1968 Charger Sheetmetal replacement

[Richard Cranium]

I'd love to know how many man hours were involved & what the shop rate is.

 

[hunt2elk]

That place is just down the road from me and they are always quite backlogged with work. They do nice work, and they charge for it. There are a lot of people with deep pockets who don't mind spending on these old cars.

 

[eldubb440]

without watching the video..... 350-500 hours of sheet metal work, depending on the condition of the "bones", done efficiently, but thoroughly......

not a Charger, but same ****

 

[Richard Cranium]

without watching the video..... 350-500 hours of sheet metal work, depending on the condition of the "bones", done efficiently, but thoroughly......

not a Charger, but same ****

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So, somewhere around 50 grand just in metal replacement?

 

[hunt2elk]

So, somewhere around 50 grand just in metal replacement?

Guaranteed.

 

[eldubb440]

I wish

 

[Coelacanth]

Got damn....what some people can do with a derelict carcass never ceases to amaze me.

 

[chargervert]

Almost every second generation Charger needs the metal work that they preformed, most are worse than the car they started with.

 

[KozmicKuda]

I've been subscribed to Guzzi Fabrication on YouTube for a couple years. He has a chapter of videos just on Charger rebuild with AMD parts. Quarters, floors, trunk etc.
It's a really good step-by-step how-to series if anyone wants to see exactly what's involved. He's in TX.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I am hopefully done with full restoration projects going forward just due to costs and my labor since I do everything myself. That is why when my latest find became available. I jumped at it. It's done and a turn key driver. No ten + years as a project. I can enjoy it now. The best part, I didn't pay much more than what most are asking for rotted our project cars these days. I couldn't say no and pass up this deal.

 

[Sixpactogo]

Very few if anyone on this site could afford that shop. It is a few miles from me and I have visited it quite a few times just to snoop. The only people that actually use them are Doctors and Lawyers from out of state that have bottomless pockets. If that 68 Charger is the one I'm thinking of the owner is from out east somewhere and the last time I saw it the guy had half a million in it and it wasn't completed yet. It was not a restoration in my book since it ended up with a super charged 572 and an 8 speed. All the chrome was black chromed. It looked stock from around 100' but not much closer. I made the mistake of letting them fab the under hood AC plumbing for my car and chassis dyno it. I consider myself lucky to have been able to retrieve it. But.........They do magazine quality work.

 

[69 Charger]

I'd love to know how many man hours were involved & what the shop rate is.

We just got our '69 Charger (original owner) back from a 2-1/2 year restoration. ....
The shop rate was $90/hour. To date, I have been curious, but afraid to total up the whole restoration; but based on your question my curiosity got the best of me and I found: $128,743.71. Ouch! Of course, some of that was parts and materials but most was metal work labor.
The car was used as our family car for 20 years, then as a commuter to work until 1996. Externally, it didn't look too bad, but when it was two years old an old geezer plowed into it when it was minding its own business in a mall parking lot. Said his gas pedal stuck and he just picked it out to slow him down. The collision turned the car 90 degrees in the parking space. The dealer where we bought it did an "insurance repair" that looked O.K. until the bondo started to crack. I believe the collision is what caused the windshield and backlight water leaks that took care of the cockpit and trunk floors. There was also significant internal corrosion that was not visible until the restoration exposed it. I had also put my own share of dents and dings on it over the years.

 

[71 Runner]

I am right in the middle of a full rotisserie restoration on my RR. The Shop is Divine One Customs and his shop rate is $100hr. When I went in to check out his shop before I committed to having him restore mine he was just finishing up a 68 Charger. He told me it was pretty rusted out and the bill was $45K for rust repair. Luckily mine isn’t rusted up very bad but I did get rear ended and the right rear quarter is buckled but I already had the AMD quarter to replace it.

