Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Use this forum for all your builds in progress.

Moderator: Moderators

Chargingatchya
Posts: 99
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 20 6:55 pm

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Dave999 wrote: Fri Jun 11, 21 9:48 am amazing work

and if nasa can make good use of plastic conduit so can the rest of us :)


you say you didn't know how to do this!!!!

i can only look in in amazement, fantastic, i can usually work out what i need to do, but when i execute the plan its always a bit rubbish and i end up doing it 3 times to get to just about acceptable

you seem to have the Planning and the skills all sewn up

what an effort and what a fantastic result.

post up everything you like....every car thing i ever did started with seeing it in the flesh or on the net, wondering, planning and then trying to do it,
internet boards provide the information and inspiration, they really help with the ideas and planning.
more people doing it RIGHT with the correct info posting...Its a pleasure to read

i'm already thinking maybe i should just weld a couple of new hangers onto my exhaust....Myself....thats a big step for me, my best welds are usually the ones that accidentally connect the piece to the workbench

hobbyweld here i come


see......inspiration.....! i might get off my backside and do something
.

Dave
Thank you so much for these kind words. But let me tell you, frame rails went in and came out and them went back in! I have been working on the corner valences for three days now, on of and on and off and the same with the quarters!

The good thing about these forums is I try to post progress, so you skip all those bits! :)

Believe me, you can do it if you put them on and of as many times as I have ha! Practice makes perfect I guess. Even if it is the same car over and over again. He he
Chargingatchya
Posts: 99
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 20 6:55 pm

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Okay, so. On these posts, it seems one only likes to post progress ~ unfortunately I have to come clean. After posting those wonderful pictures of test fit complete… something was niggling away at my OCD disorder :D

The driver side corner valence….

Man those little F&£*#@%s really don’t like to play ball. Just won’t friggin listen. So as good as those pics look, when I get a laser on them, the driver side was lower my about 8mm.

At this point, when I picked up on this, it was already welded in. 😩

Couldn’t sleep properly last night and couldn’t concentrate at work. Kept thinking 8mm lower, 8mm lower, I’m a fake, I’m sham, 8mm lower 8mm lower 😂😂

So I come home from work today, with a drill and a grinder equipped, charged and at the ready, took to the annoying little “beep” (input swear word)

Literally had to twist the quarter in order to get get in to place. Sweating in this blazing heat. But how good do I feel now?!

Just for the record, where the valance meets the corners, I need to dolly it down a tad. That is not the finished article. Once it’s welded in i will get shaped back to meet the shape of the valance line.

So happy that’s out the way. Time to start welding the rest of her up!

No turning back from here…..
Attachments
835821F0-0842-4B45-8EB9-88014735CE57.jpeg
835821F0-0842-4B45-8EB9-88014735CE57.jpeg (126.35 KiB) Viewed 15985 times
5939E3CF-815F-4020-B65A-F6AEB765519C.jpeg
5939E3CF-815F-4020-B65A-F6AEB765519C.jpeg (109.41 KiB) Viewed 15985 times
DCCDB799-BB5A-4810-B9C9-6752E2DFE3C1.jpeg
DCCDB799-BB5A-4810-B9C9-6752E2DFE3C1.jpeg (186.02 KiB) Viewed 15985 times
B78E3685-34AD-44D6-9D00-C36CF14BF8C0.jpeg
B78E3685-34AD-44D6-9D00-C36CF14BF8C0.jpeg (134.98 KiB) Viewed 15985 times
User avatar
Steve
Posts: 7307
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 12 7:19 pm
Location: Scotland

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Steve »

Well worth a few hours as I'm with you, that 8mm would have haunted you forever!
Bat Girl Stalker Living Petes Dream
Chargingatchya
Posts: 99
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 20 6:55 pm

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Just to further update…

Still at the arse end of the charger, still measuring, still cutting. Panels still going on and off still rust protecting etc etc…

Until today!

The corners were a challenge, and alignment to factory spec had me chasing local chargers to measure, yet again. I know I have factory width at the widest part of the rear, I know I have the exact measurements between the corners and I know I have the exact height between the valance and the light panel. I also kept parts of my old charger, and I transposed the exact curve of the quarter (where the extensions attach) as I was able to transpose/trace the curve on to my new quarter.

Next up will be the deck lid. I do still need to finish welding the quarters inside the door jams, under the arches, to the pinch welds, rockers and to the sail panel. However I won’t be doing the sail panels until the roof skin goes on so I have the “play” should I need it.

Next time I post I’d have moved on from the rear of the car and il have some new pics that will keep this thread interesting. For now, one last set of pics of the rear welded and done with. Happy to see the back of this part of the job (literally :D) I’m very happy with how it came out.
Attachments
C1F011FA-1D1B-454E-A1B4-DBA30AFB17FA.jpeg
C1F011FA-1D1B-454E-A1B4-DBA30AFB17FA.jpeg (194.01 KiB) Viewed 15947 times
80107EF1-0C80-4C36-AC3F-33704B0294EF.jpeg
80107EF1-0C80-4C36-AC3F-33704B0294EF.jpeg (211.34 KiB) Viewed 15947 times
45F9E36F-244F-4C8D-B8D1-CAC37C3A133B.jpeg
45F9E36F-244F-4C8D-B8D1-CAC37C3A133B.jpeg (194.61 KiB) Viewed 15947 times
User avatar
Dom66
Posts: 3009
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 14 12:27 pm
Location: East Sussex

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Dom66 »

Probably at least 1/2" more accurate than anything that came out of the factory ;) Good progress, keep it up :salute:
User avatar
ScottyDave
Posts: 1614
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 15 9:38 pm
Location: Dave Evans: MMA 130, Worcestershire

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by ScottyDave »

Looks great, fantastic work :thumbright:
73 Charger 318
MMA-130
User avatar
Stu Twin
Posts: 1164
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 05 1:32 pm
Location: 'itchin, 'erts

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Stu Twin »

Just don't paint it orange.


or black....

