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

[Meep-Meep]

I had a 69 Charger R/T SE but I sold it and it eventually became this http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0907_1969_dodge_charger/viewall.html

Looks like you are doing a great job!

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

I had a 69 Charger R/T SE but I sold it and it eventually became this http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0907_1969_dodge_charger/viewall.html

Looks like you are doing a great job!

Thanks! And no way!! I read that write-up a few months ago, the suspension setup on that thing is glorious :icon_eek:

You are doing a great job Mr. SpeedFreak!

Chargers are cool cars for sure!

And Will, Thats one beauty of a black Charger picture which looks like a scene from a movie, But that looks like a 69 Charger and the one im thinking was a 68, ahhh, who cares! I love the looks of the mechanic looking under the hood man!

thanks Ron! I'm moving right along, hopefully be able to burn up some tires this summer. And prop's picture is from Drive Angry, I couldn't decide if the charger made up for how crappy most of that movie was haha yep it's a '69, actually the same cars they used for Death Proof.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Alright well after a quick vacation a couple weeks ago I'm back making some pretty quick progress in the Charger! :icon_thumleft:


My dad helped me out the other day with a whiteboard for the To-Do list, really underestimated how much it'd help me keep focused and on track.

First weekend back, came home to a sunny 70 degree weekend so I rolled the Charger out into the sun to finish stripping the trunk pan.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Last weekend I got an early start and had the rear end pulled out pretty easy before lunch. Ready to finish stripping/painting the underside of the car at the rear subframe, and should make the sheet metal surgery under there a hell of a lot easier too. :chain saw:



Here it is as it came out of the car. :icon_scratch:


Under the dirt I found a lot of factory markings still in great shape. I hate to paint over them but I took a ton of pictures to document them first, and didnt strip them. It's always awesome finding cool time-capsule stuff like this :icon_biggrin:


After a long day of quality time with the wire brush haha


Then I shot it with Chassis Saver rust encapsulator...


... Let it cure for a day (that stuff takes forever to dry on a good day) and last night hit it with white etching primer...


... And finally topcoated it with semi-gloss black. :icon_cheers:


So as it stands right now I'll be having some late nights stripping the rear undercarriage before the UPS guy (aka The True Santa Clause) shows up with some AMD sheet metal. Also went out to the mopar sensei Mike's place yesterday to pick up my 3/8" fuel lines, brake lines, and new stainless sending unit, with the new fuel tank still on the way. Then a big order with Summit for a water pump, thermostat, Pertronix ignition, Prothane poly leaf spring bushings, and some QA1 rear shocks.
Hopefully be doing some welding this weekend. Moving right along! :icon_thumleft:

 

[69_CoronetR/T]

I'm jealous of you and your good weather, I would love to be working on my '69 Coronet R/T right now, but my garage isnt heated(yet lol) and its snowing right now...

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Ah that always sucks, get that heater going! We'll still be getting some rain over here I'm sure, but I'm holding out hope the temperature will at least stay up. Trying to avoid another gorgeous summer looking at the Charger but not being able to drive it lol

 

[cr8crshr]

Some excellent quality work there Speed. Quick thought for you though...Regarding the sending unit...If you can re-condition it and then ops check it say with another MOPAR while it is out of your tank. you can re-use it. I did with my 1966 Plymouth Satellite project because the after market stainless replacements have been know to not operate correctly. By that I mean most will only record 1/2 tank when in fact, you are full. And, it seems no matter how much tweeking of the float arm you do, they don't work correctly. I bought a stainless steel unit to replace my original and ops checked it outside with a different Mopar and I had the same results. Plugged the old unit up and it worked but after a cleaning and inspection worked even better. Also be aware that the seal rings that are being offered today are not as think as the originals and might require a little "buttering" of RTV sealant to help seat it back onto the tank. From the pics the tank looks like it is serviceable??? If so, there is a process know as "Gas Tank Renew, that will dip and re-seal the tank which will work as good as new. Just offering you some input for your resto as we all here have gone through roughly the same things as we re-built our cars. For a young "GUN"...yep I am an Old Man...you have some really great talent. Love the pics and the status updates....cr8crshr/Tuck

