1968 Charger Restoration

[pkianka]

Hi folks - Been a member of this awesome site for a few months now but never posted anything.  I recently made the decision to restore my 68 Charger which I've owned for 24 years.  It was once my daily driver until the original 318 self destructed.  I replaced it with a 440 from a 74 New Yorker, but it was never the same and has been mostly sitting in storage for many years.  It's now in my garage at home and I'm in the middle of stripping all the parts off of it in prep for abrasive blasting.  I'll post some photos soon.

-Pete

[Magnumcharger]

Hurry up and post pictures!!!!

We're all addicted to pictures on this site!! It's like crack to us!!


And welcome to Dodge Charger.com!

[pkianka]

I have a ton of pics already -- I'd post them faster but I have to re-size them all since the site only allows 200k max.

Here are some of the recent deconstruction work... engine/trans out, rear glass out, interior out, doors off.

-Pete

[tan top]

  hello & welcome  

whats the plan on the resto ??  looking forward to seeing more pictures  

[41husk]

Is that QQ1 paint color?

[pkianka]

The color is actually LL-1 as far as I can tell per the attached PPG color sheet for 68.  Medium Dark Turquoise Poly.

The end goal of the resto is a straight, rust free car, repaint original color, overhaul the 440 with some goodies, mostly stock look.  It is not a numbers matching car and never will be, but I want it look mostly stock but with performance upgrades where they make sense.  I've even thought about turning it into an RT clone (emblems, tail stripes, etc) not sure yet.

After I strip all removable parts off the body, I'm probably going to send it out for media blasting.  A good friend of mine (with some welding experience) and I will attempt to do most, if not all the metal work (floor pans, partial quarters, etc).

In the pics... windshield and dash out, heater box out, look how good the firewall looks! Strange for how rusty the floor is.

-Pete

[Charger_Dart]

Looks like a good project. Can't wait to see updates on your progress.

[pkianka]

Just removed the grille/headlight assembly and front fenders today.

I think I'm down to just removing the brake lines, fuel lines, suspension, exhaust, and some trim.

-Pete

[terrible one]

Great project, great COLOR 

[pkianka]

Great project, great COLOR 

Thanks!  I have always loved the color as well.  A lot of folks I know don't like it much and suggest I change it but I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to stick with it!

-Pete

[pkianka]

Problem -- Found some nasty rust around the spot-welded seam of the right side shock tower today.  Anyone have experience with repair in this area?  This worries me a bit -- wondering what needs to be done to make this repair.

...on the bright side, the steering column is out and I built some new shelves in the garage to accommodate all the parts coming off the car!

-Pete

[earnie]

Problem -- Found some nasty rust around the spot-welded seam of the right side shock tower today.  Anyone have experience with repair in this area?  This worries me a bit -- wondering what needs to be done to make this repair. :

yup you can sell me the car and then ya wont have to worry about it
seriously amd sells what you will need
overall that rust does not look that bad

[charge69]

Welcome to the board, pkianka and ask any questions you need. Lots of knowledge here and they don't mind sharing. Your '68 appears to be a non-a/c, manual brake car too. Keep the pics coming as everyone loves pics and just keep working on it and, suddenly, one day, it will be ready to roll again. Nice color too and it will be beautiful restored with the original color.

[Charger-Bodie]

Problem -- Found some nasty rust around the spot-welded seam of the right side shock tower today.  Anyone have experience with repair in this area?  This worries me a bit -- wondering what needs to be done to make this repair.

...on the bright side, the steering column is out and I built some new shelves in the garage to accommodate all the parts coming off the car!

-Pete

Cut it out.Clean it up really good and weld in a nice new fabed piece. It will be pretty easy and its fairly common.

[pkianka]

Thanks guys!  Really appreciate it.  I will definitely be asking a lot of questions soon -- I like to give back as wel,l and hopefully posting my progress with this project will help others.  Watching the progress of others has taught me a lot and inspired me to start this whole effort (not to mention my recent trip to Carlisle, PA).  I was an auto mechanic for 12 years before switching careers 12 years ago, so I'm pretty handy and have tons of tools -- although I have never completely restored a car nor taken one apart to this level.

[Bob T]

Welcome and good to see you are into the resto in a big way.
This site is a great resource of information of all things Charger, chances are if you are stuck then heaps of people have already had that same problem , sorted it out and put lots of pictures up.

Neat colour , havent seen too many of them out here

[pkianka]

Welcome and good to see you are into the resto in a big way.
This site is a great resource of information of all things Charger, chances are if you are stuck then heaps of people have already had that same problem , sorted it out and put lots of pictures up.

Neat colour , havent seen too many of them out here

Thanks, really appreciate it.

I got the rear off the ground this morning and pulled the exhaust and fuel tank...






Trying something different with the pictures, hope it works.  I have an album on Picasa with ALL photos I've been taking if anyone is interested -- URL below...

https://picasaweb.google.com/PeteKianka/201168ChargerRebuild?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Thanks - Pete

[pkianka]

A few more pics from the rear...





Got my work cut out here...


-Pete

[68blue]

Looks like you have a good place to start, best of luck on the resto. I remember being at that point, now I'm slowly closing in on completion.

[vancamp]

from the pics looks like a great project keep them coming

[pkianka]

Not much progress since last post besides a few minor things -- pulled the e-brake pedal/release handle and cable, front to rear brake line, front to rear fuel line, and rear axle bump stops.  Hey, at least it's something.  I try to do at least something each day even if it's just something minor --- saw another thread on this site where folks post how they manage to get in their Charger time.  Tough for me with job, wife, three young kids, honey-do,etc. so I squeeze in wrench time where I can.  Getting close to ready for media blast.

-Pete

[pkianka]

Ok, final items have been removed and off to media blast.... it will never look the same again!!!

-Pete

The night before going to media blast - 9/22/2011...



On the rental trailer ready to go...


That rental was actually a nice trailer; wish I owned it!


Finally at the media blast shop -- no turning back now!!!


I'll post more pics when it's done -- I'm having them epoxy primer it w/DP-90 as well, so it should be black when complete.

Thans - Pete

[Charger-Bodie]

 Excellent!!

[projectanimal]

Nice pictures!    I used the same Uhaul trailer to pick up our car and also wish I could buy one!     good luck with the paint and reassembly!  look forward to more pictures. 

[pkianka]

Ok the media blasting is done and I had an opportunity to get a look at it and some photos before the primer.  Really interesting how the metal looks after the blasting -- not shiny at all, it almost looks like gray primer.  When it's in that state of etch, they call it "white metal".  They will be prepping and priming later this week and should be ready by some next week.  -Pete







Windshield channel rot -- not sure what to do about that yet...


Sail panel/rear window rot...


Unexpected rocker rot -- must have been some bondo covering that up since I never saw this before...



Odd place for rust/corrosion...


Finding new rust pinholes all over the place!


If you want to see more pics, the complete photo album link is below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/PeteKianka/201168ChargerRebuild?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[Charger440RDN]

I love this thread! The metal doesn't look bad at all, do you plan to put full quarters on it or just patch them?

[pkianka]

I love this thread! The metal doesn't look bad at all, do you plan to put full quarters on it or just patch them?

Well... I hadn't decided yet. Other than the lower sections and around the wheel wells, they aren't so bad. I thought initially I'd have to with full quarters, but after looking at what blasting has revealed, I may just patch them.

Any suggestions on good qtr patch panels? Is AMD the only way to go?

The shop called and said the epoxy primer was done and its ready for pickup on monday. I guess the real work starts now!

Pete

[lexxman]

There are others I think for sheet metal,but AMD is the best from what I have seen.Make sure you keep us updated.

[Charger440RDN]

Any suggestions on good qtr patch panels? Is AMD the only way to go?

I'm not sure if anybody makes a quarter patch panel anymore, I only see the full quarters for sale.  

[pkianka]

OK, more progress!!!  The car is now back home from the media blast shop and has been fully primed with DP-90 epoxy from head to toe.
Nice to have it back at home in the garage again  










-Pete

[tan top]

good lot of pictures !!      

looking good 

[lexxman]

Looks great now you can get to work.

[pkianka]

Not much progress lately but did purchase some sheet metal. Looks good sitting there, just need some one to weld!

On another note, found several large sticks and rocks inside the gas tank when I drained it today. Have to wonder if someone was trying to sabotage me at some point... strange.

[pkianka]

Well, it's been a long while since I posted any updates on my progress.  The project was sidetracked for a little while, but I'm back on it!

Since the last post, I have cut out and replaced the rotted floor pans.  Left half and right partial.  In hindsight, I wish I would have replaced the entire floor as spot welds are much easier to deal with than butt welds.  The most difficult part was butt welding the right edge of the left floor pan to the tunnel.  Welds are all ground down, primed, and seam-sealed.  Floors are now solid again.

Ready to move on the next rust repairs --- rockers, trunk, quarters, windshield channel....

Here's a link to the complete Picasa photo album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105509065431493219372/201168ChargerRebuild#5829237761544192658

[JB400]

Glad to hear you're making progress.  Looking good

[Charger440RDN]

Any updates on the restoration?

[Homerr]

Just went through the whole album, it's pretty much what I am anticipating in my own future.   

[hemi-ed]

I've always admired anyone that can do that kind of work.  I can do pretty much anything but I don't have the knack for doing bodywork.  I give you credit for that.  Especially after sending my Superbird to two different people over the years and having the car come back home with the job not done right.  I have had my 68 Charger for 38 years, which has been stored all that time, has never been restored, needs a little work, and have never had it on the road.  And so many times have thought of selling the car because I have not done anything with it.  But every time I come in to this forum and see you guys putting the effort into these cars you inspire me to rethink and keep my cars.