Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

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Blue
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Blue »

Be a shame to paint it the bodgers choice of satin black after you’ve taken so much care to get the metalwork right. Your car, your choice at the end of the day though.
“This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no foolin’ around”
Chargingatchya
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

morgan wrote: Wed Jul 07, 21 1:33 pm 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.
Thanks for the pics, mate that is friggin Gorgeous! I’d love to be a rivet counter, but let’s be honest, the back of my car was made in Taiwan so I really am not bothered about all that. I do try to restore it the way factory built them though, as I like it to look like the effort was made, and original underneath.

Really nice charger mate, you have just made it all the harder for me as I narrowed down to factory F6 green (original colour) or a flat black aaahhh! Gunmetal is now back in the possibles list!
Chargingatchya
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Blue wrote: Wed Jul 07, 21 5:46 pm Be a shame to paint it the bodgers choice of satin black after you’ve taken so much care to get the metalwork right. Your car, your choice at the end of the day though.
You know what it is…. Growing up I always wanted a black Dodge Charger! I almost feel like I owe it to myself to make it black.

As it is right now, I’m 80% set on the F6 green as it was when it came out the factory. We will see.

To be honest Iv still got so much work to do that paint is way down the list…. More carnage was found today, so on to another restoration post shortly 😩
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Pete
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Pete »

Great to meet you at Brands Hatch "Speedfest".

I think you have worked wonders on that car.

Factory correct colour (or an alternative Factory colour, maybe) will keep the authenticity correct, and will probably enhance the vehicle's value.

I have had Orange Chargers and a Black one, and I can understand the attraction; but it does wear off after a while!

Just my view, I think whatever you do it will look great!
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.

Mopar by the grace of God
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MattH
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by MattH »

I changed my mind several times on paint, was going to be Plum Crazy for years, then original factory white, then went totally different with sublime green race tribute.
Time to choose whilst you finish the welding, but the rate you are working, that won't be long!
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MattH
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by MattH »

I agree with Pete, a factory colour will be more in keeping with the car, but the F6 bright green is a nice colour. Here are the 1969 paint options.

https://urechem-paints.com/wp-content/u ... -chart.jpg
Matt Hollingsworth - Vehicle Registrar
Panther Pink 73 Aussie Charger 265 Hemi 4 spd
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Chargingatchya
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Pete wrote: Wed Jul 07, 21 7:45 pm Great to meet you at Brands Hatch "Speedfest".

I think you have worked wonders on that car.

Factory correct colour (or an alternative Factory colour, maybe) will keep the authenticity correct, and will probably enhance the vehicle's value.

I have had Orange Chargers and a Black one, and I can understand the attraction; but it does wear off after a while!

Just my view, I think whatever you do it will look great!
Thank Pete. It was good meet you too mate. And for the few minutes we spoke I learned so much. Thank you for taking the time to share your Mopar engine experiences. You have unknowingly convinced me to leave my 383 stock… at least for now 😁
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Pete
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Pete »

I think that is a good idea initially.

However, unless you have already investigated the engine and found it to be Ok, you may have to make alternative plans if you find problems beyond your control.

On a complete re-build like you are performing I imagine you will find snags and things that need to be resolved on shakedown runs. At that point you really need an engine just to work, not making a ton of horsepower with its own attendant issues.

Anyway, even an engine swap is just nuts and bolts (and heavy lifting) compared to the skilled body work you are currently performing.

Incidentally, where are you based?
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.

Mopar by the grace of God
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Dave999
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Dave999 »

i always believe i enjoy the engine work and i do very much until it has to come out again due to something silly

and by the 3rd time i hate it.... :)

build a relationship with local and easy to access (i.e open when you can get there) engineering shop

get them to do or help with the "building" part i.e all of the measuring and planning and balancing.

then the bolting together is easier, there will be fewer re purchases, and the pile of nice and new but inappropriate or just doesn't fit stays small

Dave
The Greater Knapweed near the Mugwort by the Buckthorn tree is dying
Chargingatchya
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Pete wrote: Thu Jul 08, 21 8:38 am I think that is a good idea initially.

However, unless you have already investigated the engine and found it to be Ok, you may have to make alternative plans if you find problems beyond your control.

On a complete re-build like you are performing I imagine you will find snags and things that need to be resolved on shakedown runs. At that point you really need an engine just to work, not making a ton of horsepower with its own attendant issues.

Anyway, even an engine swap is just nuts and bolts (and heavy lifting) compared to the skilled body work you are currently performing.

Incidentally, where are you based?
Thank you for your kind words. Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can. Half the battle Is having the time, then the space, then YouTube 😂 junkerup (Chris birdsong) on YouTube is an awesome channel for anyone welding a charger! It’s a bit of a “knack” thing also. You learn after getting things wrong what not to do, as well as what to do and how to think (as strange as the May sound). It’s more about taking time and planning than skill. But honestly, with the Information that’s out there today, anyone who has time and space (and tools!) can do it.

Got my fingers crossed for the engine. I have heard it running and it sounded great other than a misfire that I feel one of
The plugs is responsible for as it’s rusted to Bananarama! and I couldn’t get to it. We will see….

