Saving another 68 Charger

[Richard Cranium]

Damn, you are a glutton for punnishment.

 

[SGTPaul]

Lovin every minute of it.... How'd you like the fit of them panels? Did you have to widen out the deck lid filler panel?

 

[smyythe68]

Lovin every minute of it.... How'd you like the fit of them panels? Did you have to widen out the deck lid filler panel?

Panels fit alright, the rear corners were something special though. Once I clamped the filler panel in everything lined up great. I did use an older amd panel that I aquired from someone that had it in storage for awile. I don't know if that made a difference or not. Once I welded it all in I came to the realization it did shift about an 1/8'":angryfire:. Should be alright though, I can hide it somewhere else. What did you fill your roof to quarter seems with?

 

[smyythe68]

Got one of my frame connectors tacked in place, working on the other one. Once I get it tacked in place I'll burn them both in. So far the only thing I can see a problem with is the parking brake cable but, I think I can come up with something.

 

[hunt2elk]

Did you have any issues with the trunk floor and drops fitting? I am about to start a 69 Charger and just received about 4.5K in AMD metal. I started measuring the trunk floor and the new piece is about .5 inch shorter than the original, but has the back up angle that much to long. It looks like the flange should have been bent back farther and all would have been good. Also the drops are longer than the originals by about .5 inch. I've used AMD trunk floors in both of my RR's and they fit perfect. Just wondering if this is a Charger only problem or just this car?

 

[Propwash]

Did you have any issues with the trunk floor and drops fitting? I am about to start a 69 Charger and just received about 4.5K in AMD metal. I started measuring the trunk floor and the new piece is about .5 inch shorter than the original, but has the back up angle that much to long. It looks like the flange should have been bent back farther and all would have been good. Also the drops are longer than the originals by about .5 inch. I've used AMD trunk floors in both of my RR's and they fit perfect. Just wondering if this is a Charger only problem or just this car?

Wow...you don't say. Listening to all you guys with Chargers here and other sites, sure seems AMD has a lot more bugs to work out with the Charger panels. Good to know, thanks.

 

[smyythe68]

Did you have any issues with the trunk floor and drops fitting? I am about to start a 69 Charger and just received about 4.5K in AMD metal. I started measuring the trunk floor and the new piece is about .5 inch shorter than the original, but has the back up angle that much to long. It looks like the flange should have been bent back farther and all would have been good. Also the drops are longer than the originals by about .5 inch. I've used AMD trunk floors in both of my RR's and they fit perfect. Just wondering if this is a Charger only problem or just this car?

Sorry to hear that, I didn't have much left to measure against when I got my car, just rust. My trunk pan seemed to fit ok, there was some clamping, pulling and adjustment needed. I did have a hell of a time getting the back end together though. There was alot of fitting taking apart and refitting going on. I had to rebend the end of the pass. trunk extension to get it to fit. Also I can tell you that the pass. side extension fit better against the quarter than the driver side. You might try calling AMD like SRGpaul did and talk to them, I also called once and they were very helpful even though I never bought directly through them.

 

[Basket case]

my flloor extensions fit perfect with my 1/4s

 

[SGTPaul]

What did you fill your roof to quarter seems with?

I put one coat of metal to metal on the bare metal to fill in the void prior to priming since I was short on warm weather to paint. I'll determine what to finish fill in the joint with in the spring.

 

[smyythe68]

I put one coat of metal to metal on the bare metal to fill in the void prior to priming since I was short on warm weather to paint. I'll determine what to finish fill in the joint with in the spring.

Thanks Sarge.

 

[74DartSwinger360]

Where did you get the paint for the grille? Do you have part numbers for them? Car is lookin great

 

[smyythe68]

Where did you get the paint for the grille? Do you have part numbers for them? Car is lookin great

Hey, sorry it took so long. I ended up using duplicolor Bright Silver Metallic PS2 BCC0410. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[smyythe68]

Haven't had a whole lot of time with the holidays but I'm trying to get the suspension parts cleaned and powder coated to get it rolling again. Probably going to get her back on the rotisserie to paint the bottom. One of my strut rods looked like a ski so I tried a little fabrication. I made my version of adjustables. You do have to loosen the bushing nuts to adjust them but not the tapered end that goes into the lower control arm. They are 7/8" thick so I don't think they are going to bend. I'll have a little more than 1/2"of adj. either way. Let me know what you think...

 

[Propwash]

Great idea. Way to take the bull by the horns and come up then build something like that.

 

[747mopar]

Great car, awesome job on the resto. When I filled the roof to quarter joint on my charger I elected to weld the joint solid to seal out any moisture from the inside then used fiberstrand (it's a little more durable). On the frame connectors, when I made mine I hooked up the parking brake cable (under the connectors) then traced the cable onto the connector, drilled a hole in each side at the same angle as marked then slid a peace of tubing threw the holes and welded it in. Keep up the good work

 

[smyythe68]

Thanks Prop, glad you liked the idea. Thanks 747Mopar, for the info and kind words. I have a shot of the finished product all powder coated. Also included a few other pics, got the k member all welded up and painted up with Eastwoods chassis coat 2000. Seems like good stuff, haven't handled it to much since I painted it, went on easy with great finish. Last pics are of one of my control arms and my brake setup. Getting alot of little stuff done.

 

[roadrunnerman]

The parts look great. Can't wait to see what they look like when you get them bolted on.

 

[SGTPaul]

That looks like the work I was planning on doing this winter until I got so busy at work... Nice job!

 

[tallhair]

Just bead blasted my dash, looks nice and solid had some light pitting on top from no coasters under the beer cans of the past. Filled them in with a skim coat should be in paint tomarrow. Anyone have vin tag restoration tips, or know where I can get a stencil for the chrysler logo and name?

Just finished reading this entire thread and i'm amazed at your abilities. but this post/pic of your dash raised a question i've been worried about. Is it possible to patch rust / fill holes that were drilled in a dash? I know dashes are really thin. i have a 70 RR with the extra speaker holes (round) for an AM 8-track stereo but there is some rust and someone drilled a holes in the dash for mounting a tach and other guages i presume. Good thing is they drilled through the dash pad (a perfect dash pad) but the bad thing is it comes out through the metal under the dash from the other side that is visible from beneath the dash pad or up from the gauge cluster. unfortunately i don't have a pic of the underside. there are i think 4-5 holes IIR but car is 2 hrs away at the moment in storage.

here's a pic of damage / rust near the VIN tag. Sorry for poor quality of pics. I'll clean the glass at least the next time i'm over there but was taking vin pic and not focused on damage at the time.

 

[747mopar]

tallhair, I did extensive work "welding" to my dash with very little trouble.

- - - Updated - - -

View attachment 99183Hears a pic of my parking brake cable, sorry haven't touched up the paint yet.