'69 charger r/t-se: Building my dream car

[747mopar]

Wow, that looks really nice Speedy. I'm about to start the polishing as well, got a buffer, three wheels and have a 4 piece set compounds coming. I tried my luck on dent removal the other night on the worst part (quarter window trim plate) and was amazed at just how perfect you can get them "gotta love the old stainless".

 

[BigBlock61]

That grill's looking awesome Speedy.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Thanks guys here's the main pieces mocked up after getting hit with the satin black, got a couple small runs but they're on the edge of the finned section where I'm going to have to sand and paint silver anyway, then I should finally be done with these damn things haha

Wow, that looks really nice Speedy. I'm about to start the polishing as well, got a buffer, three wheels and have a 4 piece set compounds coming. I tried my luck on dent removal the other night on the worst part (quarter window trim plate) and was amazed at just how perfect you can get them "gotta love the old stainless".

Man if you like the stainless you'll love the old aluminum, this is my "I" beam piece that Chuck showed me on, I'm still straightening it out so this spot was only sanded with 320 before he buffed it. All he did was a few seconds of the blue compound on a pedestal grinder with a soft buffing wheel and it hardly shows any sanding scratches, figure wetsanding up to 600 and some buffing and the trim should come out perfect.

 

[tallhair]

I'll have more pictures tonight after the center section dries and I get the tape off, but here's one of the headlight buckets finished up :icon_cool:

View attachment 151087

That is coming out like a high dollar resto piece Speedy. Great work !!

 

[PFG MOPAR]

I like the black primer look

Just kidding, Deke :frog: I left in in black primer .. Looks cool.
Still have to stop by and see your progress though.
:3gears:

Mike..

Hey Mike sorry it's been pretty hit or miss on when I'm there lately, been really busy. If you shoot me a private message on here with pics of the grille I could probably get it done for ya. Hope everything's been good!

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I got a new project for you though, when your ready :headbang:



Mike..

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Thanks Brian I'm really happy with how its coming out so far, the hours of taping paid off I guess since I haven't gotten any overspray on anything yet (knock on wood) haha. Detailing the rest of the grille assembly stuff will be a breeze compared to these pieces

And good deal Mike! If you want something a little stronger than primer but a flat back finish try the Martin Semour underhood black at napa. Oh damn what's the story on the Olds??

 

[tallhair]

ccasion14:

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Well on to the trim, trying to get the hardest piece out of the way first. Got the Who blasting on the radio listening to Nights With Alice Cooper and straightening this I beam, it's a party here tonight lol



Already have the big dents taken care of, more pics to come when I'm done sweet talking this thing.


Still have to do the little silver outlining that goes around the finned sections, but couldn't help mocking up my grille with the emblems and headlight doors. Feels good to see it all together finally
ccasion14:

 

[roadrunnerman]

Looks good,but will look better seeing it on the car.

 

[daytona kid]

Good looking work SF. Funny, I also listen to Alice. He plays some good stuff on his radio show. Been a fan since his start.

 

[goose69]

Mr.SpeedFreak, Forgive me if this has been stated in your posting somewhere but which exactly "dull aluminum" paint did you use for your grill? It appears to have a very good look to it.

 

[hunt2elk]

Hey Speedy - Is this the paint you used on the R/T grill emblem? I didn't realize Walmart even sold this stuff, but yours turned out so nice I figured I might give it a whirl on mine.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Good looking work SF. Funny, I also listen to Alice. He plays some good stuff on his radio show. Been a fan since his start.

Thanks daytona, yeah that's turned into my little ritual during the week to work on stuff for the car and listen to his show after work. It's cool he plays a little deeper cuts than you'd usually hear on the radio

Mr.SpeedFreak, Forgive me if this has been stated in your posting somewhere but which exactly "dull aluminum" paint did you use for your grill? It appears to have a very good look to it.

Thanks! It's Krylon number 1403, I'm really happy with how it came out and like I said before from what I could tell it's a dead ringer for the factory silver. The friends of mine that do restorations professionally use it, too. On a sidenote, Goose is that you?! Lol



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Hey Speedy - Is this the paint you used on the R/T grill emblem? I didn't realize Walmart even sold this stuff, but yours turned out so nice I figured I might give it a whirl on mine.

View attachment 151801

That's the one! Like I said just let it drip into the emblem after it's good and clean, the brush will show brush strokes pretty bad. Then just set it on something level to let it dry and it should come out fine :icon_thumleft:

 

[goose69]

Thanks! It's Krylon number 1403, I'm really happy with how it came out and like I said before from what I could tell it's a dead ringer for the factory silver. The friends of mine that do restorations professionally use it, too. On a sidenote, Goose is that you?! Lol

View attachment 151912

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Well my hair isn't as sun bleached anymore and I seem to have more hair growing on my chest now..... oh well. lol
I might just have to dig that movie out again & watch it soon.

Thanks again SF for the info. Awesome work on the car by the way.

 

[747mopar]

That grill looks awesome all put together "excellent work Speedy".

 

[conv67bdere]

Well on to the trim, trying to get the hardest piece out of the way first. Got the Who blasting on the radio listening to Nights With Alice Cooper and straightening this I beam, it's a party here tonight lol
Already have the big dents taken care of, more pics to come when I'm done sweet talking this thing.
View attachment 151488

Still have to do the little silver outlining that goes around the finned sections, but couldn't help mocking up my grille with the emblems and headlight doors. Feels good to see it all together finally
ccasion14:

Wow . . . great job on that dent removal, can't even tell it was ever dented ! ! ! And the grille looks AWESOME ! ! !

Your car is really coming together nicely Speedy ! ! !

 

[Budnicks]

that grill work looks great...

 

[tallhair]

Excellent results speedy!

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Thanks guys, unfortunately it's about that time for some good news/ bad news.. good news is I'm going to see Alice Cooper down in Redding this saturday haha, bad news is I sanded through a spot on my I beam trim.. Got some low-temp fluxless aluminum/magnesium rod to try and save it but so far it's looking like I'll have to hit ebay for a new I beam. Gonna give it one last chance at resuscitation tomorrow before I call it, fingers crossed.

I also have an interesting question for you guys, I got to cleaning up and restoring my vacuum assemblies and noticed the headlight door crossbar things have a bronze coloring to them that isn't corrosion. Did these have a coating like cosmolene or something from the factory? Or maybe some freak overspray since my car was originally T5? Considering just satin clearing them to keep this coloring for some cool/interesting originality :thinker:

 

[hunt2elk]

All of the restored headlight bucket arms I have seen were painted grey, so I would have thought they were unpainted originally. Maybe shoot Mr. Cranium a pm as his 68 is really detailed nice - he might know for sure.
Your car was T5? Really? Want to trade? I just love that color on these cars.