My 68 from 83 to present

[Purple68]

I decided I should share some of my pictures of my Charger from back in the day as well as the restoration I've been working on for the last few years. I bought the car in the spring of 1983 which was the same year I graduated high school. These first pics were taken in 83 and 84 when I still lived in my parents house.

[skip68]

 

[Dans 68]

Nice.  I'm looking forward to more pics. And the changeover to a color found at the other end of the rainbow....

Dan

[Purple68]

When I got the car it had just been painted so it looked pretty good but it had a pretty weak powertrain in it at the time. It was a 318 automatic car which I drove for a couple years before replacing that with a 360 which would remain until 1988. In 88 it got a 440 motor and trans as well as 3.91 gears.

[Purple68]

Nice.  I'm looking forward to more pics. And the changeover to a color found at the other end of the rainbow....

Dan

Well as far as the color goes I just always wanted it to be purple, plus I was tiring of being referred to as Bo or Luke.

[Purple68]

Forgot to say about the day I found my Charger I made a trip about an hour from where I lived to look at a 71 Demon. I checked it out but it was pretty rough compared to how it was supposed to be in the ad. So my friend and I get back to our town and the first thing we see on a service road is my Charger. We look at each other and say "what's that?" So we check it out and a couple days later the deal is done.
Interestingly the guy was selling it so he could buy a satellite dish.  Times have changed.

[Dans 68]

...plus I was tiring of being referred to as Bo or Luke.

I just tell the Charger year deficient knowledge crowd that's it's a '68, and not a '69. And to get their facts straight regarding these classics. Quiets 'em right up. 

[tan top]

good back in the day pictures ! love looking at this kind of thing 
orange ! was thats the cars original color ?? 
thanks for sharing the pictures & memorys !! looking forward to seeing more 

[Belgium R/T -68]

Always nice hearing a story like that. My highschoolcar was a Volvo Amazon so I don't really miss it.

Per

[elacruze]

I sure wish I had taken more photos of mine over the years.

[Purple68]

good back in the day pictures ! love looking at this kind of thing 
orange ! was thats the cars original color ?? 
thanks for sharing the pictures & memorys !! looking forward to seeing more 

Thanks, the car was red originally. Here's the last of the oldest pics I have.

[Purple68]

I sure wish I had taken more photos of mine over the years.

Yep me too, I had the car for so long yet I only have these pics from shortly after I got it and then from about 10 years ago till now.
Somewhere I may have a few more but I can't find them.

[tan top]

good back in the day pictures ! love looking at this kind of thing 
orange ! was thats the cars original color ?? 
thanks for sharing the pictures & memorys !! looking forward to seeing more 

Thanks, the car was red originally. Here's the last of the oldest pics I have.

more great pictures !  thanks for posting 

[Bob T]

Hi Purple68, good pics from way back then , wow 27 years of ownership 

[Purple68]

Fast forward about 17 years of good times and some hard driving and this is what I had left. One very tired looking Charger in bad need of some serious ground up work.

[Purple68]

...more

[Purple68]

...a couple more

[mopar73]

At least you have a complete car to start with.  It's kind of cool that you've had it so long and we can't wait to see the finished project later on

[Brock Samson]

 Thanks for posting those up,.. 
all my old pics are buried 'n yours make me wanna find that box.... 
that color you picked looks sweet, what is it?.. FC-7?.. noone seems to know one yr Charger from another, I'm allways suprised if they even know Dodge made 'em..  I had some other kid ask this weekend if it was a 350?.. 

[Purple68]

At least you have a complete car to start with.  It's kind of cool that you've had it so long and we can't wait to see the finished project later on

Yes it was good I had a complete car alright, but it seems I've still replaced nearly every part in it so far.

Thanks for posting those up,..  
all my old pics are buried 'n yours make me wanna find that box....  
that color you picked looks sweet, what is it?.. FC-7?.. noone seems to know one yr Charger from another, I'm allways suprised if they even know Dodge made 'em..   I had some other kid ask this weekend if it was a 350?..  

