I just got back from Canada (customs= :brickwall:) with my girlfriend. Picked up another Charger from a forum member. Thanks Al! :2thumbs:
This was the original build thread-
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,95715.msg1096431.html#msg1096431
Al has done a very nice job with it so far. 426, TKO500, 3.54 Dana 60, B7 blue. (also got the original 440)
Mostly just needs wiring finished, glass installed and interior. All the interior parts are there such as seat covers/etc but not yet on the seat frames.
Looking forward to getting this together. I don't plan on making many changes to it. Might go dual carb instead of the single carburetor as I like the look of that setup with the original 426 air cleaner.
Only sad news is I will need to sell the 68 now. Thought I would be fine with that once the 69 was in the garage but still not sitting well with me :shruggy:
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Gorgeous!.. and sorry, but I couldn't work in your shop ! :icon_smile_cool:
The BS of border crossing is what keeps me from going State side to pick anything up. 72 hours notice needed for UNITED STATES customs presentation and then onto Canadian customs to pay the taxes. Only one outfit can send the paperwork to the border for you and they need another day. You can't do it yourself anymore.. or so I'm lead to believe.. taking cars North.
Glad to see you acquired this one. :cheers:
I also have a jj1 68 and a b7 69 . What are the odds?
Looks cool.
Keep both Chargers,...sell the Ferrari lol.
beautiful car! :cheers: congrats!
Is it the original 440, cause in Al's thread he says it's not. Not that it matters. Great car.
Quote from: smithenhiven on January 21, 2018, 08:25:02 PM
Keep both Chargers,...sell the Ferrari lol.
I agree with this.
Luke
Thanks guys!
He said the vin on the block matched the car but I haven't checked it myself yet. I'm not even sure what the 426 block is. I'm guessing something later and not original. Only stamped 426 on the pad and nothing else. Haven't looked on the side of the block yet.
Beautiful car!! B7 looks awesome on that car!
:drool5: :drool5: :drool5: I love blue Chargers
Quote from: INTMD8 on January 21, 2018, 09:16:44 PM
Thanks guys!
He said the vin on the block matched the car but I haven't checked it myself yet. I'm not even sure what the 426 block is. I'm guessing something later and not original. Only stamped 426 on the pad and nothing else. Haven't looked on the side of the block yet.
I thought there were no R/T SE's made with a 426 Hemi..........
Quote from: hemi68charger on January 22, 2018, 10:08:40 AM
I thought there were no R/T SE's made with a 426 Hemi..........
That reply was Luke asking him if the
440 was original to the car, not the hemi.
Shiny covers and a 4bbl, looks like a crate hemi?
If you got the original 440 thats a real bonus indeed!!!
:drool5: nice 69 :yesnod: :cheers: :popcrn:
So much like the Black 69 SE/RT I was building back in 2002, before I sold it to buy my 03 Cobra. Yes I'm a traitor and much of me regrets not staying with the dark side.
It was going to be a 5 Speed, rear discs, and Dana 60 car with a 518 cu in RB wedge at 508 hp and 511 ft lbs of torque for the street and cruising.
I visited the car last year.
It is being put back to better than factory stock set-up.
Hope the new owner gets it done.
Yeah, I miss it.
Quote from: INTMD8 on January 21, 2018, 09:16:44 PM
Thanks guys!
He said the vin on the block matched the car but I haven't checked it myself yet. I'm not even sure what the 426 block is. I'm guessing something later and not original. Only stamped 426 on the pad and nothing else. Haven't looked on the side of the block yet.
You have a p/m.
Got it Mark, responded.
Thanks guys.
I sent a message to the shop that built the engine but not hopeful they will have any info on it still.
Congrats on this great charger. I was trying to buy it too. I was first to call but unfortunately i'm overseas and was not able to go over there within a few days. :-\
So Al decided that he didn't trust me and sold it to you. ;)
Good luck with your new beautifull charger. :cheers: :2thumbs:
Thank you, I didn't know anyone called before me. :shruggy: (well I sent a text right after he posted it anyway).
As for the engine, my knowledge of 426's is very limited but I'm thinking as someone mentioned it started life as a crate motor. Says "426" on the top pad and I don't even see any numbers on the side by the pan rail. Heads are cast iron.
Quote from: lukedukem on January 21, 2018, 08:53:58 PM
Quote from: smithenhiven on January 21, 2018, 08:25:02 PM
Keep both Chargers,...sell the Ferrari lol.
