OK. So youre Charger is finished.?

[Charger-Bodie]

So I'm wondering if there are any others that have their Charger done (I know they are never really done) and miss the excitement of the resto?

[Mean 318]

Maybe its just me but I get almost done then start on something else, I always have a car to do...I love it and hate it!

[resq302]

I guess I am kinda lucky, dad and I just got a 70 chally vert last year that we are bringing up to the standards of what my charger is so I get to keep busy.  But I do miss working on the charger though.  Although, with just buying a house, it is nice to spend any more money on the charger.

[hutch]

well, I live up to my standard 80% rule.  I get things to about 80% done then just cant bring myself to complet them.  Cars, houses, even women. 

my 73 has been in a state of 79% done so I must be slipping.

[BlueSS454]

MIne is done for the most part.  I've had it driveable for about a year now, but the last couple months I've spent fixing little things that I never got to that weren't necessary for it to be driveable.  I have 3 finished cars right now, the Charger and 2 Chevelles.  I normally start another restoration about a year or so after I complete one.  I have a 1970 Chevelle convertible sitting just waiting for me 
I like the teardown and reconstruction phases.  The best part is reassembly with all those clean, new parts!

[Sublime/Sixpack]

My Charger has been done for several years now, but I still have one car that is always in need of something, I fix one thing on it then something else goes and needs to be rebuilt.   I figure with this car around I'll always have something to work on.  No, its not a Mopar.

[69bronzeT5]

My Charger isn't finished but yet I'm still picking up more cars

[Neal_J]

Is it ever really "done"?

In my case, no.

Neal

[TexasStroker]

Driving the finished car will usually suffice for most...if not, you must not be going fast enough  

It is easy to look back and miss having "x" to do when "y" comes in and you get "z" time free...BUT, like most things you tend to forget about the headaches when you are just looking back and reflecting.  

Guess it really just depends on the person and their unique experience with their Charger  

[Back N Black]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

[Charger-Bodie]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

That is the same Symptoms I have! Is there a cure? 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

My car has been painted & driven since '98....I always try to find something to do to it over the winter....last couple of winters I have done nothing & spent $0 on parts.  Parts I did buy at Carlisle are for the most part sitting on a shelf still.
Am I getting bored?  You bet.
I did however just pick up a new rear glass so maybe that will rekindle the fire....

[69charger2002]

projects are fun but take up way too much time. it may be boring to just drive a finished car, but it's what 90% of people here complain about not being able to do, so though i may get a little bored, i am thankful and fortunate i have a few to drive when most have had theirs longer than me and never had the tires hit the asphalt. hard to complain when others have it worse. personally i prefer driving than working, maybe it's a time issue, maybe i've just gotten lazy.. either way.. lol 
trav

[bull]

You wanna trade, Chris? I'd gladly trade the "boredom" of your finished car for the "excitement" of my restoration. What do you say? A double black A833 4 speed 68 for your triple black Tremec 5 Speed 68?

[PocketThunder]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

That is the same Symptoms I have! Is there a cure? 

Ive got a cure for you Brian.  When can i drop it off?   

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

You wanna trade, Chris? I'd gladly trade the "boredom" of your finished car for the "excitement" of my restoration. What do you say? A double black A833 4 speed 68 for your triple black Tremec 5 Speed 68?

Sure I'll trade Brian's car for yours

[bull]

You wanna trade, Chris? I'd gladly trade the "boredom" of your finished car for the "excitement" of my restoration. What do you say? A double black A833 4 speed 68 for your triple black Tremec 5 Speed 68?

Sure I'll trade Brian's car for yours

Why did I write that? I meant to say Brian. I'll trade Brian.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

You wanna trade, Chris? I'd gladly trade the "boredom" of your finished car for the "excitement" of my restoration. What do you say? A double black A833 4 speed 68 for your triple black Tremec 5 Speed 68?

Sure I'll trade Brian's car for yours

Why did I write that? I meant to say Brian. I'll trade Brian.

What no love for the '69?  maybe perhaps the '08?

[Charger-Bodie]

You wanna trade, Chris? I'd gladly trade the "boredom" of your finished car for the "excitement" of my restoration. What do you say? A double black A833 4 speed 68 for your triple black Tremec 5 Speed 68?

Sure I'll trade Brian's car for yours

Why did I write that? I meant to say Brian. I'll trade Brian.

PS bull , my Charger isnt 3x black....It has red interior.

[resq302]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

That is the same Symptoms I have! Is there a cure? 

I think the disease is called "Moparitis"

[tan top]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

That is the same Symptoms I have! Is there a cure? 

Ive got a cure for you Brian.  When can i drop it off?   

[wordslikebullets]

Talk about a sad state.  My car is about 85% done but not where I am to work on it.  I moved to Cali 2 years ago to help take care of my dad while he got a lung transplant at UCLA.  I did get a cool job that deals with classics every day so that is amazing and I'm the only real mopar guy in the company.  So My car, which had been painted 6 months before I moved out here, sits in storage.  Over the last two years I stock piled a bunch of parts then flew home to North Dakota.  Over four days I started putting the car back together.  I got most of the interior done(new headliner, carpet, seats, some of the trim, all of the rubber seals, all of the chrome back on, put the front bumper back on with all of the lights and grill, rear bumper, rewired all of the tail lights, put new bulbs all around, fixed the locks, new seat belts(xv motor sports, look amazing)...and a bunch of other thing that I can't remember.  It was 4 days of hard work and now two years later it sits in a storage unit.  I have plenty more to keep me busy for a couple more weeks but again it sits in North Dakota.  I never had the chance to even take it around the block.  It has been a 5 year project which has turned into a 7 year project.  To tell you the truth, even though it is a 74 Charger that I have worked hard for.  I wouldn't have traded the time I spent with my dad the last year and a half.  Now he has since moved back home and is recovering quickly I have been saving and saving to get my Charger out here so I can enjoy it.  It doesn't have the best paint or will ever be a show car but It's mine and it does not blend in with all of the other blah blah cars.  With my tax return I think that I will be able to ship it out here and get some new rims.  So we will see. 

So yes, my car is almost done to me for now.  I'm sure it will never be totally be done but that's cool.  Never enough money.

By the way it is a 318 car with 60,000 orig miles that I picked up at an auction in Fargo ND.  I was just hanging out with my dad and we decided at the last min to go to this auction.  When I was walking around the lot I saw my Charger there with a gray coat of primer and rips in the seat.  She wasn't pretty but she was a charger and the only classic there.  All of the other cars were newer cars.  Apparently this car had been a single owner trade in and the dealership had no idea what to do with it.  It ran like a top.  Fired on the first turn.  So I thought that i would watch it go through.  NO ONE BID AT ALL...THEY WERE ALL MAKING FUN OF IT... I was amazed and thinking I can't let this go.  Then the Auctioneer said it was going to the junkyard if he couldn't get a bid.  So I said what the heck I'll give you $150 he laughed at me the said are you sure you want this.  My heart was racing...I said yes.  Then I remembered i was working on a 73 dart and was thinking what am I gong to do with this Charger.  I always wanted a charger but never thought that i would get one for $150.  Two days later I took a chance and drove it to Minneapolis(over 300 miles) and not an ounce of oil, no smoke, nothing.  It just purred all the way there.  So sometimes when you least expect it a deal will come up.   I sold the Dart and started in on the Charger.

I don't have any new pic's but I hope to soon. 

[bull]

You wanna trade, Chris? I'd gladly trade the "boredom" of your finished car for the "excitement" of my restoration. What do you say? A double black A833 4 speed 68 for your triple black Tremec 5 Speed 68?

Sure I'll trade Brian's car for yours

Why did I write that? I meant to say Brian. I'll trade Brian.

What no love for the '69?  maybe perhaps the '08?

There you go again...

[jbweems]

wordslikebullits, that was a good story.  Glad to hear that your dad is doing well.  Hope you get your 74 back in your hands pretty soon.  I have a 72 318 car.  Like you said, it will never be a show car, but it sure is fun to work on and drive.

[bill440rt]

Oh man, I got my hands full now. My '69 is seemingly just taking forever. And ever. And ever. I just asked myself this morning, will it ever be done?? So much to do, so little time and money.
Yet I find there's always something to do on the other cars, too. My red '68 always needs a little tinkering here and there. My '70 R/T will now need new mufflers come this spring, the repro Hemi mufflers are shot from the inside. And, there's always the endless cleaning and detailing to keep them looking as fresh as possible.
I also find that taking my young son to car shows, cruise nights, etc keeps it exciting and new. It's fun to teach him about old cars, I hope he likes them as much as I do! We were driving home just the other night. It was really crappy out, with the snow coming down and the road covered in salt. Wipers were on, snow plows going by, a wintery gloom. Out of nowhere, my 4-year old son turns to me and says, "Ya know what Daddy, I wish we could go to a car show right now." That was all the motivation I needed to hear.

Good luck, Brian! Don't get bored! 

[resq302]

Oh man, I got my hands full now. My '69 is seemingly just taking forever. And ever. And ever. I just asked myself this morning, will it ever be done?? So much to do, so little time and money.
Yet I find there's always something to do on the other cars, too. My red '68 always needs a little tinkering here and there. My '70 R/T will now need new mufflers come this spring, the repro Hemi mufflers are shot from the inside. And, there's always the endless cleaning and detailing to keep them looking as fresh as possible.
I also find that taking my young son to car shows, cruise nights, etc keeps it exciting and new. It's fun to teach him about old cars, I hope he likes them as much as I do! We were driving home just the other night. It was really crappy out, with the snow coming down and the road covered in salt. Wipers were on, snow plows going by, a wintery gloom. Out of nowhere, my 4-year old son turns to me and says, "Ya know what Daddy, I wish we could go to a car show right now." That was all the motivation I needed to hear.

Good luck, Brian! Don't get bored! 

Bill, on your 70, did the mufflers start rattling inside them like the baffles broke free?  My one muffler seems to be starting to do that.

[1BAD68]

Talk about a sad state.  My car is about 85% done but...

Thats awesome, kind of reminds me of the movie "Christine"

My car isn't done but I've been driving it ever since I got it. I always make sure its mechanically sound and I do a little work on the body here and there.
For some reason I prefer it this way, its not very pretty but I can count on it when I want to jump in and take it out.
Every spring when its time to take it out of the garage and I idle it for a couple blocks to loosen up the bearings then get into it a little bit and feel the tranny shift through the gears, windows down, gas and exhaust smell in the air, find an open country road, smash the pedal and hear the tires screaming for mercy, oh man! I cant wait, when is winter going to be over I'm sick of this cold, icy crap everyday.

[Magnumcharger]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

Geez...sounds terrible.
Tell ya what Eldon, we'll trade cars and you can have the '68 you really wanted, and I'll get the '69 of my desires....then all you have to do is finish the '68!! He he he

[Back N Black]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

Geez...sounds terrible.
Tell ya what Eldon, we'll trade cars and you can have the '68 you really wanted, and I'll get the '69 of my desires....then all you have to do is finish the '68!! He he he

Maybe i will change out the tail panel and put a 68 one in there.

[69hemi]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probally get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the intresting people that you meet.

That is the same Symptoms I have! Is there a cure? 

I think the disease is called "Moparitis"

More Cowbell?

[Belgium R/T -68]

Interesting thread! I am affraid to finish my -68 because my hobby seems to be searcing for and buying parts and working on the car.
When I was younger it was driving that was the pleasure but not anymoore, am I abnormal? 

[69_500]

Well I don't think my car will every actually be finished. You saw it already Brian, its far from finished, but I do enjoy it. I'd love to tear it down and go through it and make it super sharp. But I also like the idea for now of having one I can jump in, drive, enjoy, and beat on occasionally if I feel like it. And the good thing is that if something breaks now, it would have probably been replaced when/if I ever do actually tear it all the way down and go through it.

[resq302]

Well, there are a couple options you have once you achieve the level of restoration desired.... Like me, I am pretty much done with my resto and aside from things that need to be repaired if they break, I am on a quest to find spares of hard to find parts right now.  I just located the last of my disc brake parts to have a complete second set of the replaceable items (excluding lines and such since they are readily available).  Now I will probably just get other items such as common problem areas such as vacuum head light switch and such.  (BTW- Just got my latest Mopar collectors Guide and Vans Automotive repro parts now makes the complete vacuum switch and headlight switch for our cars).

And there is always the option of taking my car from bone stock and slightly putting some performance parts onto the engine, , ya know for when I get bored with the stock look.

[Belgium R/T -68]

Just my thought aswell resq302, mine will be a little bit my own style but since it's a matching R/T I can maybe make a new project of it
within some year building it bone stock.

[AKcharger]

If you think the resto is exciting wait till you drive it. There is nothing like getting thumbs up  on the road and driving it to shows and talking to people. Having a finished car is MUCH better than restoring one. Now instead of replacing a 1/4 panel or doing endless hours of block sanding I spend leasurely weekends doing "easy" projects like replacing a speedo cable or a slightly bigger job like vinyl top...

[Johnnys70SRT]

 NO, my Charger is FAR from done. It has been apart since 1989, no thanks to my friends. They took it apart promising me would would have it painted and back together in 1 year. It is now on it sixth tour of trying to get the paint/bodywork finished. I have lost alot of money giving deposits to bodymen who said they would do the car for me but realistically just pushed it in a corner and never worked on it at all.  The current shop has actually made progress as the bodywork is completed and now my charger is patiently waiting for paint. They seem to be dragging their feet now and it's driving me crazy. I just want the car back so I can start putting it back together. I have a long road ahead of me as you will see if you look at the images I have attached. I can now see how people get disgusted with a restoration project and just end up selling it before it is done. It takes a whole lotta money and patience to deal with this. After all, I have been waiting for 20 years for mine to come back together and I WILL complete this project so that I can enjoy it. I'm just upset at all the years of enjoyment I missed out on.
Wordslikebullets, I wish you luck on your Charger. You did the right thing spending time with your Dad while he was recovering. There is nothing that can replace time spent with your parents. I'm happy to hear he is doing well. Like you, I was with my Dad when my Charger was for sale. I could not get a loan by myself at the time, so my Dad helped me get one through his credit union for the Charger. Not sure if I ever thanked him for helping me get that loan. He rode in the car a few times while I had it and really enjoyed it. Well, unfortunately he won't get to see the completed project, since he passed away in 2004, but I am dedicating this restoration to him because without his help, I would have never had the chance of owning my Charger. As long as you are happy with your Charger then it does not matter what anyone else thinks. So go out and enjoy it.

[resq302]

Johnnys70srt,

Welcome to the best site on the web (with a whole lotta thanks to Troy!)

[Back N Black]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probably get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the interesting people that you meet.

Well my predication were correct, i posted in 2009 that i would probably get bored and three years later I'm bored. There is not a lot of guys in my area to go cruising, so when i do go out I'm usually alone. With work, family and the honey to do list it sits in the garage.

[myk]

Not finished.  Never will be finished. I will always look back on the 5 months my car spent in the body shop as one of the worst periods of my life.  The kicker is I didn't even take it down to the shell and every last nut, bolt and fastener like some of you guys did.  I will keep installing, repairing, modifying and enjoying; it's a way of life.

NO, my Charger is FAR from done. It has been apart since 1989, no thanks to my friends. They took it apart promising me would would have it painted and back together in 1 year. It is now on it sixth tour of trying to get the paint/bodywork finished. I have lost alot of money giving deposits to bodymen who said they would do the car for me but realistically just pushed it in a corner and never worked on it at all.  

Summarily I received the same treatment at my body shop.  I guess we weren't cute enough?  A friend of mine told me that's pretty much how these sorts of businesses conduct themselves, and that they're like artists: they pick and choose when and how they work unless you're close to the people...

[Kern Dog]

Mine was "restored" in 2001-2003. Since then I have tinkered here and there, swapping a few things around.
2012 has been a banner year though.... I added a Gear Vendors overdrive unit and changed to 3.91 gears. I welded in frame connectors and torque boxes. I installed a stereo with 4 speakers. Theres a new windshield in there along with new dash vents.

[myk]

Wow-how's that Gear Vendor's OD?  How does the car run now? 

[Bob T]

Good story wordslikebullets, cant get that time back any other way. Good luck with the 74

Sold my old 68 in Jan 11 and got this one in Aug 11, only owned this car for 11 months, 5 months waiting for it to get here and 6 months getting it sorted and road legal.
Now its running I've done 400 fun miles in it and a few burn outs and I cant wait for summer to get here for Family cruises and Club runs and car shows. Its amazing the amount of thumbs up's or people stopping me at the gas station it gets
I dont plan on doing anymore major work to it until next winter at the earliest, it just took so long to wait for the planets to align, I just want to enjoy driving it
Hats off to the guys with long term projects, what a grind- endless amounts of dough and time, but the outcome will be worth it

[Magnumcharger]

My car is not done yet but when it is complete, i will probably get bored with it. I have had a few project vehicles in the pass and when they were done i tend to get bored real fast. During the restoration its the thrill of finding the part you need, the many road trips to collect parts and the interesting people that you meet.

Well my predication were correct, i posted in 2009 that i would probably get bored and three years later I'm bored. There is not a lot of guys in my area to go cruising, so when i do go out I'm usually alone. With work, family and the honey to do list it sits in the garage.

I'm home all the time now Eldon. Feel free to call or drop on out with the Charger and check out my new shop!

[Dino]

Mine was "restored" in 2001-2003. Since then I have tinkered here and there, swapping a few things around.
2012 has been a banner year though.... I added a Gear Vendors overdrive unit and changed to 3.91 gears. I welded in frame connectors and torque boxes. I installed a stereo with 4 speakers. Theres a new windshield in there along with new dash vents.

It is a beautiful 70 my friend!

[Dino]

Part of me wants to take the car apart and do a proper resto, hence my slap me thread.  Part of me wants to just drive the pants off of it, which I am doing now and another part of me wants to quietly tinker while driving it and make some improvements and I think that's the path I'll stick to.  I need to get rid of any leaks, any gas or exhaust fumes and so so brakes and steering.

[Charger_Dart]

I decided to take your third option Dino and enjoy doing it that way. Fix or upgrade things, some major like an overdrive tranny and 3.91 gears, others like today I swapped out the voltage limiter for a RTE limiter. I like taking her out for a cruise as much as possible, but there always seems to be something on the car to try and improve on.

[Dino]

I decided to take your third option Dino and enjoy doing it that way. Fix or upgrade things, some major like an overdrive tranny and 3.91 gears, others like today I swapped out the voltage limiter for a RTE limiter. I like taking her out for a cruise as much as possible, but there always seems to be something on the car to try and improve on.

There sure is but that's part of the attraction.  Don't get me wrong, I would hate to have the car break down, I do need it to be reliable but I love that the car has personality.  When I drive my Charger I'm really driving it and I enjoy every second.  When I drive my daily I'm playing with the radio because there's nothing else to it.  It's a great car but it lacks that certain something if you know what I mean.

At this moment the thing that bugs me more than anything on the Charger is that it has no cup holder so that's not a bad spot to be in.   

[70charginglizard]

Im getting very ver close. fix a minor issue with the universal on the drive line and then replace the tank,sending unit and upgrade to 3/8 in fuel lines and thats pretty much so it for me. After that it will be just things to dress up things that are already correct and funtional. Might have the woodgrain dash panels redone real nice and the upper door pads restored/replaced with new ones and perhaps maybe a new dash pad put in.  Would be nice to get the front seats professionally done with new springs, foam and leather someday.

Guess Im not really almost done am I ...lol

[nvrbdn]

never-be-done 

[cdr]

drivin my charger,rush 2112 cranked up on the stereo,beautiful women smiling & waving, wanting me to stop,but i cant,my car wont stop,oh crap that was a dream,just like my charger ever being finished  unless brian wants to help me finish it

[moparstuart]

drivin my charger,rush 2112 cranked up on the stereo,beautiful women smiling & waving, wanting me to stop,but i cant,my car wont stop,oh crap that was a dream,just like my charger ever being finished   unless brian wants to help me finish it

2112 is great but if im driving I gotta here  Red Barchetta


  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhFDozeUDZQ

[cdr]

drivin my charger,rush 2112 cranked up on the stereo,beautiful women smiling & waving, wanting me to stop,but i cant,my car wont stop,oh crap that was a dream,just like my charger ever being finished   unless brian wants to help me finish it

2112 is great but if im driving I gotta here  Red Barchetta


  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhFDozeUDZQ

havent heard that in years 

[moparguy01]

  my car? finished? Just when I get close I take the thing apart. I have issues I think.

[Dino]

I have issues I think.

Nah, too easy... 

[moparguy01]

I have issues I think.

Nah, too easy... 

Go ahead. my wife always does. 

[nvrbdn]

 

[AKcharger]

Restoring Chargers is fun, easy and inexpensive!  

[Kern Dog]

Wow-how's that Gear Vendor's OD?  How does the car run now? 

I like it. It feels just like a normal upshift, similar to a 4th gear. It was a mixed bag though. The high stall 10" converter made it feel a little mushy sometimes, so I pulled it last friday. I'm having the converter rebuilt with a few new parts. They're going to lower the stall approximately 500 rpms. This should make the car react faster and reduce slippage at freeway speeds.
The GV was bought for $1200 from a pal. Add $125 to modify the driveshaft. I HAD 4.10 gears but switched to 3.91s.

[myk]

I see.  Looks like a GV OD is on the to-do list for my car as well...