More Console 2

About 40 years of dried glue is just amazing to get off the console. We are just going to repaint the back paint and shine up the chrome the best we can. After all that cleaning is done we will put the new woodgrain "sticker" on the console. Not too much work on here, but just something else that needs to be done.

Middle Console Repair

I called on my cousin Larry (Cooter) to help me get the console back into shape. It seems someone had busted out the back plastic piece in the console for whatever reason. We suspect a hiding spot as the carpet still covered the area. Larry devised a plan to rivet a piece of metal for strong supprt. He likes to make a cardboard layout before he does any metal work. Then we just bent the metal to fit the cardboard. It worked great. Now I need to clean it up, paint it, and place the new wood sticker on top. Then it goes in the car.

Back Window Installation

There was a lot of prep work involved in the back window installation. Cleaning the chrome and back windows, along with getting the back area smooth and level. The greatest thing was the propane heater we borrowed from Larry. It is an old model, but it still pushes out a ton of heat. This will allow for more work through January and February.

Back window...

Applying tube filler to the little rough areas around the back window. Getting the back window in place is crucial before I put the interior in. We need to drill out the old clips around the back window as well.

Shifter

I really liked the original style shifter that came with the car, but it didn't take much convincing from my dad to update the shifter with a B&M shifter. So I took the original shifter out and sent it to Italy for $90 and bought the new shifter on eBay for $120 brand new. We modified the middle console slightly on top so it fits flush on top. Looked real good when I had it in there. I took the console home to clean it up and we'll place it in the car within the month.

Trunk Lid Repair

The trunk lid needed the common repairs that most Chargers take on, right under the lip. I spot welded where I could, but the rest of the tiny holes were filled with a special metal filler that resembles bondo. As you can tell I ran out of the one primer after repairs were done.

Headlight clean-up

I took a wire brush, sand blasted where I could, and applied a new layer of paint to the headlight compartments. It really didn't look too bad considering how old the car is.

Clean up on Passenger Fender!!!

This side got the usual treatment.... sand blast, wire brush clean-up as the other side. After cleaning the area, and removing some under splash metal that had cancer I painted and undercoated the side. The repair for the splash guards will come over the winter.

New Fender

Out with the old and in with the new. (old fender in the back of the truck.. 1st pic) The old fender, one in which I spent hours trying to whip into shape and never panned out, now has a destination with a Dodge Charge RT. The guy that took it is restoring a real RT and can get the fender back in shape. The new fender I picked up off of eBay for under $500 with shipping included. A small price for an original straight fender that is rust free.

Fender Removal

After about a month of little incidents here and there (appendix surgery, trip to nashville, being sick) work continued on Rusty. As Michigan settles into fall with winter closing in, I'm pressed with less and less heat as each day continues. The focus over winter will be the interior and the engine. There is still some things that need to be done under the car, and that will soon happen.

After a few grumpy bolts, the passenger side fender came off. It is long gone now after a listing on Craigslist. I picked up a new A-pillar for the interior in exchange for that rusty old fender. It was much easier to clean without the fender there though!

Not Going to Happen.. "Budnik Wheels"

Budnik Wheels has pulled the plug on these wheels for me. This was a one cut wheel design that will never be duplicated. It broke my heart but I'll find something none-the-less. I have contacted Foose Wheels and SuperBuyTires to see what they have or can do for me. It was definitely a low day emotionally for me in this project.

New Passenger Fender

As the day is losing its heat, I know I have a limited time frame to get some necessary things done on Rusty. After a month of waiting I have FINALLY received my replacement fender from an eBay-er. I began taking many bolts out to get that fender off the car. As I was doing this I remembered something..



My brother did a weld job on the replacement patch of the original fender. It looks like I'll be really working to get that fender off. But it'll really look nice in the end. The antenna hole is perfect AND that body line is straight.
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My dad talked me out of the original shifter and get a Hurst shifter. I was okay with this and my only stipulation was that I didn't want to get rid of the middle console. I really like it in. We might have to make a couple cuts to get the Hurst to fit right, but I will do what needs to be done to keep my console.

Black Blast... Under the car

I started the day with blasting the driver's side wheel wells, Then I worked my way under the car to about where the back seat would be. I cleaned everything I could get to. I then sprayed Rust Mort EVERYWHERE!!! It took me longer to clean up this mess than it did to blast. I will work on the passenger side next time.











This is the driver's side rocker panel that we had to spot weld a couple holes and apply filler to make it smooth again.

I See You!!!!!!!

I could see a small hole whenever I opened the driver's door. I blasted around this and hit the metal to see if anymore would reveal itself. It isn't too bad and won't take much to fix. Add it to the list!!!!!

It Ain't pur-ty

Well browsing the list I took notice to many little things that had to be done... and I mean had to be done. Under the driver's door wasn't rotted or anything, but give it a couple more years and it would have been probably. I blasted the bottom of the door, sprayed it with Rust Mort, and painted it with primer. No other work needs to be done to it for the time being.
Under the car it was still pretty clear that I replaced the floors. I hammered the old metal as close as I could to the new and sot welded what I could (left picture is BEFORE, right picture is AFTER). I'll pick up some metal sealer and run that around the edging that you can see so we keep things from getting under that metal.