I’m defiantly not a Dr. or lawyer, I’m just spending some of the boy’s inheritance. My biggest expense so far is parts cost since I didn’t start stocking up first and all purchases are post Covid. OMG **** has gotten ridiculously expensive! Basically changing every nut bolt and screw. You put Mopar on the parts list and it’s 3 times the price : /

 

[Richard Cranium]

I am right in the middle of a full rotisserie restoration on my RR. The Shop is Divine One Customs and his shop rate is $100hr. When I went in to check out his shop before I committed to having him restore mine he was just finishing up a 68 Charger. He told me it was pretty rusted out and the bill was $45K for rust repair. Luckily mine isn’t rusted up very bad but I did get rear ended and the right rear quarter is buckled but I already had the AMD quarter to replace it.

I’m defiantly not a Dr. or lawyer, I’m just spending some of the boy’s inheritance. My biggest expense so far is parts cost since I didn’t start stocking up first and all purchases are post Covid. OMG **** has gotten ridiculously expensive! Basically changing every nut bolt and screw. You put Mopar on the parts list and it’s 3 times the price : /

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Love the dash pad. Do they even make replacements in that color?

 

[71 Runner]

Love the dash pad. Do they even make replacements in that color?

I took mine to Just Dashes in Van Nuys CA and they did a fantastic job on it. They color match the paint from the bottom side of the dash that has never been exposed to sunlight. Since I live in Vegas I wanted to restore the dash completely instead doing the cheap pad cover glued on. The heat here would most likely warp it off in 1 summer.

It was expensive but I think well worth it!! Going cheap and tacky on a 6 figure rebuild when it’s right in front of your face every drive would just piss me off for not doing it right the first time.

 

[Sixpactogo]

I took mine to Just Dashes in Van Nuys CA and they did a fantastic job on it. They color match the paint from the bottom side of the dash that has never been exposed to sunlight. Since I live in Vegas I wanted to restore the dash completely instead doing the cheap pad cover glued on. The heat here would most likely warp it off in 1 summer.

It was expensive but I think well worth it!! Going cheap and tacky on a 6 figure rebuild when it’s right in front of your face every drive would just piss me off for not doing it right the first time.



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That is goregous! I had them do a couple of dashes for me years ago. Am I seeing things or are they now able to put the stitching in?

 

[71 Runner]

That is goregous! I had them do a couple of dashes for me years ago. Am I seeing things or are they now able to put the stitching in?

It’s more just a little lip on it than stitching. But it was so long ago when I bought the car (76) that I don’t remember if it had the stitching look on it before.

 

[Sixpactogo]

That is goregous! I had them do a couple of dashes for me years ago. Am I seeing things or are they now able to put the stitching in?

Oh, OK........It kinda looked like stitching. I had them recover the dash on my 70 Challenger back in the mid 90's and they couldn't copy the stitching. I'm sure they have better techniques now. Your's looks perfect.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I took mine to Just Dashes in Van Nuys CA and they did a fantastic job on it. They color match the paint from the bottom side of the dash that has never been exposed to sunlight. Since I live in Vegas I wanted to restore the dash completely instead doing the cheap pad cover glued on. The heat here would most likely warp it off in 1 summer.

It was expensive but I think well worth it!! Going cheap and tacky on a 6 figure rebuild when it’s right in front of your face every drive would just piss me off for not doing it right the first time.



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Very nice!

 

[kiwigtx]

Very few if anyone on this site could afford that shop. It is a few miles from me and I have visited it quite a few times just to snoop. The only people that actually use them are Doctors and Lawyers from out of state that have bottomless pockets. If that 68 Charger is the one I'm thinking of the owner is from out east somewhere and the last time I saw it the guy had half a million in it and it wasn't completed yet. It was not a restoration in my book since it ended up with a super charged 572 and an 8 speed. All the chrome was black chromed. It looked stock from around 100' but not much closer. I made the mistake of letting them fab the under hood AC plumbing for my car and chassis dyno it. I consider myself lucky to have been able to retrieve it. But.........They do magazine quality work.

Sounds like Kindig Customs...without the TV series.