:drwho:
User avatar
morgan
Posts: 4130
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 05 7:22 pm
Location: Berkhamsted - Herts.

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by morgan »

Stu Twin wrote: Wed Jun 23, 21 1:14 pm Just don't paint it orange.


or black....

:drwho:
Lee ! Lee ! Lee!
Go on….
"Cum homine de cane debeo congredi." Woof.

Current Charger status - "Working !"
User avatar
Dom66
Posts: 3009
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 14 12:27 pm
Location: East Sussex

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Dom66 »

Well at the moment it's orange and black, so it could go either way.... I'm sure I saw a dummy blower set up for sale the other day :twisted:
Chargingatchya
Posts: 99
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 20 6:55 pm

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Ha ha won’t be making a general lee… no chance. Car won’t be orange and I’m not a fan of the original F6 Green, although, apparently the Americans love it and it’s a 69 only rare colour.

I am however, sorry to say, Thinking about a satin black. At this point Iv not completely decided to be honest. I also love a flat silver or even considering a gunmetal grey. I guess il cross that bridge when I come to it.

Anyhow… suspension is in and car is on all fours :) I have had the deck lid measured out and it fits quite nicely… yyyeeeaaa! Also installed the deck filler panel. Got this nice and tight by ratchet strapping the whole rear end of the car to suck those quarters right tight together. I don’t know if this is how it’s typically done but it worked a treat for me. Only wish I had taken some pictures. Also I was having nightmares that the car was going to tilt to one side when I dropped on on to its wheels… but I am ecstatic to say it sits straight and true! I did not hear my welds popping as I dropped it off the jack so that’s a good sign too he he 😂

PS. Welding upside down is not easy 😩

Some pics of where I am… that’s the new roof sitting on top not yet installed. Storage is becoming a problem so this is where it will stay until installation time comes.

Not sure what to do next, I have the new roof and the floor to do. Wondering if there’s a option thats better structurally. If anyone has advice il take it 😊
Attachments
9F379710-A87C-454A-AC2A-CFF5FB0535B5.jpeg
9F379710-A87C-454A-AC2A-CFF5FB0535B5.jpeg (216.13 KiB) Viewed 15835 times
10A99FA7-85EB-479C-90E3-EED350FFF2B7.jpeg
10A99FA7-85EB-479C-90E3-EED350FFF2B7.jpeg (271.03 KiB) Viewed 15835 times
EA63ADB2-5FD9-403E-AE85-D6C7906130E6.jpeg
EA63ADB2-5FD9-403E-AE85-D6C7906130E6.jpeg (191.44 KiB) Viewed 15835 times
A52D6575-9EEA-4A62-928F-6C6825856454.jpeg
A52D6575-9EEA-4A62-928F-6C6825856454.jpeg (139.8 KiB) Viewed 15835 times
User avatar
morgan
Posts: 4130
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 05 7:22 pm
Location: Berkhamsted - Herts.

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by morgan »

Mines gunmetal and I have come to love it….
"Cum homine de cane debeo congredi." Woof.

Current Charger status - "Working !"
Chargingatchya
Posts: 99
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 20 6:55 pm

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

morgan wrote: Fri Jul 02, 21 9:25 pm Mines gunmetal and I have come to love it….
Would love to see some pics 😊
User avatar
ScottyDave
Posts: 1614
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 15 9:38 pm
Location: Dave Evans: MMA 130, Worcestershire

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by ScottyDave »

Nice to have it back on the ground =D> I also had several colour choices in my head and changed my mind so many times.
73 Charger 318
MMA-130
Matt74
Posts: 1087
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 09 11:42 am
Location: Hampshire

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Matt74 »

This is all very similar to what I have been doing although my roof panel and roof structure only needed a minor repair.
The colour scheme is the same, orange and black and will most likely end up satin black for the time being.

I'm 2 1/2 yrs in to my project so I think you have done extremely well to get to this stage in such a short amount of time.

I've seen Morgan's Charger in the flesh and it looks great in gun metal grey.

Keep the updates coming!👍
User avatar
morgan
Posts: 4130
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 05 7:22 pm
Location: Berkhamsted - Herts.

Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by morgan »

Thanks Matt. I didnt like it at first , it grew on me and now I love it. (I wanted Black. Or orange. Obvs... ) :)

Wont appeal to the purists though, so you may want to go down a factory route ? It doesnt bother me but beware the rivet-counters. :)
Grey example - Obvs not original. In fact as far as I can gather its a Mazda colour from the 90s. Titanium or something.
Attachments
grey.jpg
grey.jpg (85 KiB) Viewed 15758 times
"Cum homine de cane debeo congredi." Woof.

Current Charger status - "Working !"
Post Reply