Old dog still learning

[ray230]

Just a quick introduction. I am one of those guys that kept his first car. I bought a 68 Charger for $300 in 76. I managed to hang on to it. It was a 383 2 barrel car. The motor was scrap when I bought it, so my dad and I put a salvage 400 in it. That motor stayed until this past winter. I pulled it and used the block to build a 500 stroker. This winter, its re-doing the bucket seats. And fixing poor performing brakes (SSBC disc conversion with low line pressure?) So I will be combing this forum for information and maybe asking a few questions.

Below is a recent picture and one from back in the day.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Welcome. Amazing that folks hold onto cars for as long as I have been alive. Wow.

 

[GetX'd]

Congratulations on the keeper. You and I have a lot in common. I purchased my 68 GTX in 1972 and still own it to this day. Just finishing up on the restoration now.

Its pretty cool cool to have keep your car all these years and still looking sweet.

 

[ray230]

Thanks. There were a few times over the years that I thought of selling. But could never bring myself to do it. Body and paint were done around 1991. Slowly bringing the rest along.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

.... I am one of those guys that kept his first car. I bought a 68 Charger for $300 in 76. I managed to hang on to it. It was a 383 2 barrel car. The motor was scrap when I bought it, so my dad and I put a salvage 400 in it. That motor stayed until this past winter. I pulled it and used the block to build a 500 stroker. This winter, its re-doing the bucket seats. And fixing poor performing brakes (SSBC disc conversion with low line pressure?) So I will be combing this forum for information and maybe asking a few questions.

ray230

Awesome charger you have and congrats on holding on to it all these years. The '68 is my personal favorite of the Chargers, don't have one.........but maybe someday :clock:
I am very interested in how you solve your low line pressure problem on your disc conversion. I have the same problem on my '69 Bee. I'm using the smallest diameter bore M/C to increase line pressure, but way more pedal travel than I like and still marginal braking in my opinion. I would love to hear what your solution is.

Congratulations on the keeper. You and I have a lot in common. I purchased my 68 GTX in 1972 and still own it to this day. Just finishing up on the restoration now.

Its pretty cool cool to have keep your car all these years and still looking sweet.

GetX'd

Make that all three of us, and congrats to you as well for keeping your GTX. I bought my Bee in '73 and of course, still have it. Finished restoring it a couple years ago, but still have this nagging brake issue that prevents me from fully enjoying and driving it. Would love to see a then and now photo of your 'X'.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Very cool story I bought and sold my first car 3 different times I do miss it and I know generally where it's located so I may buy it back one day again but it's a striper 74 charger not much want for it sadly and I have much much rarer and more valuable cars in my garage at this point like I said if it comes up for sale again for a reasonable price I'll buy it back and restore it to top notch driver condition with some bells and whistles.
Very cool though it takes a special guy and a special car to stay together all this time threw all your ups and downs .
Yes if I didn't need the money way back when I would still own my car but every time I own it something really bad happens and I sell it to keep from moving under a bridge now that I'm set I can seem to find it .I guarantee once I'm short on cash it will fall back into my lap again.
Good luck with your car and my opinion loss those brake s I had nothing but problems out of them .the wilwoods are great and affordable never had a problem out of them (but once) a cracked a rotor but was kinda my falt but wilwood replaced free of charge surprisingly.

 

[Budnicks]

Nice 68 Charger

wish I kept mine from 1975

Welcome to FBBO from NorCal

 

[Car Nut]

aboard!

 

[440+6]

Beautiful Charger, welcome to the site.
I bought my GTX in 79, my senior year of high school and still have it.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Beautiful Charger, welcome to the site.
I bought my GTX in 79, my senior year of high school and still have it.

Good deal, that makes four of us now in that club. ccasion14:

 

[eric383]

Welcome Ray. Great story.

 

[1967gtx]

Beautiful Charger, welcome to the site.
I bought my GTX in 79, my senior year of high school and still have it.

I bought my 67 GTX when I was in the USAF, Anchorage, Alaska - 1969 and I still have it. When I get to smoking fine cigars and telling lies the GTX is center stage!!!

