Ok last one... Car Restore Poll...

[Rack Bauer]

Which one do you like best?


1968 Charger

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/3882/bladecharger6sy.jpg


1969 GTO

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2166/pontiacgto1969a9lg.jpg


1970 GTO

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9075/6314ye.jpg

[Zaxor]

that 68 charger is sweet

[Yeagermeister]

I like the 70 GTO but not in red. Every red car my family has owned has been involved in a wreck. That's why I stick with Blue or Silver :D

[Aikmaniac]

Rack, I'd go after the Charger.

The best GTO years, IMO, is '65 and '66. 4-speed, 389 tri-power. high 14's in the quarter. Plus they looked great.

http://1966pontiacgto.tripod.com/mikedavis.jpg

[Rack Bauer]

Rack, I'd go after the Charger.

The best GTO years, IMO, is '65 and '66. 4-speed, 389 tri-power. high 14's in the quarter. Plus they looked great.

http://1966pontiacgto.tripod.com/mikedavis.jpg


Yeah I'm favoring the charger heavily right now. I already have my sights set on one that I might be purchasing by wednesday. It's a '68 Charger R/T (with a 440).


Do you know a lot about rebuilding cars, Aikmaniac? How much of the engine can I rebuild myself? How much body work can I do myself?

I think I'll let a shop handle the interior. I don't plan on going "All orginal" with the interior anyway. I'm gonna want it to be a bit more "modern". I'm not restoring this car as a show car, it's gonna be a driver so I'll want as many luxuries (cd player, seats with lumbar support, possibly electric adjusters on the driver's seat, etc...) as I can get in the interior.

[Hostile]

Yeah I'm favoring the charger heavily right now. I already have my sights set on one that I might be purchasing by wednesday. It's a '68 Charger R/T (with a 440).


Do you know a lot about rebuilding cars, Aikmaniac? How much of the engine can I rebuild myself? How much body work can I do myself?

I think I'll let a shop handle the interior. I don't plan on going "All orginal" with the interior anyway. I'm gonna want it to be a bit more "modern". I'm not restoring this car as a show car, it's gonna be a driver so I'll want as many luxuries (cd player, seats with lumbar support, possibly electric adjusters on the driver's seat, etc...) as I can get in the interior.The 440 is a great engine. You can do so much with it. Good choice. That was my vote.

[Aikmaniac]

Yeah I'm favoring the charger heavily right now. I already have my sights set on one that I might be purchasing by wednesday. It's a '68 Charger R/T (with a 440).


Do you know a lot about rebuilding cars, Aikmaniac? How much of the engine can I rebuild myself? How much body work can I do myself?

I think I'll let a shop handle the interior. I don't plan on going "All orginal" with the interior anyway. I'm gonna want it to be a bit more "modern". I'm not restoring this car as a show car, it's gonna be a driver so I'll want as many luxuries (cd player, seats with lumbar support, possibly electric adjusters on the driver's seat, etc...) as I can get in the interior.

My dad and I restored our '67 RS/SS Camaro.

As far as the expense goes for the engine, it really depends on what you want to do. You mentioned that this will be a daily driver. Well, for one thing, reliability will be a concern the more extreme you go performance-wise.

I hear from the mopar guys that the 440 is a very good engine. Depending on the work involved and your preferences on how far you want to go, I think anywhere around 5-6k to be where you want to.

That'll allow for a nice carb, manifold, headers, and exhaust.

I could help you more if you let us know exactly what you're looking for.

It's definitely an expensive hobby as Hostile can probably tell you...but man is it fun.

[the kid 05]

Can someone teach me how to convert the 440's into modern day language and vice versa like taking a 5.7L v8 into a 432? or something like that. I dont have a dad to do this thats why im seeking some help

[Rack Bauer]

Can someone teach me how to convert the 440's into modern day language and vice versa like taking a 5.7L v8 into a 432? or something like that. I dont have a dad to do this thats why im seeking some help


Kowboys, you should check this forum (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/f1178/) out. Lots of people there with a lot of automotive knowledge.

[Rack Bauer]

Ok it's official... I am the proud owner of a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.


Can't wait to get started on it!

[Yeagermeister]

Ok it's official... I am the proud owner of a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.


Can't wait to get started on it!
:bow:

[BrAinPaiNt]

Ok it's official... I am the proud owner of a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.


Can't wait to get started on it!


Congrats.

Now get ready to spend some serious time and money to keep it looking and running sweet.

Congrats again.

Nothing like old american muscle.

[Yeagermeister]

Congrats.

Now get ready to spend some serious time and money to keep it looking and running sweet.

Congrats again.

Nothing like old american muscle.
I hear orange paint and rebel flags cost a lot to keep up :D

[Duane]

Ok it's official... I am the proud owner of a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.


Can't wait to get started on it!
Awesome man. You should post some pics when you get a chance to let us see what it looks like now and as it gets restored.

