New guy---new project.

[Ghoste]

I need something a little more turn key.

[super_dave]

Well as far as whats next, just don't know.  The car has a bit of a story attached to it, so I can't let it go.  I have a son with health problems and I gave it to him a little over a year ago when he wa in the hospital for an extended stay to keep him encouraged to be patient.  He wants to keep the car no mtter what, so I stand behind his request.  It appears I may have a project on my hand for the next few years myself, or it may just sit in my barn in pieces for the next few years.  We'll see in time I suppose.

[super_dave]

You know, I think I'm gonna tackle this car myself, need a good hobby anyways.  I'll cut out the floor and bottom half quarters.  Need roof skin and the rib brace.  Where's the best place to buy the metal?  I have 7000 square feet of room, so I'll make use of it, and possibly in 18-24 months, she'll be done.  I'm a carpenter, so I am pretty handy, and I worked on cars 20 years ago, swapped engines, some body work, installed headers etc...  As far as body work, I'll try and find a guy to do that as I believe thats an art in itself.  What do ya think, can it be done by someone as inexperienced as me?

[400/6/PAC]

Welcome Super-Dave
I restored My car Myself and learned a lot along the way.
I made a lot of mistakes that cost Me time and money so be careful and investigate everything before You start work.
Good luck and let us know how the progress is going.

[69bronzeT5]

You've found the dark side of buying a project car when you lack the skills to do all the work yourself - shops charge $$$$ to work on rusty cars! That's one reason why it (almost) never makes sense to "restore" anything that isn't reasonably rare (and expensive) like a Hemi car.

See, that dosen't matter to me. Some say my Charger is too rusty to fix but I don't really care. It has a lot of sentimental value to me. Who cares if it's only a column shift auto 318 car originally.

[71green go]

Hey Dave Great to hear your thinking of doing it yourself!.........

I am in Waterloo, Ontario...not to far away either.........good luck...Wow 7000 sq feet of shop, man how I wish!....keep pictures coming

Steve

[Troy]

Yep, it's possible for a normal guy to do this. Look in the tech sections here for lots of advice and examples. Again, I recommend finding someone to help with the metal work but some guys here have picked up a welder and learned. I prefer to stick with what I know - but I'm not afraid to sand (which is the bulk of body work). Sometimes you can get deals by finding a body man who does side jobs. Be warned that there are a million horror stories though (usually involving payment up front).

AMD (Auto Metal Direct) makes many of the sheet metal parts for the car (but not all). There are a LOT of vendors/resellers so shop around. BE&A sells trim, lenses, and a bunch of other odds and ends. PG Classic is the same thing but without the Mopar logo and licensing fees so the stuff is a bit cheaper. Legendary makes nice interior pieces but you may want to buy them from Dante's. Check the Classifieds section here for discounts and sales.

Troy

[super_dave]

Thanks Troy (and others) for the welcome and suggestions.  My brother owns a pretty large steel fabrication shop and has everything a guy could want, robotic welders, plasma cutter etc...  I think the first thing I'm going to do is build a rotisserie for the car as I don't much want to work on the ground.  I think this will make the work much easier and more comfortable.  Probably cost me $300.00 for the steel, thats it as me and my brother are pretty close.  I may start a thread on looking for rotisserie plans, or does someone know where to find them?  So first thing, get the car on the rotisseire and start cutting I suppose.

[john.v]

You know, I think I'm gonna tackle this car myself, need a good hobby anyways.  I'll cut out the floor and bottom half quarters.  Need roof skin and the rib brace.  Where's the best place to buy the metal?  I have 7000 square feet of room, so I'll make use of it, and possibly in 18-24 months, she'll be done.  I'm a carpenter, so I am pretty handy, and I worked on cars 20 years ago, swapped engines, some body work, installed headers etc...  As far as body work, I'll try and find a guy to do that as I believe thats an art in itself.  What do ya think, can it be done by someone as inexperienced as me?

way to go Super Dave, grab that bull by the horns and do it your self, there are a lot of people here on this site that can help you step by step and you already being handy as a carpenter can get you pretty far. 

[twodko]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the site........you've come to the right place! While daunting its still a good find. Don't let the enormity of the project dampen your enthusiasm. Yes, its going to separate you from some serious coin BUT you don't have to get the car finished by year's end. The rotis idea to begin is great, make that happen. Take you time and enjoy every nut, bolt, smile on your boy's face and flakes of rusted sheet metal. The skins and parts are widely available and the guys (and girls) on this site don't come any better. Dig in, post pictures and God bless your boy. Good luck.

Tom

[super_dave]

Thanks very much for your comments Tom, much appreciatted.  I'll be sure to keep you all up to date on whats happening, it will prove to be fun.   I'm certain I have come to the right place.  Take care all and your loved ones.