I agree with this.
Luke
Me too! :icon_smile_big: Right now, it's the odd duck in your garage. Love the squeaky clean garage, BTW.
Great looking Charger, congrats. Looking forward to seeing it finished! :cheers:
Haha, thanks. I can't sell the F355, have too much fun with it. (and have too much in it as far as upgrades I would never get back)
Trying to see what I can do to just keep the 68 as well.
Wow, what a beautiful car! Wow, what a beautiful shop! Are you in Illinois? I'm just south of Chicago in Tinley Park.
:iagree:
Cars and shop are fantastic!
Thanks guys, much appreciated :cheers:
Chargermick- Yes I'm in Lake Villa IL Far away from you but if you need to use a lift come on by :2thumbs:
Thanks bud, I may take you up on that.
Keep them both.
Sell a kidney, you only need one of those.
TPR
I'm finally getting to work on this :D
I pulled the dash as it was painted (imo) too glossy. Ordered suede lacquer and also interior dye for plastic parts.
Steering wheel is toast. Replace with reproduction or send out for restoration?
This will be the first of a million questions of "what is this?". The two black sheetmetal parts? No idea what those are for so any help is appreciated.
I noticed on my (no sold :( ) 68, there are metal trim pieces behind the interior rocker trim that appear to hold the carpet down. Is there a name or part number for those?
Last questions for now- My wing window frames are pitted. Do you think it would be better to have them re-chromed or buy new reproductions? (I see some at Tony's parts).
Also, it appears the wing window seals are new but thttp://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/board,1.0.htmlhere is a gap between the glass and seal at the pivot point. Is a certain brand of seal considered the best?
The last photo for no reason is our bulldog Bruno :D
Thank you for any help!
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Picture 5 is a rear console bracket.
Dash should NEVER be shiny. You will be blinded by the sun and oncoming lights. :Twocents: WINGNUT
Console bracket, check. Any idea on the l shaped piece?
10-4 on the shiny dash, that's why I took it out.
I stripped the dash down today so I can repaint it and restore the vin tag.
Also broke down the steering column and noticed it is bent.
Not sure how that would happen, any suggestions on straightening? I'm thinking of just putting one end in a vice and do some pulling.
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Seems I did a terrible job of updating this.
I am excited however as the car is nearly completed.
Just a few small details such as wiper arms, alignment, cut and buff. Also need to swap ring and pinion from 3.54 to 4.10.
Did a ton of work on this, short list is-
All trim polished, AMD glass, new fuzzies, new weatherstrip, converted to 3 speed wiper in order to swap from single carb to dual 4's and chrome dome. Painted booster/master and radiator, finished brakes, new wheels/tires, installed complete interior, dynamat, bluetooth module for stereo. Had the wrong flywheel so swapped that out. Motor mounts put the engine to high so cut/welded those to correct. Had new parking brake cables made and got that working. Lots of wiring. Re-tensioned headliner. Had dash repainted, dyed everything else to match. Forgot the rest! Runs and drives great though and -everything- works :)
Thanks to everyone for help along the way. Especially Richard for all the parts and advice. :2thumbs:
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Niiiiice. The whole thing.
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Can we get the story on the front buckets w/integrated belts?
What were they sourced from?
How are they mounted on the floor?
Integrating the OEM headrests was a really slick move to help downplay the change.
:coolgleamA: :2thumbs:
:cheers:
Thanks! I know some may not like the seats and I prefer the look of originals as well but really dislike the functionality of the stock shoulder belts (and them hanging down from the ceiling when not in use).
The seats are from a 2013 Chrysler convertible, so other than having built in belts they have a lever for flip forward/rear seat access. Also 6 way power, driver lumbar.
I removed the original brackets from the rails and used rearend/axle retainer "t-bolts" through the rails to mount the inner in stock locations. Sheetmetal bracket on outside rail to move mounting points inboard to match holes in floor. Rear of rails connected with heavy gauge square tube. Grade 8 bolt through subframe connector and rear square tube.
(Of course there could be a lot of force on these in a collision). Didn't think it would get much better than being anchored through the subframe connector.
As for the headrests, the 69's were wider post to post so I just dropped a hole saw through the top of the seat frames in the correct locations, made a support for the lower bushings and used all the original hardware.
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Great job.
Looks fantastic :2thumbs:
QuoteInsert Quote
Thanks! I know some may not like the seats and I prefer the look of originals as well but really dislike the functionality of the stock shoulder belts (and them hanging down from the ceiling when not in use).
