Project '68

[KSChrgr68]

   starting up a thread so I can post updates on the progress of my charger restoration.  Just gonna start by posting pics of the shop on my property where I will store and work on the charger until I start the stripping of the body.  I'm going into this with some mechanical experience and a few tools.  But just like the charger rebuild itself, slowly I will build up these two things.  having this shop is the best part, a good place in which to make this dream my reality.  25X30' shop floor with shelves and benches to store things.  I will do my best to keep organized and keep track of my progress day by day when I get time to work on it.  lots of pics!    Looking forward to this rebuild even if it does hold a few nightmares for me down the road, its what I have always wanted...  Any tips and knowledge from ye Gods of chargers would be like scripture!  my ears are wide open, can I get an AMEN?

[Dans 68]

Amen! But then again, I'm just a disciple. 

I'm looking forward to your build. A nice, big shop sure does help. 

Dan

[bull]

Nice. Looks to be about 4x bigger than my space.

[Richard Cranium]

I suggest you start by cleaning the leaves and that non-car-related junk out first.   

[Belgium R/T -68]

Welcome to the site. Just finished my -68 project so I will try to assist in any way I can.

Per

[NHCharger]

Welcome to the site. Just finished (almost) my 71.
Bag and tag EVERY nut, bolt and part you take off the car, no matter how trivial it might seem.
Take lots of "before" pics, it will help when your trying to reassemble the car four years later.

[elacruze]

Here's my thread-I'm just about ready to put the engine and front suspension in.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,66411.msg744819.html#msg744819

[Silver R/T]

Having a shop dedicated to resto is a good start

[KSChrgr68]

got replacement tires for the car, old ones were shot from sitting flat for so long.  Going to roll the charger off the trailer into its home in the barn tomorrow afternoon 

[KSChrgr68]

so.. got the charger off the trailer   it was very hard to do so.. able to get the car inside the barn, shes locked up for the night safe and sound, gonna start stripping her tomorrow..  

[skip68]

Welcome to the site.    So, tell us the story about the car, how you got it and what are your build plans.   

LET THE FUN BEGIN ! ! !

[KSChrgr68]

been wanting a 1968 charger since high school days, circa 1996-2000.  my budget could have gotten me one , but for some reason i kept on getting mustangs to drive...  Graduated from HS, went to tech school twice, landed a nice job ive had for 3 years, able to get my awesome house, garage AND barn and manage my bills successfully...  So... started searching for a charger 2 months ago.  Would have liked a driveable one but its out of my immediate budget.  Sold my 1991 mustang GT to a kid out of dodge city for 2500 bucks, found the charger on craigslist 3 weeks ago, forked over 2k, and now it rests safely in my barn ready to be slowly restored to glory! 

Really worried about the frame, its in sore need of replacement, likely the entire bottom of the car is worthless, if it comes to it i may have to buy a shell body, but we will see after its stripped down..  Hoping to keep the body but i dont know yet.  Someday I would like to paint it a very bright blue (favorite) color and go black with the interior.  engine and tranny minor modifications to add HP and performance, and likely a better front suspension kit.  fender tag states that the car was metallic green, with vinyl green roof, and all green interior, bleh..   

Ill pop the trunk tomorrow, shoot some pics, so yall can see how bad it is, the leaf spring mounts broke the rear frame rail on the passenger side, and the drivers is shoved up, so they are up in the trunk     Hoping once the rear end is removed there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

more to come!
Robin

[terrible one]

Now that frame rails are available, repairing the rotten frame will be a lot easier than just a little while ago. I can see you needing full quarter panels too.

Was it wrecked on the side with the missing fender? 

Looking forward to seeing the tear down! 

[KSChrgr68]

was told the charger met a deer, a most unfortunate deer... that charger probably punted the said deer many feet..


removing the entire front assembly as its toast..

[PatrickPeeters]

Did they lower it, looks like the frame is on the ground.
Would be easy the change the wheels without needing it to be jacked up.
Wondering what happened to it.

[68blue]

Great looking area, I'm envious as my area is pretty cramped. You can't take enough pictures or do too much work bagging and tagging parts.

[KSChrgr68]

probably room for another!  id happily store a nice charger along side her as inspiration 

[KSChrgr68]

being that the leaf springs are broken AND up in the trunk, im guessing alot of the frame being so low comes from that.  the tie rods up front are broken as well, along with the front shocks being shot.   so the wheels up front are leaning in at an awkward angle, likely why there is no ground clearance at this time..

going to stay indoors tonite, these chilly nights are a fast track to pneumonia without a suitable heating source out in the shed.  
However, ill go out and get pics of the trunk so ya'll can see the sadness of it..

update:  mounting a flourescent light just above the rear of the car to fully light the area for future metal work, still cant find my elusive power cord.. 

[tan top]

got some metal work going on there Dude    keep the pictures coming !! love looking at this stuff 

[dkn1997]

been wanting a 1968 charger since high school days, circa 1996-2000.  my budget could have gotten me one , but for some reason i kept on getting mustangs to drive...  Graduated from HS, went to tech school twice, landed a nice job ive had for 3 years, able to get my awesome house, garage AND barn and manage my bills successfully...  So... started searching for a charger 2 months ago.  Would have liked a driveable one but its out of my immediate budget.  Sold my 1991 mustang GT to a kid out of dodge city for 2500 bucks, found the charger on craigslist 3 weeks ago, forked over 2k, and now it rests safely in my barn ready to be slowly restored to glory! 

Really worried about the frame, its in sore need of replacement, likely the entire bottom of the car is worthless, if it comes to it i may have to buy a shell body, but we will see after its stripped down..  Hoping to keep the body but i dont know yet.  Someday I would like to paint it a very bright blue (favorite) color and go black with the interior.  engine and tranny minor modifications to add HP and performance, and likely a better front suspension kit.  fender tag states that the car was metallic green, with vinyl green roof, and all green interior, bleh..   

Ill pop the trunk tomorrow, shoot some pics, so yall can see how bad it is, the leaf spring mounts broke the rear frame rail on the passenger side, and the drivers is shoved up, so they are up in the trunk     Hoping once the rear end is removed there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

more to come!
Robin

You know....this is exactly the type of car we were talking about on the 2nd gen charger on 2009 charger thread....  a car that's decent up top, but rotted down low.    that's not in everyone's budget at 55 grand though.

There is a company that makes a full frame for B body mopars. it's all tubular and comes with modern suspension, rack, ford 9", etc...  there's another member here building one at the moment.  He paid about 9 grand for his...but the economy is slow so you never know what kind of deal you may get.. would seem like your car is a perfect candidate.

[KSChrgr68]

could be promising idea.. didnt see much info on the frame though.. any info on where to get those?

[bull]

Gadzooks! That poor Charger is hammered.

[dkn1997]

could be promising idea.. didnt see much info on the frame though.. any info on where to get those?

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,63123.0.html

[KSChrgr68]

put in some time on the charger tonite, got some lighting mounted to help me keep from cutting the crap out of my self on rust.. lol
took off the driver door and hood, cleaned out the driver side back seat floor area.  Tried to take the driver fender off but ran into some issues getting in behind the front valance, its banged up pretty bad.    bagged and tagged the bolts 

pics aplenty!

[Richard Cranium]

I've junked better cars. 

Man, I give you a lot of credit taking on that project.