Frnknsteens '69 Charger project

[coronet68mx]

Congratulations on your dash repair, I read the same post you did on dc
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,37999.0.html

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Progress is being made on the Charger. I was able to find a replacement driver side grill extension to replace my broken one. I ordered new spring clips and fasteners to be able to disassemble my old grill sections and attach the replacement piece. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures before delivering to the shop.

As I have said before, my car is up at a shop in northern Minnesota. Don't know if I am allowed to give a shout out to them. Different forums have different rules for that sort of thing. Anyways,... Where I work has an annual plant shut-down the week of July 4th, so I loaded up everything I had for the car in the back of my Suburban and made the trip up there. Included were the rebuilt 440, new transmission, conversion parts for the 4spd conversion and disc brake conversion, front and rear seats, plus EVERYTHING else I had acquired for the car. Needless to say the truck was full and sagging a bit!! I have pictures on my phone of it fully packed, but don't have it with me today. I will post pics once I can pull those pictures off my phone.

I was pleased to see that they have nearly all the body work done and are almost ready for final prime and sand. I was told they like to let everything sit for two weeks after body work is complete before sealing and doing the final prime and sand. Attached pics are what was sent with a recent invoice. I will attach more I took when I was there on July 3rd. The only thing that was left when I was there was a little bit of work around the rear window to ensure it matched up to the trim.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

So I just got new pictures from the shop of my car. Apparently they are finishing up the final blocking and it will be in final prime/seal by the end of the week. They are sending me spray out cards of the different LL1 recipes so we can lock in the color and be ready to start spraying!

A little excited?? Well, yes I am!!

 

[JB400]

Looks good.

 

[747mopar]

Awesome, love seeing these builds go into the bodywork phase. Looking good

 

[showard]

The lines look straight. It's looking good. I would be excited too.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Thanks guys,... Yeah, I can't wait to see color on it. May sound a little weird, but I plan to drive up there, just to be there when it is sprayed. Well, also to drop off parts that are odd shaped and difficult to ship without damage like the trunk divider, package tray and hood insulation. Got them at the nationals while I was there.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Well,... Block/glaze and final prime are complete. Just got some more pictures of it completed and ready for paint

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Here's some more...

 

[Deanfitz27]

Your car looks great, can't wait to see color

 

[SSmoothie]

Car looks great.

 

[zyzzyx]

Looks beautifull! Got to see it painted!

 

[moparnation74]

Thanks guys,... Yeah, I can't wait to see color on it. May sound a little weird, but I plan to drive up there, just to be there when it is sprayed. Well, also to drop off parts that are odd shaped and difficult to ship without damage like the trunk divider, package tray and hood insulation. Got them at the nationals while I was there.

Not weird at all.....I would suggest doing that.......Good learning experience and also to check things to ensure things are done to your liking....

From the pictures the bodywork looks very nice......

Man when that color gets on it you are going to be ecstatic! This is the crux of every restoration and your soon to have that behind you....

Congrats

 

[moparnation74]

Well,... Another big chunk completed on the build. I received the motor back from the engine shop yesterday. I don't have all the specs with me here right now, but it is a .030" over 440. Sealed Power forged pistons. They calculated the compression ratio and said it will be sitting at about 9.7:1 compression. Cam is an Erson Cam with slightly over stock duration and larger lift. We went with 1.5 ratio roller rockers and new rocker shafts. The engine guy is getting all the part numbers together for me so I will have all the specifics, but I'm just excited to see another milestone met.

View attachment 612150 View attachment 612151

Since that engine is going to sit for awhile. I would suggest turning the crank a revolution or 2 once and awhile.......

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Not weird at all.....I would suggest doing that.......Good learning experience and also to check things to ensure things are done to your liking....

From the pictures the bodywork looks very nice......

Man when that color gets on it you are going to be ecstatic! This is the crux of every restoration and your soon to have that behind you....

Congrats

Thanks Justin! Just got an update saying they are doing the final prep work on all the areas that will get paint first like door jambs, trunk, engine compartment etc. etc. Can't wait to see pictures of the first shots of color going on it. Once that is done, we will schedule the exterior paint so I can run up there. You are correct! I will be ecstatic to see it in color! I've been holding onto this car, and wanting to rebuild it since the late 80's. Having paint on it will be a HUGE milestone towards the dream coming true!

