FC7 RT SE

[DeathProofCuda]

I hadn't been following this before, but this is a very interesting thread.    

I always enjoy the threads on 20+ year projects, similar to my own.

I was originally thinking that $3,500 seemed like a lot of money for a car in that condition in 1994, but my memory of what the E-body market was like back then is pretty poor.  I guess things must have been climbing pretty well at that time.

[RusTy/SE]

I began this thread in January 2017 to explain the ups and downs of my car between circa January 2007 when the resto began until September 2010, when it was unceremoniously removed from the shop and placed in a 10x20 storage unit as a rolling shell with the suspension and drivetrain bolted in place and FC7 purple trimmed out.

But now it's January 2024, and nothing has happened to the R/T SE since 2010 when it was placed there.

I, however, have learned a few lessons. I failed to have a thorough plan, and I didn't sweat the details or the what-ifs.

When work began, a very good friend was the manager with experienced paint and body staff to help. By the second half of 2007 and into 2008 things went from steady progress to mission creep. My friend lost his father - they were very close - which resulted in a series of anxiety attacks that forced him to leave his position at the shop. The owner also began to fast track several of his cars including the 1967 Coronet R/T I had traded to him to start the work on my Challenger and installed his partner and mechanic as the new manager; that 1967 Coronet R/T sits about 85% finished in his garage at this time. The staff didn't care for the new manager and soon left as well. Their replacements were neither experienced, nor familiar with a 1970 Challenger.

So it was decided to have some assemblies and individual items sent off to be restored...

[RusTy/SE]

January 2008

Door hinges and wiper motor restored by Jules D'addio.

Brake booster by Booster Dewey.

[anlauto]

You must have had them done awhile ago, Jules has been gone now for over ten years

[Jay Bee]

But now it's January 2023,

I think this is a typo and supposed read "2024". 
Tough break with that shop too.

[RusTy/SE]

But now it's January 2023,

I think this is a typo and supposed read "2024". 
Tough break with that shop too.

Oops, yes and fixed.

[RusTy/SE]

You must have had them done awhile ago, Jules has been gone now for over ten years

Yep, that's why I bold dated the post January 2008

[RusTy/SE]

February - March 2008

The shop doing the work on my car was in a state of flux at this time and I was getting knee-deep in several situations beyond my control. In hindsight, I can easily see that I essentially slept-walked my way through the process - it was friends, what could possibly go wrong? ( - but when you're in the middle of things without a firm plan to stick to, it's often difficult to see the forest for the trees so to speak. So I slogged on with other aspects of my R/T SE's return from the dead.

The motor that was in this car when I purchased it is not original to the car, with a cast date of May 1971 and corresponding 346 heads. It cleaned up well and was rebuilt with a thirty-thousandths overbore. With the Eastwood Cast Grey exhaust manifold coating and Orange Engine Paint, she really looked nice.

[RusTy/SE]

Summer 2008

A trip to the Mopar Nationals afforded me a chance to deliver in person my tail and reverse light bezels to Special Ts for restoring and reapply of the chrome and (SEM) black. I received the pieces back several months later and they came out beyond my hopes. 

November 2008 - August 2009

Joining a Group Special from Instrument Specialties on the c-c.com forum site took care of rebuilding and restoring the gauges and dash pieces.

[RusTy/SE]

November 2009

Just before being trimmed out - and yeah, I almost lost my mind seeing fresh FC7 Plum Crazy on this car - a mishap occurred at the foot of the dutchman panel by the trunk lip. It was repaired but never explained just what had happened. 

[RusTy/SE]

September 2010

Through the first half of 2010 staff conditions at the shop had deteriorated to the point where I paid a final amount of $$ to bring my car to a roller state and I would secure a 10x20 storage unit near my house where it could be placed out of the weather.

One beautiful day in September that year, she saw the light of day for a couple of hours for removal and was placed there until I have my own garage.

And one very comprehensive, sweat-the-details plan. 

[RusTy/SE]

Which brings us to today. 

I've lost not one bit of enthusiasm for my ride and fully understand what it will take to see me driving in it.   

In this case my horror story has cost me the better part of $35k (1/2007-9/2010), not counting $72 monthly for the storage unit (9/2010 going forward as the calendar pages fly off). So far as I am concerned, I owe huge apologies to so many who have both encouraged me and joined in my eternal optimism as the process dragged on over too many years. Too many friends and family members who I've promised rides to, are, in too many instances, no longer around for me to make that happen. 

But life happens. I've got my health, retired, married to my partner - the woman of my dreams - and once the process of my (ongoing) move to her place is complete and my house sells, I can once again look to a certain purple Dodge as she has more than once encouraged me to complete this project after a garage is built on our property. 

Until then, I'll be more than happy to explain what I did right (very little), what I did wrong (hoo boy!) and what I've learned to this point - at least in my case.

Continuing to live vicariously through everyone else on the best Mopar forum out there,

RusTy/SE

[Chryco Psycho]

It is so good to have an update , still waiting for a ride !!
 Glad everything is going well for you !