Don's 1969 Charger Restoration

[mopar4don]

It worked out well for a temporary booth. You do need to be careful with it as it is VERY thin and will tear easily.
It tore in a couple of spots while setting it up but I just taped it up.

 

[threewood]

That metal work is awesome!! It is the small stuff that really makes these projects stand out. Great job!!

 

[mopar4don]

Getting ready to paint, but before I do that I wanted to get Resto Ricks undercoating sprayed inside the trunk.

 

[mopar4don]

And here is what it looks like after paint

 

[mopar4don]

A few more....

 

[mopar4don]

A HUGE THANK YOU! to my friend Ralph who did the painting

 

[SGTPaul]

Nice Don! Looks like I'm just falling farther behind you.... Isn't the sound deading material supposed to be painted over in the trunk? The untouched cars I've seen have had paint over the sound deading stuff.

 

[mopar4don]

Hi Sarge. Your not behind, I am the one chasing you.
I still have final gaps and metal work to complete before body work begins.

So the picture showing the sound deadening in the trunk IS after it was painted. I think the undercoating material absorbed the paint that's why it looks like it was not painted. I may have to give that area a couple more coats.

Thanks for the comment.

 

[Stevearino]

This car is a testament to something very very rare today. A combination of dogged persistence , patience, ingenuity and singular vision. Just amazing what you started with and where you are now Don.

 

[mopar4don]

Thanks Steve!
That really means a lot!

To anyone out there who needs some inspiration, or who just wants to see these qualities in action

Steve's builds are a testament to something very very rare today. A combination of dogged persistence , patience, ingenuity and singular vision. Just amazing what you started with and where you are now.

Go to Stevearino's youtube channel and see what he can do.



YOU SIR, have skills!

 

[Demonic]

What color is that again Don? Is it T3 Light Bronze?

 

[mopar4don]

What color is that again Don? Is it T3 Light Bronze?

T7 Dark Bronze Poly

 

[mopar4don]

Here is an update long overdue!

My deck lid needs some more attention, so I used a stud gun and pulled out a dent.
These 3 pics are what I have showing the process

So next I wanted to strip it to be sure there were no surprises!
I used a heat gun and putty knife to get the majority of the filler.
Then followed that with a wire wheel.

Overall its good. It just had a lot of filler

Here are a couple more pics showing the dented area

 

[blue69runner]

Good job. It looked like someone had danced on my trunk lid. Also, someone had punched out the lock to get access it looked like. Took a lot of work to get everything out. Grate job keep up the good work.

 

[ct71rr]

Nice! Great to see an update. Here’s what was hiding under bondo on my trunk lid:

 

[mopar4don]

Next up hood hinges.....

I was having a problem with the hood not closing properly.
When I would close the hood, the back edge along the cowl on the passenger side was not down all the way.
I would say it was up about a 1/4 of an inch.

So I removed both hinges and took the spring off. I checked all the joints and they seemed ok.
What I found was that the teeth were worn really bad!

This is the only pic I have showing how bad the teeth are worn. (zoom in to see the gap between the teeth)
Yes I know this pic shows the hinge in the open position but trust me they are just as bad when in the closed position.

Now it just so happens that I have a few extra sets of hinges.
You would think I could find a good set.... NOPE! They are all bad!

So I decided to fix these. And this blue hinge would be the test subject.

I had to do a LOT and I mean a LOT of research to come up with the right gear tooth shape.

Once I had the shape I drew it up in CAD/CAM then machined it into acrylic and tested it. NICE and SMOOTH!

So next I welded up the teeth, and made a fixture, then machined the new teeth.

A friend made up some new rivets and after machining the pivot holes I put it together and it worked perfectly!
NICE and SMOOTH!

So since it all worked I went ahead and picked a set of hinges. Machined new pivot holes for all the joints and welded up and machined new teeth epoxy primed everything and installed the rivets. I am happy to report that they work flawlessly on the car! And yes, when I close the hood, it truly closes all the way!

 

[mopar4don]

This is the only pic I have showing mushrooming the back side of the rivets

 

[johnpblack]

Let me first say, I have watched this forum for a couple of years before deciding to tackle a job like this.
Without the help and advice of those in this forum, I NEVER would have the desire to undertake such a huge project like this!
After reading and seeing all of the different resto threads, I have decided to start my own project thread!

This is what I started with
View attachment 110265

I saw and read where different members (Donny, Detmatt1, SGTPaul,) built their own chassis jig or body jig.
I liked the idea of everything being tied down and being able to reference back to factory specs.
I know it can be done by putting the car on jack stands (or other methods) but for me, (a beginner) I thought this would be the best way for me to go.

So I built a body jig to hold the car securely during disassembly.
The jig was originally a 4’x8’ table that I picked up at the local scrap yard. It was cut in half horizontally then put end to end to give me 4’x16’
It‘s made from 2x2 tubing with ¼ wall. And has leveling screws at every leg.
View attachment 110266

View attachment 110267

I cut the quarter panels off to get better access
View attachment 110268

View attachment 110269

Outer rockers are shot!
View attachment 110270

Trunk pan was patched long ago and will be replaced
View attachment 110271

So out it came!
View attachment 110272

Next, time to remove the cowl
View attachment 110273

Lots of pine needles and a mouse house
View attachment 110274

Rust damage around the base of the a-pillar, this will be fun to fix!
View attachment 110275

A diamond in the rough? I can only hope!
View attachment 110276

Any and all comments are welcome!

View attachment 110265 View attachment 110266 View attachment 110267 View attachment 110268 View attachment 110269 View attachment 110270 View attachment 110271 View attachment 110272 View attachment 110273 View attachment 110274 View attachment 110275

 

[johnpblack]

Let me first say, I have watched this forum for a couple of years before deciding to tackle a job like this.
Without the help and advice of those in this forum, I NEVER would have the desire to undertake such a huge project like this!
After reading and seeing all of the different resto threads, I have decided to start my own project thread!

This is what I started with
View attachment 110265

I saw and read where different members (Donny, Detmatt1, SGTPaul,) built their own chassis jig or body jig.
I liked the idea of everything being tied down and being able to reference back to factory specs.
I know it can be done by putting the car on jack stands (or other methods) but for me, (a beginner) I thought this would be the best way for me to go.

So I built a body jig to hold the car securely during disassembly.
The jig was originally a 4’x8’ table that I picked up at the local scrap yard. It was cut in half horizontally then put end to end to give me 4’x16’
It‘s made from 2x2 tubing with ¼ wall. And has leveling screws at every leg.
View attachment 110266

View attachment 110267

I cut the quarter panels off to get better access
View attachment 110268

View attachment 110269

Outer rockers are shot!
View attachment 110270

Trunk pan was patched long ago and will be replaced
View attachment 110271

So out it came!
View attachment 110272

Next, time to remove the cowl
View attachment 110273

Lots of pine needles and a mouse house
View attachment 110274

Rust damage around the base of the a-pillar, this will be fun to fix!
View attachment 110275

A diamond in the rough? I can only hope!
View attachment 110276

Any and all comments are welcome!

View attachment 110265 View attachment 110266 View attachment 110267 View attachment 110268 View attachment 110269 View attachment 110270 View attachment 110271 View attachment 110272 View attachment 110273 View attachment 110274 View attachment 110275 View attachment 110276

I love this! I'm undergoing the same kind of project!

 

[mopar4don]

@johnpblack it looks like you need to rebuild your hinges! That hood is up more than 1/4 inch!