My '68 Charger restoration

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The world is a great place when your wife buys you a '68 Charger

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What's up with the hood?

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What's up with the hood?

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...ummm, yeah. Why do you ask? She knows I love working on them, and while a finished one would be instant gratification, it would be missing 2 things: the challenge of making a derelict cast-off a piece to be proud of, and the personal connection that makes it "mine" instead of something I happened to have enough cash to buy.

Don't worry, I don't take any offense at your question, I think I understand where you're coming from. Your sig line says a lot. "Too much to do and not enough time to do it." To me, that time spent "doing it" is part of the fun. This car is plenty saveable, it just takes more time tham most are wanting to commit.

My dad asked me the same thing. He feels that anything car related that is rusted is trash, yet ironically, he loves to collect antique engines and machinery. He is a perfectionist by nature, so there is some sort of a mental block preventing him from being able to actualy start a project unless he knows it will be as good as new when he is done. As a result, he has tons of restorable machines that just sit there. I don't think he likes the process of doing the restoration, just the end result. The trouble is his standard is somewhere around OE Gold level. Few things are actually worth the cost to get to that level. He doesn't understand that I enjoy the process as much as the result.

I don't get frustrated with my '67, and I've been playing with it for 10 years now. It started at about the same point as the '68, but without the rust. No interior, dead engine/trans. Paint was mostly baked off or worn away by the elements. It had dents. LOTS of them. I built the motor and trans first and drove it around and raced it in it's various states of disrepair. The trouble with it now is that every "improvement" at this point is getting expensive. The car is basically done, and at this point all I'm doing is making it faster.

The '68 needs lots of labor (free) and a few $1000 in reproduction panels. There is a ton of clean up to be done and then the refinishing process will begin. Let's not forget I now have an excuse to build another motor. Yes, there will be lots of money needed, no way around that, but since I'm not rushed for the finished product, I can take my time and spread the purchases out. It will be done right, no sloppy jimmy-rigs or unnecessary body filler to cover up shortcuts. I simply don't need the car finished to enjoy it. I have my prize and one day I'll get to drive it. In the mean time I still get to be the proud owner of a '68 Charger.

I ses Jake71's progress, the Barrelcuda, and others like that and am inspired. Others see them and ask "...but why?!?"

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This is probably the most intellegent post I have read. I agree 100%.

I build cars that most would throw away because they are all I can afford. I also enjoy taking a car thats trashed and making it whole again.

Just look at my '70 Charger, somebody would have to really do it for the love of the car. I've been called crazy because it's just a 318 car. In my mind; it's so much more than that.

You are motivated enough to keep the project going. Good luck

There's nothing special about forking over a pile of money for a done car

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...ummm, yeah. Why do you ask? She knows I love working on them, and while a finished one would be instant gratification, it would be missing 2 things: the challenge of making a derelict cast-off a piece to be proud of, and the personal connection that makes it "mine" instead of something I happened to have enough cash to buy.

Don't worry, I don't take any offense at your question, I think I understand where you're coming from. Your sig line says a lot. "Too much to do and not enough time to do it." To me, that time spent "doing it" is part of the fun. This car is plenty saveable, it just takes more time tham most are wanting to commit.

My dad asked me the same thing. He feels that anything car related that is rusted is trash, yet ironically, he loves to collect antique engines and machinery. He is a perfectionist by nature, so there is some sort of a mental block preventing him from being able to actualy start a project unless he knows it will be as good as new when he is done. As a result, he has tons of restorable machines that just sit there. I don't think he likes the process of doing the restoration, just the end result. The trouble is his standard is somewhere around OE Gold level. Few things are actually worth the cost to get to that level. He doesn't understand that I enjoy the process as much as the result.

I don't get frustrated with my '67, and I've been playing with it for 10 years now. It started at about the same point as the '68, but without the rust. No interior, dead engine/trans. Paint was mostly baked off or worn away by the elements. It had dents. LOTS of them. I built the motor and trans first and drove it around and raced it in it's various states of disrepair. The trouble with it now is that every "improvement" at this point is getting expensive. The car is basically done, and at this point all I'm doing is making it faster.

The '68 needs lots of labor (free) and a few $1000 in reproduction panels. There is a ton of clean up to be done and then the refinishing process will begin. Let's not forget I now have an excuse to build another motor. Yes, there will be lots of money needed, no way around that, but since I'm not rushed for the finished product, I can take my time and spread the purchases out. It will be done right, no sloppy jimmy-rigs or unnecessary body filler to cover up shortcuts. I simply don't need the car finished to enjoy it. I have my prize and one day I'll get to drive it. In the mean time I still get to be the proud owner of a '68 Charger.

I ses Jake71's progress, the Barrelcuda, and others like that and am inspired. Others see them and ask "...but why?!?"

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Well I am glad that you did not take any offense to my question because it certainly was not meant to offend you or your wife, just a little humor question.
I am in the same boat with my cars and I applaud all who take on the endeavor of restoring a heavily rusted out car or building a custom from a heap. I also
enjoy the pics from all the project posts.

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I've got a full boogie blasting setup at work, with the proper Bullard forced air hood, air supply, 175 CFM compressor and about 75 tons of #90 silica. Probably can get it blasted next week.

I don't know of anywhere down here that can dip a full car.

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Lucky you, when I did mine it was shall we say an interesting experience. Looking forward to see pics.
Now I'm off to help my friend work on his 69 RR and we are also getting ready to set up for blasting with my blaster. He has taken on a project with no prior
experience or knowledge and we did more work in one day then he did in two years and was ready to get rid of the car until I offered my help and hay what can you do
when it has always been his dream car.

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I've got a full boogie blasting setup at work, with the proper Bullard forced air hood, air supply, 175 CFM compressor and about 75 tons of #90 silica. Probably can get it blasted next week.

I don't know of anywhere down here that can dip a full car.

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You certianly are a brave soul. Do people say you are stuborn?

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Yes! How did you know?

...I prefer "determined," "dedicated," or "task oriented."

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Hey, nice work
And lots of it!
How are those castors attached?

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