68 Charger R/T project - Update it runs!

[BLK 68 R/T]

Thanks Pat.

I actually have your silver Charger as the desktop background on my computer. Great inspiration piece to look at! I fell in love with it when I saw it in Mopar muscle a few years back, was always curious what wheel/tire combo it had, as the magazine article only says 17s front 18s back, and I finally found that searching around on here. So what I ordered was based off what you had, since I planned on doing the 2 in drop suspension as well. By the way did you have to install different wheel studs for those wheels? I found that the circle racing wheels that I ordered needed to be upgraded to 9/16 x 18 studs and quite a bit longer than stock as well.

Now if only I had the same motor as your Charger....

[BLK 68 R/T]

Nice job on those heater controls.

Thanks!

So far the new PDB kit and the air conditioning kit have only required minor tweaks to make stuff fit properly. I guess that is the name of the game when installing reproduction and aftermarket upgrades though.

[keepat]

Thanks Pat.

I actually have your silver Charger as the desktop background on my computer. Great inspiration piece to look at! I fell in love with it when I saw it in Mopar muscle a few years back, was always curious what wheel/tire combo it had, as the magazine article only says 17s front 18s back, and I finally found that searching around on here. So what I ordered was based off what you had, since I planned on doing the 2 in drop suspension as well. By the way did you have to install different wheel studs for those wheels? I found that the circle racing wheels that I ordered needed to be upgraded to 9/16 x 18 studs and quite a bit longer than stock as well.

Now if only I had the same motor as your Charger....

Yes the Silver Charger had longer then stock studs and they where 9/16.
Looking forward to seing post good luck with the build!
Thank you!
Pat

[BLK 68 R/T]

Got some more work done to the Charger over the past few weeks. Lots of careful measuring before drilling holes.


Got the holes drilled in the firewall for the new A/C box, just need to clean up all the dust and paint the exposed metal with some touch up paint.



New holes drilled in the insulation pad, total of 3 holes is required. The original holes is where the new A/C lines go through - top left 2. The 2 vertical holes are where the new heater core lines go. The top right hole is an original mounting hole that gets enlarged for wiring to pass through. Bottom left is a new hole for the drain pipe, and the one just above it to the right is an existing mounting hole which gets used to mount the new box assembly.



New assembly mounted

[BLK 68 R/T]

I finally got all of the suspension and wheels/tires installed over the last few weeks. Also installed all the brake lines and hooked up the emergency brake cables. Been working on assembling the rest of the motor as well prepping it for installation. I will post pictures of the engine when I get the heads on and rocker gear all figured out and installed. Going with a Hughes cam and roller rocker setup.









Started to put the dash all back together so it can be installed. New tic-toc-tach from Charger Specialties.

[JB400]

Looks like it's coming along nicely

[Bob T]

Looks like it's coming along nicely

I reckon. Dash and wheels looks good.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Looks like it's coming along nicely

I reckon. Dash and wheels looks good.

Thank you!

My plan is to get it running and then it will probably get blocked out and primed again before paint. Then it will be time to assemble the rest of the car and get it on the road. Can't hardly wait for that day!

[tan top]

looking good 

[MxRacer855]

Beautiful! 

[BLK 68 R/T]

Hello everyone, been a few months since my last update. Got busy with summer outside work and a bedroom remodel project - thank god it's about done!  Finally got a chance to tinker on the car again this past weekend. Rebuilt steering box is in, FF stage 3 box. Dash is all together and installed, lots of extra room on the workbench again. Still need to button up some wiring under the dash now that it is in, like hooking up the a/c controls and what not. Also started to test fit some more of the CCA a/c parts so I can drill holes and make sure everything fits properly before the engine goes in. Motor is almost done, just need to order head gaskets and then measure for pushrods. Then it can be fully assembled, painted and installed.

[472 R/T SE]

I have a Beaverton Dodge license plate frame too.  It's not in the greatest shape, pitting. 

Someone gave it to me.  If I find it, I can send it to you.  If anything, you can maybe hang it on the wall.


Bryan Bickmore ( old Beaverton Dodge ) is where I bought my crate motor. 



Beaverton, Oregon.  Those pix you posted look like eastern Oregon?  I'm across the river from Portland...Vancouver, Wa.

[BLK 68 R/T]

That would be cool to have the license plate frame. Not eastern Oregon...but close, eastern Washington actually.

[hemi68charger]

Very nice thread.... 

[472 R/T SE]

That would be cool to have the license plate frame. Not eastern Oregon...but close, eastern Washington actually.

I'll save this post & hopefully remember where I put it?  The post & the frame.   

[MxRacer855]

Love the wheels! 

[67440chrg]

Your doing a lot of good work on your car. Keep it up and keep us informed.

[tan top]

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

Thanks for the comments. Progress has been a little slow over the last few months so not much to update on. Going into fall soon so I will hopefully be able to spend some more time on the car soon. I'm hoping to get it painted this winter. I did order my head gaskets the other day so once those get here I can bolt the heads on and measure for my push rods and get those ordered.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Well, I finally was able to get my pushrods measured and ordered. Here are all the tools (and my new pushrods) I borrowed from my Dad to measure with along with the checking lifter and adjustable pushrod.



Test fitting everything together to see if there will be any rubbing anywhere. Looks good on these 2 anyways.



Rocker arms with my side shim measurements written on them.



Timing chain



I also have my engine paint so I can get it painted soon. Planning on doing a gasket port match before I assemble the heads and bolt the intake on for the final time.

[BLK 68 R/T]

Been a while since my last update, but finally made some more progress.

Well after careful consideration, I decided that it was probably not the best idea to paint my engine in a small shop that is heated with a wood stove 

So after waiting a few months for some warm weather, we finally had a weekend in the high 60s and I was finally able to get it painted. 

[BLK 68 R/T]

Exciting weekend, I finally finished block sanding the car and painted it over the weekend. Now the color sanding starts, followed by buffing and then final assembly can begin.

1 coat of dark primer sealer went on, followed by 2 coats of base, then 3 coats of clear.

[keepat]

Looks awesome, you have got to be so excited to finally have it painted and to be that close to being on the road!
Congrats!
Pat

[BLK 68 R/T]

Thank you.

Yes, I'm pretty stoked to start putting it back together and get it on the road.

[moparnation74]

Car looks amazing