First start/drive coming - Checklist?

[grdprx]

Well, this will be my 30th Birthday!  Last month my wif asked me what I wanted for the big milestone..

I want to start the car!  Don't need to drive it or be painted, just want to hear that 440 roar!

I got my 68 Charger mid August 2007, so it's been about a year and a half.  Been a slow process, which I've learned is typical.  I'm a rookie, learning as I go.  Engine took some time at the machine shop, weather got cold and I only have a 6x16 garage full of other stuff; tough to find room to work.  Started assembling the motor, ran into a road block though; engine apparently was from a truck, wrong pan and water pump housing    Got the correct ones from a local Mopar guy.  Started wrenching on it again, put the heads on; missing a bolt!    As I mentioned in the Engine section, quite frustrating!  But the guy I got the pan from had a spare bolt he gave me, sweet!    Got the heads torqued down Sunday; the lifters, push rods and rockers in..  Feels great to be getting it together.  Put the fuel tank on tonight.  Got to finish up the engine and get it painted.  The wif has her opinion on that though.  (Yes, I forgot the "e".  Couldn't afford another vowel..)  She wanted another baby, I wanted a Charger; we made a deal.    She says I should paint the engine a hot pink/fuchsia since we had a baby girl....  We'll have to see about that.

Hope to have the engine in by the end of the month, will give me 3 weeks to do the wiring and linkage.  Keeping my fingers crossed!  I'll keep ya posted.  

[skip68]

    Cool.  It's a great feeling and a scary one when the motor starts for the first time.   Hope it goes well.  wif ,   that's funny.     Good luck.   

[69*F5*SE]

Yes, good luck    I can't wait till I get to that point.

[kikgas01]

My birthday is March 20th as well.

[grdprx]

Right on!     First day of spring is always a good day in my books, even in rainy Seattle!

[Finn]

6 days (and 11 years lol) before mine! Good luck on your goal, I know how frustrating it is to miss parts and get held up due to weather.

[400/6/PAC]

Good luck
I hope it all goes well for You.

[rusty lee]

my birthday is the 19th. and I'm no where near starting my engine and already hit 30 a couple years ago. and my wife and I made the charger baby deal a while ago.  good luck with the start up 

[grdprx]

Right on rusty lee!!     I'm not the only one.     My wif loves telling the story, now she's trying to pull rank though; with the engine color thing.  I don't know which way to go...  I was leaning toward Red, which I know isn't correct, but it'll stand out against a blue car.

[rusty lee]

paint it red and tell her its dark pink.   

[grdprx]

Had a friend help me rebuild the carb tonight.  Not too hard, if you know what your doing; which he did.   

Took last Friday off to work on the car...  Ran into a little problem with the tranny, rear band is broken.  Have to try and get that fixed this weekend. We'll see how that goes.

[1969chargerrtse]

Boy those baby for a car stories are common?  That's how I got my vette.  When the wife got pregnant, I said "  you have your baby and now I'm buying mine ".  I traded the vette for the Charger, and that is where it ends.
Good Luck and keep us posted, we have all the parts you need right here on this site.

[grdprx]

Got the reverse band changed out!  Wasn't too difficult.  Took it into work yesterday, and worked on the transmission instead of "work."   

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,53911.0.html

Hope to paint the engine and get the engine/tranny installed during the coming week.  Won't put me too behind schedule.  Although I found out I don't have any throttle linkage.  Mancini suggested the Lokar setup as a lowcost alternative.  Figured that should work, since I have nothing at all.  Even if I did find something in my parts box, my Charger was a 383 and I'm putting a 440 in it.

Here's a pic of the project.

[69_500]

Didn't have a baby for a Charger plan when I started, but did tell my wife before we got married that I'd have a 69 Charger before I was 25, and a Charger 500 before I was 30 and a Daytona before I turn 40. So far the first two came true, I'm crossing my fingers for the third.

[grdprx]

Sweet, that's awesome!

