Hi, `68 Charger R/T

[nihil]

Hi folks, new to the board. I have a `68 Charger R/T (440/727) that my father bought new in `68. He gave it to me several years ago and I put off picking her up until I found a house with a large enough garage I could work on it. My original intent was to restore it myself and give it back to him, but those plans changed in March when he passed on.

I brought her up here, and due to lack of facilities have let a local shop familiar with cars of the era take care of getting her back on the road. I drove her for the first time in about 18 years a few weeks ago, and damn I missed that sound. After a trans leak is fixed she will be coming home so I can strip the interior and trim, then it's off to the body shop to get new floor pans, rear valence under the back window, and trunk pan. Though I think I might keep her here long enough to attend Monster Mopar here in St. Louis.

Enough with the babble, here's some pics I took after hosing off several years worth of crud and before bringing her up here:

Also in the stable is my daily driver, a lightly modified B6 platform Audi A4, and a very modified Jeep TJ.

 

[Redpolara]

Welcome nihil,i'd be pretty happy if my dad gave me something that cool.

 

[detmatt1]

Welcome!, Awesome car, `68's are my favorites, sorry about your father, restoring that car will be a tribute to him. Post pics of your progress.

 

[wannadrag]

Nice and welcome

 

[440gtx]

Great looking ride, WELCOME ABOARD

 

[Propwash]

Cool ride...Great to hear it's still in your hands. Good luck on your resto!

 

[1badstroker]

Very cool. Welcome to the site. Keep us posted with the progress. That is one of only a few burg. Chargers I have seen. Build it as a tribute to your Father.

 

[Chargermoneypit]

Welcome. I am in the middle of a full blown nut and bolt rotesseries restoration on my 68 RT. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Donny]

Very cool, condolences to you and your family on Dad's passing.

 

[moparstuart]

welcome love that 68

 

[nihil]

Thanks all for the kind words. I won't be able to do a full frame-up restoration for the moment, so I'm just going to replace the rusted bits, do what rustproofing I can, and throw some paint on her. Going to stick with the original burgundy, it's a beautiful color for that car. Also going to keep the black R/T stripes on the ***.

The passenger side door has a -huge- gash in it from an accident I witnessed when I was about four or five years old (1980'ish). A white Jeep CJ with a gold eagle on the hood slid down an icy hill and plowed right into it. My parents were out and the babysitter let me play outside in the snow (she was inside not paying **** for attention). I found a door that some guy had sitting in a barn for ~20 years and picked it up a few weeks ago. That will be going on as soon as she gets home.

The tires currently on there are dry and cracked, so she will be getting new tires and I'm thinking about wrapping them around a set of these:

I'm hoping a 15x8 will clear disc brakes (oem/era parts upgrade). I don't want to go too large on wheel diameter because I don't like the low profile tire look on old muscle. Low profile looks great on euro cars, but old American muscle cars look better with some meat under them in my opinion.

And just for kicks, one of my favorite clips from one of my favorite shows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJRcuoNHl_k

 

[69 Runner]

I've owned a Charger, grew up in TEXAS, and never, NEVER danced like that :edgy:

 

[moparstuart]

I've owned a Charger, grew up in TEXAS, and never, NEVER danced like that :edgy:

:rolling::rolling::rolling::rolling::rolling:

 

[68 Roadrunner]

Welcome1

 

[nihil]

As of last night, she's home!

I cleaned out the trunk and found that a good portion of the trunk pan will need to be replaced. Vacuumed up all the rust dust and hit it with some Rustoleum. I know there are spots on the floor pan that need new metal. Still need to put the "new" door on. I think there's a short on the oil pressure sensor circuit, it dropped to zero and about gave me a heart attack.

Anyone know a badass body guy who will work for peanuts and beer?

 

[moparstuart]

come out to monster mopar at gateway

 

[nihil]

I'm seriously thinking about it, as long as it doesn't rain (valence under back window is shot). I probably wont be able to find a body guy until after that anyway.

Need to do something about overheating too, took her to the girlfriends parents house last night and when I parked she started pissing coolant out of the overflow tube. I might get berated for it not being stock on a numbers matching R/T, but I'm considering a nice thick aluminum radiator and electric fan setup.

 

[1badgtx]

You got a bad *** car man....My dad never gave me anything like that...All he ever gave me was a ride to my job so i could buy a car!!You should fix it up and keep it...After all it was your dads car...I,m sure he,s looking down at you right now,watching you and looking forward to seeing that fat burnout!!!!!!!Gota love the 68 r/t!!!
Bill 67GTX

 

[moparstuart]

I'm seriously thinking about it, as long as it doesn't rain (valence under back window is shot). I probably wont be able to find a body guy until after that anyway.

Need to do something about overheating too, took her to the girlfriends parents house last night and when I parked she started pissing coolant out of the overflow tube. I might get berated for it not being stock on a numbers matching R/T, but I'm considering a nice thick aluminum radiator and electric fan setup.

if you dont bring the car come spectate , look me up you cant miss my car .

 

[roadrunnerman]

welcome,sorry about your dad.you're right that color does look good with that car.if you need any help just look up and ask.if not,go to plan b and ask anyone of us here.