Ron 73
Deceased, But not forgotton
Im a lurker but still watching, Looks fantastic for sure... You have a great deal to be proud of there..
1968 Dodge Charger Nut and Bolt Rotesserie Restoration
- Thread starter Chargermoneypit
- Start date
Im a lurker but still watching, Looks fantastic for sure... You have a great deal to be proud of there..
MY68ROCKS
Active Member
@CHRG$PIT- Great job! I started my 68 resto about 6 months ago, several times already I have asked myself WTH did I get myself into!!! Did you do all the welding yourself? That is my biggest hurdle.
moparstuart
Well-Known Member
- Local time
- 5:35 PM
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
- Messages
- 6,586
- Reaction score
- 1,052
totally agree
roadrunnerman
Well-Known Member
like the look of the magnum 500 rims with the color. good combo.
- Local time
- 6:35 PM
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2010
- Messages
- 37,102
- Reaction score
- 145,706
- Location
- Monroe, New York
Just one word...Amazing.....
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
Much more coming. The restored vintage air conditioning system I had restored by Classic Auto Air in Tampa, Florida arrived today according to my wife. She was pissed the other day when she saw the cost on the bank account. She has quit asking about the cost of this thing, but popped a gasket the other day. How many of you beg for forgiveness instead of asking for permission when you do a project like this? Parts, parts and more parts! She said the box looks like a coffin and maybe I should be in it. I get it but am excited to get home and open it up anyways. It is the last link needed to install and then fire this baby up after a very long time. Very exciting. Just a quick note and more pictures on the way.
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
I am in utter horror from what I received from Classic Auto Air. None of my items were restored and all I got back were repooped off the shelf items. Except maybe the clutch and a reman compressor? All the lines that had factory markings and part numbers are gone and I am missing items that were sent to be restored. It is not even close to what I was expecting and hope they will make this right and send me my original stuff back. I will update everyone on this outcome of what went from very exciting to unbelievably disappointing. I really hope this doesn't turn into a worse deal for me.
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
Todays Updates
Well the mess I am having with Classic Auto Air goes on unfortunately. They seems to have lost all of my original lines and dryer, expansion valve the fittings to the compressor, hardware and so on. The good news is the guy that opened the box said they weren't in there and they magically disappeared between getting packed and the box being opened. Right! I am at my wits end with them and sorry that it has turned out the way it has. I am sorry to say I would NOT recommend them. The guy is very nice to deal with but I don't think I am getting the whole story from them. Now I have to find all the pieces they lost to complete the system. Anyone who has any 68 A/C parts please let me know as I am in need of a few things.
I was able to install the compressor with the help of the 69 system I have and the few 68 parts I had. I had a few issues getting the compressor with the cast brace on and lined up with the intake manifold but eventially got it figured out and am happy to finally see it on the car. One step closer to firing it up. I have some tightening up to do on some odds and ends and sorting out a few detail items and I am pretty much done under the hood. What a nice feeling of accomplishment. I have been working on the dash and wiring and mocked up the cluster and it is looking good. I just need to figure a few routing items and I will be in business. My hope is to get this thig started in two weeks. I am off on Tuesday and will spend the day working on those items under the dash and reinstalling the column. Here are some photos of the latest.
Well the mess I am having with Classic Auto Air goes on unfortunately. They seems to have lost all of my original lines and dryer, expansion valve the fittings to the compressor, hardware and so on. The good news is the guy that opened the box said they weren't in there and they magically disappeared between getting packed and the box being opened. Right! I am at my wits end with them and sorry that it has turned out the way it has. I am sorry to say I would NOT recommend them. The guy is very nice to deal with but I don't think I am getting the whole story from them. Now I have to find all the pieces they lost to complete the system. Anyone who has any 68 A/C parts please let me know as I am in need of a few things.
