Newbie - First Charger, '68 R/T

[xs29bb1]

Hi guys -

I bought my first Charger last month - restoration just starting.  I've been reading thru this site the past couple of weeks and it seems there a lot of highly knowledgeable guys, I've learned a lot already.  I'm very much looking forward to talking w/ you guys.  I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions in the future, but I'll try and resist the urge to ask too many...  Anyway, great to be on the site.

A few points about the car (and why I'm excited about it)

For starters, it's a true triple black R/T (w/ red stripes).  There is very little rust on it and the frame rails are rock solid.  The body numbers match, but it does not have a numbers matching engine or trans.  However I did pick up a period correct engine and tranny (the engine is mid '67 and the car was built in 11/67)  It's an auto w/ the console.

What I think makes the car somewhat special is all of the options it has.  I believe the only options it doesn't have are cruise, and passenger side mirror.  I think that's it.

So some of the rarer options like power windows, power disc brakes, AC, rear seat speaker, rear defogger - it has all that.  Also has the headrests, 3-spd wipers, AM/8-track radio, power steering, the light package, 3.23 sure grip, tinted glass throughout, shoulder belts, tic-toc-tach, hood mounted turn signals, remote driver's side mirror, and the 26" radiator.

All that and a true triple black R/T.  Needless to say, I'm excited about getting this restoration moving along.  I figure there can't be that many like that out there. 

Again, great to be on the site, and I'm looking forward to meeting you guys.... and if you made it this far, thanks for reading this way too long post. 

[charge69]

Welcome here and it sounds like a beautiful and rare Charger!  Pics are needed and welcome! Where are you located?

[tan top]

 hello &  welcome    would love to see pictures sometime 

[FlatbackFanatic]

 

[Dans 68]

   to everything about your car. Post a pic of the fender tag when you get to posting pics of your baby. Welcome aboard.

Dan

[chargerboy69]

Sounds like a cool ride and welcome.

Pictures are needed as soon as possible. 

[1974dodgecharger]

You guys know by now when someone posts on the forum about their new ride and dont post pictures we can just close our eyes now and imagine what they are trying to tell us

So no need for pics OP none at all let me close my eyes real quick and think what you have

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Welcome!  Pics!

[69 OUR/TEA]

Welcome !!!!

I like your taste in Chargers!!!!Good luck with the resto !!!! Hurry, the picture police are gonna be after you !!!!

[Magnumcharger]

.

[bill440rt]

Welcome to DC.com!! 
Your car sounds yummy.     Please post pics so we can begin the initiation process.   

[xs29bb1]

I've now tried to post pics 3-4 times and it's not working....  hope to figure it out in a few minutes

[69 OUR/TEA]

I've now tried to post pics 3-4 times and it's not working....  hope to figure it out in a few minutes

They have to be under 200KB,and try this,it happens to me all the time when trying to upload pics here,after you store the pics in your files,Rename them.

[xs29bb1]

Thanks for the welcome guys.  I'm in the Bay Area of CA.  I'm attaching a pic of the fender tag and one of the car the night it arrived at the shop.  I hope it works.

I'll send more pics as well.

[xs29bb1]

Here's the car

[69 OUR/TEA]

Monza Spyder wheels !!!! RARE !!!!!

[69 OUR/TEA]

Where is Pacific Palisades as to where you are

[Dans 68]

Where is Pacific Palisades as to where you are

I believe the "Pacific Palisades" is in So. Calif, whereas the 3X black '68 R/T is in Northern Ca, my backyard. So, I do believe I will have to visit this car!  

Amazing that it was not an ordered car also.

Dan

[69 OUR/TEA]

Where is Pacific Palisades as to where you are

I believe the "Pacific Palisades" is in So. Calif, whereas the 3X black '68 R/T is in Northern Ca, my backyard. So, I do believe I will have to visit this car!  

Amazing that it was not an ordered car also.

Dan

Why amazing NOT an ordered car?

[xs29bb1]

More

[xs29bb1]

More - one just showing the power window buttons.

[xs29bb1]

another one.  If someone wants a pic of a specific part of the car, let me know - I have quite a few pics, but don't want to bombard the thread

[Mopar Nut]

Nice. 

[charge69]

Nice start! Looks to be a non-A/C model with 2-speed wipers also. Get after it and congrats on the nice find!

[xs29bb1]

It has AC.  The vents are there, and it's on the fender tag.  Just curious, what makes you say it doesn't?

