Back in the saddle!

[lloyd3]

Almost 4-years ago, a golf cart shot across the street in front of the new Toyota pickup that was directly in front of me, driving my '68 R/T.  In a dramatic physics lesson, I got to prove that new 4-wheel disc brakes are far-more efficient than 40-year old drums.  The process of tracking down parts and a very good Mopar man to do the work seemed to take forever and then, because he was in such demand, the process dragged on even longer.  I learned this week that my car was finally close to completion.  It's bitter-sweet in some ways because it was far more money and time than I would have ever figured (and I'm a bit concerned about it being too-nice to really enjoy), but.....a kid at Christmas couldn't be more excited (and I'm well into my 50s now).  I should have it next month.

[Memphis Mopar]

Sorry to hear what you had to go through, but Congrats on getting back you beloved Charger soon. 

[terrible one]

Hate to hear about the wreck but congrats on seeing the repairs through, now there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Any pictures of your car before the wreck or of the damage?

[lloyd3]

I've owned this car for over 14-years now, so I do have lots of photos (both before and after the wreck).  Once the car gets it's punchlist completed and I'm back in posession, I'll try to post them here.   This is a UU-1 car with the stock Magnum 500s, so it's not very flashy (compared to some of the other projects I've seen posted here).  

[Brock Samson]

I've owned this car for over 14-years now, so I do have lots of photos (both before and after the wreck).  Once the car gets it's punchlist completed and I'm back in posession, I'll try to post them here.   This is a UU-1 car with the stock Magnum 500s, so it's not very flashy (compared to some of the other projects I've see posted here). 

congrats on getting 'ol nelly back on the track...  I know a little sumpthing about that..
I'll keep an eye on site suggestions / help desk as you try to post your photos.. (an inside joke, sorry)

[tan top]

  awww man sorry to hear about wrecking your charger    good its sorted , looking forward to seeing pictures 

[lloyd3]

OK, how does one post photography here?  I tried it as an attachment and it was stripped off somehow?

[lloyd3]

test 2

[lloyd3]

That seemed to work allright.  Here's more:

[lloyd3]

Odd, only about 1 in 3 posts seem to get through?  What gives? 

[400/6/PAC]

Everyone has a problem posting pic's at first.
You have to down size them to 200 MB ( If I remember right ) and name the attachment something crazy.
If another member has posted a pic with the same attachment name, It will not post.
Example ( Charger 1 ) or ( My Charger ) Or if You use the same attachment name twice, Only the first will post. Each pic must have it's own unique file name.
Name the pick something like ( My fri@kin aws@me Ch@rger ) Or any outher crazy name, I say this because there are ten's of thousands of pics posted here and all have to have a different file name
Glad Your getting it fixed and no one got hurt.

[lloyd3]

Appreciate the info:

Now I just have to remember how to "downsize" everything and name it accordingly.  Sadly, I have no love for the IT stuff and only learn it when necessary. 

[lloyd3]

As an aside. I just paid my collector's insurance today and noticed that the "agreed to" replacement value for this car is only $20K.  Before the accident that was probably just fine, but I'm way past that number now (in just out-of-pocket costs). Anbody care to venture a guess as to what a fairly-competently restored R/T 4-speed car should be insured for these days?  I know it's been wrecked now and it's not numbers matching, but it is as it was originally built and painted (w/18-spline 4-gear, Dana 60,  & '68 HP-2 motor).  

I see some fairly weak clones going for $30K and up online.

[Brock Samson]

i had mine bumped up to $30K before the '05 peak,.. so if i were you I'd go much higher, will require a estimate by your Insur. Co though..  looking great .  
only four pics allowed per posting BTW.

[lloyd3]

I took your advice and effectively doubled the "agreed to" value on my insurance policy.  All you have to do is look around a little bit and see asking prices for clones or even what are essentially project cars and you realize how hard it would be to replace this car.  Neither the proper parts nor qualified labor are getting any cheaper (and because of "quantitative easing" the dollar has devalued, what?, some 40% since 2000?).  The present claim of only 3% inflation is a serious fabrication (any trip to the grocery store or a gas-station proves that out very quickly).

Another question for you old timers, what percentage of your membership have done the work to track back the history of their cars?  Every car has a story (and while most aren't entirely pretty) they are the product of their times, good, bad or otherwise.  Back before 9/11, this was a much easier thing to do, because every title had the previous title number printed somewhere on it, and if it it had been titled from out-of-state, the previous State was usually identified. Most State DMVs now claim "security issues" or "a lack of resources" and seldom respond to such questions, but in an earlier time it was a fairly simple thing to provide "provenance" for your vehicle by simply writing a letter (remember those?) to the State DMV and asking in a very polite fashion what sort-of history they had for a car.  The name and address of the previous owner was usually forthcoming for either a small fee, or even for "free" (sad, but I simply can't imagine a public servant doing something like that now).  Using this process I managed to track back through four (4) previous owners of XS29L8B449XXX.  In the process I learned just how much a vehicle can get around.  

