Frnknsteen's 69 SE Resto Thread

[FrnkNsteen]

I've been reading on here for a while, but now it's time to join the mix. My project has finally begun after owning this car since around '87 and watching it sit since about 1988.

I'll attach a pic from before the work recently started, as well as some I took with the camera phone over the weekend.

[FrnkNsteen]

Here's a few more from over the weekend.

[Patronus]

ahhh, feels good don't it..?? 

[tan top]

good start !!   ,    keep the pictures & up dates coming !! love looking at this kind of thing 

[Brock Samson]

wow! goin whole hog.. what's the plan?..  goin back stock or?.. 

[1969chargerrtse]

Wow, I love it.  Gonna be beautiful when it's done.

[Richard Cranium]

Hey, I got one of those purple things too. 

[FrnkNsteen]

Yeah, it was the purple toy that got me juiced to get going on the project.  I had been telling a friend that I wanted to get a mopar to drive while I was working on the Charger, but I was originally thinking something older. Couldn't resist the Challenger when I saw it though.

It's going to be MOSTLY stock and original. The fender tag was gone, along with the original 383, long before I picked it up. It had a 440 in it by then, which I very quickly tore up!! Stupid 19 yr old!! Years later, in an attempt to get it running again, I dropped another 440 out of a '69 Polara, so the 440 I have for it is at least the right year, even though not original size or the original motor.

It was originally B3 blue, but had been painted a different color close to B7, but not quite. Not a big fan of the B3, and since it's not numbers matching, and missing the fender tag, I've decided to go with Q5 Bright Turquoise Poly. I wanted something brighter, but it's still a factory color that was offered in 1969. Thought about going with something like Prowler Yellow, or Plum Crazy, but wanted to at least stay with something that was offered in my year. Plus, I've already a purple toy, two if you count my Harley that is dark purple and charcoal, .... So Q5 it is.

I'm thinking of going with custom '68 style seats in black leather with the little pleats being turquoise. Still Charger based, but I thought it would look good. Rest of the interior will be black. Car will get it's black top back, and possibly a plain black rear stripe (meaning no R/T logo). My friends are trying to get me to do an RT/SE clone, but I'm not big on pretending for it to be something else. Unique, yes..... a clone of something it's not, No.

I will keep more pics coming as we do more. Picked up 500 lbs of sand last night. We are planning to start sandblasting internal areas this weekend. Exterior is 95% new AMD metal, plus blasting the exterior can cause issues, so we will sand out areas not being replaced. I'll post pics next week.

[FrnkNsteen]

ahhh, feels good don't it..?? 

Yes! Feels good, but also a little scary!! I've worked on cars my whole life, 40+ yrs, but after having this car as long as I have... when that cutting wheel first started cutting into the quarters...... it was a little gut wrenching worrying if it would ever get back together again!! 

[Patronus]

Just do something everyday. No matter how small.. everyday, and in 2 years... 

[FrnkNsteen]

Good Advice!! I went back to school for my Bachelors degree, and I will be done in just three more weeks. that will give me TONS more time to start working on the old girl!!! 

[67440chrg]

Its looking good keep up the good work. Thanks for posting the pictures.

[FrnkNsteen]

My  .... It will be looking good when I see parts going back on as it's going back together!! It has been fun tearing into it though!!

Planning to do some sandblasting in the morning tomorrow. I'll take some more pictures and post them.

[richRTSE]

Looks like you're off to a quick start. Q5 is a nice choice.  Would look good with a white interior too, especially if you do go with custom turquoise inserts.