Don's 1969 Charger Restoration

[70runner]

Reading through this project makes me soooooooooo happy my daughters 2 owner survivor 69RT was virtually rust free, garaged nearly it's entire life in SOCAL. OTOH, what you've accomplished is nothing sort of extraordinary.

 

[SGTPaul]

Nice work as always Don!

 

[mopar4don]

Excellent work fine Sir.

Thank you, all the encouragement does help to keep me going.

Reading through this project makes me soooooooooo happy my daughters 2 owner survivor 69RT was virtually rust free, garaged nearly it's entire life in SOCAL. OTOH, what you've accomplished is nothing sort of extraordinary.

"virtually rust free" what is that like?

Nice work as always Don!

Thanks Paul

 

[mopar4don]

So the next thing to do will be to weld on new AMD drip rails.
Has anyone put these on? Is there anything to it?
Maybe positioning to the front A-pillar drip rail?
There is a gap but the trim should cover it right?

 

[mopar4don]

So the next thing to do will be to weld on new AMD drip rails.
Has anyone put these on? Is there anything to it?
Maybe positioning to the front A-pillar drip rail?
There is a gap but the trim should cover it right?

 

[SGTPaul]

You need to change your username to body by Don.

 

[mopar4don]

I should get a tag made up and put it on my door sills.....

 

[daytona kid]

I've been watching this guy do a lot of good metal work on chargers. Here he is putting a roof skin on and does something with the drip rail, not sure it will help you but good chance he has done what you are doing and has a video for it.>

 

[Armycopter]

So here is the cluster completely assembled and the bezel and the woodgrain overlay

View attachment 973484
View attachment 973485

And the cluster assembly with the woodgrain overlays assembled into there
respective bezels
View attachment 973486

And the completed cluster assembly
View attachment 973487

Here are a few pics with the cluster and bezels installed into the dash frame
View attachment 973488

View attachment 973489

And here the dash frame is back into its storage frame and wrapped up for safe keeping
View attachment 973490

View attachment 973491

this looks fantastic!! What are the wood grain overlays made of? Are they wood? I want to add them to my non wood dash. Thank you

 

[Chargerjase]

I've been watching this guy do a lot of good metal work on chargers. Here he is putting a roof skin on and does something with the drip rail, not sure it will help you but good chance he has done what you are doing and has a video for it.>

He is very good. Films it on his mobile phone, but is very informative and has plenty of experience. Worth watching his videos.. By the way, not a hack either. Does it right.

 

[blue69runner]

Yes you go the extra mile for sure. Fine work. I see your a perfectionist also. Got a bead roller from east wood and created some part's my self. Would love to have an English wheel some day and a metal stretcher also. Keep up the good work and thanks on the rust converter in put. Blue

 

[mopar4don]

He is very good. Films it on his mobile phone, but is very informative and has plenty of experience. Worth watching his videos.. By the way, not a hack either. Does it right.

Thanks for the reminder. I have seen his videos and he does a really good job

Yes you go the extra mile for sure. Fine work. I see your a perfectionist also. Got a bead roller from east wood and created some part's my self. Would love to have an English wheel some day and a metal stretcher also. Keep up the good work and thanks on the rust converter in put. Blue

Yeah I would like to get a bead roller, maybe someday. Thank you

 

[aussiewannabee69]

I cant belive I haven't seen this thread in the years I've scrolled though here. Just bloody amazing work mate!

 

[mopar4don]

So I was originally going to buy a core support stiffener but decided to make my own. I really got the idea from b5cuda. It basically boxes the core support.

I started off by making a template in two pieces

Then I transferred it to 16 gauge (.060).

Here is a good pic showing how it will get boxed

Here you can see the result of rolling the edge
(just to the left of the left clamp and above the hammer) (I used a big pipe)

 

[mopar4don]

next I had to pull the side strap up and tack it

So I did the drivers side the same way then joined them

Here it is all mocked up

If you noticed in the previous pics I notched out for the grill support bracket.
I didn't like the way this looked. So I filled in the box and sliced the
bracket off right where it would intersect the box and welded it along the bottom

 

[747mopar]

next I had to pull the side strap up and tack it

View attachment 1024691

View attachment 1024692

So I did the drivers side the same way then joined them

View attachment 1024696

Here it is all mocked up
View attachment 1024698


If you noticed in the previous pics I notched out for the grill support bracket.
I didn't like the way this looked. So I filled in the box and sliced the
bracket off right where it would intersect the box and welded it along the bottom
View attachment 1024699

View attachment 1024700

Nice work as always.

 

[daytona kid]

I cant belive I haven't seen this thread in the years I've scrolled though here. Just bloody amazing work mate!

I did some bloody amazing work on mine also, I got 10 stitches in my hand from a sharp edge on a body panel. There was blood everywhere.. true story

 

[mopar4don]

Nice work as always.

Thanks Devin

I did some bloody amazing work on mine also, I got 10 stitches in my hand from a sharp edge on a body panel. There was blood everywhere.. true story

I have shed some blood myself. I don't know how you can work on these cars and bleed a little from time to time.

 

[showard]

That's better than buying the piece. Good work!

 

[mopar4don]

That's better than buying the piece. Good work!

Thanks showard. I think it will be stronger than uscartool's version and look more factory.