Gary

 

[74moparmaniac]

ray230

Awesome charger you have and congrats on holding on to it all these years. The '68 is my personal favorite of the Chargers, don't have one.........but maybe someday :clock:
I am very interested in how you solve your low line pressure problem on your disc conversion. I have the same problem on my '69 Bee. I'm using the smallest diameter bore M/C to increase line pressure, but way more pedal travel than I like and still marginal braking in my opinion. I would love to hear what your solution is.



GetX'd

Make that all three of us, and congrats to you as well for keeping your GTX. I bought my Bee in '73 and of course, still have it. Finished restoring it a couple years ago, but still have this nagging brake issue that prevents me from fully enjoying and driving it. Would love to see a then and now photo of your 'X'.

Great news on the history. I managed to get my 74 Charger back. Had it back in high school. Bought it in 76, and got it back in 2014.....from the guy I sold it to...none in between!! Enjoy friend!!

 

[ray230]

GetX'd

the car I wanted to buy was a 69 GTX 4 speed. Probably a wise decision by my dad not to let me buy it. I'm sure I would have gotten in more trouble with it.

- - - Updated - - -

ray230

Awesome charger you have and congrats on holding on to it all these years. The '68 is my personal favorite of the Chargers, don't have one.........but maybe someday :clock:
I am very interested in how you solve your low line pressure problem on your disc conversion. I have the same problem on my '69 Bee. I'm using the smallest diameter bore M/C to increase line pressure, but way more pedal travel than I like and still marginal braking in my opinion. I would love to hear what your solution is


At the moment I am thinking about going with a hydro boost system and mc to match it. Still investigating though.

 

[6pktgo]

Nice

Welcome to FBBO, from "The Great White North" , Great Looking Charger & Love the story, behind it, Thanks for the pics, :frozen tongue:

 

[Homstead]

Welcome to the site! Very cool that you still have the car after all those years! So many things happen in our lives that can take something like our first cars away. Awesome car!

 

[shag766]

welcome aboard

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

At the moment I am thinking about going with a hydro boost system and mc to match it. Still investigating though.

I also have been trying to figure out that Hydro boost system. I'm not convinced that is the answer, but I guess I really don't know enough about it yet.

From what I've read it basically replaces the vacuum booster on vehicles with very low or no vacuum such as diesel trucks or performance cars with high duration cams. I understand how it works to provide power ASSIST, but I don't see any way for it to actually INCREASE the line pressure to the wheels. I don't think the M/C gets any additional line pressure increase from the hydro boost unit, just pedal assist, or power assist to the pedal for reduced effort. If that is all it does, it won't help on my car. I have plenty of vacuum power assist, the pedal is not hard to push down, it just has more travel and less stopping power than with the old drum system. I'm about ready to put the drums back on and forget the discs.

If that Hydro system really does increase M/C line pressure too, as well as provide the assist, then that would be the way to go. Like I said, I just don't know enough about it yet. Tired of throwing money at parts that somebody swears (always the guy doing the selling) will cure all ills.

 

[GTX.JCW]

Welcome to FBBO!

I have a hydroboost system on my '68 GTX. It works just fine. As my mechanic told me, the line pressure for standard manual brakes is about 800 psi. Vacuum assist power brakes run up to 1200 psi. The Hydroboost system puts the pressure up to about 1600 psi. You will need to buy a new MC to match with the HB system. The pressure matches what the pedal feel in new cars today.

Jeff

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Welcome to FBBO!

I have a hydroboost system on my '68 GTX. It works just fine. As my mechanic told me, the line pressure for standard manual brakes is about 800 psi. Vacuum assist power brakes run up to 1200 psi. The Hydroboost system puts the pressure up to about 1600 psi. You will need to buy a new MC to match with the HB system. The pressure matches what the pedal feel in new cars today.

Jeff

Excellent! So the PS pump pressure DOES increase the braking line pressure as well as provide pedal assist. That was the sticking point that I couldn't find a clear answer on. Your line pressure numbers are right on compared to what I have measured on my car. 1600 psi should really improve my braking. Thanks for your reply and personal experience with the system. Greatly appreciated.

Only one question left to ask, what system did you buy, and where did you get it? OK, that was actually 2 questions, sorry! :yourock: