Operation: My new Hemi Charger 500, 5th one built of initial 6.

[dadsbee]

Troy, the stripe shouldn't have been going on top of that clear coat for months until it's done gassing off. I'm amazed they got it off without wrecking the paint. Even then small bubbles are a bitch. I made the mistake of popping a couple with a pin.. DON'T!.. they'll show as black rings fairly quickly. I had a dozen or so small bubbles on mine after it was all done and with the dehumidifier running and the shop at 80F it took a month before they ALL disappeared. I wrote up my stripe install fairly complete, with video as well, in my Bee restoration thread.

Posts 862 to 892 or so https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopa...ge-super-bee-coupe-restoration.145777/page-44

 

[1969daytona]

Operation they-ain't-NOS-anymore; once they get put on the car :2thumbs:

Well, long story here but behind the scenes there was a possibility that the 500, as it was post paint-n-body, was going to find another home. A gent who has made repeated inquiries about the car since I bought it called again right before I took delivery of the car from the shop. Well, in my true nature, I thought "What the Heck".. Ok, I didn't go after anything on this..
Told him it would be ONLY if I was able to get enough cash to buy a Superbird I know of AND another car he owned in particular. After all, this 500 is NOT your typical Hemi Charger 500. Not that any Hemi Charger 500 is typical. EVERYTHING was in line and I was feeling rather pumped about it.. But, alas, he reached out 2 days after what I thought was wiring the money only to find out he had to pull out of the deal. Oh well, wasn't meant to be.. (granted wasn't too happy and still aren't). Soooo, time for some Mopar-therapy by installing some NOS parts and getting one NOS Monoco/Polara wheel cover. Few things are better than installing new emblems on new paint.

 

[Durandal25]

Wow... I lot of positive reinforcement...…. but, to answer your questions...

1. There is no definitive proof. There were 6 press release cars built, for the most part it is thought that there were 3 manual and 3 autos with pairings sent to the West Coast, Detroit/Mid-West and the East Coast for there local magazines. There is one auto equipped with steelies and hupcaps, so that one isn't the video car. Mine remained in the Detroit it is thought and that's where Lindemann did his videos at a track up there. Of the 6 cars, 4 are known about by a friend of mine, actually the friend that turned me onto this car and with much appreciation by me to him. There are 3 manuals accounted for and one auto ( mine ).

2. So the original trans is gone?
Yes, the original tranny is long gone. An original 69 Hemi 727 came with the car, for whatever that's worth.

3. Will the car actually get finished?
That sounds like a challenge and one of disapproval since I "gave up" on the Superbird.. To set the record straight on the Superbird. There was an agreed price on the work and that's the way the business model of this particular person worked. One of the reasons I chose him. But when 90% of the money is paid and only 50% of the job is done and you seeing the writing on the wall, it is time to bail and start fresh. So, that's what I did....

4. With the corners being filled in on this car do you have any idea just how solid the 500 is?
That's the proverbial question when it comes to ANY paint and body work, even on unrestored survivors. That question will be answered when that time comes. But, based on what I see around the rear window plug, the interior floor pans, doors, front fenders and hood, the car is in pretty darn good shape. The complete trunk pan along with the trunk extensions will need to be replaced. Your typical Mopar goes through this anyways. I would suspect the bottom of the quarters are going to need attention and I'm not sure what the deal with the rear valance is yet. Could be rust or could be banged up sheetmetal.

Regarding me always over here... To each their own when it comes to their most frequented discussion board.

Totally agree with you on all of this.

 

[Durandal25]

Operation they-ain't-NOS-anymore; once they get put on the car :2thumbs:

Well, long story here but behind the scenes there was a possibility that the 500, as it was post paint-n-body, was going to find another home. A gent who has made repeated inquiries about the car since I bought it called again right before I took delivery of the car from the shop. Well, in my true nature, I thought "What the Heck".. Ok, I didn't go after anything on this..
Told him it would be ONLY if I was able to get enough cash to buy a Superbird I know of AND another car he owned in particular. After all, this 500 is NOT your typical Hemi Charger 500. Not that any Hemi Charger 500 is typical. EVERYTHING was in line and I was feeling rather pumped about it.. But, alas, he reached out 2 days after what I thought was wiring the money only to find out he had to pull out of the deal. Oh well, wasn't meant to be.. (granted wasn't too happy and still aren't). Soooo, time for some Mopar-therapy by installing some NOS parts and getting one NOS Monoco/Polara wheel cover. Few things are better than installing new emblems on new paint.

View attachment 918948 View attachment 918949 View attachment 918950 View attachment 918951

Beautiful cars sir. Everyone on this forum knows how hard it is to get these cars together. I've been doing it off and on since 88' and I don't have a fraction of the expertise of many in here. Thanks for the eye-candy.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Looks great! Once you get it rolling it'll be just about time to sell it.

Well, long story here but behind the scenes there was a possibility that the 500, as it was post paint-n-body, was going to find another home. A gent who has made repeated inquiries about the car since I bought it called again right before I took delivery of the car from the shop. Well, in my true nature, I thought "What the Heck".. Ok, I didn't go after anything on this..
Told him it would be ONLY if I was able to get enough cash to buy a Superbird I know of AND another car he owned in particular. After all, this 500 is NOT your typical Hemi Charger 500. Not that any Hemi Charger 500 is typical. EVERYTHING was in line and I was feeling rather pumped about it.. But, alas, he reached out 2 days after what I thought was wiring the money only to find out he had to pull out of the deal. Oh well, wasn't meant to be..

Nostradamus Cranium still predicts the car will make it into someone else's possession for final assembly.

 

[chargervert]

Nostradamus Cranium still predicts the car will make it into someone else's possession for final assembly.

I hope you had money on that NRC! My man Troy is at it again! The car is on Ebay!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Looks great! Once you get it rolling it'll be just about time to sell it.

Do I know how to call it or what?!?!?!

 

[66ChargerHI-PO]

Hmmm, so it is.......

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Dodge-Charger/264676255855?hash=item3d9fef286f:g:q4kAAOSw9rJed20u

 

[1969daytona]

Some details:
1. pictures with some more of the rear trim pieces on and installation of the fuel tank.

 

[1969daytona]

Some more of the doors: I keep the original handles and had them rechromed. Much better, even saved the original gaskets..

 

[Durandal25]

wonderful stuff sir, very motivating.

 

[1969daytona]

Core Support black out treatment..

 

[1969daytona]

Front valance & bumper installed:

 

[1969daytona]

Here are the unique headlamp buckets installed to facilitate the 68 Coronet grille.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Any recent updates?

 

[1969daytona]

Messed with the grille, fender fillers, door and grille emblem attachment.
The fender fillers are sanded, primed and painted them installed with the rubber edge on one side. Then I reinstalled the replated door latches and strikers. Julius and I took our stuff to a local guy.. Did ok, not stellar. Then messed with the Charger and 500 script on the grille. Very unique way of installing. Take the emblem, shove an aluminum tube on it to give the peg extra length to go through the grille and have the ability to install push-on retaining nuts from the backside. Here's my car in the Bud Linderman video for reference. Thanks to
Tom Race
at R/T Specialties for having the kit for the 2 emblems.. Unfortunately has to drill out the aluminum extensions to fit over the emblem bag and one didn't survive the drilling. Luckily, brake tubing is pretty much the same diameter. I had some old brake lines just laying around. The steel may be too hard for the push-on nuts, but I will try. May have to go get some aluminum tubing to do it right.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Nice. Thanks for the updates & keep them coming.

 

[1969daytona]

A big shout out to Wayne Perkins for getting me a COMPLETE heater box for my 500... AND original 69 Charger 500 front fender filler rubber molding... That is a big one for that original component spirit I am trying to provide for this 500. Big deal to me. Being that I know what they look like it always bugs me when I don't have that. The reproduction rubber strip is on the left and the 2 on the right are original..
Also from Bruce Somer on the restoration of my 3speed wiper, thanks to Tony DAgostino for finding for the exact date code wiper I needed for my 500..

 

[1969daytona]

Operation Heater box Charger 500;
Haven't updated in a while since I have been in a slight hiatus with my Hemi C500....
Pretty much done.. Just have to hook up my cables.. And nope, didn't paint the cable brackets silver.. Just left them natural and coated them after cleaning with a clear anti-corrosion spray..
My little part-number stamp comes in handy again for its purpose.

 

[1969daytona]

This weekend spent some time on the restoration it the control arms of my Hemi Charger 500. Using the PST LCA bushing. Still need to install the upper control support collar on each unit. I used Krylon Battery Protector to coat then sprayed with Matte Clear. For me it duplicates the Cosmoline good.

Here are some pictures of the rear axle housing for my 69 Charger 500. I also include pictures from my friend's 69 Charger R/T SE equipped with a 3.55 sure-grip. I can see where his housing reflects 591, which will be on his broadcast sheet, my stenciling, based on the broadcast sheet should be 592. It is my understanding that would be 3.23 sure-grip.
His third member has quite the paint codes and I am sure all that equates to 3.55 sure-grip. What would the 3.23 equivalent be? He has the white circle with an "X" which, if I recall means the sure-grip or the housing has been filled with gear lube. What's up with the big yellow "B"? What I am basically getting to in the stenciling/markings I would expect on a 3.23 sure-grip on a Hemi Car(not it matters). My friend's axle housing also has some white stenciling on the other tube. What's up with that?