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Thanks cr8! The kind words and advice mean a lot. And yeah the guy I bought the sending unit from carries a couple different ones and warned me of the other one having that problem. "likes to always read 3/4 tank" was how he put it haha, but he said this one should have no problems. I'll keep that in mind and at the very least keep my original one on-hand though :icon_thumleft:

And ya know my gas tank is kind of deceiving. "Looks good from afar but far from good looking" haha When I bought it the owner had it still installed but the gas cap removed, so I have a feeling a good amount of water made it down the filler tube because it really looked pretty bad inside when I pulled it out. But who knows, I was going to keep it as well and try the restoration kit you mentioned so if it works I can have a backup laying around.
Thanks! It's a lot of fun for me and will be well worth the work when I finally get to drive it, hopefully sooner than later :laughing7:

 

[747mopar]

That picture of your car sitting outside looks great, got me convinced to drop my original idea of 18"s and 19"s and go with the 17' 18" combo "looks perfect". Good job and keep after it, you'll be driving it before you know it.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

That picture of your car sitting outside looks great, got me convinced to drop my original idea of 18"s and 19"s and go with the 17' 18" combo "looks perfect". Good job and keep after it, you'll be driving it before you know it.

Thanks glad I could be of some help 747, I think 18's and 19's could still be done well but personally like the amount of tire you can have with 17's and 18's.
And I can only hope :laughing7: trying to get everything mechanically/under the car done so I can focus on body and paint then interior assembly. My lead foot is getting anxious lol

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Took an easy job for tonight and started cleaning up my brake booster/ master cylinder and vacuum cannister to get them ready for some paint.



Cleaning up pretty decent.


Aside from surface rust, the rest of the assembly seems fine, even the original gasket on the backside is still cherry, so I'll be hitting it with chassis saver and paint, and install it to see how it is before I go buying another one or shipping it out to be rebuilt.

 

[tallhair]

even unfinished it's obvious this is going to be a really cool car speedfreak

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

even unfinished it's obvious this is going to be a really cool car speedfreak

Thanks tallhair! I've seen a lot of "pro touring" cars kind of take a big step away from the classic muscle car look and feel (slammed on the ground, overly done wheels, completely custom pimpmobile interior). Trying to nail walking that thin line of "the best of both worlds" :dontknow:
Not really aiming for "pro touring" as much as what my "perfect" Charger would be to me personally

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Gas tank showed up yesterday and the rest I needed for the new fuel system, pretty close to being able to install the lines.



Still waiting for sheet metal before the rear end and tank can go back in, but pretty happy with how nice the new stuff looks :headbang:

 

[cdr]

very cool project

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Houston, the sheet metal has landed. Time to go to work :chain saw:

 

[PFG MOPAR]

Clouser !!

Clouser well drilling !! Are you in Medford or GP ?? :laughing8:
I pass Coleman's every morning on my way to the shop..

Mike..

PM me, I'd like to stop by and see your car :headbang:

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

View attachment 108857Clouser well drilling !! Are you in Medford or GP ?? :laughing8:
I pass Coleman's every morning on my way to the shop..

Mike..

PM me, I'd like to stop by and see your car :headbang:

Lol! No way! I guess it really is a small world, I'm in Grants Pass. Clouser set up shop next to me late last summer. And will do! Always cool to find fellow moparians in our neck of the woods haha

 

[daytona kid]

I had a 69 Charger R/T SE but I sold it and it eventually became this http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0907_1969_dodge_charger/viewall.html

Thnx MM, you just made me pay $240 for a gas cap, I had to have it!
http://www.mooneyesusa.com/shop/pro...id=551&MOONSESSION=fgh2n21k0nvj6oo9vog34823h5

LOOKIN GOOD FREAK! I like the wheels!

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Thnx MM, you just made me pay $240 for a gas cap, I had to have it!
http://www.mooneyesusa.com/shop/pro...id=551&MOONSESSION=fgh2n21k0nvj6oo9vog34823h5

LOOKIN GOOD FREAK! I like the wheels!

Thanks Daytona :icon_thumleft: damn that is a pretty fancy gas cap haha I kindof like the other variation of it in the "related items" thing

- - - Updated - - -

Holy hell! On second thought, it's cool.. but
I'm not sure about 4 hundo cool :eusa_eh:

http://www.mooneyesusa.com/shop/product.php?products_id=2082&MOONSESSION=fgh2n21k0nvj6oo9vog34823h5