My car was ordered as a "stripe delete" model and rolled off of the line at Dodge Main in Hamtramck on July 5, 1968.  It was first sold in Bellevue, Nebraska (Offutt Air Force Base anyone?) and went from there to Missouri Valley, Iowa (for the lion's share of it's life, probably as a drag car).  In the late 1980s it went to Newark, New Jersey for a partial restoration (rust-repair, top of the motor, paint, and interior) and was sold to a military fellow (an Army Major) in Dayton, Ohio.  He drove it and worked on it some more, and then took it to Virgina (Fort Lee).  In 1996 I took possession and had it shipped to Colorado.  Let's see, that's six (6) States in 44-years.  A lot of these cars didn't even survive their warranty periods (which is why insurance companies so-hated them, and ultimately had them legislated out-of-existance).  

[lloyd3]

I've had a chance to go through some of the other restorations either ongoing or in the recent past on this site and all I can say is "wow".  Mine was easy by comparison.  Some very dedicated folks here.

[lloyd3]

Got to sit in my car today and start it. When I started this topic in early March, I was sure I'd be driving it by now, but the gentleman who has been doing the restoration has had several health setbacks (requiring multiple hospitalizations) and only today can I say that it is nearing completion. It needs the vacuum hoses reversed on the passenger headlight door and the front marker lights put in, and he's working on a spot where he buffed through on the driver's door.  My expert/now friend is 70 years plus now and can no-longer walk very far.  He no longer even drives, and I suspect that this car will be his swan song, so I looked it over, sat in it, started it, enjoyed the sound of it at idle, and shut it off.  I told him to call me when he is happy with it because I already was.  

It's been a long wait (wrecked it on June 8, 2008).  My now 8-year old son wanted me to take him to his first day of school in it today, but I'm guessing that someday soon I'll be sitting in car line with it to surprise him.  The Fall is a very nice time here in Colorado to drive older cars, so now is as good a time to get it back as I could hope for. I took some photos with my cell phone, so I'll try to upload them.

[DadsCharger00]

Got to sit in my car today and start it. When I started this topic in early March, I was sure I'd be driving it by now, but the gentleman who has been doing the restoration has had several health setbacks (requiring multiple hospitalizations) and only today can I say that it is nearing completion. It needs the vacuum hoses reversed on the passenger headlight door and the front marker lights put in, and he's working on a spot where he buffed through on the driver's door.  My expert/now friend is 70 years plus now and can no-longer walk very far.  He no longer even drives, and I suspect that this car will be his swan song, so I looked it over, sat in it, started it, enjoyed the sound of it at idle, and shut it off.  I told him to call me when he is happy with it because I already was.  

It's been a long wait (wrecked it on June 8, 2008).  My now 8-year old son wanted me to take him to his first day of school in it today, but I'm guessing that someday soon I'll be sitting in car line with it to surprise him.  The Fall is a very nice time here in Colorado to drive older cars, so now is as good a time to get it back as I could hope for. I took some photos with my cell phone, so I'll try to upload them.

where are you located at in colorado? I'd love to swing by and take a look at the beauty! When mine is here in the fall we should try to get a few colorado people together and have a little gathering!

[ErikH]

Capital idea.  Ought to give me some inspiration to finish the engine swap in mine.

[lloyd3]

I'm in Parker.  My friend can't really even walk anymore (He's has a '68 R/T Coronet Hemi he hasn't driven in 12-years!) so it may still be a while.  Since it's so close, I suspect he'll keep puttering away on it until it's done now. It's about all he can do post-surgery.  I've tried to get him to let me help, at least do some of the simpler stuff (he did let me block sand it, help install some of the glass, and bead blast some of the smaller components), but he's a proud old bird and keeps fending me off for the rest of it.  It sure looks a lot better than 400 parts scattered all over his shop (which caused me no-end of worry when he was laid-up).  

[cdr]

will pray for your friend ,& very glad for you,getting your car back

[lloyd3]

This webpage says I can attach only 200kb photos.  That seems a bit small.  On previous attempts it said 800 kb, what gives?

[cdr]

200

[lloyd3]

I'm fairly certain my previous photography was far bigger than that.  No matter, it's not worth the brain damage.

[lloyd3]

Hate to quit...  08/15/2012!