Fun driver project : 69 Charger

[ELLIOT]

Hi

So basically I'm starting this thread about the build of my 69 Charger. If I remember correctly, I had already start one 2 years ago when I got it but my project as change so much since then, it should be better to start a new one.

First and before starting, my english skills are not perfect but I'm will do my best to be clear !

Here is my Charger when I bought it as my first car in january 2015 just after my 18 birthday.

The first project was to restore it quick N easy by just doing all necessary stuff and throw a big block into it and drive it ratty muscle style.

I bought a freshly rebuild 440 with a 727 with the hope to trow it into it and drive it as is (yeah I was pretty stupid or blind, still don't know ^^ )

But I quickly realised that this car needed a lot more work than what I was expecting.

At this very moment, I decided to change my plan and do the complete restoration this car deserve.

I knew I had always wanted to build a car that I could use everyday, doing track days, some quarter miles and just have FUN with it. I decided that I should build my dream car. THE one that I have always got in vision. It will be my creation

Next chapter tonight

 

[mr. b]

what are your plans for it please keep us posted

 

[ELLIOT]

Chapter 2 : Game Changer/Charger

So I decided to completely restore this car, the first step was to completely dissasemble it

The front end went off pretty easily. The first that I have done was to restore the front grille. It was pretty beat up as you can see. But epoxy glue and a lot of time got it done.

Then I needed to switch from a barn garage to a one and a half garage. Downgrade in place but big upgrade in confort

I got it equiped with the necessary stuff to restore the car.

cracked windshield came of

With all the interior

Thank you,

Elliot

 

[ELLIOT]

what are your plans for it please keep us posted

Pretty much a lot of protouring stuff but with a my poor/student budget

 

[ELLIOT]

Chapter 3 Body parts and suspension stuff

Then I bought all the body parts. It took me 7 months to find a pro that could send me those parts. Wasn't really happy to see all these "pro" saying trust us, we are the best for your project and take 3 months to send me a price tag that was really absurd. Next time I will buy those parts myself ...

But anyway, there are finally here so i'm happy ! I bought everything from AMD and I'm really happy with the quality of those parts

Next for disassembly was the K member and the suspension parts. All went pretty smoothly

Grinder time (5 hours)

And the K member, was finaly clean.

 

[ELLIOT]

Chapter 4 : Suspension Rebuild / Chassis uppgrade plan

After cleaning up the parts for the suspension, I painted them with black epoxy

The LCA were stiffened up with a boxing plate from Mancini. I still need to change the swaybar mount from a pre 69 style. mine were worn out and a friend sold me those. They are from a 70 Barracuda

I have since decided to build my own K member with rack N pinion and coilover so I will finish to rebuild the old suspension and sell it later.

The first part of my new plan was to stiffen up the body. I have seen to many unibody car flex with the torque of the engine. So an order from Us car tool later and

 

[ELLIOT]

Chapter 5 Body shop FAIL, parts resto, brakes and transmission

Since the beginning I decided that I would let a pro do the bodywork. I'm not the kind of guy that have good skills with is hand. The only thing that I can do is wrenching on stuff ^^

After some research on my aera and I found what I think was the best and had a fair price. What a disappointment it was ... The guy keep it 8 months and did nothing with the car

So I bascially loose 7 months were I could have to a lot of stuff. I took it back in september, I friends who is an ex pro bodywork man will do the job and all the modification.

That was a very bad time for the restoration. The motivation was at the lowest point. Really not seeing the car going forward was demoralizing.

During this time, I have restored some parts including, the steering column, the pedal assembly and the dashboard (what an hell of a paint job but ended up good inoff for me ^^)

I have also bought some parts for my project :

A set of Ford mustang 13 inch brakes that I will adapt. I litteraly steel those. Way cheaper than everything I could find on ebay.

And the T-56 ! Since the begining it was my dream gearbox and I got the opportunity to find one for not that much money. Those are really expensive in europe and really rare for sale. I bought it from a guy that was keeping it in case his trans blow up but now it's mine and it will be fitted behind a Gen3 Hemi

I find the bellhousing on a facebook group for 300$. Think it was a good deal when you know a new one cost 650$.

So that basically resume my 2 years of ownership. I have been blocked with a lot of crappy moment but now, the resto is back on it's rail and the body work should start really soon !

thank you for reading this. I will keep you updated on the progresse. Once again sorry for my english skills ! ;)

 

[440+6]

Great project, keep going.

 

[68gtxman]

Nice project!

 

[Speedbird]

Impressive.
It is all ways even more impressive when someone not in the USA does this.

 

[ZR9B]

thanks for saving one more cool mopar......hope all goes well

 

[kiwigtx]

That's a great car and a cool project....keep showing us your updates, and don't worry about your English...it's fine.

 

[ELLIOT]

Thank you everyone for the great comment !

Impressive.
It is all ways even more impressive when someone not in the USA does this.

Yeah we don't see Mopar very often here. But I'm a long time member of a french club so I'm starting to know a lot of Mopar people in France, Belgium and Holland.

The car is going to my friend bodyshop. He will slowly work on it. We expect to finsih all the metal work in approximately 10 months. Then the car will be paint on the underside and the interior. Then I will rebuild the car.

Big project indeed. I will keep this thread updated as soon as possible

 

[ELLIOT]

Finaly going to my friend bodyshop !

More update soon !

You can't do more Mopar than this !!

 

[ELLIOT]

In my friend shop

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Nice project you have! Keep up the great work neighbor!

 

[Derwud]

Some where I have a picture of a Challenger in Brussels from 1986.. That car looked so beautiful on those streets..

Great project by the way..

 

[ELLIOT]

Hi !

Some news from the bodyshop ! the rear tail light panel came of. Nothing biggie but that make me really happy so

Also receive the brakes fitting from aeroflow, the painless harness and the last body parts needed.

I will order parts in february for the 4 link set up, the rear brakes hydroboost and the custom K member !

Thank you and an happy new year !

Regards

 

[daytona kid]

Great looking project!

 

[showard]

Your doing a great job. Keep up the good work. It will be fun to see your progress.