69 Charger "restoration"

[HANDM]

I posted over at CC.com before I realized that it wasn't DC.com, the thread languished over ther for a few, so I figured it may be more fitting over here 

I figure it's about time for me to start a thread about my wifes 69 Charger that I have been "restoring" for the last ten years. It all started back in 1990 when my wife was 16, her mom bought her a triple black 440 4 barrell dual exhaust, 3.23 sure grip, 69, needing rectal work (of course), complete grill, and a passenger fender, but it ran, drove and had a perfect interior.

This car belonged to a friend of mine who, when he was 16 or 17, bought it and smashed it the very next morning on a telephone pole in Edmonds. He in turn, spent a couple grand on stupid stuff that now in retrospect are very simple repairs except for straightening the right front frame rail.

Shortly after after buying the car her mom passed away without actually putting the car into her (my wife's) name. After a length of at least ten years, the executor of the will finally released interest in the car to my by then girlfriend.

I had kept the car up for most of that time, but without proper cover and funding, the car deteriorated....
One day whille searching the paper (before the days of the internets) I found another complete, #'s matching, running driving 69 SE needing a trunk, one end cap, valence and small quarter patches. I convinced Tasha (my wife) that since the triple black needed complete quarters, floors, valence, end caps, major door and latch repairs as well as everything else a neglected Charger needs, that the SE was a better candidate for "restoration". The SE needed the aforementioned repairs, a grill, paint and an interior.

We purchased the car in the fall/ winter of 2000 with the plans of fixing the SE, cloning the triple black using it's guts and then put the triple black back together, get it running and sell it.
All that changed when that very winter, we had a huge storm blew through and.....get this.......A HUGE TREE FALLS ON THE TRIPLE BLACK!!!!!!!! smashing from the passenger roof at the A pillar all the way across the cowl, hood and drivers fender effectively flattening the poor thing.

Upon seeing the damage, Tasha says, very calmly "well, at least the grille is ok". The insurance adjuster only gave up a thousand for the wreck and
after stripping the triple black for everything I wound up having the hulk hauled off for scrap. (and no I didn't save the vins or anything like that, I was still a complete newbie to Mopar) thinking about it now, I wish I would have kept it for the invaluable small stuff.

Over the course of the last ten years I have, rebuilt the front end, brakes, tranny and engine (original 383 out of a 68 Charger that a friend of mines dad pulled from his before sending off to the junkyard in the late eighties, another tragedy, I know)
The metal work, body and paint has all been ongoing for the last two years and now, finally, it's painted

Now comes the assembly, which I will ,god willing, complete over the course of this winter/ spring and try to have it ready for next summer.

Here are a couple pics

[triple_green]

Wow interesting, but painful story. Good job on the SE. There are a few of us Charger guys in WA state. I am down in Kent and have a few 69 parts. Nothing really great though.

Best of luck!

Mark
triple_green

[HANDM]

Forgot to mention that the roof is red cause it needed some protective enamel for under the vinyl and that was the only color I had handy

[Old Greg]

Looks good, keep up the good work & let's see some more pics soon.

[HANDM]

After pulling the car into the sun, I found that I simply can't live with the drivers fender or door, it is way too f'd up to continue, I have made the decision to work the spare from the triple black, I have it stripped and am in the process of pounding, filling and priming, then it's test fit and then paint and install, I think I may need to re-do the drivers door as well

Oh well, that is the beauty of a backyard resto, you can keep working it till it's right, or at least very close.

I'll post more pics soon   

[tan top]

intresting story    thanks for sharing 

[1969chargerrtse]

Looks great. Coming along nice.

[chargergirl]

Great story and let's watch that whole build.

[HANDM]

Today I filled the rear end up and was in the process of hooking up the u-joint (swapped out 2.72 open for a 3.23 sure grip) when I noticed the U-joint is smaller. I figured no problem, I'll just put in the proper driveline/ large u-joint from the triple black, after digging it out I find that one of the bearing cups is missing

Looks like I am buying a new joint unless someone here has an old cup and bearings??

I am really agonizing over the orange peel in the paint, (single stage) don't know If i should just put it together and drive it or spray some clear over the whole thing. Trouble is that it is single stage metallic which I can't sand cause it will f up the flakes. If I clear it, at least I can wet sand that and hopefully get it to (to my eye) perfection.

On top of the fender and door that I need to redo I need to work the extra decklid, as it also has too many flaws to live with. Hopefully I will have enough paint, if not I'm just gonna say screw it and paint the thing black as per my original plans.

Will it ever end?

[HANDM]

Picked up a new rear u-joint from Oreilly and was completely blown away by the fact that it is/ was made right here in the U.S. of A. (Precision, part # 316) May as well give them a shout out

I was so shocked I had to point it out to the clerk and a couple dudes waiting in line. One of them, who had a baby in a carseat looks at me and says "I thought the only thing we made any more were these" gesturing to his baby 

Anyhow, I got it installed in the spare driveline and I shall poke it into the tranny, adjust the axle end pay and then the rear chunk swap will be complete.

As winter keeps inching closer, I am seriously considering bringing the car into my basement as I have an 8' slider that can be disassembled to allow access and with enough room to continue assembly throughout the winter months.  I even have enough room to bring in the E-bodies, if I get too carried away though, the wife may decide enough is enough and make me sleep down there too

[Mike DC]

 
Looks like a good project.  You can't go wrong with a triple black '69.  Sorry the project got off to a rough start but it looks like you're coming aong nicely now. 

Just don't part it under a tree when you're done! 



(BTW:  Those front wheels in the pics are the correct wheels for the "General Lee" and nobody is reproducing new ones.  Don't throw them out, put them on Ebay when you're done with them.)

[HANDM]

 
Looks like a good project.  You can't go wrong with a triple black '69.  Sorry the project got off to a rough start but it looks like you're coming aong nicely now. 

Just don't part it under a tree when you're done! 



(BTW:  Those front wheels in the pics are the correct wheels for the "General Lee" and nobody is reproducing new ones.  Don't throw them out, put them on Ebay when you're done with them.)

Yeah, I have all four, the rear ones are big enough to FILL the wheel well without sticking out    I would rather put some 15x7 mag 5's all the way around but the wife likes 'em and it's her car after all

[Charger440RDN]

 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

    

[HANDM]

Updates.....

INSIDE

Got most of the interior put back in, need to clean and dye the seat belts and install them, install the rear seat divider and package tray, repair broken front seat bolts and install the seats, console, rear arm rests and window cranks

Need to finish sail panel work on the roof to install the vinyl when it warms up some, install the back window and then finish the headliner.

OUTSIDE

Got the ass back together, need to get some bumper bolts to finish installing bumper, hood signals in, side markers on passenger side on, door handles and locks on.

Was gonna put the grill and support in but don't wanna push it and jack something up.


Here is some crappy phone pics. I will post better ones once the digital is charged up and I snap some



Still have a sh*t ton of work to do, but it seems I will be real close by spring

[HANDM]

After long hours and lots of lovin,  I was finally able to let my wife drive her car........
Into the carport! LOL

Here are a couple of pictures,

First, Tasha, Hoser and the original triple black Charger twenty years ago, right after she got it

Second. Tasha, Rusty and the Charger. Finally done and hers to drive!

And a couple others as well, On the third picture If you look close, you can see a chip in the paint on the fender which some jackass did and didn't tell me 

I am so happy to finally have put this this car together for her which she so completly deserves. It was worth every bruised knuckle, banged head and problem solved

Thanks for all the technical support given during the re-assembly guys, I really appreciate it 

And a special shout out to Patronus for the window guide roller....

[HANDM]

Yes, those are 71 Rallyes on there, I needed decent tires for the road tests and those were handy 

I really want magnum 5's on there but alas, no money for them and she wants the vectors back on so.......

[AKcharger]

 

[tan top]

     ..........

[PocketThunder]

Nice work!   

[moparstuart]

 

[HANDM]

We took the car for a trip around the block today and it is running and driving great!  No squeaks, rattles or anything out of the ordinary and the cheap frost king insulation on the floor and lid make a huge difference even when just closing the doors.  A much longer test drive will be in order to fully work out the small bugs
Brakes are a little squishy and could use a good bleeding. Discovered that I need to replace the turn signal cam.

Still trying to figure out the gauges and reverse lights but that is for another topic in electrical......See ya there!

[71ChallengeHer]

Awesome.   

[grdprx]

Looking good man!  WOW!