[Rack Bauer]

Congrats.

Now get ready to spend some serious time and money to keep it looking and running sweet.

Congrats again.

Nothing like old american muscle.


I need to spend some serious time and money to GET it looking and running sweet first. :D



I hear orange paint and rebel flags cost a lot to keep up


No General Lee's for me. I was thinking of doing the same thing only with an american flag instead and "President Bush" on the sides of the flag.


:laugh2:



Awesome man. You should post some pics when you get a chance to let us see what it looks like now and as it gets restored.


Definitely. Gonna take tons and tons of pics throughout the whole process.

[Rack Bauer]

Just thought you guys would like this. It's a site created by some guy in Sweden (I think) that is in the process (almost done) of restoring a 1968 Charger R/T. He has taken TONS of pictures from start till now.


Link (http://www.usaci.de/)



Click the "Body" link. You have to wait and let the pics load (56K beware, there are over 300 pics), then scroll all the way to the bottom and work your way up. He has the beginning pics at the end and the recent pics at top.


I can only hope that my Charger ends up looking as good as his.


There's also other links to other restored cars (all Chargers I think) under the "Support" tab.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Nice...so is that going to be your "how to" guide for inspiration?:cool:

[Rack Bauer]

Nice...so is that going to be your "how to" guide for inspiration?:cool:


This will get bleeped out but... **** YEAH!

[Rack Bauer]

Ok... what is missing from this picture?


http://www.usaci.de/images/IMGP5109.jpg

[silverbear]

Can someone teach me how to convert the 440's into modern day language and vice versa like taking a 5.7L v8 into a 432? or something like that. I dont have a dad to do this thats why im seeking some help

One liter equals 61 cubic inches... thus, a 5.7 liter V8 is a 350 CID... a 427 CID V8 would be a 7.0 liter... amd the 440 in Rack's new/old 68 Charger would be a 7.2 liter...

FWIW, CID refers to Cubic Inch Displacment...

[Yeagermeister]

Ok... what is missing from this picture?


http://www.usaci.de/images/IMGP5109.jpg
Umm seats, glass, steering wheel, door handles are a few things I noticed.

[Rack Bauer]

Umm seats, glass, steering wheel, door handles are a few things I noticed.


Ok let me be more specific....


What's missing other on the OUTSIDE of the vehicle that appears to be the way it will look when the car is completed?

[Rack Bauer]

Ok let me be more specific....


What's missing other on the OUTSIDE of the vehicle that appears to be the way it will look when the car is completed?


Well? Anyone?

[trickblue]

Ok it's official... I am the proud owner of a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.


Can't wait to get started on it!

Rack... I am envious...

What a great project you lucky dog!

[trickblue]

Umm seats, glass, steering wheel, door handles are a few things I noticed.
Those look like shaved door handles and alot of people spend alot of money to get that done...

It's very much practiced by sport truck rebuliders...

The doors open with a remote and there is likely a safety release under the car somewhere in case of battery loss... it is a very stealth look...

It appears that the previous owner of this car went stealth and shaved the handles and removed all decals and emblems...

[BrAinPaiNt]

Those look like shaved door handles and alot of people spend alot of money to get that done...

It's very much practiced by sport truck rebuliders...

The doors open with a remote and there is likely a safety release under the car somewhere in case of battery loss... it is a very stealth look...

It appears that the previous owner of this car went stealth and shaved the handles and removed all decals and emblems...


The side mirrors as well.

[Rack Bauer]

Those look like shaved door handles and alot of people spend alot of money to get that done...

It doesn't really cost that much. It won't for me cuz my car doesn't have to have paint removed. Just have to weld over the holes and sand it down.

They're called "Poppers". And I will be one of those people that spends money on it, although it's not that expensive (unless you have a newer car and have to strip the paint, weld, sand, repaint, etc...). You can get a popper (with a car alarm) for $150. An alarm by itself is about $100. Plus since I'm restoring a charger I might of ended up having to buy new handles anyway so it could possibly end up cheaper for me in the end. :D



It appears that the previous owner of this car went stealth and shaved the handles and removed all decals and emblems...


It wasn't the previous owner. The current owner is the one that shaved the doors.

Check out this link. (http://www.usaci.de/)

It's a site dedicated to the progress of that guy restoring that charger. On the front page click "When I first got the car". Look at it. Then click "Body" and scroll all the way down after the page loads the 400 pics. Work your way up the pics to see his progress. Amazing job. And that guy had never restored a car before. F'in amazing job for anyone. Absolutely miraculous (IMO) for a first timer.

[Rack Bauer]

The side mirrors as well.


Not sure if that guy intends to keep the side mirrors off. I like the look, but it's probably illegal. Although he's in the netherlands somewhere so the law's are different.


I'll have side mirrors on mine but I haven't decided yet if I'll go with chrome (I don't like chrome) or paint them black (not the mirror part obviously).

