'69 charger r/t-se: Building my dream car

good video. your right, that motor sounds healthy like it wants to run wide open on a long stretch of highway

Yeah !! Speedy ! Where are ya ??

Is this thread dead?



Mike..

Damn sorry guys I've just been buried under work and life lately, but me, the Charger, and this thread aren't dead yet! Haha

For the past year I've been apprenticing under master fabricator and automotive artist Randy Grubb (the guy that built Leno's Tank Car among many other amazing creations) learning metal shaping, design, and all kinds of fabrication. So as promised, I've been making all kinds of killer stuff for the Chevelle and using it as a test run for all the fabrication I wanted to do with the Charger. So the short version is, yes the Charger is still here, it's just patiently waiting its turn haha

So without boring you guys too much with the fine Chevy details, here's a quick rundown of the major projects and changes with the old battle axe:

Initially I went to Randy for help making some aluminum inner fenders with some cool bead-rolled designs, which quickly turned into a complete engine bay overhaul with a chopped core support, dropped radiator, hardlines to re-route heater hoses, and a front finish panel. Came out pretty sanitary though!



At this point I also designed and machined my own billet aluminum hood pin kits that I've also been selling online. "Blackout" series shown here in an anodized black finish



Then I set my sights on some custom aluminum seats. Designing a traditional seat rather than a straight sided "bomber seat" presented more than a few development challenges, but now that it's all said and done I'm in love with them. I'm actually just about to ship another pair out to a guy that's putting them in a first gen camaro. So to carry on with all the aluminum work, I designed and built a full-length aluminum console which is still being finished up, and will have cupholders, a carbon fiber cell phone charging/ change holder tray, and a mount for my fire extinguisher as seen in the pics.





Oh yeah, and LED headlights! The light these things put off is absolutely amazing. Not bad for $50 apiece on Amazon haha





So now my sights are set on aluminum door panels, a rear end rebuild, gear and diff change, and finishing the custom front end I designed with carbon fiber trim bezels, tucked bumper, carbon brake duct scoops in the bumper, and a front spoiler. Plenty of work to come, as well as a pretty major media appearance I'm not supposed to spill the beans on just yet..



Other than all the Chevelle work, I've been slammed busy getting Speedfreak Speed Shop off the ground. I've sold two runs of hood pins and a pair of seats already, and my first run of T-shirt and decal designs are almost ready for official release!



And last summer saw probably the biggest change for me and the brand, moving to my own downtown Grants Pass HQ; a 3-bay, 2 lift, back living room and small back bedroom, live-in Speedfreak Batcave. I've been doing several improvements to the place and it's so far proven to be an absolutely bad@ss perfect fit for me and Speedfreak Speed Shop. Last summer we started the tradition of First Friday car meets in the alley, every first Friday of the month, and even had Hot Rod magazine stop by for the festivities




So that's just the short version of what I've been up to, as well as my first hand-built aluminum car project for my full-time day job: a widebody, electric, Porsche 550 Spyder inspired sports/autocross car. But that's a story for another time haha.

Hope you guys have all been well, and I'll have to do some major catching up with everyone's projects! And if you want to follow along with the adventures some more, check out www.facebook.com/speedfreakspeedshop and @speedfreakspeedshop on instagram! Cheers guys!

Its great to see you back! I have been missing your updates on the Charger. You were great before but with everything new you have been learning, it sounds like your Charger is going to be fantastic work of art, as if it was not already!

Dang Speedy, your life is really moving along nicely. I am glad you are putting your awesome fabrication skills to use in your career. I like your "Don't fear the redline" sticker. Make that into a wall sign, and they would sell.

Thanks guys it's good to be back! Haha, and wow I didn't even think about metal wall signs but that's a good idea Joel, I'm gonna have to look into that

So here's some shots of my progress at the day job, it's been unreal to be able to work on this stuff full time and learning from Randy has been fantastic, every day you learn something new. And the Spyder is going to be one killer driving little car, target curb weight is 1,000 lb's or less!

Started by shaping the buck at my shop, based on some scale drawings I did


Then got moved over to Randy's and got the buck over the chassis, after narrowing it and shortening it haha. Lesson #1, always build the buck on the chassis







And now I'm shaping metal defining all my edges with 2" strip .063" aluminum broken to 90*



And there's one other car in the works I forgot to mention haha, a '72 Javelin dubbed "Harpoonigan" that's a project between me and two other friends as an ultra low-buck, mad max'd out rally car we'll be taking out on the OG Gambler 500 this July, possibly with Roadkill Magazine riding shotgun. And if you haven't heard about the Gambler, you need to! Haha

Hey Speedy !!

Where is the "new" Speedfreak Speed Shop ??

You're out of the other place?

Good thing I didn't come a knockin !


Mike..

HEY JAKE,,where are you ?