Rolling Thunder's Charger Restoration Thread *PICS* *UPDATE!*

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well I took another baby step today -  I managed to mount the A/C bulkhead fitting I've been putting off and got the grille back on the car.      Tomorrow will be the front bumper and starting on the forward wiring harness.

Will take pics tomorrow of the progress - 

Anyone else notice how the car looks completely bare until the grille goes in ?  Not sure why but the car but looks really incomplete until that pount.   

[69bronzeT5]

Yep, my Charger looked the same way I think it's because the grille is such a cool feature of second gen Chargers

[Supercharged Riot]

How's the car coming man?

[Rolling_Thunder]

Slow - been working a lot at the store as well as had midterms...   been busy.   but it is coming along.   

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well I finally dug into this thread again ....      Wanted to update everyone...   Alot has happened since my project stalled once again...         I am getting different feedback on the wheels - specifically if they will clear my proposed brake upgrade...     I decided to go with a hydroboost afterall - so I ordered the mounting bracket and some fittings.

I found a P/S pump that will work so I can run a mounted reservoir instead of external...     

I also got a new job...    I now work for the Dept. of Homeland Security...    so that and taking my last 28 units this semester I have been busy busy...    but the good news is I am saving some coin to finish this beast up... 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - plans changed yet again....     long story short I am always spending more money on things instead of finishing this damn car....      BUT - I just got a new toy for the Charger today...     Looks like my Charger will be getting a Viper spec T-56...    I am going to rebuild it (had typical 3rd gear issue due to weak fork) and remove the current 5-speed and install the 6 speed...      All in all I will need another bellhousing, pressure plate, clutch disc, driveshaft, and slave cylinder...     other than that the parts from the 5 speed should work just fine (hydraulic linkage).  The existing 5-speed will most likely find it's way into my A12 Road Runner clone....    I already have a 3.91 sure grip that will make its way into the Charger with the T-56...   should make it a very nice cruiser...      the end hope is for forced induction but that will seemingly have to wait until the budget allows...   


I went down to Classic Industries (15 mins from mi casa) and plan on getting a lot of the parts for mt RR from there...       

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - finally got off my ass and did something for the Charger today...     I guess getting the T56 yesterday lit a fire under my ass....    felt like doing something and decided to try to un-f*ck my hydroboost situation...        for those who skipped some of my thread - I purchased a general application hydro - but the pushrod length was incorrect for my master cylinder application...    so I decided to fix this issue...       

So I removed my master cylinder i had mounted on my Charger and for the hydroboost out of the shed...      I measured how much needed to go and disassembled the hydro -  cut and ground down the pushrod and got everything together - fits like a glove now...    tomorrow I'll mount it in the car with my aluminum mounting plate, get the pedal pushrod figured out and start measuring for my hydroboost lines (I already have all the necessary fittings)   

I finally reinstalled my make-shift power steering reservoir and it fits the engine really nice - going to take it off tomorrow and drop it off to have it powder coated. Looks like I'll have to weld one more fitting on the power steering pump outlet....     going to convert it to a -6AN like the rest of the fittings

Nice to actually get something done - I've stalled on this project for way too long...   

[472 R/T SE]

When are you joining the military? 

[grdprx]

Anyone else notice how the car looks completely bare until the grille goes in ?  Not sure why but the car but looks really incomplete until that pount.    

That's the Charger's face!   LoL

I'd be interested in the front harness routing, I need to do mine..  :2thumb:

Edit - Crap, I didn't realize that post was a year old, my bad.. Stupid iPod - little screen

[Rolling_Thunder]

When are you joining the military? 

the original plan was to enlist in the Air Force but long story short the Army is making me a lot better deal - plus i'm like 6 units away from my degree so I decided to finish college first before going to OCS. So...    next year looks like.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - after class today I actually did something on my Charger...    feels good to know something got done today...    I was dreading this hydroboost system and the brake lines...       but they are done as of today - I got the hydroboost mounted, installed the -6AN banjo fittings, and made new brake lines for it...     Master Cylinder is obviously installed as well. I also finally installed my modified power steering pump reservoir which will save me from running a remote mount reservoir.  

Guess I'm one of the cool kids now!!!   Power Brakes!

Forgive the dirt in these photos - the car has sat for way too long...   but you get the idea of how things will look when done...     it's getting there.







Content Added for Archival Reasons

Finally got around to that (adapting a P/S box fitting)...    

I went with a -6AN x 1/2-20 for the pressure line and I believe a -6AN x 11/16-18 for the return...      this is the one that needs to be drilled out for the relief spring so protrude into...      




After Drilling...    



The drilling was done on a typical drill press - nothing exotic...    then I just drilled down as deep as i needed....     I measured the depth of the old fitting and found it is goes until about the mating surface between the fitting and the pump itself...      so I drilled the new fitting accordingly...     not rocket science.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - I've been doing a lot of work on the Charger lately...    haven't posted much (obviously) but just wanted to update everything...     I fired up the hemi today!   There is still a ton of things to do - most importantly is figuring out the upper radiator hose and waiting for the correct alternator pigtail to show up. Apparently sometime chrysler changed their alternator plug design...    YAY...       

I'll fill everyone in wish all the problems I have run into lately - but right now I'm just going to relish in my own personal victory. 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Here are a couple pics...          Here are the HID lights installed.




Here is a before and after on the wiper arms...     took a surprisingly long time to polish these




Here's a photo of the power steering lines as they sit - might go with braided lines for the return and add a cooler in the future

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Looking good Alex! 

[tan top]

nice work      looks good     

[200MPH]

Here are a couple pics...          Here are the HID lights installed.




Here is a before and after on the wiper arms...     took a surprisingly long time to polish these




Here's a photo of the power steering lines as they sit - might go with braided lines for the return and add a cooler in the future

Again this the greatest forum ever!!  I Love the approach you are taking to your Charger.. I  do have a question though, where did you get the HID set up? thats looks cool

[Rolling_Thunder]

I ended up getting a cheap kit off of Ebay - not exactly what I wanted but it'll do for now. Autodymanics makes a great kit but I decided to go cheap - upgrade later   

[ChgrSteve67]

Awesome work!

[71charger]

I like the economy to.

Before we were looking at 25-30k rolling shell on a 68 charger, back when i looked. Now, I can get a driver with no rust for 25-30k.

So im in to buy 1!

Good luck with project...

Btw - Post pictures

I paid 4k for a runner with no rust

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well, made an alternator charging wire today, hooked that up, alt plug showed up so that was changed, and wires up the electronic gas pedal...    Only thing left to do is wire in the diagnostic port, get an IAT sensor, and figure out a better upper radiator hose.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - finally found something that was missing from my crate engine...   the coil covers - found them locally and installed them today. I had to clearance the driver's side cover to fit around the heater hose fittings. I also spent some time installing factory style tips from Accurate LTD - polished stainless ones.

Coil covers installed





Clearance for the heater hoses




Factory style tips installed

[Rolling_Thunder]

Also - need opinions on a thought I have...        I have a set of 15" steel wheels...    was thinking of having them painted white and put them on the car with some stock center caps...       opinions ?

[knitz01]

That is one sweet looking car.... lov the frt spoiler 

[Finn]

Also - need opinions on a thought I have...        I have a set of 15" steel wheels...    was thinking of having them painted white and put them on the car with some stock center caps...       opinions ?

If you get some good side shots of the wheels and car, I can photoshop the color and put them on for you. 

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Great work! That smoothed out firewall looks sweet.    I might have to copy your polished wiper arms, looks so much nicer.