[mauve66]

i'm assumeing since you said you were new at this here are some things you may not of thought of especially if you built the mottor and it Hasn't been dynoed (otherwise they would of broken it in)
these things are not all inclusive but a base to get started on, on yeah, fire extinguisher if case the carb floods

leave the dist. for last right before you fire it use a reverse drill with a 1/2 chuck and a long oil pump rod to lube the engine good, have several batteries fully charged if you are using an electirc drill and have a little cup of fuel to dribble into the carb until the pump catches up or a can of starter fluid (some people don't like it but it works), when you start the motor you have to keep the rpms up over 2000 and keep vthem variable for 5 minutes to break the cam in  or you risk wiping it, later when you are ready to drive take it easy for the first 500 miles to get the rings seated, then change the oil and start cruising

[grdprx]

Thanks mauve66, wouldn't have thought of the fire extinguisher. 

[grdprx]

Well, I got the engine painted during the week.  Pulled the hood off tonight to get ready to install.  Doesn't look like the weather will cooperate this weekend.   

Got delayed because I couldn't properly adjust the bands on the transmission.  Finally found an 8 point 5/16 socket Thursday and buttoned it up that night.  Got some grade 8 bolts tonight to attach the "power" to the "mover."

I'm a week behind schedule now, but we'll see; trying to be optimistic.

Tried to change out the ignition switch tonight, but I'm uneducated in such things.  Apparently there is a tool that might aid me.  Need to take the "spanner" off.  My charger came keyless, but the seller gave me a lock set...

Going to wake up early and see if I can beat the rain again.

[400/6/PAC]

Don't give up.
You can get it done.

[grdprx]

Get er DONE!  Got the engine/tranny in!   

Took till 8pm Sunday evening; but it's supporting it's self.   

Always sounds easier than it turns out, but I worked around the rain/snow..  SWEET!  My driveway is at a slight tilt, we live on a hill.  Had issues with stuff lining up; motor mounts, transmission..  nothing a little elbow grease didn't solve, and sweat and tears.  Guess what, no blood though!  That's a shocker.  The saga continues.

[grdprx]

Well, it's T minus 4 days.

Not a chance in hell of getting it running, I'd need the week off and bright SUN!  Even then..
I got killed by the transmission, having to replace that broken band.  Then the torque converter fell off as I tried to bolt it to the flex plate.  Got that fixed, but the weather isn't cooperating; so I haven't got much done the last week or so.  I'm a little bumbed.   

My loving wif said "At least you still have it and are working on it" 

Oh well, who knows, maybe I can get it ready for the Kent Meet.

[grdprx]

Well, I didn't make my goal.  That band replacement in the transmission threw me off track.  Plus a few other issues.

No biggie, I took some time off to relax.  Been tinkering a little recently, although my baby 7 month old girl doesn't like me going outside when I get home from work though...      Got the drive line up last weekend, working on the throttle linkage tomorrow; got the Lokar setup.  My passenger side manifold had the bolts stuck in the flange, finally beat those out with a little heat!  That was an accomplishment for me.  Making progress!

Had one of my alternators tested yesterday, it's bad.  So I'll get the other one tested tomorrow, it's the newer square back style.  Bending some fuel line for the carb, this and that.  Was trying to finish up the fuel system, but I have an early 68; and the fuel neck seal I had didn't work.  Working on that...  Got the brake kit to do in a week or two.

My new goal is to drive it to the DC meet in Kent, WA; July 25th.  It's only a mile away.

[69*F5*SE]

Every little thing adds up and before you know it   

[grdprx]

Making good progress.  My in-law helped me install the brake kit this past weekend!     The hardline kit doesn't want to match up to the Proportion valve they sent me though.  Will call them tomorrow.  My 2nd alternator tested good, got that put on.  Figured out that the carb I had wouldn't work, so I grabbed a different one and put it on,  matched up to the fuel line I bent.  All I need for the fuel system now is the trunk seal for the fill neck.

Have to hook up the Lokar linkage, run some hose.  Next I'll be on to the electrical!  WOo HoO!  Rolling right along..

Couple pics of the brakes & the current engine bay.

[69*F5*SE]

Things are looking good.  Hope you get the line/prop. valve thing worked out.