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1968 Dodge Charger total restoration project. (HELP NEEDED)


Guest Wendal

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First of all I am new to the car restoration world, this will be my first project. So I'm open to (and actually seeking) suggestions on how I go about working in it.

440 engine but it's locked up, I want to completely rebuild the engine. I was thinking either another 440, a 426 hemi or maybe even a 572 hemi. There's lots of rust that will need cleaning up and parts of the body that will need replacing. I do not plan on doing any of the body work myself I am going to get it professionally done as well as the paint. I do plan on doing most of the mechanical work myself (along with some friends who know a lot more about auto-mechanics than I do).

Here she is.

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Also, I'm thinking about eventually converting my the front size to a 70 (I really like the wrap around bumper look of the 70 Chargers). This would mean I'd need new fenders, hood, bumper, grille etc.

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Thanks for the pictures. Sorry, but to restore that thing will result in you leaving the hobby long before it's done. The costs involved will far exceed the value of the car before you see any real progress. Your previous question had great advice given that you should spend you money by buying a better car to start with. I'm sorry to be negative but it's a fact of life in this hobby that looses many potential happy participants.

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Thanks for the pictures. Sorry, but to restore that thing will result in you leaving the hobby long before it's done. The costs involved will far exceed the value of the car before you see any real progress. Your previous question had great advice given that you should spend you money by buying a better car to start with. I'm sorry to be negative but it's a fact of life in this hobby that looses many potential happy participants.

in almost every case that is true.

And that's why it's cheaper to buy a car already restored, than to spend the money on restoration....

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I have worked on some MoPar muscle cars, including Chargers. I would peddle that one and do what others have said and find a better one. That way, you get a solid one and it can be a 1970 if you want.

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Does this particular car mean something to you sentimentally? Was it yours or your father's or your grandfather's or such? One cannot attach a price to something like that and I could understand paying the huge cost to have this restored, but if it is not I am not seeing much on that Charger that will not need either replacing or heavy duty cutting and replacing. And that is just what can be seen from the photos. Once you start taking it apart you will normally find even more extensive and serious damage in areas that are only revealed when you take it apart. My rough guess is that for the body work alone you would be looking at anywhere from two to three times more cost to restore than what it would be worth if you ever wanted to sell it. Depending on what is going on with the engine that cost to restore could go up far higher. And then you are going to have to pay for all of the mechanicals as well, depending on how bad shape they are in. Steering and brakes and drive train and transmission and electric systems and seats and instrument panel etc. etc. If all you want at the end of the day is a restored Charger you could likely be able to buy two of them for less than the cost to restore this one - though getting back to my initial question, if what you want is your dad's or grandpa's actual car that they drove when they were young restored then total cost to restore this one is not a factor.

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Guest Randyguild

Yeah Wendal, if money is no issue and that is your "dream car" then plan on spending upwards of 100k to properly restore it. If that was just a barn/field find that you picked up for cheap, sell it for twice what you paid,(roughly) and move on the the next one. trying to get a fully restored in the end is the best option. Good luck with whichever you choose.

If your interested in a quote, just drop by the shop(with the car if you can), and Kye will be happy to take a look at it and go from there.

Thanks,

Randy - Mechanic - The Guild of automotive restorers. Bradford, ON

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  • 5 months later...

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