I was able to install the compressor with the help of the 69 system I have and the few 68 parts I had. I had a few issues getting the compressor with the cast brace on and lined up with the intake manifold but eventially got it figured out and am happy to finally see it on the car. One step closer to firing it up. I have some tightening up to do on some odds and ends and sorting out a few detail items and I am pretty much done under the hood. What a nice feeling of accomplishment. I have been working on the dash and wiring and mocked up the cluster and it is looking good. I just need to figure a few routing items and I will be in business. My hope is to get this thig started in two weeks. I am off on Tuesday and will spend the day working on those items under the dash and reinstalling the column. Here are some photos of the latest.
Attachments
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
Getting Closer
I got my interior today from Jamie at Mega Parts. He is great and has been huge in helping this project moving along. I highly recommend him and his company for anyone looking for Mopar items. I am getting more excited day by day because I can finally see the last of checklist items for the first time to start this thing in years. Something I am gathering many of you understand. It has been my hope and drive to have it ready for spring and the upcoming season and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My wife will be glad too! I will keep the pictures coming as I move it along. I will work in the interior this weekend and then the windows soon.
I got my interior today from Jamie at Mega Parts. He is great and has been huge in helping this project moving along. I highly recommend him and his company for anyone looking for Mopar items. I am getting more excited day by day because I can finally see the last of checklist items for the first time to start this thing in years. Something I am gathering many of you understand. It has been my hope and drive to have it ready for spring and the upcoming season and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My wife will be glad too! I will keep the pictures coming as I move it along. I will work in the interior this weekend and then the windows soon.
Attachments
Last edited:
70rr-brian
Well-Known Member
I have been silently following this off and on. She looks great! Sooooo close.... The photos are really nice. But once you get her finished you should make a video, post to youtube and link it here. Hearing her purr and seeing her moving would be a nice final touch for this story.
astjp2
Well-Known Member
I wish my car was that far along. I am still waiting for panels to come in. I am upgrading mine with subframe connectors, torque boxes, shock tower supports, etc. I hope my wife will be as patient as yours. Tim:blob1:
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
The wifes
My wife just gave up asking "how much". It has been a very long and very expensive journey. She blew me away last night when she said how nice the car looked and how proud she was of the job I did. However, she said I will not be the first one to go for a ride and started laughing. I understand. I am scared of the gremlins too.
I tried to turn the motor over yesterday after hooking up the battery for the first time and after a quick try to see if it worked the starter engaged and went crazy and would not shut off. Not good as I am not ready to start it quite yet. I posted a thread and got a lot of helpful advice and insight. I will work on that tomorrow by loosening the starter and seeing what is going on. I primed the engine for about 5 to 10 minutes so I am guessing we are ready to light. Just a few more check list items and we are good to go. I am going to get a few of my mechanic friends over next Sunday to help with items I am not good at like the timing and such. I think I will take the advice of some of you by recording the event and putting a link to Youtube. It might prove to be helpful to others in the same spot down the road as I am at now. I know I look for this information all the time. More to come soon.
My wife just gave up asking "how much". It has been a very long and very expensive journey. She blew me away last night when she said how nice the car looked and how proud she was of the job I did. However, she said I will not be the first one to go for a ride and started laughing. I understand. I am scared of the gremlins too.
I tried to turn the motor over yesterday after hooking up the battery for the first time and after a quick try to see if it worked the starter engaged and went crazy and would not shut off. Not good as I am not ready to start it quite yet. I posted a thread and got a lot of helpful advice and insight. I will work on that tomorrow by loosening the starter and seeing what is going on. I primed the engine for about 5 to 10 minutes so I am guessing we are ready to light. Just a few more check list items and we are good to go. I am going to get a few of my mechanic friends over next Sunday to help with items I am not good at like the timing and such. I think I will take the advice of some of you by recording the event and putting a link to Youtube. It might prove to be helpful to others in the same spot down the road as I am at now. I know I look for this information all the time. More to come soon.
Last edited:
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
The big day!
Well today turned out to be the big day. It was not without its scares and challenges but the old lady runs again for the first time in years.
