1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee: Update 1/01/2012
#1127721
12/05/11 12:35 AM
12/05/11 12:35 AM
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EWJ
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Today, a crew of friends helped in getting stuff re-arranged so I can work on my 1969 GTX this Winter. The object of this project will be to make the car roadworthy again: full brake service (master cylinder, calipers, wheel cylinders, hoses, etc..), new fuel tank/sender unit and steel line, carb rebuild, new engine bay wiring harness, battery cables, removal/replacement of the deep sump oil pan, all fresh fluids and get it to run. From there (all going well) it will be some new tires, maybe a new carpet for the interior, a good cleaning throughout and then some elbow grease to make the paint/chrome shine as well as it can. Updates will be made as progress is made- hopefully at least once a month.
The car: a 1969 GTX, black/black, 4 speed, Super Track Pac, Air Grabber car. Numbers matching engine and transmission with fender tag, assembled in the Lynch Road plant on 12/26/1968. Very solid car overall: the lower rear quarters and quarter extensions were repaired in the early 1980’s and it was quality work for it’s time. Rust was cut out and metal welded in- not packed full of steel wool and finished in Bondo. The car was then resprayed in the current paint job. For 30 year old body and paint work- it’s not too bad.
The story (very long story, short): I first saw this car in the Spring of 1985, when I was 15. It cruised into town and parked at the Citgo station, a place that Mopars were always welcome. In the late Summer of 1986, the car was for sale but far out of reach financially for me. By that Fall, the car was no longer seen in the area. Fast-forward 23 years: I get a phone call, that a friend-of-a-friend has a friend who has a 1969 GTX for sale (word of mouth/not publicly advertised). Without any real expectations of what the car could be, I went to see what it was. When I arrived, before even exiting the car, I knew it was the very same GTX I’d last seen in 1986, still wearing the same tires and air freshener on the rear view mirror from back then. After 9 months of being screwed-around by the seller (a story in itself..), I was able to secure the car in March 2010. It was last titled in the Fall of 1986, but has been through 3 other owners since then, all of them apparently doing nothing with the car.
The car will run with a splash of fuel down the carb. It sounds good and makes great oil pressure, but beyond that is all unknown. The fuel system reeks of stale fuel and the master cylinder is frozen (pedal doesn’t budge), but all else looks decent. With that, we’ll see how this project goes.
Pulling it out of storage:
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: EWJ]
#1127722
12/05/11 12:39 AM
12/05/11 12:39 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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Getting Washed- first time in who knows how long...:
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: EWJ]
#1127723
12/05/11 12:40 AM
12/05/11 12:40 AM
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Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: EWJ]
#1127724
12/05/11 12:42 AM
12/05/11 12:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: 68427vette]
#1127727
12/09/11 03:26 PM
12/09/11 03:26 PM
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EWJ
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Been making some progress on the car during the evenings this week. Under the hood, I’ve drained the cooling system and removed all the old hoses. With the fuel system, all the rubber lines have been removed as well as the large Fram filter housing that was bolted to the passenger side fender well. The cylinders are soaking in Marvel Mystery Oil after the plugs/cap/wires were removed. The spark plugs looked uniform- just black, but not sooty or oily. On the exterior, I have begun cleaning the neglected paint. Instead of hitting it with polishing compound or other abrasive product, I am using Meguiars Show Car Glaze. Although it takes some effort, the results are excellent in getting the dirt lifted from the finish without destroying it any further than it is already. I learned this from an on-line article- the link is below: http://www.autotraderclassics.com/car-article/Restoring+Single+Stage+Paint%3A+Part+2-65407.xhtmlThe paint on this car is pimpled throughout- either from solvent pop or being cocooned under a wet car cover or tarps (or both). But the cleaning is worth it- it looks so much better. So far, I’ve done the driver’s fender and door.
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: EWJ]
#1127728
12/09/11 03:27 PM
12/09/11 03:27 PM
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EWJ
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Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: 70440+6bbl]
#1127732
12/09/11 06:04 PM
12/09/11 06:04 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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Quote:
Do you need a 402 oil pan? I have one for you in decent shape for the cause
YES!!!!!!!!
Please. Thanks James.
As for the guy with his hands in his pockets: they would have been holding had others made the journey, thereby allowing him to .
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: EWJ]
#1127733
12/09/11 06:07 PM
12/09/11 06:07 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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And Yes- I wish they could have had a reunion (the 70 FY1 RR and this GTX). I do finally have a name of the current owner for the 68 Hemi RR from that Citgo. The gold 70 RR hardtop is still elusive- I want to find it someday.
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: crowbait]
#1127737
12/10/11 02:03 AM
12/10/11 02:03 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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Quote:
Your garage looks familiar. Did you have another tore down car on here a while back?Just wondering.
Thanks for your complement.
I had a 68 GTX project for sale here on the board (9/2009 till 5/2010), with a pic of it in the same spot as the "In the shop" pic of the 69 GTX. That car was listed because of this GTX coming along.
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee
[Re: Daty Rogers]
#1127738
12/10/11 02:07 AM
12/10/11 02:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,468 Back in NJ....
EWJ
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Quote:
Is that a black 60's Vette in the reflection?
-Daty
It is a maroon 66 Vette in the reflection: 390hp/427, 4 speed. Been in the family for 24 years. Driver quality car- not a show poodle.
Ed EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc. 1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed 1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96 1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7 1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96 1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96 1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW 1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96 2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed "The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
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Re: 1969 GTX- Revival of a 1980’s refugee: Update 12/9/2011
[Re: MRVCODE]
#1127740
12/11/11 12:26 PM
12/11/11 12:26 PM
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EWJ
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Quote:
Great car! Is that car originally from Staten Island? If so, I know the history of that car.
Thanks John! I was online yesterday researching possible addresses of a known prior owner, in the hope of gathering more history. What little I do have on the car is from Northern and Central NJ- so the car being out on SI at some point is quite possible. What timeframe does your info pertain?
PM me with the info you have and we'll see if this is possibly the same car. Thanks!
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