shop in Silver Lake, WI while dropping the 2-ton truck off.  Back then I thought your car was awesome, and still do...  Absolutely love the color...

Great Job!!

[Tilar]

Very cool story, Damn nice job! 

[bakerhillpins]

Sweet! 

That is a really great deal your dad and you worked out. I am going to have to remember that for use with my boys when they get a bit older.

When I get my 2nd Gen I am planning on going with some shade of dark blue. But I really like your color choice...  Have to get over that buying the car hump first!

Thanks for sharing! 

[bzabodyn]

A great story and great documentation on something you'll truly appreciate your entire life... thanks for sharing and the pictures are great!

BZ

[firefighter3931]

Outstanding work ! 



Ron

[six-tee-nine]

You are a brave kid I must say.

I was 17 when I started my first restration and when you are unskilled it takes even more patience when you want it right (I've started over countless times on some things).

But the result is awesome as we can see.... I've seen alot of 40 year old guys who won't deliver such quality work as you did.

Congrats I bet your dad will remember the smile on your face when you fired up that 440 for the first time, for the rest of his life.
(My dad does.....)

[i c e b l u e]

I would just like to say thanks again to everyone

Histoy:

      yeah I do beileve I remeber your car as well, although im not 100% sure if I was at that show. However, im sure my dad was there with the car, he seems to take it out more than i do with my tight work and school schedule. If you plan on going again next summer, shoot me a pm and im sure we can meet down there, i like meeting members of this board

Finn:

       I actually found the cuda on ebay, it wasn't quite as cheap as the charger and as you can tell from the pictures its also in much worse shape but they do make nearly every part for them now. So its only time and money.
       As for the charger, my step dad at the time, just so happened to be driving down highway C in Wisconsin while a barn door was open. He turned his car around and talked to the previous owner ken. A couple days later I went and checked it out with my dad. At first we thought it was too far gone but after looking everywhere else both online and locally we realised what was there. So we talked to him and picked it up. The car sat outside in a field for over 8 years before it was brought into the barn which is what attested to its condition at the time. In fact we met one person at a local show that recognised the car from before because he was interested in buying it but he thought it was too far gone and was actually going to part it out!
      We have also stayed in touch with the previous owner, and have showed him the pictures of the progress along the way. Actually shotrly after we finished the car, he happened to see us driving down the road, and recognised the car and followed us untill we stopped. He was in awe when it turned out to actually be his old car.
The last time we ran into ken was at the volo car show where i took him for a ride and get behind the wheel of his old car, the look on his face was priceless.


six-tee-nine:

I really had no idea what i got myself into at the time, and i cant remember how many times we had to redo things until they were acceptable. Thanks, and im sure he never will forget.





as for the color, honestly we just lucked out. Originally it was a B3 car, and at the time I was considering going to B5. The old paint didn't do the color justice, but when we tested the color for the first time on the front valence, i knew that was it, and now I wouldn't rather have any other color.

[Steve P.]

Outstanding...   I am hoping to get my grandsons into muscle cars and want to give them every chance and choice to do it as you and your dad did. 


Simply outstanding....   

[Skued]

Awesome job!    Love B3, but then again I'm very biased! Congratulations on a beautiful Charger.

[Charger_Fan]

Thanks for taking the time to share your story & load the pics.
I remember seeing a couple of the unrestored pics a few years back, you guys have done a fantastic job!