The transmission however, that’s going to be an interesting day.

Someone has put some work in to the engine at some point in the cars life. It has headers and a 4 barrel carb (factory was a 2 bb) and I think I’d find an upgraded cam if I checked.

It’s all numbers matching! Fantastic original car other than the back which is made in Taiwan 😂

I’m pretty much half way through installing the floor now, then il hit the new roof installation then move over to mechanics.

By the end of next month I should have some info on
What I’m dealing with mechanically if all goes to plan.



I am based in Dartford, literally a 6 minute drive from brands hatch.
Chargingatchya
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

So it’s been a few weeks since my last post, but I have not yet quit! Still at it and slowly progressing. A big big big one out the way….

New torsion bar rail installed
New front floor installed
New centre floor installed

So, after removing the old floor (or what was left of it) I supported the car to remove the torsion rail that was rotten and crispy. Lucky for me, the seller left one in the car that was removed from another charger. The part however was just cut out and was to short so I had to re fab the ends and that was trickier than it sounds, as if it does not go EXACTLY in the place of the old one, of course the torsion bars will not seat without bind. Took the part for blasting and it was in fantastic shape so the quest to get it right began. Honestly really lucky I had that part otherwise it would have been months on delivery and another £600 in parts, tax and shipping. Monetary issues aside I’d have lost that time on the restoration.

This was the state of the floor and the torsion rail
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This was the cut short replacement piece
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After blasting
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Then fabricate the ends
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Once happy with the torsion cross rail, Then we go on to prepping for the new the floor. My god, the never ending prep work 😩

The car was braced and supported from below so nothing moves. The bracing was only removed once was the torsion rail was welded in, with the the lower supports left in place. I stupidly did not take pictures of this and I really am kicking my self for forgetting to picture that. But basically I welded in inch square rods to keep the frame rails where they need to be, and welded in again between the rails, so when the new torsion rail and floor goes in, it should align exactly where it needs to be.
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After cleaning and prepping the inner rockers~ I was happy to leave them in place. They were in good condition and I know this as I cleaned and prepped them when installing the outer rockers. After prepping we was ready to weld in our new floor.

I used the AMD for the main front floor, but as they never had the two centre quarter pieces in stock when I was ordering, I ordered the goodmark ones from rockauto. What a HUGE difference in quality. The AMD floor is about 2mm thick with the goodmark being about 1.2mm thick. I struggled to weld it in as my welder kept blowing wholes through it was that thin.

Anyhow got there in the end and this is where I am now. Once the welds are grinded down, it should almost look factory. The AMD B.Body front floor pan is a fantastic part in quality and fitment. The goodmark parts needed work….
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.



I’m in the last of the panel work after this. Iv got welds to grind down all around the car (neighbours will love me!) and cleaning up to do. Trimming here and there and seam sealing.

That’s all after the new roof goes on… that’s the next post hopefully. I can almost smell the smell of fuel at this point….
Attachments
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cadboy
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by cadboy »

Great work going on and soon there will be fuel in her =D> =D> =D>
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Dom66
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Dom66 »

Good progress, thanks for the update :thumbright:
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ScottyDave
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by ScottyDave »

Another great resurrection project =D>
73 Charger 318
MMA-130
Chargingatchya
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Re: Restoration thread 1969 St Albans charger

Post by Chargingatchya »

Hello wonderful Mopar community 😁 I’m back! Sorry Iv been off for a while…. It’s been a busy time. Between my last post and now Iv had to do a new kitchen for the Mrs (part of the deal when I brought the charger 😂) work got incredibly busy after coming out of lockdown and when restrictions where eased and really felt the kids needed weekend time.

However Iv been doing bits and bobs. Stealing an hour here and there. Yet again another back track to report. Iv spent the last few months coming and going from an issue. If you look at the pic below, you’ll see the right quarter is ever so slightly lower than the left.
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I only picked up on this after getting the car back on wheels. So off the wheels again, back on to straight and level floor and out comes the tape measure. It turns out I actually installed the right quarter almost a centimetre lower than the right. God knows how I done this but I’d did! Problem is when you weld things tend to pull and push a little. Take your eye of something for a second and the smallest amount off at the front end of the car ends up being a centimetre or more at the back.

What a pig of a job to put that right. Very carefully undo each weld along the the underneath, the light panel off, the rear valance off, the corner valance off very carefully and slowly without distorting the new metal. I done this over an hour a day as any other way I’d have probably ruined everything. I’m really happy I did this as now the quarters line up better and even if it’s wasn’t noticeable to the eye I knew it was off! I think you can even see the difference in the picture if you look hard enough.


Also, whilst I had the welds “opened up” again, It was a good time to install the correct rear valance as before I had installed a 68 one that I had purchased locally with the intention of cutting the 69 light holes in. So two birds with one stone I guess as the 68 rear valance was another thing that I was not happy about. Honestly hated every Minuit of this part of the build but it’s all back together now and the measurements are spot on so I feel I can carry on comfortably. A couple of “after” pics below.

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Another after pic from slightly higher angle

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I can now continue with finally getting that roof welded on! Yay!

Hopefully progress will be hard and fast from here on. \:D/
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