I was able to solicit a friend of mine who is Mr Mopar in my area and had not spoken to him for a while and was reminded he was around by my parts guy. He said he was glad to come over and help as I had reached the end of my know how to get some of the more detailed items taken care. He made it look like childs play. I went through my mental checklist of all the items that needed to be tightened and rechecked and thought I had most of it. After resolving a major malfunction of a starter that would not disengage I seemed to be back on track again. My friend tested the distributor and some other testing and cranked the motor with the #1 plug out and lined up the timing mark so dead on the mark that he said he has never done that in his life and was probably a once and a million lucky try. We think we are ready to fire. He asked me if we wanted to say any kind of prayer and I said yes, but let me get the fire extinguishers too. He worked the carb and I worked the key. When we went to fire it up, it lit on the first try but with sparks coming off the alternator bolt and gas gushing out the fuel pump. Oops. Thank GOD, via our prayers, that this thing didn't go up in flames. Sparks and gas in the same place? Not good. Stupid me. I forgot to tighten the fuel fitting and and tighten the alternator bolt on the bottom for a good ground. Pray and try again. This time it started right up and ran almost amazingly perfect. Of course their was enough gas and c02 in my garage to kill a 10 ton elephant. This car is the ANTI GREEN. I am thinking of getting a "HYBRID" sticker with a slash through it for my bumper. That will defintely piss off any tree huggers. Just kidding, maybe.
In the end it runs and sounds beautiful and was a very exciting day. One step closer. Needless to say there were a few other gremlins that surfaced like a leak at the water neck that I now get to remove all the a/c stuff to get at. CRAP! The power steering pump leaks, which is no surprise with the 50/50 I was expecting and the steering sector leaks in front. Less problems than I thought so I can live with it. Just wanted to share the latest greatest for the day. I know I will have some questions for many of you on issues as the come up.
I would like to thak everyone for watching and wish I had posted more of the detailed restoration items as I did them. I have many pictures of those items as they progressed. Please feel free to ask as I hope I may provide some value to others on this site that may be where I was. Thanks for a great community of Mopar people to reach out to. More coming soon.
Well today turned out to be the big day. It was not without its scares and challenges but the old lady runs again for the first time in years.
I was able to solicit a friend of mine who is Mr Mopar in my area and had not spoken to him for a while and was reminded he was around by my parts guy. He said he was glad to come over and help as I had reached the end of my know how to get some of the more detailed items taken care. He made it look like childs play. I went through my mental checklist of all the items that needed to be tightened and rechecked and thought I had most of it. After resolving a major malfunction of a starter that would not disengage I seemed to be back on track again. My friend tested the distributor and some other testing and cranked the motor with the #1 plug out and lined up the timing mark so dead on the mark that he said he has never done that in his life and was probably a once and a million lucky try. We think we are ready to fire. He asked me if we wanted to say any kind of prayer and I said yes, but let me get the fire extinguishers too. He worked the carb and I worked the key. When we went to fire it up, it lit on the first try but with sparks coming off the alternator bolt and gas gushing out the fuel pump. Oops. Thank GOD, via our prayers, that this thing didn't go up in flames. Sparks and gas in the same place? Not good. Stupid me. I forgot to tighten the fuel fitting and and tighten the alternator bolt on the bottom for a good ground. Pray and try again. This time it started right up and ran almost amazingly perfect. Of course their was enough gas and c02 in my garage to kill a 10 ton elephant. This car is the ANTI GREEN. I am thinking of getting a "HYBRID" sticker with a slash through it for my bumper. That will defintely piss off any tree huggers. Just kidding, maybe.
In the end it runs and sounds beautiful and was a very exciting day. One step closer. Needless to say there were a few other gremlins that surfaced like a leak at the water neck that I now get to remove all the a/c stuff to get at. CRAP! The power steering pump leaks, which is no surprise with the 50/50 I was expecting and the steering sector leaks in front. Less problems than I thought so I can live with it. Just wanted to share the latest greatest for the day. I know I will have some questions for many of you on issues as the come up.
I would like to thak everyone for watching and wish I had posted more of the detailed restoration items as I did them. I have many pictures of those items as they progressed. Please feel free to ask as I hope I may provide some value to others on this site that may be where I was. Thanks for a great community of Mopar people to reach out to. More coming soon.
