1969 Charger R/T resurrection

[hunt2elk]

Not sure what the deal is with Phoenix Graphics. 2 weeks and 2 phone calls to them and still no samples of vinyl for my rump stripe. So I called Performance Car Graphics. The guy on the phone was a great help and said he would throw some samples in the mail. 3 days later they are in my mailbox. He sent gloss white, gloss black(for comparison), matte black, flat black(you can't ever get any wax on this one or it will turn milky), satin silver, a cool slate silver metalflake, and 1 called carbon fiber black/silver. Decisions, decisions....

 

[747mopar]

I didn't have much luck either, asked if they could do something for me "took a while just for them to say no".

 

[hunt2elk]

And on another note. With all the cars being dug out of barns and showing up on here recently and sporting old Keystone Klassic wheels, I had to inquire as to getting some made to fit the Charger. These were what I used 30 years ago and I still like the look, plus the little Philly has her heart set on them also. What the hell, she got her black Charger so why not her choice of wheels to - right? I am looking for 15x10 for the rears with a 5 or 5.5 inch backspace. This I will have to determine when I get the rearend in place hopefully in the not to distant future. The stock bs on this size is 4.125", so no good. I called Summit and got ahold of a really decent man who called out to California where they are made to see if it is even possible. No problem was the answer and even better was that they would be $8 cheaper than the standard size. He even double checked the price and it was confirmed. Even the 4 weeks to make them up wasn't unreasonable in my opinion. The only thing I was hoping for is they would make them up in non unilug, but they won't, so I guess I would have to live with that.



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I didn't have much luck either, asked if they could do something for me "took a while just for them to say no".

They must figure they have enough work. I talked to the same man both times and was told they would be in the mail the next day. Guess that didn't happen. Makes me kind of hesitant placing an order with them.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Like I mentioned in my earlier posts about Performance Car Graphics......... These guys are true Mopar people and I have always had great service with them. In fact if you botch up a stripe during installation for a fender, door etc., you can call them up and buy just what you need. They sell individual stripes too.

This is a lot better than having to buy the whole stripe kit again just for one stripe.

They always cut fresh vinyl too. I can't talk highly enough about these guys..........

I would not steer you wrong H2E, just like the tip on the Easy Off cleaner for plastic.........

I still would go with the reflective black.

Best of luck what ever you do. The car will be absolutely stunning when it's done. It is really starting to pop now that you have it black. Love it !!!!! Keep up the great work.

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Love the Keystones too. Had a set on a 73 Charger SE years ago.

 

[KMACORONET]

WOW! I just spent an hour looking thru your whole build, I am not worthy to make any comment other than VERY NICE WORK!!!:headbang:

 

[hunt2elk]

Like I mentioned in my earlier posts about Performance Car Graphics......... These guys are true Mopar people and I have always had great service with them. In fact if you botch up a stripe during installation for a fender, door etc., you can call them up and buy just what you need. They sell individual stripes too.

This is a lot better than having to buy the whole stripe kit again just for one stripe.

They always cut fresh vinyl too. I can't talk highly enough about these guys..........

I would not steer you wrong H2E, just like the tip on the Easy Off cleaner for plastic.........

I still would go with the reflective black.

Best of luck what ever you do. The car will be absolutely stunning when it's done. It is really starting to pop now that you have it black. Love it !!!!! Keep up the great work.

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Love the Keystones too. Had a set on a 73 Charger SE years ago.

Yep - you were right about PCG and the Easy Off trick. Great advice on both accounts.

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WOW! I just spent an hour looking thru your whole build, I am not worthy to make any comment other than VERY NICE WORK!!!:headbang:

Thanks for the kind words. Little by little it is becoming a car again.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

X2. Very nice work indeed!!!!!

 

[roadrunnerman]

H2E, Always liked the look of Keystones myself. Those samples sure give you something to think about. Glad it's you and not me. The carbon fiber one is different. It looks good though.

 

[Ron 73]

Keystone Klassic my all time favorite wheels Elk, on that black beauty there going to be sweet! Mixture of chrome on black on that sinister machine is cool as it can be.. ;)

 

[hunt2elk]

H2E, Always liked the look of Keystones myself. Those samples sure give you something to think about. Glad it's you and not me. The carbon fiber one is different. It looks good though.

Picking colors on this car has been challenging to say the least. At least the stripe would not be as hard to change after the fact if I didn't like it - unlike the body color.



Ordered one of these tire/wheel measurement tools from Year One yesterday along with a couple of other small things with their 30% off sale. I figure $50. is cheap insurance to get the right backspace if I do go the custom route.

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Keystone Klassic my all time favorite wheels Elk, on that black beauty there going to be sweet! Mixture of chrome on black on that sinister machine is cool as it can be.. ;)

I've always liked them to Ron. When I was younger, it seemed like they outnumbered Crager SS's 2 to 1 around here.