The seats are from a 2013 Chrysler convertible, so other than having built in belts they have a lever for flip forward/rear seat access. Also 6 way power, driver lumbar.
I removed the original brackets from the rails and used rearend/axle retainer "t-bolts" through the rails to mount the inner in stock locations. Sheetmetal bracket on outside rail to move mounting points inboard to match holes in floor. Rear of rails connected with heavy gauge square tube. Grade 8 bolt through subframe connector and rear square tube.
(Of course there could be a lot of force on these in a collision). Didn't think it would get much better than being anchored through the subframe connector.
As for the headrests, the 69's were wider post to post so I just dropped a hole saw through the top of the seat frames in the correct locations, made a support for the lower bushings and used all the original hardware.
That looks like a really nice setup.
It's smart to tie the seats into the subframe connectors. The front seat mounts figure heavily into the entire floorpan design on modern vehicles. These days each seat's 4 mounting holes have a much bigger footprint than the 1969 stuff too. The whole seat assy comes out feeling way more rigid on modern stuff.
The metal frames in the 1969 seats are scary-weak even without having to serve as anchors for the shoulder belts. That has been demonstrated by people getting rear-ended in old Mopars. The stock seatbacks easily bend back when they shouldn't. It was typical for the period.
Did you happen to check how heavy those 2013 seats are? It's usually a big sore spot for modern seat swaps.
Quote from: INTMD8 on May 27, 2019, 07:47:24 PM
Thanks! I know some may not like the seats and I prefer the look of originals as well but really dislike the functionality of the stock shoulder belts (and them hanging down from the ceiling when not in use).
Fantastic job! :yesnod: I prefer the older/original look as well and was surprised at how well those integrate into the old interior. Very nice! :2thumbs:
NICE!!! :2thumbs: :2thumbs:
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. :cheers:
Absolutely stunning! Your workmanship is top shelf.
Thank you.
And Mike I forgot to answer your question. I didn't weigh them but the new seats are definitely heavier than the originals. Just a guess but I would say around 20lbs per seat.
You mean the new seats might be 20 lbs heavier than the old seats, I assume?
The stock '69 buckets weigh something like 50 lbs apiece. Surprisingly heavy for what they are.
Quote from: Mike DC (formerly miked) on May 29, 2019, 09:34:25 AM
You mean the new seats might be 20 lbs heavier than the old seats, I assume?
The stock '69 buckets weigh something like 50 lbs apiece. Surprisingly heavy for what they are.
Yes that would be my guess. New seats probably 20lbs more than old, just by feel. Of course the belts are included so that would be offset a little by removing the belts/retainers from the ceiling but still heavier for sure.
They made a manual version of the same seat which I would guess is lighter but I was not able to find a pair.
Car looks awesome! Love the ghost stripe :2thumbs:
Thank you, I can't take credit for the stripe, that was the idea of the previous owner :2thumbs:
Anyone want to guess the weight? 3/4 tank of fuel. No spare or jack.
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3316
3510
3417
3960
Big range of guesses so far! I'll update with the results tomorrow. :2thumbs:
4250
3650
Charger looks so good man, awesome job on it, although it is not my place to say and really not valid, i cant help but say how much a set of magnum 500s would realllllly compliment your charger.
They will be the next on my list for my 68.
Thank you. I like Magnum 500's, and they would have saved some time and money but feel like the painted steelies and caps just go with the Hemi engine.
Charger-Bodie was pretty damn close on the weight. Though you might say he may have had a slight advantage by having recently finished a similar car :icon_smile_big:
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That weight figure and F/R balance is pretty darn close to the figure for a stock 426 Hemi '68 Charger in an old magazine road test.
OEM (all iron) Hemi weight is said to be 765 lbs (probably dry).
If the motor has a repro iron block then that adds another 70 or so.
I'm not sure what an alloy intake would do to the figure.
The TKO would be lighter than a stock 4spd.
But 40 extra pounds in the front seats might be offsetting that. It's nearly the same area of the car.
The Dana adds about 50 more lbs over an 8.75 rear.
3/4ths of a tank of gas would be about 88 lbs of fuel.
^ Yes, agreed on all points. :2thumbs:
I believe it started out as a 90's 'crate' engine and I've read the same, that the block/head castings were a bit heavier.
The 8" and 10" steel wheels and dynamat add a bit as well.