Good tip on rotating the motor periodically. I will ask them to do that if they haven't already.

 

[69bfan]

Mike,
As Justin suggested, I would make a trip up prior to the actual color coat to make sure that the body work and various component placement meets your expectations. It is much easier to correct something at this stage vs when the paint is applied.

Look into areas that may hold clues to areas being patched or metal pitting. I guess that I am a bit picky, but I hate to see a very nice paint job only to open the hood and see severe pitting on the back side of the hood or inner fenders. Bumper brackets are one of the first areas that I look at for a clue on the quality of the car.

I do not believe that you will have that issue, but you never know. I know from my personal experience, I had a car done years ago and the guy did not use the supplied battery tray and failed to grind down some welds that were obvious upon inspection. If he had applied the paint, then those weld areas would have all ways bothered me.

You have done a great job of bringing this car back and have done it the right way. I look forward to seeing it as I am sure that it will be a stunner when completed. It will come together rather quickly due to your abilities to complete subassemblies as the car is at the body shop.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Thanks Richard. You make good points. Unfortunately the car is 14 hrs away, and getting away from work to run up there before the jambs are painted, and again when they are ready to spray the body will be tough to do. My last invoice showed they were addressing all those hidden areas, but you're right,.... it would be nice to be there and inspect it myself.

Here's what they were working on in the last invoice:
Color research and spray 3 color cards. (to confirm the right shade of LL1 Turquoise I wanted)
Front lower valance fill to 80 and prep for 2K prime.
RH door into qtr and fender block w/180. LH door block w/180.
LH qtr, LH fender and LH rocker block w/180.
Prep trunk floor, tubs for fill and begin filling w/80.
RH/LH inner door openings fill and sand w/150.
Fill spot weld areas on trunk floor. Fill weld seam on wheel wells, sand filler
w/80 and w/180. Sand trunk jamb opening w/320. Fill in spot weld and sa-
nd filler w/180.
Engine bay fill and sand w/150. Engine bay sand w/320.

Thanks for the compliments on the work already done. I have enjoyed going through the parts that I did, and would do more of it, but to be honest, it would take me too long and I want it finished so I can enjoy it. In the meantime I have had my Barracuda to play with and have pretty much gone through it from end to end and still have some wiring things to finish up (dome light, trunk light, and reverse lights don't work).

The shop doing the work is my brother in law's shop and they do some beautiful work. His partner is a Mopar guy and has a couple of his own. I've got pretty strong confidence in them, and the work they have done so far is pretty meticulous. I'll attach a couple pictures of other '69 Chargers they have done.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Mine will be pretty much identical to the blue one, only in 1968 LL1 dark turquoise. Interior will also be white, though we are strongly considering having Legendary make us custom seats that have dark turquoise inserts and beading to break up some of all that white a little and pull in the color from the exterior a little. Also strongly considering having them match that dark turquoise on the dash components and package tray so the interior isn't all turquoise and white with a big black dash.

I know that's how they were from the factory, but I never liked it. It just looked out of place. They did the color match on the green and blue interiors, then went all black with the white interiors, though I understand not having white on the dash due to reflection.

 

[69bfan]

Mike,
The shop that you are using far exceeds the norm. That is really good that they are documenting and relating the areas that they are addressing. It is a shame that other shops cannot be half as efficient in letting the owner know what is going on. Also from looking at the shop and the cars being worked on, it just validates that this is a restoration shop and not just another hack joint.

I fully understand the aspect of sending certain items out to be redone. Sometimes the return on your time or the special tools to do the job makes it more appropriate to send the assembly out to be done.

Now the big question is will we be seeing it next year at the Nats? I look forward to seeing it.
Richard

 

[moparnation74]

Mike,
The shop that you are using far exceeds the norm. That is really good that they are documenting and relating the areas that they are addressing. It is a shame that other shops cannot be half as efficient in letting the owner know what is going on. Also from looking at the shop and the cars being worked on, it just validates that this is a restoration shop and not just another hack joint.

I fully understand the aspect of sending certain items out to be redone. Sometimes the return on your time or the special tools to do the job makes it more appropriate to send the assembly out to be done.

Now the big question is will we be seeing it next year at the Nats? I look forward to seeing it.
Richard