1966 Charger 383 4bbl

A place to show off your Pride and Joy

Moderator: Moderators

User avatar
cadboy
Posts: 2207
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 13 5:05 pm
Location: Worcester

Post by cadboy »

Great read and yes nice charger.

I remember around 2003/4 there was a red 66 which was a lovely car and the owner took a liking to our newly purchased Chrysler Sebring convertible and was talking about a part exchange.

Well I was all for it but the wife was not as it was he new car :cry:
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

cadboy wrote:Great read and yes nice charger.

I remember around 2003/4 there was a red 66 which was a lovely car and the owner took a liking to our newly purchased Chrysler Sebring convertible and was talking about a part exchange.

Well I was all for it but the wife was not as it was he new car :cry:
Not seen a red one. There's our green, two white ones on here, the blue one Dave Madders had for sale (that popped up on a Facebook group), there's a grey one coming up for sale soon in Herts. Any others around?
User avatar
Steve
Posts: 7307
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 12 7:19 pm
Location: Scotland

Post by Steve »

Love this thread!!! Its like we are all standing round it at the NATS talking about what you've done to her....just missing a beer or 3!

Great, detailed pics as well...makes all the difference! :thumbright:

I love everything as it is on her but Im a freak for originality =P~ =P~

Cheers Steve :thumbright:
Bat Girl Stalker Living Petes Dream
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

Steve wrote:Love this thread!!! Its like we are all standing round it at the NATS talking about what you've done to her....just missing a beer or 3!

Great, detailed pics as well...makes all the difference! :thumbright:

I love everything as it is on her but Im a freak for originality =P~ =P~

Cheers Steve :thumbright:
Thanks. It's a shame it's just had a little welding done with repairs done to to front of the floor pan. I've just replaced the carpet set as that was beyond help.
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

An area of the car I knew needing addressing was the floor pan at the front at each side. I found broken window pieces under the rear drivers side seat, I'm presuming this happened sometime when the car was parked up from 90's-2000's letting water in which had soaked the carpet causing rust inside. The underside of the car is perfect! The car must have been parked nose down as there is very light surface rust on the floors mostly, with just concentrated areas at the front around the pedal area and near the kick panel on the passenger side. This was bugging me so I started digging.

Image

With the aid of my ever trusty helper I got the 835853277 pieces of interior out of the car so I could see everywhere.

Image

In doing so I decided the carpet was past it. You can see its torn, also the load area carpets had turned to dust from years of light through that huge back window.

Image

Image

I but the bullet and ordered a full carpet set from ACC in the states, they do the correct loop style and it comes moulded where it needs it and with the vinyl trims fitted where it has them. I just had to cut for the gear stick and console brackets and a bit of trimming at the edges. The carpet set looks like this for a 66/67 Charger. Mines black though.

Image
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

In the meantime I was rubbing all the floors down as I wanted to give them a couple of layers of epoxy 2 pack paint so they would be better than new. Apart from previous mentioned areas they looked good. I also put on a coat of Fertan rust treatment previous to the paint.

Image

I have a friend who restores cars as his business, mostly VW's, I asked him what he did and used. Inside there is a coat of the epoxy 2 pack, then seam sealer on the seams, then another coat of 2pack on top. This is between coats.

Image

I did up to near the areas that needed work as I had another friend that offered to do the work for free but a little later on.

Image

When that time came I bolted to drivers seat in, got up at 5am and had a noisy drive to Norfolk where we (he) got the bad cut out and new welded in. I had previously bought floor front repair panels ready.

Image

Annoyingly the sections didn't come up far enough at the front. So he had to make pieces to fit. Luckily there was lots of spare metal as neither side used the full pieces. I forgot to get photos but the passenger side was a lot smaller area of about 6" square

Image

I got the car home that evening and started prepping the areas for paint, grinding the welds down etc. I put a neat (no thinners) coat on all the welded areas, then three painted coats on the repaired areas and rest of front floor area so it had extra protection as this is the most used area for feet.