 

[BigBlock61]

Same here I love the Keystone Klassics. I was introduced to them on my 77 Cordoba. They actually made the Doba look tough. I was the only one in my area sporting the Klassics at the time, which played right into my wheelhouse. If everybody's doing it I usually go the other direction.

 

[snakeoil24]

Thanks chicken. It is coming right along - and I still have'nt decided on a color yet. This is causing me some sleepless nights.

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Exactly what the kid said. He would tell me exactly what the metal would do after just one tack and he was right. I think this is quite important - to know what is going to happen as the tack process continues. I was surprised how much the metal moved from even minimal heat. It would be very easy to ruin a new quarter if you are not extemely careful. I am more than happy with the results though.

I have used Dry ice on 1/4 panel to control heat and still had problems even with an air gun also. Heat really is a killer!

 

[Budnicks]

And on another note. With all the cars being dug out of barns and showing up on here recently and sporting old Keystone Klassic wheels, I had to inquire as to getting some made to fit the Charger. These were what I used 30 years ago and I still like the look, plus the little Philly has her heart set on them also. What the hell, she got her black Charger so why not her choice of wheels to - right? I am looking for 15x10 for the rears with a 5 or 5.5 inch backspace. This I will have to determine when I get the rearend in place hopefully in the not to distant future. The stock bs on this size is 4.125", so no good. I called Summit and got ahold of a really decent man who called out to California where they are made to see if it is even possible. No problem was the answer and even better was that they would be $8 cheaper than the standard size. He even double checked the price and it was confirmed. Even the 4 weeks to make them up wasn't unreasonable in my opinion. The only thing I was hoping for is they would make them up in non unilug, but they won't, so I guess I would have to live with that.

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They must figure they have enough work. I talked to the same man both times and was told they would be in the mail the next day. Guess that didn't happen. Makes me kind of hesitant placing an order with them.

I always liked them old style Keystones... never had any thou, seemed to always buy the Cragers

 

[hunt2elk]

I like the Cragers too and have them on my RR. Just thinking I might need something a little different on this one.

 

[Ron 73]

I really don't care for the uni lugs but seems thats the only way, my old Cragers are the same, i hate them.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Nice choice on the wheels Joel, gonna look tough with 10" width on the rears. And thanks for the tip on performance car graphics, I'll be going to them instead now. Imo any dark gray or silver is an awesome stripe color with black body color, can't go wrong with that

 

[hunt2elk]

Nice choice on the wheels Joel, gonna look tough with 10" width on the rears. And thanks for the tip on performance car graphics, I'll be going to them instead now. Imo any dark gray or silver is an awesome stripe color with black body color, can't go wrong with that
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Can you believe Phoenix Graphics still hasn't sent me the samples they told me were in the mail - twice? Site sponsor or not, I'm not ever giving them any of my business. Can't stand when people don't follow though with things. Do you think that stripe is matte black, or some kind of charcoal?

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Wow that's ridiculous. It's sad that so many vendors have that exact same problem. Took me 6 months to get my wheels from coys (keep in mind I paid in full the day I ordered), seems like customer service is a lost art nowadays.

And that stripe is like a gunmetal/ charcoal grey metallic. I'm kinda split between that and flat black, keeping the wax off the black sounds like a pain

 

[747mopar]

I really like the pic Speady posted "sweet". I went with a company up here by me "Pro Arts & Signs" for my rump stripe masking and just picked it up today. They have some really impressive looking work and get it done quickly "they had mine backwards" but made another one the spot for no additional cost. Good luck with the selection

 

[hunt2elk]

Sounds like the flat black is the one you cant get any wax on. If you happen to get some on the matte there is a new product that will take care of it.

Well this past weekend I had big plans on getting my grill assembly together and set aside so I don't have to worry about damaging it. First thing I remembered is that the R/T emblem is still backordered for the headlight door, so that will have to wait. And then my original trim to grill fasteners were not in as good of condition as I thought they were after cleaning them up. So I ordered the stud/nut kit from Mega on Tuesday and it arrived today. 2 days and only $2. in shipping costs. I wish other vendors would treat their customers as well as Mega. On a side note, I bought the actual trim kit from Jeff @ 521 Restorations when I got all my sheet metal. There definitely is a thickness difference between the old and new, but it is not bad for a repo part made overseas. And it looks a whole lot better than my originals.



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I also got the heater box gasket kit from Detroit Muscle Tech, so I have another project waiting for some of my time.



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So with not being able to put the grill together, I decided to get all my interior trim freshened up. I used all SEM products to clean, adhesion promoters, plastic prep, and paint. I've used this stuff before and really had good luck with it. I use Landau black on all the soft trim and Satin black on all the hard plastic. One new thing I tried was the low luster clear on everything for a little better protection. After this I started on cleaning up some of the door parts.