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Don selleck's 68 charger rt project

Don selleck

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Here we go! bought this charger in june, was a quarter mile nitrous car that has set for the last ten years or so. my intentions are to take it back to mostly original, car seems to be pretty much rust free, was stored in barn as a race car for most of its life, looking over car most parts are there, wiring looks very good one repaint, original silver AA1 with black interior, racing stripe and vinyl top some bondo in rear quarters i think the car may have been wrecked, the only signs of rust are front dash which looks like surface, but media blasting in a few weeks will tell all. the 440 had a slightly leaking head gasket so after removing intake and heads found that motor has been punched 30 over cast iron heads valves are mushroomed a bit guides are a little sloppy, so i thought i'd put it back together, maybe drive it around a little so put it back together removed nitrous componets cleaned fuel system dropped jet sizing down, got it running pretty good. Test drive down road couldnt go over 25 front end a arm bushings gone, i would assume from racing so i decided to start the resto on it. but i still had a little fun in my driveway. starting project this week as my job will allow. will post pics as i go, wish me luck thanks.[video=youtube_share;z8TXTSfy1hQ]http://youtu.be/z8TXTSfy1hQ[/video]
 
Fun! The 68 charger is my favorite car. I will be interested in watching your restoration. I also am restoring a 68 charger. Your car looks like a good car to start with.
 
Great car! Wish you all the luck but dont think it will be a bad project. Lots of parts available for this thing. Silver looks great with black anyday. Will watch this thread alot!
 
20140929_133010.jpgdisassembly day 1.jpgdoor 4.jpgfloor board 2.jpgdoor 4.jpg68 charger day 1.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

started tear down this week end removed fuel cell all trunk tail light trim etc. interior gone everything tagged and bagged, very little rust in trunk so far, all fasteners came out with exception of one bolt that broke couldn't get lube on it. pics are of the trunk with the nitrous tanks and fuel cell, side shot with trusty dog prince, inside of door, floor boards other door interior, and day one before i bought it will have better pics as i go. until next time....

20140929_133010.jpg disassembly day 1.jpg door 4.jpg floor board 2.jpg 68 charger day 1.jpg
 
Man i wish you all the luck in the world!!! This will make a great ride turning into a possible, maybe street/strip machine, if not a sweet ride that can educate some rice burners going to town! Have the fun bud!!! :)
 
update just got car torn down and transfered from20141129_152659.jpg20141129_152716.jpg20141206_173339.jpg20141206_173356.jpg20141206_173400.jpg rotisserie to to cart for transport. Decided to have the car dipped in alkaline solution to remove all rust and paint, kind of pricey but will save tons of work. should have car back by christmas, a water based rust inhibitor will be applied to the bare metal so i can get the metal work done. then i have an appointment with a company that dips the entire car in epoxy primer. I hope to keep the car for a long time so i figured that should keep the paint from bubbling in the rust prone areas. will post more pics when i'm chopping it up for metal replacement.

20141129_152659.jpg 20141129_152716.jpg 20141206_173339.jpg 20141206_173356.jpg 20141206_173400.jpg
 
dropped her off thursday in toledo to have her alkaline. i got there and the guy says another charger! they said they have done alot of them in the past few years, they had a 71 pantera, already cleaned, and a 1970 charger rt next in line for the process. The alkaline is lot less aggressive on the car so they say, I have researched acid dipping and have read some horror stories about not getting it rinsed properly, and having seams expand, paint bubbling off, etc. i have heard nothing but good stories about this place, its called american metal cleaning in toledo, ohio. They have been in business for along time and had customers in and out while i was there. Its about a 10 to 14 day process, i asked them if he would have it done by christmas, he said he wouldnt give it back until he was done, i told him thats just what i wanted to hear. with that i told him i would wait for his call. here's a couple more pics. will post some more when its all shinny and new. merry christmas to all.20141210_172833.jpg20141210_172907.jpg
 
Looks like your starting this resto with the foresight of keeping this car well protected for years to come.
 
Ya, one of my friends says im going overboard again, but i think hes just jealous he had a 68 coronet he wished he never sold. i just wanna do the best job i can on it, and make it last hate doing anything twice. by doing everything myself saves huge money that i could not afford for years, paying someone else. i have a huge resourse of friends that are involved in cars, cars resto, painting, etc. i just do extensive research then make my best decision. this site is incredible for info and seems to be one of the most accurate as far as i could tell. This car is my 401, i have the intension of trying to keep it under or at its value when i complete it. (of course not including my labor) then hoping rt values increase which i think they will. then my money will at least still be there, thats hard to accomplish for any hobby.
 
Great car Don and great restoration thread! The 68 is my favorite year Charger, and my second favorite car of all time (most favorite is a 70 Road Runner ;-)

It looks like you have a great car to start with and I totally agree with spending the time and money to do the body right. Other parts can more easily be unbolted and cleaned up or restored again later, but the body is much harder. Thanks for posting the pictures and details about the dipping and restoration. I was going to dip mine but there were no places locally that did them, and I was still on the fence as to the pros and cons.

Keep up the good work!

Oh, by the way, not sure what your plans are, but I STRONGLY recommend building up your K-Member off the car. Restore it and all the front suspension, then install the engine (including alternator, power steering, exhaust manifolds, etc.) and trans and install that assembly under the car. MUCH easier than doing it all separately!
 
ya, that was the plan, building everything then lowering the car onto the assembled k member, i just have to get a lift in my barn, im thinking i got about a year to get that accomplished, also will have to fabricate a bracket for a floor jack to hold the trans up. did manage to pick up a used spot welder from a body shop that was purchasing a newer one it does one sided spot and has a slide hammer spot tacker on it too, and of course the monster double sided. should be able to do a nice job without overheating the metal. should be hearing from the alkaline dip soon since the holidays are over, cant wait to get her back.20141216_172955.jpg
 
Great job! I think you're doing it right!
 
What were they charging for the dip? Wondering if it's cost effective to make a trip to Toledo. Thanks.
 
kind of pricey around 3000,(with doors,trunk,k member) i guess it depends on how far your taking the car down, and how valuable your time is, i work alot time is precious to me. plus i had a 66 mustang done years ago hard to get the media out of everything. And it did show up in the final paint a little. id have to say if it wasn't a rt it wouldn't be happening. but the dipping in the epoxy was quoted at 850.00 in my opinion u cant beat that. The place that does that is in elkhart, indiana. here's a couple of pics they sent me on a charger that was done earlier. I thought it was pretty impressive.68chargera.JPGDSCN5851 (1).jpgDSCN5852.jpg

68chargera.JPG DSCN5851 (1).jpg DSCN5852.jpg
 
its back, quite impressed with there work. here"s the pics, hold on this is some sexy steel....20150120_110946 (1).jpg20150120_110946.jpg20150120_110955.jpg20150120_111003.jpg20150120_111015.jpg20150120_111048.jpg20150120_111056.jpg20150120_111119.jpg20150120_111126.jpg20150120_111143.jpg20150120_111209.jpg20150120_111230.jpg20150120_111317.jpg20150120_111339.jpg20150120_111444.jpg20150120_111501.jpg20150120_111526.jpg20150120_111810.jpg20150120_111914.jpg20150120_111957.jpg20150120_112032.jpg20150120_112109.jpg20150120_112326.jpg20150120_111628.jpg and not so sexy, you can see the patch where the guy brazed in a piece from another charger , actually a pretty nice job, probably back in the 80"s. checking frame for trueness and starting spot weld removal, many, many spot welds
 
everything nice and true set car on cement blocks used my spectra physics construction laser, spun it level and straight line down center, reinstalled passenger door and fender, started cutting rear out, went to harbor freight, got there spot welder cutter, works great for 4$ as long as you keep it oiled, cut about 35 spots, still works20150121_151841.jpg

20150121_151841.jpg
 
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