Re: Restoration of my B5 Blue 4Spd Charger 500... Blue Thunder debuts...Finally!

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Looks like your daytona came from the same dealer.Where Charles C 500 came from Preston Dodge

Put down the Daytona Shipment List Dave... so ya think it is #469 huh...    might be... might not...

or, could it be #381  

I started to cover up the production date, then decided to leave it and see what happened...

XS

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Allen thanks for posting pics of your projects!  I look forward to seeing the progress pics as well!!      You have a fantastic collection!!  And in reguards to your earlier post about being "old enough to buy them in the 80's"...

Thanks, actually I feel pretty "young at heart" as it is... I just kid about it a lot, especially when I get aches & pains from working in the shop or yard.

Allen

[1carcrazyguy]

I saw that you mentioned a bodyshop was going to do the body and paintwork. Other than that, are you doing most of the work yourself?   


         

[nascarxx29]

No I dont totally rely on the daytona shipment list or SPD dates.Its these older mid 1970-s membership roosters that compiled cars and members from clubs Ive been in DSAC Winged warriors and NEHOA etc etc.That info will cross reference and collaberate with the info on the shiplists for the daytonas that contain dealer location #926 job numbers and serial numbers.My recently sold daytona was the 381 car .I do keep tabs from Dare Lane Mabuni.Hows Jerry D and his cars.Wasnt he the guy who worked at general dynamics/lockheed

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I saw that you mentioned a bodyshop was going to do the body and paintwork. Other than that, are you doing most of the work yourself?   
 

That is how I have always done it previously, but will probably farm a lot more of the work out in the future.  With vendors specializing in restoring components (steering columns, dash clusters, Etc), it does not make sense to do it all anymore.  Too many projects, too little time!

Allen

[1carcrazyguy]

  Too many projects, too little time!

Allen

Hope all goes well.    Look forward to pics as they progress! 

[xs29j8Bullitt]

No I dont totally rely on the daytona shipment list or SPD dates.Its these older mid 1970-s membership roosters that compiled cars and members from clubs Ive been in DSAC Winged warriors and NEHOA etc etc.

Yes, you have a lot of aero car ownership information.  Used wisely, this information can be a great resource for the current owners wanting to research their car's history!   But, used for a "Gotcha" ego trip, the information can cause the current owners great distress due to security concerns or not wanting 100,000 calls from flippers wanting a quick score...

I do keep tabs from Dare Lane Mabuni.

I assume that this is a veiled reference to an old address that I had and used frequently in NHOA & MMCI newsletters, as well as other sources.  Why you "keep tabs" on that material is unknown to me, unless you plan to publish my current address as well...  Other than that, I cannot dechiper what this statement means, the battery is low in my decoder ring... 

My recently sold daytona was the 381 car .

Really... What are the odds that I would have picked that number... 

Hows Jerry D and his cars.Wasnt he the guy who worked at general dynamics/lockheed

I venture to say that would be a loooooooooooooooong commute for Dr D! 

I assume this is a veiled reference to my employers... I would suggest that you not further explore this path of inquiry.

That info will cross reference and collaberate with the info...

Did you cross reference the old picture of my Daytona that you posted with the new ones that I posted?...

XS

[Mopurr]

If you want an update on the sheet above 379729 is not R4 but V2.

It is the build sheet that came in our R4 car

And Allen look forward to seeing the finished cars.

Wish I had some of them in the buildings at home.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

If you want an update on the sheet above 379729 is not R4 but V2.

It is the build sheet that came in our R4 car

There are other mistakes as well, but I did not know about that one...

And Allen look forward to seeing the finished cars.

Thanks!  I hope to do the C500 in record time (for me that is). 

The other Aero Cars will take longer, but I am working on a plan...

The pictures that I took of y'alls car will come in handy when I finally tackle the Daytona!...  So will Gene's pictures!!!

Allen

[nascarxx29]

That old club list says hemi orange.And as your fender tag is blue a car was originally R4 red.Has to be a different car and owner in TX .Where I lived quite a few years .Guy had 1 or 2 69 daytonas one of them had a 69 charger front clip on it and was from Dallas /FT Worth TX .His email was XS29J8.Leeding me to believe has or had a 68 hemi charger.The others daytonas and owners in the TX area I can recall was Del and Jeff.Whos car was T Ecord who moved from Houston to Arlington.Just using the new internet tools of research.Insteed of sorting through papers notes pictures from many years ago.You can do aerial searches.And might yield pictures of cars from above
http://www.zillow.com/HomeDetails.htm?zprop=26327917

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Back on topic...

I have a lot of other tasks to do this weekend, but did manage to get the C500 extracted finally.  I hope to have the paint & body shop guy have a look at the car this coming week, now that all sides are accessable.

Rotated the Superbird out of the way, then rolled the Daytona back to clear the C500's path to freedom... finally able to get to all sides of the Charger 500.

Allen

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Rotating the C500 so it can come out nose first was a challenge without moving the convertible.  Maintained about 4 inches of clearance in the back of the car, but less than an inch at the front...   But, it worked!!! 