My friend weighed his '69 Charger, 440, 727, without a front bumper, it was right at 4,000. Scale must have been off.
QuoteMy friend weighed his '69 Charger, 440, 727, without a front bumper, it was right at 4,000. Scale must have been off.
People's weight figures for their 2nd-gens are all over the place.
It doesn't surprise me when two guys with very similar cars end up with numbers 200+ lbs apart.
It's been a while but rebuilt the engine. Just .060 over so 438ci, 12.4-1, 262/262 112lsa mild solid roller. TTI headers, Holley HP Efi, flex fuel, ford Coyote coils. 595 to the tire, pulled to 7600rpm. Drives great on the street!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422uTiz78bs
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What a beast! Looks clean too. :2thumbs:
The exhaust look great. What kind of coating is that?
Thanks! The ceramic coating is a color called titanium. Looks a bit copper/grey to me. Thought it had a more vintage look to it than other options.
:o What an AWESOME build you did, BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!
Thank you!! :cheers:
:coolgleamA: awesome !! :drool5: :cheers: :popcrn:
Very minor things but ordered some floor mats from Legendary a while back and today received them.
Don't really understand the fitment for "4 speed" but overall think they are nice and the color match is great.
The tires I had on the car from Diamondback were modified BFG radial T/A's. Marginal for the soggy 426 I started with and useless now after the rebuild.
I bought a set of Avon CR6ZZ's from Sasco Sports and sent them to Diamondback to be modified for redlines.
I struggled with going with a larger diameter wheel/tire as there are more high performance choices but after much deliberation decided I liked the old school look of 15's with more sidewall.
As a comparison, the BFG is an all season radial with a treadwear rating of 400 and an S speed rating of 112mph.
The Avon CR6ZZ is a radial road race tire with a treadwear rating of 80 and a V speed rating of 149mph.
Working on some new wheels but will probably take a while.
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Beautiful 3 pedal ride man!
Thank you. I'm obsessed with it. :2thumbs:
Looking good! What style of wheels are you working on?
Quote from: INTMD8 on August 26, 2022, 05:46:47 PM
Thank you. I'm obsessed with it. :2thumbs:
:yesnod: me too & its not even mine ;) :lol: awesome charger forsure :drool5: :2thumbs: :drive:
Awsome
Awsome! You do phenominal work.
!
Love this car!
Awesome build, my new favorite! :2thumbs:
What is your experience with the Avon's? How is the traction and handling? Do they trow a lot of pebbles around? Are they any good in the wet?
I also kept the 15's on my Dart and went 275/60. My new tires are also V rated but they are Vitour Galaxy tires. Unfortunately my car isn't ready yet so never drove on those. My old tires were also BF Goodrichs.
And man, your 69 looks killer, you sir have great taste!!!
Didn't realize this was still active, thanks guys I appreciate it.
At first it was easy to induce tire spin with the Avons -but- they were brand new and it was rather cold out (upper 40's)
After a few updates the car now makes 650/510 at the tires.
The video is when it was colder. Now with some more miles on the tires and temps in the 70's the traction is amazing. I'll have to get a new video but it hazes them through first and hooks up great in 2nd and up.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsUsL0YLLXE
Almost forgot, had new wheels made for the new tires as well.
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I like the new rims :2thumbs:
:drool5: :coolgleamA: :2thumbs:
Thanks guys!
love the wheels and especially the tire tread
Thank you, I like the vintage looking tread as well. The tires are working great and hook up amazingly well. Not quite as good as a drag radial but closer to a drag radial than a normal street tire.
Next up was trying to improve aerodynamics/airflow management. There was some good info on aerowarriors. Old factory documents of nascar testing.
I started with blocking the grilles.
Then made a lower air dam.
Then a shroud to direct all lower airflow into the radiator and block the sides so the front end can't fill up with air and act as a big parachute.
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Great workmanship and good luck with your design.
It will be very interesting to review the field results. :popcrn:
Thanks!
I finished it up and took it for a test drive today. It was 86deg today and coolant temp was the lowest it's ever been, by a small margin, even compared to cooler weather. Temp gauge photo was after driving it around for an hour.
E85 certainly helps however.
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clever stuff ! :cheers: :2thumbs: :coolgleamA: :yesnod:
That's a sweet setup. I would have thought blocking the grill would hurt the airflow but with that it has nowhere to go but to the radiator. Any issues in traffic?