[JB400]

He didn't see the bulkhead connector and the hose that routes into it.  He also didn't see the 3 spd wiper motor because it's black.  Not everyone has a good computer monitor or eyesight for that matter


Looks like you have a nice project starting point  Did you get a nice grill to go along with it?  How's the tail end?


                                                             Welcome to the group


                                                                                              JB

[xs29bb1]

Here's a pic of the AC vents  (yes the steering wheel is wrong.  Thankfully I have most of the broadcast sheet which includes the steering wheel so I plan to make it right (although I have no idea how to decode the steering wheel number))

[xs29bb1]

You know I kinda got screwed on the grill.  The guy I bought it from said the grill was good and he showed a pic that looked fine, however he had the license plate on the center of the grill.  When I got it, the grill was great over the head lamps, but underneath the plate it was mangled as heck.

I saw a nice grill for $800, but the guy had already sold it.... so still looking. 

[Bob T]

Welcome and great 1st post, everyone likes pictures. You're going to tip a lot of cash into this but it will be so worth it at the end 
Best site for info in the known world here 
Bit of a fan of Black 68 R/T's here too 

[Homerr]

That looped rubber hose on the firewall and the fan motor show it as an AC car.

We had a discussion about those wheels a while back when this was up for auction.

[xs29bb1]

Thanks for all the replies guys. really appreciate the feedback.  Yes, I'm afraid I am going to throw in a few bucks more than I was expecting, I guess that's just how it goes sometimes. 

So any opinions on the wheels?  I was originally thinking of Mag 500s, but if I restore these wheels do you think they'd give a good look or are the 500s better.  I really haven't thought about the wheels too much
to this point as I have SO MUCH WORK before then.  But since there were a couple comments about the wheels, I love to get some opinions...

[bill440rt]

Triple black, red R/T stripe, Magnum 500's with redlines...           


But hey, ultimately it's your car!     

[PocketThunder]

Triple black, red R/T stripe, Magnum 500's with redlines...           


But hey, ultimately it's your car!     

For starters, it's a true triple black R/T (w/ red stripes).

Paint it the original color..   

[charge69]

Stroker's right, I have  a good computer monitor but, obviously bad eyesight! Getting old might have something to do with it also!!

[xs29bb1]

Paint it the original color..   

Oh, I'm definitely painting it the original color.  Actually w/ most of the broadcast sheet (which we found in the headliner?) I'm going to try to make the car as correct as possible.

[hawkeye]

were the woodgrain shifter knobs available in 68?

[Homerr]

Oh, and welcome xs29bb1!

Here is a great reference if you haven't ran across it already.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library-2.shtml

[HeavyFuel]

Paint it the original color..   

Oh, I'm definitely painting it the original color.  Actually w/ most of the broadcast sheet (which we found in the headliner?) I'm going to try to make the car as correct as possible.

Headliner?   That seems weird....first time I heard of one there.

[6pkrtse]

Welcome & sweet optioned out Charger. I need to get me another 68' one of these days.

[xs29bb1]

Hi guys - been a long time.  The resto is progressing.  After 8 months, body and paint are 95% done.  We have most of the parts we need, powder coating and plating are done, engine is rebuilt.  Assembly should begin in a couple of weeks.  I'll post picks over the days/weeks ahead to walk through what's been done.... leading up to a freshly painted black R/T!

[moparfan53]

Hi guys - been a long time.  The resto is progressing.  After 8 months, body and paint are 95% done.  We have most of the parts we need, powder coating and plating are done, engine is rebuilt.  Assembly should begin in a couple of weeks.  I'll post picks over the days/weeks ahead to walk through what's been done.... leading up to a freshly painted black R/T!

Glad to hear you are making progress!  Looking forward to more pics. Did you find a good grille?

[moparfan53]

were the woodgrain shifter knobs available in 68?

I am pretty sure they were not used in '68. Most '69s had woodgrain but some had the '68 style chrome. Fortunately that is easy to change.

[xs29bb1]

OK, here we go.  I'll do my best to keep this in chronological order for the most part.  We cut out the L and R quarters, inner and outer wheel wells, and trunk floor and replaced them w/ new metal.  Here are a few pics:

[xs29bb1]

more pics

[Wicked72]

welcome newbie! 

[Mopar Nut]

Awesome progress, keep the pictures come.

[xs29bb1]

I mistakenly posted photos to this thread as opposed to the correct "68 R/T Restoration" thread.  I copied those photos over there and going forward all photos will be posted on that thread.  Sorry for the confusion...