[alcusswhen]

I've never done one [20 gen 2's 18 gen 3's] that cost my customer over 50K excluding shipping the car. The customer does that part. Your cvar for what you want should cost no more than 50K

[RD]

welcome to the site, and good luck.  I know this is simplistic, but all restoration shops are ran by humans just like you.  they have two hands to work metal, just like you do.  If you want this to get done, you can do it.  what better way to have a TRUE father/son project than to do it yourselves.  The good and the bad are all worth it, as long as you do it together.

[twodko]

Roger that.

[Charger440RDN]

The first thing I would do is media blast it after it's on the rotisserie so you can see exactly what metal has to be replaced. It's amazing what is revealed when the metal is blasted, makes it easier to see what has to be done.

It's a big project but remember there are people out there that would give their right arm to have a 69 Charger in any condition. Good luck on the restoration.
   
Here is the link to Auto metal direct (AMD) for all of your sheet metal needs   http://www.autometaldirect.com/

[lexxman]

Hey,that quite the project Dave.I'm restoreing mine,and I got mine in boxes.Welcome to the site youll find alot of help here.Maybe we'll see you at moparfest next year ,I 'm  about 20mins from the Ont border in Que.

[Charger440RDN]

This restoration thread from 1HotDaytona can be used as inspiration, even though he is an expert body man. Just look at the condition his car was in when he got it. Here is the link

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,59899.0.html

[SG1022]

You've found the dark side of buying a project car when you lack the skills to do all the work yourself - shops charge $$$$ to work on rusty cars! That's one reason why it (almost) never makes sense to "restore" anything that isn't reasonably rare (and expensive) like a Hemi car.

See, that dosen't matter to me. Some say my Charger is too rusty to fix but I don't really care. It has a lot of sentimental value to me. Who cares if it's only a column shift auto 318 car originally.

Exactly same situation here

[super_dave]

This restoration thread from 1Hot Daytona can be used as inspiration, even though he is an expert body man. Just look at the condition his car was in when he got it. Here is the link

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,59899.0.html

Yeah I just read the whole thread, (cutting into my office work)  To tell you the truth I think I'm more intimidated now, there is a ton of work there.  But, like I tell my guys on a tough project, the hardest part is starting! 

Maybe I should just buy this car http://cgi.ebay.ca/Dodge-Charger_W0QQitemZ170412931254QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item27ad66f8b6 and put some finishing touches on it. 

[PocketThunder]

This restoration thread from 1Hot Daytona can be used as inspiration, even though he is an expert body man. Just look at the condition his car was in when he got it. Here is the link

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,59899.0.html

Yeah I just read the whole thread, (cutting into my office work)  To tell you the truth I think I'm more intimidated now, there is a ton of work there.  But, like I tell my guys on a tough project, the hardest part is starting! 

Maybe I should just buy this car http://cgi.ebay.ca/Dodge-Charger_W0QQitemZ170412931254QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item27ad66f8b6 and put some finishing touches on it. 

Oh absolutely!!  Buy that car (for probably $20,000 at auction end) and keep the other one and slowly work on it in your free time while you drive this one.  You will be much happier in the long run, trust me.  it took 2 rust bucket restorations before i figured it out.   

[lexxman]

Hey,I'm restoreing mine ,mainly because I've always want to do it.But man the charger on ebay is nice.

[super_dave]

OK, so I've finally came up with a game plan that will work for me.  I had a good discussion with the shop yesterday after I told them two days ago this project was dying.  I had already priced out the metal from AMD and it was close to $6500.00.....wow .  After reviewing just how much work that is to get into primer, I was pretty intimidated.  Anyways, I made a great deal with the shop, they will get the car through metal into primer including the media blasting etc.. and I will have the shell to work on, and then I will spend probably a year putting it together.  I will paint the inside, underside and engine bay myself, and just plug away at the detailed stuff myself.  That is probably the more enjoyable work anyways, I will have a stroker built for it from a 69 440 block which is all original and figure out the rest as I go.  Definetly doing the 4 wheel disc package and suspension upgrades.  This is what I want the final product to be.

[Ghoste]

Keep a big poster of that on the garage wall to keep you inspired.  Looking forward to progress reports. 

[69bronzeT5]

I had already priced out the metal from AMD and it was close to $6500.00.....wow .

Same here....I think my AMD stuff needed came to like $6,300.

[tan top]

 got a project some project going on there Dude  ,
 

Keep a big poster of that on the garage wall to keep you inspired.  Looking forward to progress reports.  

yeah easy to loose intrest or get dispondant with a big project , concentrate on one area at a time  !
dont even look at the rest !!
 see your charger has the mistery firewall plug also