New guy---new project.

[super_dave]

Hi guys, so I buy this place with a barn 5 years ago and look whats inside.  I'm having this car restored for me and my son.  I'm posting pics of whats happened to date, and will update as it happens.  I'm sure I may be asking for some help on some items, and it seems like this forum is the right place to be.  Here's what we got to work with.  Thanks for your interest, Dave.

[super_dave]

And here's some more. 

[moparstuart]

 welcome and nice find   

[BronzeOnSteelies]

Nice bonus you found with the property.

As we like to say "that will all buff out".

Welcome to the board, a lot of answers are available here.

[FlatbackFanatic]

Welcome! Good luck on the resto!!

[Belgium R/T -68]

Welcome to the forum Always nice to see another Charger saved.

Per

[PocketThunder]

Holy Crap Super Dave!!   

383 or 318 car?

[super_dave]

318 SE, factory air, 100 % complete, everything.  Now just a pile of money to make it better.  Having a 440 built, need an interior kit, any recommendations, and suspension.....and etc....  Just starting so lots of thinking and shopping. 

[bordin34]

Awesome looking project. Just a little warning sort of before you get deep into the project. If you just found it in your barn like you said, I would have the vin run first before you do anything. If you don't and you fix it up and put crazy money into it, you could try registering it only to find out it is a stolen car and be forced to give everything up. It has happened before. Good Luck

[Steelshanks]

 

Check with the DMV. I know that once a car is unclaimed for so long or not on "Non-Op" it is free game but you dont wanna invest too much in it before it is legally yours.

[john.v]

Welcome Super dave  ,

i am getting all my steel from Dixie and they are also dealer for -Legendary Auto Interiors-
let them make a estimate for you.

Dixie Restoration Parts
148 Maple Lake Drive
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone -(770) 975-9898
Phone Hours: M-F 10am-8pm EST
Sa 8am-12pm EST
mail@dixierestorationparts.com

[1969chargerrtse]

I guess it's fair to say that it's a good thing you are Super Dave instead of just Dave.
Pretty car, great to see another one saved.  Good luck and post pictures through the whole thing please.  

One rare item is the chrome rocker mouldings. 

[RTDaddy]

Welcome aboard Dave.  As others suggest, get a clear title first.  As to interiors, Legendary are all I use in mine, (have done 8 so far, most in the shape yours is starting in).  I do not know how close you are to Carlisle, Pa., or Charlotte, Nc., you can get a deal on some "show specials" there.  Good luck, and any questions, post up.

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

[Silver R/T]

welcome and good luck on resto. Would be nice to see it restored

[OneofNoneRT]

Welcome and good luck.. And I second the Dixie Resto parts..( Your Gonna need em whew,,) .. Good people!

[69bronzeT5]

Welcome to the site! Good luck with the project! You picked a '69 so you're all good in my books! Me and my dad know the feeling of rust oh so well

[super_dave]

Hey thanks for all the input guys, appreciatte it.  You know I don't have a title!!!  Car was brought up here to Ontario from SC about 8 years ago, been sitting ever since.  Just met with the resto shop, may be too much money to do this thing, funny how first quote never lasts long.  I cannot do the work myself, so have to pay for a lot of labour.  Mind you they are a great shop, just with the price they want seems I may be better off just buying a complete car.  I may be selling this one.  Sorry to disappoint, but $75,000 - $80,000.00 is just too much.  I'd go $55,000.00 for one thats worth it, but an original 318 SE, I think it's too much.  What do you guys think.  For $80,000.00 I'd have

complete body work, media blasting etc..., new floors and trunk, roof skin, and some other bits, new interior, new suspension, new 5 speed tremec, 500 HP turnkey engine, disc brakes, AR rims, vinyl roof etc... all assembled and ready to go, plus taxes and probably more misc items.  Just doesn't add up.  My original budget was $55,000.00 but today I was told I will need $18-20,000.00 on assembly,  wish I knew that up front........, so bye bye project.  ARRRRGH. 

The good thing about the charger I have is it was 100 % complete, never worked on and never in an accident, every piece is there, even the flip up lights worked etc...  how could it cost $80,000.00 to rebuild and new drive train?  I budget $35-$40,000.00 on rebuild and $16,000.00 on drivetrain. 

Dave

[PocketThunder]

Hey thanks for all the input guys, appreciatte it.  You know I don't have a title!!!  Car was brought up here to Ontario from SC about 8 years ago, been sitting ever since.  Just met with the resto shop, may be too much money to do this thing, funny how first quote never lasts long.  I cannot do the work myself, so have to pay for a lot of labour.  Mind you they are a great shop, just with the price they want seems I may be better off just buying a complete car.  I may be selling this one.  Sorry to disappoint, but $75,000 - $80,000.00 is just too much.  I'd go $55,000.00 for one thats worth it, but an original 318 SE, I think it's too much.  What do you guys think.  For $80,000.00 I'd have

complete body work, media blasting etc..., new floors and trunk, roof skin, and some other bits, new interior, new suspension, new 5 speed tremec, 500 HP turnkey engine, disc brakes, AR rims, vinyl roof etc... all assembled and ready to go, plus taxes and probably more misc items.  Just doesn't add up.  My original budget was $55,000.00 but today I was told I will need $18-20,000.00 on assembly,  wish I knew that up front........, so bye bye project.  ARRRRGH. 

The good thing about the charger I have is it was 100 % complete, never worked on and never in an accident, every piece is there, even the flip up lights worked etc...  how could it cost $80,000.00 to rebuild and new drive train?  I budget $35-$40,000.00 on rebuild and $16,000.00 on drivetrain. 

Dave

Holy Crap!  Dont spend that much money on a restoration when you can buy a very nice R/T for that kind of money.  Even a 68 Hemi Car    See here http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,63576.0.html

[Ghoste]

Ontario?  What part?
Oh, and welcome to the site. 

[super_dave]

I'm exactly one hour from Buffalo, NY, between St. Catharines and Toronto. 

That 68 looks awefully nice.......

The canadian and american dollars are almost even now, so buying from States looks more inviting.  I'll decide what to do with the charger I got by then I hope. 

[Ghoste]

I have a brother in Hamilton but I'm a few hours west of you. 
Good luck with the project, I'm sure it's going to work out okay.

[Troy]

You've found the dark side of buying a project car when you lack the skills to do all the work yourself - shops charge $$$$ to work on rusty cars! That's one reason why it (almost) never makes sense to "restore" anything that isn't reasonably rare (and expensive) like a Hemi car. The quote you got is actually about half of some that I have seen. It's a bit better if you only have to farm out the body and paint. It's much less if you aim for a nice driver instead of making every part new. I'd say you'd have a lot less than $16k in a drive train too - unless you're going all out with a hot street/strip big block. A decent mild 440 build with an automatic is easy to do for $4-5k or less. You could put a 360 in place of the 318 for a lot less.

Those floors look pretty rusty - have you checked the frame rails? Most all of the pieces are being reproduced these days but they do cost money and that's a bunch of labor to patch and weld. Just because a car can be rebuilt doesn't always mean that it should (or, more accurately, that you should). Some people like a challenge but a lot of us have to live within our limitations.

Troy

[super_dave]

The frame rails are in good shape thankfully.  We're looking at about $6500 in metal, plus labour.  I'm pretty sure this project is dead, just doesn't add up.   Even if they got it back to me in a rolling chassis for $35,000.00, I would still be into $50,000.00 doing alot of the reassembly myself by the time all the pieces are put together. 

[Ghoste]

So what is your next step, a different shop or a different project?

[PocketThunder]

So what is your next step, a different shop or a different project?

He should sell it to you Ghoste!