Paint was a'flyin' this past weekend...

[Blusmbl]

Bob (duster340) has been doing the sheetmetal replacement and bodywork on my poor '68 Charger. Been there since November.  Fought with aftermarket panels that didn't fit, uncovering more rust spots, and me changing my mind every 15 minutes about what color I wanted to paint the darn thing.

This past Friday and Saturday he sprayed it with 2 coats of base, 3 coats of clear.  Still needs wetsanding & buffing, but it already looks phenominal.









Sanding already started.

As you can clearly see, it's not green anymore.  I just couldn't do it, I've seen a couple nice GG-1 green '68's, but it wasn't for me.  So, midnight black it is.  I thought about Landy colors for a good while, but he won't let anybody put his name on the car without his permission, and I didn't have the budget to restore mine to a clone of one of his cars.

Going to have a flat hood on it (no scoop), a stock restored interior, and I'm still up in the air about a 6 pt bar.  We'll see.  Either way, it's getting a 493" EZ-headed (thanks Dwayne!), roller cammed stroker, backed by a liberty-modified 833.  Already has a Dana in it thanks to Dr. Diff, too.

I've owned it since December 27th, 2001, and have experienced almost everything you can think of in terms of parts failures, grudge races, and stupidity with it.  Beat a coworker's 03 Cobra with it, my buddy Spencer riding shotgun.  Broke it at Milan on two different occasions, and spit a driveshaft out once with a Moparts member in the passenger seat! He (Rich) helped me for weeks and weeks when I ported the heads, swapped cams, and did a bunch of other work, getting it from mid 14's, to a best-ever 13.00 @ 107.  Not bad for a boat anchor.

And now, 5 years later, it sits in Bob's garage wearing fresh coats of paint, merely a shell of it's former self.  I know better, though.

This car has a soul, and I'm elated that it's finally being cared for.  It's come a long way from sitting outside in my driveway for months at a time, or in Roush's parking lot with the trans in the trunk and a chain sitting on the K-member...

Thanks for listening. 

[firefighter3931]

That looks FANTASTIC Nick ! Man, what a transformation.....black is killer on a '68  I'm likeing the drivetrain build as well  Whatchya going to do for induction ? Those EZ's are taller than an Eddy/stock head which will limit manifold selection, fwiw.


Ron

[Rack]

THat's the color I'm gonna paint my '68!!!


Great to see it cuz now I know how freakin' badass my car is gonna look!

[Blusmbl]

Thanks Ron, it's been several years in the making.    I still can't decide if I'm going to put a 6pt bar in it or not, we'll see.

Was planning on using a Holley SD intake, ported out by yours truly to get everyhing to fit under the stock hood.  A victor definitely won't work.  My Performer RPM on a stock-headed 440 with a 3" drop base filter fits fine, the Holley intake is about .55" shorter than the RPM so I should be okay.

Then, if I ever want to go nuts with it, I'll have the heads CNC ported out to -1 size, use one of the Indy big single 4's, and put a '68 SS scoop on it.

[BrianShaughnessy]

 

[Blusmbl]

 

[BigBlockSam]

This car has a soul, 

i agree. thats how i feel about my cars. your car looks f-ing great! 

[jaak]

Congrats!!!! I know your thrilled. Looks great!!

Jason

[firefighter3931]

Was planning on using a Holley SD intake, ported out by yours truly to get everyhing to fit under the stock hood.  A victor definitely won't work.  My Performer RPM on a stock-headed 440 with a 3" drop base filter fits fine, the Holley intake is about .55" shorter than the RPM so I should be okay.

The SD should work. I'm gonna use the SD on mine with a 1in spacer and 1.25in drop base air cleaner...my measurements indicate that it will clear....you will be fine ; maybe even room for a 1/2in spacer.

I posted some pics awhile back of my rollbar...don't know if you saw the thread. For what you're building and the way you'll be driving....the bar is a good idea. I'm sure you allready know this but i figured i'd just throw my  in anyway. 

Ron


Ps. Nick, here's the thread i was referring to with pics in case you're interested.

[terrible one]

Great color choice man! Black is hard to beat! 

[Rack]

Was planning on using a Holley SD intake, ported out by yours truly to get everyhing to fit under the stock hood.  A victor definitely won't work.  My Performer RPM on a stock-headed 440 with a 3" drop base filter fits fine, the Holley intake is about .55" shorter than the RPM so I should be okay.

The SD should work. I'm gonna use the SD on mine with a 1in spacer and 1.25in drop base air cleaner...my measurements indicate that it will clear....you will be fine ; maybe even room for a 1/2in spacer.

I posted some pics awhile back of my rollbar...don't know if you saw the thread. For what you're building and the way you'll be driving....the bar is a good idea. I'm sure you allready know this but i figured i'd just throw my  in anyway. 

Ron


Ps. Nick, here's the thread i was referring to with pics in case you're interested.

Not sure, but I think this is the thread Ron is referring to...


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,1940.0.html


After reading that thread I'm definitely putting rollbars in my charger. 


Hopefully I can have something set up where the backseat will have easier access though.

[firefighter3931]

Not sure, but I think this is the thread Ron is referring to...


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,1940.0.html


After reading that thread I'm definitely putting rollbars in my charger. 


Hopefully I can have something set up where the backseat will have easier access though.

Thanks Bobby....i forgot to link the thread. 


Ron

[Silver R/T]

looks nice and straight

[tan top]

looks good

[Blusmbl]

I posted some pics awhile back of my rollbar...don't know if you saw the thread. For what you're building and the way you'll be driving....the bar is a good idea. I'm sure you allready know this but i figured i'd just throw my  in anyway. 

Oh, trust me, I've saved all the pics of your rollbar for reference.  I agree it would be a wise move on my part.  Already have the subframe connectors, but it won't be enough when I throw another 150-200hp at it compared to what it's making now. 

Thanks again everybody! 

[Lowprofile]

The car looks great, bro! Can't wait to see the finished product! Black is da bomb'!      

[Mefirst]

Sweet ride Nothing looks as basass as a black Charger... Go with the rollcage, you never know.. and it will help tp plant that power from the dynamo to the rear wheels...

/Tom

[2fast4u]

   You know what they say!  Once you go black.............