Don's 1969 Charger Restoration

[Donny]

Wow! You're going all out on this car! Love it, keep pics coming!

 

[mopar4don]

View attachment 129451



Have a question about the firewall.
My Charger is a NON A/C car. I'm putting in this firewall which has A/C.
What will I need to convert over to A/C?
I know I will need the dash controls, and heater box with A\C, and pump.
What else will I need?

Also if I switch over to A/C, I am assuming this firewall (from a 69 Coronet) will work.
The only thing I noticed that this firewall does not have that I will need is a hole for the vacuum lines that go from the light switch on the dash to the light doors.

My other option would be to patch in areas and make this a non A/C firewall. (seems like a lot of work)

 

[hunt2elk]

I think it would be a lot easier and cheaper to patch the a/c hole in the firewall and keep the car non a/c. The heater blower boxes are different, you would need the compressor, belt, pulleys, ref. hoses, heat/cool switch, heater core, evaporator, dash vents, and all wiring to make it work.

 

[SGTPaul]

Nice work and progress Don! Glad to see you are moving forward. Keep it coming. For your AC non AC item I agree with hunt2elk and suggest cutting what you need off your old fire wall and patching it into your new front clip. I would have patched the bad metal on mine but it was way to banged the f*** up. Yes this is a lot of work now but it will be far less work and $$$ in the long run of doing the conversion to AC.

 

[mopar4don]

Thanks SGT and ELK, thats kinda what I was thinking, but I don't know it all, and wanted to see what advice I would get.

- - - Updated - - -

Let me know if you need the A-pillar post, I'm not guaranteeing anything but I have a buddy that has a 68-69 RR shell sitting in a field that I could check out for you. If not I'll be going to the Mopar nats next month and could keep my eye open. Great job on a daunting task, "WOW".

Thanks 747,
Yes please check into those for me!

 

[Lowhound]

When people see what you started with that should tell them that beneath the outside skins can be hidden rust that can come back to haunt them in the future if it is not properly addressed. Lot of work involved but well worth the extra efforts. Keep up the good work.

 

[747mopar]

Mine was an A/C car, I didn't like how messy the factory setup was so I patched all the holes and went with a custom Vintage air setup. With the firewall so flat and not much in the way of stiffining I elected to use a TIG, softer welds that can be hammered down to counteract the shrinking. In the end it required a very minimal skim coat of filler to smooth over. I'll give him a call and see if he'll part with them.

 

[747mopar]

When people see what you started with that should tell them that beneath the outside skins can be hidden rust that can come back to haunt them in the future if it is not properly addressed. Lot of work involved but well worth the extra efforts. Keep up the good work.

Amen to that, I really try to stress to people to really look inside before going forward. Mopar4don is doing what needs to be done and doing a fine job at it.:notworthy:

 

[cdr]

WOW great job!!!!!

 

[Budnicks]

I think it would be a lot easier and cheaper to patch the a/c hole in the firewall and keep the car non a/c. The heater blower boxes are different, you would need the compressor, belt, pulleys, ref. hoses, heat/cool switch, heater core, evaporator, dash vents, and all wiring to make it work.

LOL :iamwithstupid: >>> also compressor mounting brackets, dryer, dual pulleys for the alternator, water-pump, crankshaft & a condenser in-front of the radiator...

 

[747mopar]

Sorry it took so long "kept leaving messages". Talked to him today. He said 250.00 and you can have what's left of the car (68 RR) but he wants to keep the roof skin, if you don't want the four speed trans hump he'll knock it down to 200.00. Evidently the rear of the car is really bad (springs in the trunk). If your at all interested let me know he's only 5 minutes away, I can get some pics plus I have a 69 Charger that I can make stencils off of if there's something you want to check. He says the pillars and cowl are really nice.

 

[mopar4don]

patched the outer hinge pillar



ALL DONE!

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Very clean patch Don, keep the progress comin! :icon_thumleft:

 

[hunt2elk]

Looking good Don. Keep plugging away.

 

[mopar4don]

Thanks guys

 

[SGTPaul]

Nice work Don. Keep it up!

 

[snakeyes]

:sSig_goodjob:

 

[BigBlock61]

The patch looks good. One more step to a solid car. Keep it up.

 

[roadrunnerman]

The patch looks good. One more step to a solid car. Keep it up.

I agree. you can't even tell you patched it.

 

[747mopar]

I think when it comes to body work there is nothing more satisfying then patching rotten metal to the point that you can't even tell you did it, having said that you outa be a very satisfied man.