Recommissioning my '68 Dodge Charger
Discussion
Hello everyone, my name's Lewis. Among other things, I used to own a '68 Firebird - if you went to the PH meet at Silverstone a few years ago, it was the very same one. I made the mistake, however, of selling it.
Since then I'd chopped and changed from time to time, but that lust for another muscle car simply didn't fade away – despite the best efforts of a Delta Integrale that I ran for a year and a bit.
To cut a long story short, I ended up buying a '68 Charger that was for sale on the Mopar Muscle Association UK's forum.
To say I'm happy with it would be a huge understatement, haha. It moves under its own power but it's effectively been parked for ten years, so it needs a little reviving - brakes, exhaust manifold gasket, a few patches of welding - but it's all there.
Here's what it sounded like when the owner fired it up when I went to view it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF82gkwDD6M
If you're interested, I'm formally writing about my experiences with the car as I go along, and you can find the first update here: http://goo.gl/ycmeyh
I'll be swinging by and updating this as I go along. Cheers!
Since then I'd chopped and changed from time to time, but that lust for another muscle car simply didn't fade away – despite the best efforts of a Delta Integrale that I ran for a year and a bit.
To cut a long story short, I ended up buying a '68 Charger that was for sale on the Mopar Muscle Association UK's forum.
To say I'm happy with it would be a huge understatement, haha. It moves under its own power but it's effectively been parked for ten years, so it needs a little reviving - brakes, exhaust manifold gasket, a few patches of welding - but it's all there.
Here's what it sounded like when the owner fired it up when I went to view it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF82gkwDD6M
If you're interested, I'm formally writing about my experiences with the car as I go along, and you can find the first update here: http://goo.gl/ycmeyh
I'll be swinging by and updating this as I go along. Cheers!
Edited by theseoldcars on Friday 19th June 13:47
This isn't specific to a classic Charger (I don't know anything about them, other than they are f
king awesome) - If it's not had anything done to it for 10 years, then start with all services items - fluids, filters, any belts, ignition components etc. I wouldn't trust tyres that have been sitting for 10 years either so it would be wise to replace those.
Great colour as well!
king awesome) - If it's not had anything done to it for 10 years, then start with all services items - fluids, filters, any belts, ignition components etc. I wouldn't trust tyres that have been sitting for 10 years either so it would be wise to replace those. Great colour as well!
As the others have said get the bits that might kill you if the fail done first, fully service the brakes, check the suspension and bushings, and bin the tyres. Also check things like the brake, fuel hoses and coolant hoses for hardening and deterioration. Bloody nice car mate.. I hope you have lots of fun... Sounds divine on the YouTube clip
Edited by Huskyman on Friday 19th June 21:59
Really interested to know what needs replacing after so long. I have various old cars and when one stands for more than a year or two, it seems so many things perish - usually hydraulic pipes, clutch cylinders, water pipes, etc etc. Some of them I recommission and then stick back in a barn only then not to have time for a few years and then have to do the whole thing again!
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Really interested to know what needs replacing after so long. I have various old cars and when one stands for more than a year or two, it seems so many things perish - usually hydraulic pipes, clutch cylinders, water pipes, etc etc. Some of them I recommission and then stick back in a barn only then not to have time for a few years and then have to do the whole thing again!
My mog was sat for 10 years and required/requires all the rubbers, brake pipes, hoses, gaskets, brakes, tyres, some suspension etc. Anything that isn't solid will be buggered basically. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff