SGTPauls 68 Charger RT project

[SGTPaul]

Since I'm waaaay back on page 7 of the restoration projects forum (4+ months ago) it looks like it's time for an update. Thanks for all the likes!! I did slow down a bit last winter but picking up speed now. Been a little slow at work so taking advantage of that. Got my fender back from my painter and he took care of my mistakes. Passenger door is all sanded out and, on the car, the driver's door needs one more pass and coat of primer but on the car for now. Did notice the lower rear corner of the driver's door it out from the quarter a bit so need to address that.

Some of the welding when I installed the upper cowl, fire wall AC portion, and fender repairs a few years ago I used silica bronze welding wire. Painter noted some of the welds were not hot enough on the fenders and the welds fell out. Concerning? Yes! So I looked over the cowl / firewall areas and some of the welds had the same issue. Panel popped off in areas with little effort. Crap! So I cut those bronze welds out and in the process I damaged the upper cowl and the brackets from the cowl and firewall to the inner fenders. New metal in hand I removed the bad and new stuff was mostly fitted up by the end of February.

March started a new chapter with fitting in my fenders, hood, hood hinges, and front valance. I do have a little work to do to get everything fitting properly but pretty happy with where I'm at with the front clip given all the rookie mistakes I've made in this area. Thanks to @Dodge 330 for help with measurements off an unmolested car to help guide me. Looking thru my photos, it's been over 13 years since a hood was on this car. Granted I wasn't doing anything with the car for most of those years, but dam that is a long time.... The hood holder jig that goes on the engine crane was a super big helper since I'm working solo most of the time. A few photos of my progress from the last several months. Thanks All!

 

[ct71rr]

Welcome back! Nice to see some progress.

 

[mopar4don]

Looks good from here, Keep at it!

 

[SGTPaul]

Thanks Don! How's yours's coming along?

 

[mopar4don]

Slow going. But I can say the motor should be done in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Armyvet25]

sorry for the derail, but looking at your avatar SGTPaul, army aviation as well huh?

 

[SGTPaul]

Slow going. But I can say the motor should be done in the next couple of weeks.

Good for you! Glad to hear.

 

[SGTPaul]

sorry for the derail, but looking at your avatar SGTPaul, army aviation as well huh?

@Armyvet25 yes I was! About 17 or years of my 20 was wrenching on Hueys, Blackhawks, and Chinooks. Loved it and miss it. You?

 

[Armyvet25]

@Armyvet25 yes I was! About 17 or years of my 20 was wrenching on Hueys, Blackhawks, and Chinooks. Loved it and miss it. You?

179th Aviation Ft Carson Colorado Ch47U10 mechanic crew chief, loved it, even qualified expert door gunner on the M60. Put out range fires rescued aircraft crashes into Pikes Peak

 

[SGTPaul]

Awesome! I spent about the last 5-6 years of my career on the CH47D in the 185th aviation . Beastmasters! Awesome aircraft. Most of my time in maintenance and as a TI. Great times!

 

[Armyvet25]

 

[SGTPaul]

Thanks for all the comments and likes! Been working on the car a bit by adjusting the brackets at the corner of the hood to get it all set. But then I got the flu and knocked me down for a bit. Really excited that I ordered my exhaust system and it showed up the other day. Wish the car was painted so I could install it. Pretty amazing product.

 

[SGTPaul]

While I have been working on the car, progress has been slow. Wife and I are out on vacation in the Pacific Northwest and as chance had it we went right thru Springfield, OR. Had to stop by Graveyard Carz. It was Saturday so they were closed so no tip to help me out. But neat to see the place.

 

[SGTPaul]

This summer has been a bit of a come to reality moment for me. I've felt for a while that I had made the openings for the doors too short from front to back. While working the alignment of the fenders and the hood I kept coming up with a really big gap from the hood to the cowl so the fenders don't hit the doors, and the door to fender gaps have been a problem since they go from narrow to wide from bottom to top on one and the reverse on the other. I'm normally not one to throw in the towel or ask for help. Too stubborn/ too much pride or whatever, but it's just hard for me. But I came to a point this year that I'm just chasing my tail, pissing away time, and need to ask for help. So, @detmatt1 put me in touch with a great guy (Bob) to help me out. I actually dealt with him shortly after I bought the car about 15 years ago by meeting him on eBay and buying some parts from him, but not in contact with him since then. He came out this summer and looked the car over and confirmed what I thought. Things were off enough, and I didn't have the knowledge to get them back to where they needed to be. So, after priming my fenders up and getting the hood hinges rebuilt, I assembled up the front of the car and trailered it off to Bob who will be helping me out by addressing my mistakes. I think I just didn't know enough and took too much of the car apart before replacing things and things got off. Leason to all the 1st timers like me out there. So, I have a break from the car for a couple of months. When I get it back, I'll be able to strip the hood down, prime it, and block out the front of the car and whatever else need blocking after getting it back from Bob. This should put me in a good position to (fingers crossed) get the car off to a painter next year. Suck to go backwards, but better now than when car is painted and things really don't fit. So for now I have an emptry garage and a lot of sanding dust to clean up.

 

[ct71rr]

It’s never easy to admit mistakes. At least you caught it and have a plan to fix it. It’s great that you have someone to help you out!