I picked the color from an RM fleet catalog, I wanted purple but something a little different.

[Purple68]

Here's some pics as the car was stripped down.

[Purple68]

more...

[Purple68]

 

[Purple68]

After taking the car down to this point we ordered new quarter panels, fender patch panels, rocker panels, trunk floor and extensions, rear valance and corners, and outer wheel wells. The floor pans were good except one small area on the drivers side so that was patched. Hopefully more pics soon but I'm getting error messages right now when I try to upload.

[Purple68]

Ok, some more.

[LoneStar Mopar]

It looks like she is in pretty decent shape. I look forward to seeing some more progress pics.

[Purple68]

It looks like she is in pretty decent shape. I look forward to seeing some more progress pics.

Yea it was not too bad, unfortunately I didn't get too many pictures of the body work as it was going together but I'll post what I have.

[LoneStar Mopar]

Looking forward to seeing the pics. Are you doing the metal work yourself?

[tan top]

looks pritty solid !! good pictures ! love looking at this kind of thing 

[Purple68]

Looking forward to seeing the pics. Are you doing the metal work yourself?

The metal work was done by a friend of mine who is a long time body man. When it was time for paint it went to a local body shop for the final prep and paint. I have done all the work on the car minus the engine/transmission and body/paint.

[Purple68]

looks pritty solid !! good pictures ! love looking at this kind of thing  

Thanks for following along tan top.

[Arigmaster]

Oh how times have changed.....

I bet the car was less than a thousand dollars back then. Stupid me was buying Dusters and Demons for about 300.00 to 500.00 just to beat the crap out of them in the late 70's and early 80's. (Killed at least 7 of them) My sister did in my '70 Duster outfitted with the 440. (Trees don't move) Had I known then what I know now.... 

[Purple68]

Oh how times have changed.....

I bet the car was less than a thousand dollars back then. Stupid me was buying Dusters and Demons for about 300.00 to 500.00 just to beat the crap out of them in the late 70's and early 80's. (Killed at least 7 of them) My sister did in my '70 Duster outfitted with the 440. (Trees don't move) Had I known then what I know now.... 

Mine cost a little more than that but it had brand new paint, I'm just glad to still have it after all these years.
Here's some more pics.

[Bob T]

Hey Purple 68, panels looking good, did you stay with drum front?

[Purple68]

Nope, I went with disc brakes all the way around. I'll put some pics up later. I was tired of not being able to stop when I wanted.

[Purple68]

Sandblasting in my old backyard.

[Purple68]

more...



  Waiting for comments about the guy under the car sitting on the stack of railway ties.

[Purple68]

Heres a pic of the new trunk floor, also I decided to mini-tub the wheel wells and move the springs into the frame rails. If I had to do it over I'm not sure that I would as it was a lot of extra work, but I did gain about 3 inches of clearance for some really big tires. Also the rear seat back needed some slight mods to fit back in place.

[Purple68]

more...

[Purple68]

Last couple before car went to body shop.

[Purple68]

 

[Nacho-RT74]

more...



  Waiting for comments about the guy under the car sitting on the stack of railway ties.

I don't know what is worst:



( at least this last one still will fall on the wheels )

[Purple68]

more...



  Waiting for comments about the guy under the car sitting on the stack of railway ties.

I don't know what is worst:



( at least this last one still will fall on the wheels )

      


It was just a matter of time!

[Troy]

Man, I've seen much heavier equipment held up by big blocks of wood. As a matter of fact, I think that's the preferred method for large chunks of metal (spindles, gears, train/crane wheels, etc.). Just look in any machine shop that deals in heavy equipment.

Looks like a lot of work to be done on the car. You've got more guts than me!

Troy

[Purple68]

Actually I trust the railway ties more than some jackstands, I feel like the car won't go anywhere when I'm pushing or pulling on something under there.  We got a little carried away though when we were sandblasting. 

