1968 Plymouth GTX

[68gtxman]

Thanks, I will take a look to see if I have it.

Okay, I checked my pictures of the car's wiring before I removed anything and it wasn't there when I got the car. Guess I will need to find one.
View attachment 1793616

Looking at the yellow crimped on connector on the red wire, it is clear that someone did some work on that relay, likely before you got it. MOPAR 1966-74 STARTER RELAY SHIELD | eBay. https://www.classicindustries.com/shop/search/?q=Starter relay shield

 

[retractable]

The F part is way cheaper if you look it up under a ford part and it is the same

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Looking at the yellow crimped on connector on the red wire, it is clear that someone did some work on that relay, likely before you got it. MOPAR 1966-74 STARTER RELAY SHIELD | eBay. https://www.classicindustries.com/shop/search/?q=Starter relay shield

Oh yeah. They didn't care a bit about originality and their modifications were a mess as well.
Put disc brakes on the car but did it backwards, thus removing the sway bar and cutting off the sway bar brackets. And many other things as well.

 

[rich hourigan]

i just bought one... DMT

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Does anyone know what the rocker panels moldings are made of? Mine were purchased from OER and claim to be just like the factory but it doesn't say anywhere what the material is.

Also, I looked at my original moldings and they seem to have a slight bend near the front. Thinking maybe that's what mine need to fit properly against the fender.

 

[MarPar]

Does anyone know what the rocker panels moldings are made of? Mine were purchased from OER and claim to be just like the factory but it doesn't say anywhere what the material is.

Also, I looked at my original moldings and they seem to have a slight bend near the front. Thinking maybe that's what mine need to fit properly against the fender.

I would think anodized aluminum, but not sure.

When I first saw your pic of them installed, I thought that they had a slight bend from what I remember, but wasn't sure and didn't want to open my mouth and you ruin a brand new set of moldings. lol

Maybe Pete could shed some light @Pistol Pete

 

[Pistol Pete]

I would think anodized aluminum, but not sure.

When I first saw your pic of them installed, I thought that they had a slight bend from what I remember, but wasn't sure and didn't want to open my mouth and you ruin a brand new set of moldings. lol

Maybe Pete could shed some light @Pistol Pete

Agreed on the anodized aluminum.

The moldings on my car have a small tweak on the very front, diving in towards the frame rail. Yours look like it needs a bit of a twist also.

That's a tough area to line up well. You could try loosening the front bolt and pushing up on the dog leg from the bottom and bowing it out a bit, but you've probably already tried that.

I think I'd try fitting up your old one as is and if it fits better, see where the discrepancy with the new one.

Or you could just pull it in with a drywall screw like the guy that owned my car before me did.

 

[MarPar]

Agreed on the anodized aluminum.

The moldings on my car have a small tweak on the very front, diving in towards the frame rail. Yours look like it needs a bit of a twist also.

That's a tough area to line up well. You could try loosening the front bolt and pushing up on the dog leg from the bottom and bowing it out a bit, but you've probably already tried that.

I think I'd try fitting up your old one as is and if it fits better, see where the discrepancy with the new one.

Or you could just pull it in with a drywall screw like the guy that owned my car before me.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Got the Relay Shield installed:

According to my wiring diagrams, that yellow wire should actually be gray.
The other pin is for a wire to run to the neutral safety switch. Not sure of the routing on that wire?

As for the rocker panel moldings, the right side I was able to get close to perfect. The left side also took a bit of twisting and readjusting the fender mounts to get it a lot closer but not perfect.

 

[MarPar]

Got the Relay Shield installed:
View attachment 1798558

According to my wiring diagrams, that yellow wire should actually be gray.
The other pin is for a wire to run to the neutral safety switch. Not sure of the routing on that wire?

As for the rocker panel moldings, the right side I was able to get close to perfect. The left side also took a bit of twisting and readjusting the fender mounts to get it a lot closer but not perfect.

View attachment 1798559

Are you installing wheel lip moldings? Forgive me if I missed it.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Yes, that is the plan.

 

[MarPar]

Yes, that is the plan.

You might have some fudge-factor lining up the wheel lips with the rocker molding.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

You might have some fudge-factor lining up the wheel lips with the rocker molding.

Yes, I anticipate a lot of it.
It's difficult when the car was restored previously but without any concern for originality. I took pictures during disassembly but most of them just reveal things that need to be changed and made right.
Fortunately the Fender Tag, VIN and stampings front and rear are correct, so I know what it's supposed look like over all. It's just the detailed pictures for reassembly that I do not have.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Looking at installing an antenna.
I have the following parts:

While looking for a mast and cable I came across Retro Manufacturing which offers the entire antenna assembly for $70.
The mast and cable will cost that much by themselves for what prices I have been seeing.
I couldn't find any reviews on the antenna assembly offered by Retro. Everyone else wants twice this price or even more.
Thoughts?

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Went ahead and ordered the Retro Manufacturing antenna assembly. I'll let you know my thoughts when it arrives.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I used one of those Retro pieces a little while back. No issues that I recall.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Here's my progress and what I believe to be a problem.

First, let me say that the parts seem to be very close to original.

Old versus New

The issue I am having is with included spacer. The paperwork tells you to select one of the spacers (plural) but there is only one in the package and I believe it is too long.

When I got everything assembled and mounted to the fender it didn't leave me enough thread length for the mast nut.

I inserted the mast and began tightening the nut by hand but the flats for the wrench quickly disappeared so there was no way to tighten it securely.

Does anybody know how long the spacer is supposed to be or how high the thread portion should stick up?

 

[68gtxman]

Here's my progress and what I believe to be a problem.

First, let me say that the parts seem to be very close to original.

Old versus New
View attachment 1806786

The issue I am having is with included spacer. The paperwork tells you to select one of the spacers (plural) but there is only one in the package and I believe it is too long.

View attachment 1806790

When I got everything assembled and mounted to the fender it didn't leave me enough thread length for the mast nut.
View attachment 1806791

I inserted the mast and began tightening the nut by hand but the flats for the wrench quickly disappeared so there was no way to tighten it securely.

Does anybody know how long the spacer is supposed to be or how high the thread portion should stick up?

Mine was not original, so I can’t help you with this. Good luck!

 

[oldbee]

My Bee is original and I can’t figure out your spacer. How about a pic of cable/base of the retro.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

So, the curved rocker blades fit in slots in the base of the antenna, then that is installed from below the fender. I typically screw in the mast so I can hold the lower parts up from above the fender, then the top bezel keys into the two notches in the antenna hole in the fender & the blade on the bezel fits into the slot on the top of the rocker, everything interlocks so nothing rotates... Then the tube nut is installed ...