my 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE (Rustee)

[jcarranco]

Well I joined this forum a year ago, and i've never posted anything so far.  Here is my story and my journey on the restoration of my 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE.  Back in April of last year I had the opportunity to purchase a 1970 Dodge Charger.  Always wanting a Charger since I was a little kid watching The Dukes of Hazard, i jumped on the opportunity.  I bought it, and had it hauled back to my garage.  Here a picture of how I found it:



I named the Charger "Rustee" for obvious reasons.  Well I found out that it could possibly be a rare build,  originally being a Charger 500 SE with a 4 speed, 383 4-barrel, factory A/C.  All long gone now of course.  Anyways,  he's been sitting in my garage for about a year now, and yesterday, I took the first steps in the restoration process.  It will be a long process, but i'm realistic, and I have set realistic goals for myself.

5-25-10  Start of the Trunk Floor Removal: 

Total time today: 2 1/2 hours. Tools used: Reciprocating saw, Angle Grinder, Air Chisel, electric drill, hammer, and a crowbar.













It's a start. 

[elacruze]

Great!

That car really shows it's heritage, E-T slot mags and airshocks!
Must have been sitting since the early 80's, anyway.

Keep the pictures coming!

[CDN72SE]

Welcome to the site, nice find. Is this a new experience for you or have you done a resto before?

[moparstuart]

 welcome  keep up the good work , another one saved

[200MPH]

Welcome looks like you are off to a good start !

[Chargerrtforme]

Howdy and your doing a great job. I love the info you list of tools and time. Great pictures too. Looks like you saved a rare bird.

[69*F5*SE]

Welcome    both you & Rustee.  Great pics.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Long time welcome

Curious to see/hear what emblems were transplanted on the rear quarters?

[XS29L9B2]

beautiful work and good luke

[jcarranco]

Thanks everyone.  This is my first restoration project ever.  I have no experience doing this sort of work, but i'm lucky that I have a real auto body guy teaching and helping me out.  @Just 6T9 CHGR, there were no emblems on either rear quarters,  the only evidence left was the 2 small holes where the SE emblem use to be at one time.

Today I picked up a Spot Weld cutter bit for the drill from Harbor Freight $4.99,  hopefully this will make the process of peeling off the trunk pan from the support pilars easier.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Huh?  the last pic you posted....above the rear marker light ...looks like 2 holes???


69 R/T cars used holes like that if they were stripe delete.....had 2 large R/T emblems on the quarters instead of the bumble bee stripe....

[jcarranco]

Couldn't tell you what use to be there.  From the outside its just covered up....

[b5blue]

My 70 has the same issues around the rear 1/4 windows too. Take lots of photos as you disassemble everything, bag and tag anything good or bad you remove to save as examples or reuse. Get a Factory Service Manual (FSM) if you don't have one yet! Good Luck....save old Rustee! 

[carolina charger]

 Looks like you are getting a good start on it. My car is also a 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE. I like the Blair spotweld cutters. When the teeth are all gone just remove the cutter  and turn it over to expose a brand new set of teeth.

[70 Charger RT]

Of the most important tools you need to start (and you got them) are the sawzall, air chisel and the angle grinder.  I see it didn't take you long to get rid of that safety guard on the grinder wheel.  It's always in the way!  Keep up the good work.  I should name my next project (70 RT) Rusttee II!

[jcarranco]

Thanks everyone.  Could someone please tell me what the hell is that bracket i have circled on the picture below?  It looks like to me a holder for a tank of some sorts,  possibly for the air shocks.  If its not important,  i'm cutting it out of there.  I'm hoping to get back to my dissection of the cancerous pieces this afternoon.

[Charger-Bodie]

Thanks everyone.  Could someone please tell me what the hell is that bracket i have circled on the picture below?  It looks like to me a holder for a tank of some sorts,  possibly for the air shocks.  If its not important,  i'm cutting it out of there.  I'm hoping to get back to my dissection of the cancerous pieces this afternoon.

That is a 70 only part. the rounded part is where the exhaust runs. I am not 100% sure but I have always thought that they installed that to keep the gas tank from sliding out of the filler tube in an accident. Some of the 70 guys may correct me on this,but dont ruin that part.put it back where it belongs.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Check this thread.....

http://1970chargerregistry.com/70messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=5811&highlight=tank+bracket

[HOTROD]

Nice pic's how did u get them to stack up like that ?
I am using the same tools but i use the air chisel and the cutoff wheel most , let us know what u did about the frame support brackets to the body ??

[jcarranco]

Thanks HOTROD,  i use photobucket to host my pictures.  With them, they give the img link that you insert into the post body and you can add multiple pictures instead of having to attach them to the post and take up DG.com bandwidth and space.  I'm an IT guy so that kind of stuff comes easy to me.  What frame support brackets are you referring to?

[Blakcharger440]

Nice project and you brought the best year also! 

[Mikesmoparperformance]

Welkom and good luck with your 70project!!

[Finn]

Whats that silver tube by the rear passenger wheel-well for? It appears to have some rubber hoses coming out of it. Ive never noticed that before. Welcome to the site! 

[MoparManJim]

Whats that silver tube by the rear passenger wheel-well for? It appears to have some rubber hoses coming out of it. Ive never noticed that before. Welcome to the site! 

What is that tube for over there by the inner fender well? 

[captnsim]

California emissions stuff