[trickblue]

It doesn't really cost that much. It won't for me cuz my car doesn't have to have paint removed. Just have to weld over the holes and sand it down.

They're called "Poppers". And I will be one of those people that spends money on it, although it's not that expensive (unless you have a newer car and have to strip the paint, weld, sand, repaint, etc...). You can get a popper (with a car alarm) for $150. An alarm by itself is about $100. Plus since I'm restoring a charger I might of ended up having to buy new handles anyway so it could possibly end up cheaper for me in the end. :D






It wasn't the previous owner. The current owner is the one that shaved the doors.

Check out this link. (http://www.usaci.de/)

It's a site dedicated to the progress of that guy restoring that charger. On the front page click "When I first got the car". Look at it. Then click "Body" and scroll all the way down after the page loads the 400 pics. Work your way up the pics to see his progress. Amazing job. And that guy had never restored a car before. F'in amazing job for anyone. Absolutely miraculous (IMO) for a first timer.

Shaved handles (I'm an old-timer :D )... can be a sweet look on the right car... especially a black one...

The Charger would carry that look well!

Here where I live some guy drives a late 70's Caprice Classic (the one with the bent back window on the sides)...

It is silver (oxidizing) and every time I see it he has done something different... the latest was shaving the door handles (obviously on his own)... and it looks ridiculous...

[BrAinPaiNt]

Slightly off topic.

However my Uncle in PA used to always get old road runners and chevells, fix them all the way up, then sell them and start with another one.

He said it was just something he enjoyed, now he is working on an old vette.

Anyways he had this one road runner that was just wicked.

The thing IMO that made it stand out was the paint job.

If you only glanced at it, it appeared to be painted like the charger above, a nice glossy black.

However if the light hit it a certain way you would see it changing colors.

They used a base black and then added different colors of metal flake in a few different sessions. Not too much metal flake, but just enough so when the light hit it just right you would see different colors.

Really was an amazing car.

[Rack Bauer]

Yeah I've seen those paint jobs. Pretty cool looking, but not really my style. I'm an all one color type of guy. The only way I'd add a different color is if it were ghost flames or ghost something else. Which is basically a different shade of the same color.


Here's a cool looking hood, but a bit overdone. The car and web address ruin it.

http://www.connerycustompaint.com/images/photos/flames/ghost-trufire-hood.jpg


ghost flames...

http://www.steelthundercc.com/assets/eric%20sykes%20venom%20assets/P4090165_th.jpg


What would ya'll think of something like this on the roof of my car?

http://silverbulletcomics.com/~jonencar/GR_Skull.jpg


:laugh1:

[trickblue]

However if the light hit it a certain way you would see it changing colors.

They used a base black and then added different colors of metal flake in a few different sessions. Not too much metal flake, but just enough so when the light hit it just right you would see different colors.

Really was an amazing car.

That's called a Pearl Coat I believe...

[BrAinPaiNt]

Not sure if that guy intends to keep the side mirrors off. I like the look, but it's probably illegal. Although he's in the netherlands somewhere so the law's are different.


I'll have side mirrors on mine but I haven't decided yet if I'll go with chrome (I don't like chrome) or paint them black (not the mirror part obviously).


legal scheagle

when I had my 68 firebird i had seatbelts...in a brown paper bag in the trunk LOL.

[BrAinPaiNt]

That's called a Pearl Coat I believe...


I think you are right.

Been a long time he had that back in the early 80's.

I tell you that was a bad car.

[Signals]

I like the 70 GTO but not in red. Every red car my family has owned has been involved in a wreck. That's why I stick with Blue or Silver :DYep, I can testify to that theory. I was almost killed when I was rear-ended by a 1975 ford pick-up truck while driving my little red toyota tercel. Only split timing that God was in charge made the difference be between severe injury or death and being able to walking away with only a small bump on the head.

Anyway, yeah restore the Charger that would be sweeter the the GTO's.

[Rack Bauer]

It's been a week since I paid to have the charger shipped from Fresno to Laredo. The guy I talked to told me they would call the guy they were gonna pick the car up from a 24 hour notice before they showed up to pick up the car. They showed up 4 hours after he told me that, and there was no one there to release the car to them.


I've called that place at least 10 times throughout the week and haven't even been able to get a person on the line. The guy that did the deal hasn't returned any phone calls (coincidentally, his name is Gary Gibbs and that company is based in Dallas. Weird, huh?).

If anyone ever has to have a car delivered anywhere I recommend you DO NOT use Dependable Auto Shippers (DAS). They aren't reliable and their customer service f'in sucks.

[Hostile]

That's called a Pearl Coat I believe...They are also called Kameleon (http://www.moseart.com/HouseKolor.htm) colors, a play on the word chameleon or a color changing lizard. You can choose what shades you want it to change between. They are listed on that link.

Here are some cars painted with this paint so you can see how the colors blend.

Gallery (http://mysticcobra.net/ogallery1.shtml)