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> Don's '68 Satellite
68SatConvertible
post Jul 23 2012, 07:39 PM
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Hello all,
I got the Frankenstein's Creature 1968 Satellite convertible on 21 May 2012. This thread will start out slowly, as I will not be doing much until I take the car to Hot Rod Institute in January (I have to use up my GI Bill $$$). High-res pics and journal will be on my website at ACME Observatory.

So first off, the car the day I brought it home...

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68SatConvertible
post Jul 23 2012, 07:43 PM
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Interior after adding stainless Grant steering wheel, anti-theft hub, and some mechanism work inside both doors (missing clips, other stuff the previous owner's shoddy paint and body guy left out).


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68SatConvertible
post Jul 23 2012, 07:46 PM
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Grille treatment. This is a quick and dirty project, had to get it done between our NC monsoon squalls.
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68SatConvertible
post Jul 23 2012, 07:56 PM
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The car has a 1969 trunk deck lid from a Roadrunner, the 1969 'glass hood, a 1971 440 6bbl motor with a slight rear main seal leak and weak valve springs. Needs a new top and boot (with glass instead of plastic for the window), and a complete upgrade and rehab of the suspension. 727 TF, 3.23:1 open rear end. A few little dings here and there. I need to replace the iron intake manifold with the Edelbrock aluminum version.

That is it for now, will be upgrading the torsion bars in the next few weeks.
Don
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MyMopar
post Jul 23 2012, 11:00 PM
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Don,

I read your blog. I wasn't aware I was earlier conversing with a fellow Iraqi veteran. You are truly a hero and never forget it. I was over there during the days of Desert Storm while in the US Navy. I look forward to hearing about your experiences and you sharing your progress with your car.

Richard
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68SatConvertible
post Jul 24 2012, 12:42 AM
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QUOTE (MyMopar @ Jul 24 2012, 12:00 AM) *
Don,

I read your blog. I wasn't aware I was earlier conversing with a fellow Iraqi veteran. You are truly a hero and never forget it. I was over there during the days of Desert Storm while in the US Navy. I look forward to hearing about your experiences and you sharing your progress with your car.

Richard


Richard, same here.
I sat at Ft Bragg for that one (I tend to overdo things and THEN realize after that I sustained structural damage). Got out in '92, then enlisted again after 9/11. Had to go back through Basic after the 10-year break in service. It was physically easier 26 years ago... Did the buildup in Kuwait in early 2003, then got "Hey You" detail pulling security for the invasion when they cancelled our jump into Iraq and had us drive in north through Talil airbase to just outside of Al Najef. sFun_crazyhammer.gif

I'm in the process of rebuilding the website after *ahem* trashing the databases and *ahem again* not having good backups of them... I still need to redo the astronomy and astrophotography pages. I am actually about to add the second gallery for the car with the grille and interior photos.

Don
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68SatConvertible
post Jul 30 2012, 07:20 AM
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Got the biggest torsion bars Mopar Performance has (0.960"). Got them for $247, tax included, at the local Dodge dealership parts counter (love those guys, but you'd best know the MP catalog part number for anything pre-1990's).

Had them installed over the weekend (my dirt path, er, driveway isn't the best place to do work requiring the car to be up in the air). I am expecting a huge improvement in handling and the ability to align the front end. blink.gif

Don
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MyMopar
post Jul 30 2012, 07:53 AM
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Hi Don.

Sweet! Good to know you can still get parts directly for Mopar. thumbs_up.gif

Richard
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