GROK's
68 Dodge Charger
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This is what my Charger looked like when I bought it
from my brother-in-law back in May '81. He was stationed in Germany at the time
and didn't want it to sit in some garage. I was in need of a cheap car at the
time since my '74 Pinto got junked. He had recently installed new carpeting, a
rebuilt 383 commando 360hp powerplant with a 4bbl Holley carb. The car had been
in a front end crash and was replaced as good as new, and a white vinyl top was
added. The fuel guage stopped working almost immediately and hasn't worked
since as well as the oil pressure guage- too high piston compression. Had to
plunk down about $500 to get it to pass Maryland State Inspection but it was
well worth it! The following is a brief history:
Sept '83 - car was broken into in the middle of the
night and stolen. The thieves who stole it figured they must have been out of
gas when they stalled out in the middle of a traffic intersection and fled on
foot. The cops awoke me and I was so happy to get it back relatively unscathed.
Had to replace the door and ignition locks. From this point on I disconnected
the battery and locked the hood every night.
Dec '83 - transmission went - took it to AAMCO-
nothing but the best (and most expensive!) for this car. Took out dual point
distributor and replaced it with a single point for easier tune-ups.
Sept '88 - car towed away by police (at apartment
managers request) while I was out of town on vacation for looking like it was
abandoned. Boy was I hopping mad- but that's another story. Did ring and valve
job, replaced intake manifold and rebuilt the Holley carb with a rebuild kit
from the local auto parts store. Replaced mufflers (Midas) and instrument panel
with one that had a working clock.
Sept '97 - tore off vinyl roof top, new mufflers,
brakes, fixed driver side floor pan (there was no floor!), disconnected vacuum
hose from headlamp doors to help the brakes .
Well this year (2001) is the year I finally get
around to fixing the body and repainting it-red, with a black vinyl top. I
drove it down to MAACO and got an estimate of $3000 to restore it . I recently
married and moved to PA so I need to get it past state inspection! I will post
new pics as soon as the work is completed(by April 23rd or sooner!).
Here are some "work in progress" pics - - - - JUN 20TH
update- see new pics below!!!!!!!
Yes- although 2 months behind
schedule(MAACO gave me a price break!) the final result is here!! I still have
a lot of inside work to do, get some new seats, new moldings, new battery, new
carpet, new tires/rims, etc. but the body and paint job is looking fabulous!!
Latest update- the new rims/tires are on courtesy of Sears, see pic. Now the
bad news: the frame is so rusty I will have to spend big bucks to weld new
metal, this needs to be done before it can pass state inspection. Also need a
new gas tank and a lot of nit-picking items: lights, upper ball joint,front end
alignment,high pressure hose for the power steering pump,brake booster,window
washer reservoir, etc. A lot of these I can do myself. Got some used front
seats and I am going to recover them myself along with new carpet and seat
belts. So as of August 2002 I am getting closer to completion- stay tuned!
Update 01 Nov 2002- I am going to order a rebuilt gas tank, weld the frame and
then find a garage to complete pre-inspection - I'm almost there!
*Update - Aug 15th, 2003: I have ordered the nit-picking parts for the car-everything I will need to get it thru inspection. I took the seats to an upholsterer and have laid down the gray carpet. As soon as my order comes in I will glue and secure the carpet,seats, and seatbelts down.The gas tank arrived today but since I am getting Antique tags the welding can wait.I also ordered glue and a tool to replace the black headliner.Too hot lately to continue work but the headliner is 80% glued into place. Pics to come later as I finish the interior.*Oct 2003* - I have installed a new radio/cd player in the dash and new rear deck speakers with my son Ryan's help. And I have laid down the passenger side carpet. The seats are in and the headliner is finished! Its been a long time coming but the car is now ready for the road.*Nov 3* the antique tag is on and its on the road again!UPDATE - Sep 6, 2004 Had to install new gas tank as old one was leaking, also noticed water pump was leaking-will order new one and install it myself soon!*UPDATE* Oct 2005 - washed & waxed car for the first time since 2001 then had to replace lower radiator hose after it blew out. Turn signal lever fused inside the steering column so will have that fixed soon. still keeping car garaged so it still looks like new!
*UPDATE - MAY 2006 Engine blew head gaskets while driving from Philly to Rochester, NY. Got towed to a local body shop near Binghamton, NY. They managed to find a used 383 engine and replaced the timing chain,head gaskets, and valves so that the new engine should last a long time.The turn signals now work and when I get to Rochester (around 5/25/06)will continue to work on the interior.
comments, suggestions, send email to : grok450@yahoo.com !