[Purple68]

Heres some from right after I got it back from the body shop.

[Nacho-RT74]

more...



  Waiting for comments about the guy under the car sitting on the stack of railway ties.

I don't know what is worst:



( at least this last one still will fall on the wheels )

      


It was just a matter of time!

Man, I've seen much heavier equipment held up by big blocks of wood. As a matter of fact, I think that's the preferred method for large chunks of metal (spindles, gears, train/crane wheels, etc.). Just look in any machine shop that deals in heavy equipment.

Looks like a lot of work to be done on the car. You've got more guts than me!

Troy

Well Troy... maybe one piece big block... but not a series of block... I can't imagine if you sneeze on that position, and hit with your head JUST ONE of the blocks


BTW CAR IS COMING GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT

[NHCharger]

Heres some from right after I got it back from the body shop.

Wow, I need some sunglasses.

[Purple68]

Thought I better get back to this thread to try and catch up to present day. Here's a couple pics getting the Dana test fitted along with the new super stock springs moved into the frame rails.

[Purple68]

Rear disc brakes.

[Purple68]

Checking the Comp T/A's out. I could have went much wider but the rims I have right now are only 8". 10" or larger is on my wish list. 

[Brock Samson]

interesting color,..  lookin mighty fine there... 

[Purple68]

interesting color,..  lookin mighty fine there... 

Thanks Brock, here's a couple of the front brakes. Unfortunately after sitting a couple years in my old garage the moisture rusted them up a bit.

[Purple68]

 

[694spdRT]

Great '68!

[tan top]

thats looks real good !! intresting color     

[elacruze]

Man, I've seen much heavier equipment held up by big blocks of wood. As a matter of fact, I think that's the preferred method for large chunks of metal (spindles, gears, train/crane wheels, etc.). Just look in any machine shop that deals in heavy equipment.

Looks like a lot of work to be done on the car. You've got more guts than me!

Troy

So it is. OSHA mandates White Oak, and you must use it with the grain in line with the load. So spake our OSHA prevention manager at the forklift dealer shop. Never seen anything crush a block of White Oak, either.

[DrHemi]

There's a show on HD Theater where they restore old tanks. They use wood to set them on.

[SRT-440]

Love the color!! 

[Purple68]

Interior done...

[Purple68]

Heres some pics of the 493 fresh from the machine shop.

[Purple68]

 

[Purple68]

  Gettin close.

[Purple68]

Exhaust installed.

[Purple68]

Well here is the only pic I have from when I had the car on the road last summer. Unfortunately I had the cam sprocket come loose and it did some damage the second day the car was running. So the motor went back to the shop and I requested a bigger cam as the first one was questionable anyways. (The alignment pin was sheared off.) Well a few weeks later I got the motor back and again it lasted 2 days. This time I lost a lobe on the cam.  So that pretty much did it for last summer. I should mention the car is about 60 miles from where I live and I have nowhere to store it so I've been doing an awful lot of travelling in the last year.

[moparstuart]

wow very nice     

[Purple68]

wow very nice     

Thanks, well it seems as though the curse on my motor is continuing. Today I fired it up for a twenty minute run and set the timing, checked for leaks etc. I shut it down and a minute later I thought I'd see how it would start after being warmed up. As soon as I started it there was an awful tapping from the passenger side valve cover. So I pull the cover and found one of the #8 pushrods out of the rocker arm. It's funny I was almost expecting this to happen after all the trouble I've had and after reading about others experiencing similar problems with the Comp lifters. This is the third major issue I've had with Comp Cams on this motor. This is a roller cam with Pro Magnum lifters btw. So I talked to my machinist and he's going to call Comp but I'm pretty much over them at this point.

I'll stay away from the car for a few days now for my own good.

