1966 Hand Me Down Charger

[sate70]

Been busy in the shop so sorry for the late updates. Have the steering column, dash, heater box, and engine compartment wiring removed. Ill have pics up tomorow. Didnt have alot of time today to take them. Working with a few members to get a torsion bar crossmember soon. Be patient guys.

 

[sate70]

Just wondering if anyone out there has a chassis diagram with frame dimensions? I cant find any thing. Also anyone know where I can get my fender tag decoded?

 

[ODZKing]

You are in luck:
http://www.retrorarities.com/FenderTag.htm
and
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1966/66_Charger0014.jpg

 

[sate70]

Wow! Thanks a ton!

 

[GetX'd]

You've got a sweet project car there my friend. I'm originally from the Twin Cities and am wishing you well on your health challenges. One of my best friends back in the day had a charger just like the one you're working on. I appreciated it back then - and appreciate yours now. She's a beauty. Too bad on the motor but you could always buy a crate engine complete and ready to run.

Oh yeah - your wife. You owe her big time. When that cars done you'll be lucky if she lets you drive it. Keep on keepin on. You betcha!

 

[sate70]

Thank You GetX'd! My wife is very special and Im enjoying working on the charger more and more. Sorry you left Minnesota. We miss you come back! LOL!

Well I started to remove the rusty front clip from the car. Have the drivers side frame and torsion bar mount removed and started on the passenger side. Still looking for a torsion bar mount.

 

[sate70]

Removed the remanants of the passenger side front frame and torsion bar crossmember today. Forgot camera but will post pics tomorow. Im still looking for a torsion bar crossmember. Here is a pic of what I need. Thanks!View attachment 271578

 

[sate70]

Well got the gas tank out. NASTY! Looks like tar. Rusted out and smashed. Ill be installing a new one along with filler tubes and 3/8 pick up tube. Father in law had a hitch installed and at one piont was almost ripped off. The panel between the frame rails is ripped and bent bad so the will be fabbed up and replaced next. Hoping to get a torsion bar crossmember shipped soon I hope. If not we are just going to run 2x3x3/16 square tubing for a new frame and adding mustang II suspension. But would love to keep it original. Also removed the rear end. Lots of dirt packed in the pads. So im sure housing will need attention too. I have lots of e-body rears so I might just narrow one of those to the charger specs and use the original axles and etc.. on it. More pics tonight.

 

[sate70]

 

[HawkRod]

Nice work - you are making good progress!

Tackle one thing at a time, and little by little you will get there!

 

[monaco66coupe]

Wow! Now I can see what you are working on. I'm sure you will do it up good!

 

[sate70]

Wow! Now I can see what you are working on. I'm sure you will do it up good!

Thanks again for the crossmember and taking the time and care to assure it got here safely. Packaging was great and got here at 4:00 yesterday. I love it. Very clean and solid. Will work great! Im glad your on the mopar side. Sorry about the phone call ending too quick. I dropped my cell and broke it. 3rd one this year! LOL! Calling you shortly.

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Nice work - you are making good progress!

Tackle one thing at a time, and little by little you will get there!

Thanks! Im chipping away at it a bit at a time as I can. Shop has gotten busy. Wanted it painted by late october.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Wow man you must really love that car or have some sentimental value.


Silver with red interior is one of my favorite color combos on first gen chargers.

Great work. I will be following for sure!!

 

[sate70]

Now that we have the torsion bar crossmember I can really move ahead. I have removed all the bad floor and also remove part of the existing floor to make it easier to install the new crossmember then reinstalling the floor. Im hoping to sandblast the crossmember today. There are nests inside both of my rockers so I will need to remove part of the inner rockers on both sides to access them and weld them in so i can weld in the crossmember.

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Wow man you must really love that car or have some sentimental value.


Silver with red interior is one of my favorite color combos on first gen chargers.

Great work. I will be following for sure!!

Yep! Lots of sentimental value too. There is no budget for it. Just get it done right and hopefully preserve it for generations to come in our family. I love the color combo too! Thanks for following along.

 

[monaco66coupe]

Let me know what you might need as you go, and I'll try to post my Buddies car car to you.

 

[sate70]

View attachment 272833Let me know what you might need as you go, and I'll try to post my Buddies car car to you.

I definetly will! Great charger! I love that color.

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Removed the small part of passenger floor pan and then the passenger outer seat bracket.

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Then turned to the recently arrived torsion bar crossmember. I removed the old inner rocker from both sides and also the old front frame rail pieces from it. Then cleaned off the old undercoating and ground down the areas o where I drilled out the spot welds.

 

[HawkRod]

Taking all this time to do this kind of stuff will reward you later on. Get the body straight, right and solid, and the car will be so much more enjoyable when it is done. Now is the time to do that stuff, so I am glad to see the detailed work and repairs. Well worth it!

Hawk

 

[sate70]

Taking all this time to do this kind of stuff will reward you later on. Get the body straight, right and solid, and the car will be so much more enjoyable when it is done. Now is the time to do that stuff, so I am glad to see the detailed work and repairs. Well worth it!

Hawk

Thanks Hawk! Paying attention to all the details small or big is the secret to a great job. Whether your building a doghouse or a car and even just painting a wall. No budget or real time frame for this car. Just get it done right. My wife plans on driving this thing alot and I need to make sure its dependable and safe. Any current pics of your cars? I had a 70 sport satelite and a 73 roadrunner in the past. Loved them all!

 

[HawkRod]

Thanks Hawk! Paying attention to all the details small or big is the secret to a great job. Whether your building a doghouse or a car and even just painting a wall. No budget or real time frame for this car. Just get it done right. My wife plans on driving this thing alot and I need to make sure its dependable and safe. Any current pics of your cars? I had a 70 sport satelite and a 73 roadrunner in the past. Loved them all!

There should be a lot of pictures of it in action coming up soon as I am heading West on a trip across country. Check out the thread below for updates all during September!
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...7639-Hawk-s-Cross-Country-70-Road-Runner-Trip

 

[sate70]

There should be a lot of pictures of it in action coming up soon as I am heading West on a trip across country. Check out the thread below for updates all during September!
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...7639-Hawk-s-Cross-Country-70-Road-Runner-Trip

I will thanks!

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Got a little time to work on the charger some more. I removed a section about 26 inches of inner rocker from both sides to remove mouse nests and gravel. Then replaced them with 14 gauge metal for more support then moved on to weld in the sandblasted torsion bar crossmember. Its hard to get things sandblasted now due to the customers stopping by so I just blasted where needed and I will blast it all when its on the rotisiere. Hope to have it on it before monday.