Image

On the underside I did the same thing but added extra coats of 2 pack and on top I coated it in Dinitrol wax protection. In the near future I plan to remove the rest of the original under seal to inspect, clean and reprotect the rest of the underside.

Image

I am a little annoyed that the car isn't 100% origonal as its had a bit of welding done now, but it thankfuly wasn't much and now I know the car it rock solid and lots of protection inside and out.
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

In the middle of all this was carpet time! This shows the difference in new on left and origonal on the right.

Image

Trunk divider trimmed.

Image

The hardest part was the load area as it bends down over a curved panel and has trims on the edges.

Image

Load area and rear side sail panels in plus under window trim.

Image

Rear seat side panels trimmed and in. I also fitted new plastic water protection sheets as the originals were bad.

Image

While those rear panels were out I replaced any broken rear window rollers. So now they roll up and down a treat!

Image

This is not fun! I've seen people mention they did theirs when the outer skin has been cut off for repair! Bit like this,

Image

For the floor carpet I didn't think the underlay supplied was thick enough, so I bought a roll of extra from eBay and put this in so it's nice and comfy under foot.

Image

This is the rear part of the floor going in,

Image
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

Next the console started going back in, all pieces have carpet on them.

Image

Rear seats finished, seat backs have carpet on the rears for when they are laid down to make the load area.

Image

Image

Front floor carpet in and cut around tunnel bits, pedal and light foot switch.

Image

Console front in, I was waiting on the piece of carpet for this side as it was missing from the set, ACC were great to get one sent out asap.

Image

Front seats back in. One day I'll get them re trimmed, but it's not a priority for now. The car is only having done what's needed to make it better and safe (suspension for eg), I want it to look as original as possible, so it's keeping its trims which have marks from its 50 years. The scrape on the rear fender is staying as is the faded through paint. I don't want a fresh painted car, I prefer the original (as possible).

Image

Not long after the missing console piece arrived which I fitted in situ

Image
polosteve
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Jun 28, 13 3:17 pm

Post by polosteve »

Great thread
User avatar
Pete
Posts: 21951
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 04 10:49 pm
Location: MMA Chairman

Post by Pete »

Great thread.

Incidentally, often Floorpans at the front corrode because the windshield wiper spindle gaskets age and fail, thus letting water in.

Worth a check given all the hard work you have done.
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.

Mopar by the grace of God
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

Thanks for the tip Pete, I will check on them, guessing originals still in there.
User avatar
karlee1433
Posts: 278
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 15 4:27 pm
Location: orsett essex / hornchurch

car

Post by karlee1433 »

Looking great nice work
Harley Davidson 1340 evo 9 foot long swedish chopper.
Harley Davidson v rod screaming eagle
1970 dodge coronet super bee 383 4 speed manual
Also 1972 Suzuki gt750j nut &bolt restoration.
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

Thank you :)

Hemi472 and Blue, or anyone, I see the Motor Wheel Spyder's did come in a 15" wheel. Do you know what widths? Ideally I think I want 7" on the front and 8" on the rear.
User avatar
Blue
Posts: 14177
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 04 11:29 pm
Location: Straight outta Royston

Post by Blue »

None of my old catalogues list Spyders but they would have been available in a 7" and either 8" or 8.5" as these were common sizes back then.
“This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no foolin’ around”
User avatar
XP29
Posts: 878
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 15 1:51 pm
Location: Harlow, Essex

Post by XP29 »

Blue wrote:None of my old catalogues list Spyders but they would have been available in a 7" and either 8" or 8.5" as these were common sizes back then.
Most on US eBay seem to be 14", there is a 15" set but they are only 6" wide.

Cost is an issue so although I like the Spyders best, they are probably out. I like the Keystones but would probably have to get new ones. Other wheels I like are CragerSS or Magnums, if I could get a 2nd set at reasonable cost this might be my best option.
Post Reply