[Purple68]

It's up and running again! Comp supplied a whole new set of roller lifters. It was probably a good thing they were out of lifters for a while and I had to wait for them as I'm thinking at least they should be from a new production run. After talking to Comp my machinist set the preload at .030" instead of the .004" as per there advice. At least now I shouldn't have a pushrod fall out if a lifter does stick.
Anyways I had the car out for a drive and it was great, can't wait for the weather to warm up!

[68Bbody]

Well, here's a good one.

Today is the first day I register on this website and I'm scanning thru the forums.

I see your title "My 68 from 83 to present" and think, that should/could be interesting.

I see your first pic and think....hmmmm, that kinda reminds me of myself back in those days.  (I had just bought a '70 in '84)

The 2nd pic, I say to myself, that looks like my parents house (except garage is at other end of building) but similar type construction, road type, etc.....

Then in the 3rd I see your plate!

I guess I was going the same thing one Province over, in Winnipeg.......

[Purple68]

Thats pretty cool, thanks for checking in. Now we need you to post up your story and pics!

Well, here's a good one.

Today is the first day I register on this website and I'm scanning thru the forums.

I see your title "My 68 from 83 to present" and think, that should/could be interesting.

I see your first pic and think....hmmmm, that kinda reminds me of myself back in those days.  (I had just bought a '70 in '84)

The 2nd pic, I say to myself, that looks like my parents house (except garage is at other end of building) but similar type construction, road type, etc.....

Then in the 3rd I see your plate!

I guess I was going the same thing one Province over, in Winnipeg.......

[68RT4ME]

It's up and running again! Comp supplied a whole new set of roller lifters. It was probably a good thing they were out of lifters for a while and I had to wait for them as I'm thinking at least they should be from a new production run. After talking to Comp my machinist set the preload at .030" instead of the .004" as per there advice. At least now I shouldn't have a pushrod fall out if a lifter does stick.
Anyways I had the car out for a drive and it was great, can't wait for the weather to warm up!

Just got through reading this thread. Your car is freakin sweet. I was wondering if the weather had warmed up enough for you to get it out there. Hows it running? Any new issues? More pics too please.

[tan top]

Well here is the only pic I have from when I had the car on the road last summer. Unfortunately I had the cam sprocket come loose and it did some damage the second day the car was running. So the motor went back to the shop and I requested a bigger cam as the first one was questionable anyways. (The alignment pin was sheared off.) Well a few weeks later I got the motor back and again it lasted 2 days. This time I lost a lobe on the cam.  So that pretty much did it for last summer. I should mention the car is about 60 miles from where I live and I have nowhere to store it so I've been doing an awful lot of travelling in the last year.

looks good

[twodko]

Nicely done my friend! Tell me about the wheels and tires you're running on the back. Thanks

Tom

[Purple68]

It's up and running again! Comp supplied a whole new set of roller lifters. It was probably a good thing they were out of lifters for a while and I had to wait for them as I'm thinking at least they should be from a new production run. After talking to Comp my machinist set the preload at .030" instead of the .004" as per there advice. At least now I shouldn't have a pushrod fall out if a lifter does stick.
Anyways I had the car out for a drive and it was great, can't wait for the weather to warm up!

Just got through reading this thread. Your car is freakin sweet. I was wondering if the weather had warmed up enough for you to get it out there. Hows it running? Any new issues? More pics too please.

Thanks, it's good so far. I need to do some fine tuning but I had it out today and everything is good. The weather in northeast Saskatchewan has been awful for the last month. Rain and cold. Lots of farmers here are talking about not even being able to seed their crops. Hopefully it smartens up soon.

[Purple68]

Nicely done my friend! Tell me about the wheels and tires you're running on the back. Thanks

Tom

Thanks Tom, the wheels are American Racing Wheel 200S's. They have the retro look I wanted. The tires are  295 65 15 Comp TAs. They fill the wheel wells nicely, although I have tons of room to the inside as I moved my springs in and mini-tubbed it as well. At some point I'm going to get some wider rims and tires back there.

[Purple68]

Here's a couple shots of the new rad, shroud and tranny cooler I installed this spring.