Allen

[hemigeno]

Quite the collection of iron there, Allen!      D'ya think the restoration work will seem easy compared to all the work you're having to do in your shop?    I know the feeling though - my shop is in quite the state at the moment, but I haven't had the time to work on it much (which is a good thing in some respects).

BTW, did you get my email?

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Quite the collection of iron there, Allen!      D'ya think the restoration work will seem easy compared to all the work you're having to do in your shop?    I know the feeling though - my shop is in quite the state at the moment, but I haven't had the time to work on it much (which is a good thing in some respects).

BTW, did you get my email?

Iron is right...  It was a lot easier to push these beasts around when I weighed 350+...   Once the C500 is shipped to the paint shop, work on organizing the workshop will get a real start.  The area under the loft where the C500 was will get filled with HD shelving units, and Phase II of the workshop wiring will begin... the initial wiring paid off big time during this workout!

PM sent, will call tomorrow!

Allen

[tan top]

  awesome collection there Allen  would love to see more pictures a you progress with them .............awesome stuff

[xs29j8Bullitt]

  awesome collection there Allen  would love to see more pictures a you progress with them .............awesome stuff

Thanks, I'll post pics as available... but please don't expect a rapid restoration.  As the thread title says, it is the beginning of a long saga.  I am less than a month into it, but feel like I am a week behind schedule already...   Still, I feel like I have made good progress considering the work needed to extract the C500 and the other tasks that I have had to work around.

I expect that I will get the car back from the paint shop next Summer, but probably won't make much progress until the temperatures cool down to at least like they are now... low 90s or cooler.  In the meantime, I will be concentrating on getting parts to support the paint shop, parts for final assembly, bead blasting & restoring small parts, and having sub-components restored by vendors.  Also, organizing the workshop and working on other projects... while trying to leave time for a personal life.  I have a busy year ahead! 

Allen 

[The70RT]

Are you doing a total resto on it? Are you putting it on a rotissorie? Looks like an awesome project and deserves the best

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Are you doing a total resto on it? Are you putting it on a rotissorie? Looks like an awesome project and deserves the best

The C500 is going on a rotisserie for a total restoration.  The "Paint & Body" shop actually has become more of a restoration shop & has an open rotisserie now (or did 3 weeks ago).  I will call them tomorrow to set up an appointment to have the owner look over the C500 and estimate the cost (will be billed by the hour, so its not a firm fixed bid).

The restoration will not be a concours type with date codes mandatory or NOS everything, but probably a bit over-restored.  For example, the flange bolts on the oil pan typically were not fully painted... but mine will be.  The primer typically found on the underside of the unibody will actually be a paint resembling primer painted over body color.  I gonna drive it on the street!!!

Allen

[The70RT]

Sounds like a plan.

[69_500]

Sounds like you have the whole thing lined up. Looking forward to being able to  over the car in the future. Love the B5 blue, and man do I wish my car was a 4 speed.

[PocketThunder]

Sounds like you have the whole thing lined up. Looking forward to being able to  over the car in the future. Love the B5 blue, and man do I wish my car was a 4 speed.

So put one in!  I'm gonna. 

[69_500]

I would love to, but just can't bring myself to do that ona #'s car. If the car wasn't #'s matching, and such I would.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Well, I just finished showing the paint shop owner the Charger 500.  He is recommending that at least the driver's side quarter panel be replaced since the new full quarter panels are now available.  The passenger side one is in much better shape, but may end up being replaced also... depends how things look when the car is stripped down.

Joe, the paint shop owner, said my C500 looked very solid compared to some of the cars he works on now-a-days.  In addition to the quarter(s), the C500 will need a trunk floor, two small floorboard repair sections (drivers & passengers feet areas), and the rear "valence" & corner pieces.  Other pieces may be needed after getting a better look during dis-assembly...

OK, here goes with some questions:

1) Has anyone closely compared the new full quarter panels offered by different vendors.  Are both actually on the market, ready to ship?  How do they compare in quality / fit ?  Has anyone on the forum actually had either one installed?

2) I believe that someone has come out with full trunk floors, or is about to... Who are they... Goodmark?

3) Are there different vendors for floorboard repair sections... who offers the best?  Goodmark?

More questions later, thanks in advance for the help... I need it!!! 

Allen

[moparchris]

Allen,
In regards to the sheet metal needs of your 500, here's my two cents.
Auto metal Direct and Hardcore Racing are both stating that they are currently, or shortly will be offering the full quarters.  I have been hearing bad things about Hardcore Racing and would be very hesitant to deal with them  I happen to have the same name as the head of Hardcore Racing and lately I have been receiving emails from people thinking I am that person, asking where their quarters are that they paid for months ago.  This does not sound good to me.
Auto Metal Direct seems to have more on the ball and I have seen pictures of their sheet metal parts that they are preparing to bring to market and they look great.  I believe they are going to offer one piece trunk floors in addition to Charger quarters, fenders and door skins.
Auto Metal Direct can be contacted at 866-591-8309 or www.autometaldirect.com
I hope this helps you.  Good luck with your cars.  I am envious of the collection you have put together.

[moparstuart]

 there is an article in the wing warriors news letter i got last night by sue and wayne about the quarters ?