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
By the way.
By the way. Did I mention I will never ever do another one of these cars with air conditioning? It is a huge pain. Ask any questions you may have because I have learned the hard way.
By the way. Did I mention I will never ever do another one of these cars with air conditioning? It is a huge pain. Ask any questions you may have because I have learned the hard way.
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
Fixing the bugs
Well it has been since Tuesday we firing this thing up so I just got home from work and had to go give the key a turn. She fired right up again so that is great. However, I now need to start going after the gremlins which will require tearing into all the work I just completed. I should have known better and had the steering box gone through because it is leaking like a stuck pig. This appears to be a very common story that it didn't leak when I started this but does now. I still have the steering column out so Iam at least one step closer to remving this thing. I am planning on sending to Steer and Gear. Does anyone have any comments or thoughts on them? I seem to hear all good things so unless I hear different that is my plan. I am planning on getting one out their new and improved steering coupler boot sleeves. It looks slick and I have all but given up on getting that idiot design of a seal on there. I will also need to get a reman Federal steering pump too as that is leaking just as bad. While I have that all torn apart I need to remove the air conditioning compressor to get at the leaking water neck. A classic case of measure none, cut twice. I guess it was to be expected. I will keep you all informed.
Incidently, I am still have not been able to resolve my ongoing problem with Classic Auto Air. I hate to say anything bad about companies because I am sure that many of you have not had the problems I am with them, and am very sad about the whole thing.They refuse to answer very simple questions and keep calling me and a fellow Mopar person liars. Not a very good outcome so I am having to take more desperate measures.
All for now.
Well it has been since Tuesday we firing this thing up so I just got home from work and had to go give the key a turn. She fired right up again so that is great. However, I now need to start going after the gremlins which will require tearing into all the work I just completed. I should have known better and had the steering box gone through because it is leaking like a stuck pig. This appears to be a very common story that it didn't leak when I started this but does now. I still have the steering column out so Iam at least one step closer to remving this thing. I am planning on sending to Steer and Gear. Does anyone have any comments or thoughts on them? I seem to hear all good things so unless I hear different that is my plan. I am planning on getting one out their new and improved steering coupler boot sleeves. It looks slick and I have all but given up on getting that idiot design of a seal on there. I will also need to get a reman Federal steering pump too as that is leaking just as bad. While I have that all torn apart I need to remove the air conditioning compressor to get at the leaking water neck. A classic case of measure none, cut twice. I guess it was to be expected. I will keep you all informed.
Incidently, I am still have not been able to resolve my ongoing problem with Classic Auto Air. I hate to say anything bad about companies because I am sure that many of you have not had the problems I am with them, and am very sad about the whole thing.They refuse to answer very simple questions and keep calling me and a fellow Mopar person liars. Not a very good outcome so I am having to take more desperate measures.
All for now.
Last edited:
astjp2
Well-Known Member
Isn't it amazing how much dust accumulates from the time it came fresh out of paint until she finally runs.
What size radiator are you using? I need to see what it takes to fit a 26" in a 22" hole.
Tim
What size radiator are you using? I need to see what it takes to fit a 26" in a 22" hole.
Tim
Ron 73
Deceased, But not forgotton
I do hope you get all the gremlins worked out on this and as suggested a video when your all done would be great! Im sorry to hear of the problems with Classic Auto Air... There is a thread in General discussion for new and old members alike to share there experiences with different company's we all buy from, A whos ok, who to stay away from. Its only a suggestion but it might be a good idea to add these to the list, maybe save someone else thinking of using them. Its a shame when your this close.. and to have someone call you and i guess all of us liars is worse.. If you decide to share this, hears the link and good luck to you!
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?p=238250#post238250
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?p=238250#post238250
Chargermoneypit
Well-Known Member
Hi Tim,
I have the factory 26" radiator part number 2898047. I am not sure what you are working on but there are so many combinations that were the norm that it is possible.
I have the factory 26" radiator part number 2898047. I am not sure what you are working on but there are so many combinations that were the norm that it is possible.
Similar threads
- Locked
