1969 Charger RT Resto

[sixt9rsx33]

Here are the pics

[sixt9rsx33]

Originally Posted by SupremeDeluxe

What a beautiful car and meticulous restoration!

Thanks Supreme Deluxe. I look forward to driving it!!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Originally Posted by sixt9rsx33

Here are a few pics of the car outside in the sunlight. This was before we adjusting the torsion bars so a little low in the front. Sorted out now.

The shot with the vinyl top shows the body lead seam under the top. The fluorescent lights exemplify this. I am not so sure if this will bug me enough to rip the top off and send the car back to my paint man to smooth that seam out? I simply missed this when the car was at the body shop. I looked at my old pictures and sure enough the same “bulge” is there. I guess I did not notice as much because the top was 48 years old and the car had plenty of other ugly things going on with it. I have looked at several other restored Mopars and this lead seam under the top shows up but it does bug me. I wanted to restore the car as it was in late 68 so that is what it is.

Will it keep you up at night?

There is compromise in every car but so far I haven’t seen any on this build.....

Ryan

[A12pilot]

Lawrence,

The car looks great! You're doing a fantastic job! One thing to note on vinyl top cars. That seam was not leaded. It was filled with a very hard, yet pliable, caulk. This would trap moisture and swell over time causing the buldge you typically would see. Non -vinyl top cars got the lead there. Is there exception to this? Of course, and I restored a 68 R/T with a black vinyl top that was leaded. But... the few exceptions are not the norm. Nobody uses that caulk anymore, obviously, and it's best filled with USC's Allmetal in the leaded joints.

I'll shoot you an email with some more info.....

Cheers
Dave

[HawkX66]

So sharp...

[sixt9rsx33]

Going to fix the sail panel. Can't deal with the bulge under the top

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Originally Posted by sixt9rsx33

Going to fix the sail panel. Can't deal with the bulge under the top

Good plan, you wouldn’t be able to sleep.

The rest of the car is too perfect for noticeable bulge.

Ryan

[big gear head]

I'd have to do the same thing. The car is great, with that one exception. Can you fix it by just pulling back that one section of the top?

[markinnaples]

Man that thing is sharp, whew. Mopar did have some killer designs back then and a '69 Charger has to be one of the best designs of the musclecar era. Beautiful job.

[BCreekDave]

You stated in post 28 that you were going to try and not remove the headliner. Were you able to do this and if so, how did you protect it thought the process? I have a 70Z28 with a perfect original headliner that I would like to save if possible. I do need to put new quarters on it, but I think I can pull the headliner back far enough to protect them from the heat.