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Eurekasevven's 1968 Chrysler Newport Extravaganza

I'll use this space as a sort of checklist for everything I need to do with it (which is a lot, it's an old car, body is in solid shape but you can tell some things are aged and a bit worn, just needs some love to get it to showroom quality).

General Information

Now, the specifics as to what this car has, and what it needs done:

383 Chrysler B block, Carter-4423 2BBL
3-Speed Automatic Torqueflite
4 Door Sedan
Factory A/C, with classic style Chrysler RV2 Compressor (I believe there were multiple versions of this 2-piston compressor across the generations, I'm not sure which one I have, but I believe the RV2 was after 1969, so I would assume the first model).
AM Radio w/ antenna (Radio no longer works, unsure about antenna).
Currently has 15" red race-wheel rims on it, but eventually want to put the original 14" rims and hubcaps on it with whitewall tires.
"Mist Turquoise" DT8384 exterior color, with a green interior. Bench seats front and back.
The steering wheel emblem on the end seems to be a unique "Chrysler" cursive logo, instead of the normal Chrysler emblem I see on so many other Mopars. Maybe it was a special option from order form or dealer-specific? Unsure, myself. Maybe someone can elaborate.
97000 miles, all original as far as I know. The engine seems to run fine and I don't see any excessive smoke from running, so I believe it. But maybe these engines were just bulletproof.

The things it needs done:
-New cat whiskers seals on the doors, door panels need to be removed as the rear window cranks are a bit rusty and just need some lubrication. Would probably help to change the insulation around the car as well.
-Engine needs a complete rebuild. It runs alright, there's no major issues with operation, but there is a "dead zone" when accelerating (it's around 30-40mph-ish, if I seem to recall), and there's seepage around the engine. Really just needs gasket work done on it, but checking to see if everything is in spec wouldn't hurt. I suspect the hesitation is from a broken distributor vacuum advance (which it is on this car, I ordered a replacement that hasn't shown up yet...classic USPS. Fuckfaces), but also a carburetor issue. Maybe a worn out accelerator pump. The gaskets are grody around the Carb too, so that needs a rebuild by extension.
-Power steering has a leak that empties out in around a month or so. The man I bought it from suspects it to be the pump itself, but I believe it's a worn out line. Easy to replace.
-A/C needs to be redone, I suspect that just because of age and constant use the seals are bad leading to no charge. A/C compressor and all the lines will probably need new gaskets. The A/C fuses on the fusebox are also rusty and corroded, and on the A/C selector on the dash, the "Max A/C" button is permanently pushed in. Maybe something got melted and it shorted out. Everything else seems to work so I don't think it's a fusebox issue.
-Turn signal assembly inside the column (can't remember the specific name for it right off, it's the red piece that has all the wires coming from it) needs to be replaced. All the lights work, but the turn signals specifically have erratic operation and the right-side lights don't work on the front indicator on the hood and the rear light. Hazards work fine with all lights so I do suspect it's specifically the turn signal assembly.
-New carpet. And some minor seat upholstery repair. Also needs a new dash (the top part, it's cracked in several places).

The pictures. I can take some unique ones tomorrow, to better show off specific things, but it's dark out right now so these will have to do (but they do show off the basic idea quite well):
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Comments

You've got a great start for a nice car. My first 68 NYer was that color. I really like that color. I could be wrong, but I think the center of your steering wheel is from an older car. The one on my first 68 was a big padded center. I grabbed one from a 67 that was a nicer looking chrome one more like yours.
 
You've got a great start for a nice car. My first 68 NYer was that color. I really like that color. I could be wrong, but I think the center of your steering wheel is from an older car. The one on my first 68 was a big padded center. I grabbed one from a 67 that was a nicer looking chrome one more like yours.
That would explain it, because every other Newport from this year I've seen online has the padded center with the single emblem. I like this one much better, if I do say so myself...so not really a complaint.
As far as paintjob goes, the patina is nice, but I might end up repainting it to the original color, just because the car is so solid and most of the tune-ups are so minor that I think I could get this to showroom quality in time. Might as well make the coat of paint shine as well.
 
As an aside for anyone who would know these cars back in the day: How expensive were A/C and Power Steering back then?
I've been trying to piece this car's history together as best as I can. I have the original booklets that came with the car, along with the original 1968 title. From the story of the man I bought it from (very nice man), who knew as much about it as I did, really, the previous owner bought it from my town's mayor, who bought the car brand new. It's been passed down since. As far as how true this is I don't know, but today I found an interesting piece of information: I believe this car was owned by the town's Police Chief instead of the mayor. Both the Police Chief in office and the man on my old title have the same last name. I can't find any connection between them as far as family records, but I find the coincidence a little too far fetched, especially in such a small town.
Which leads me to my initial question: I don't believe a normal man back then could've had "A/C and Pinky-Finger" option money. Which, if it was the case, makes this car so much cooler (I honestly bought the car just for the story, just as much as it looked nice and it's Mopar. Stories make old cars so much better).
 
Figured out something today that I hadn't even noticed until now. On the driver side front cornering light (which seems to be connected to the turn signal), it was missing entirely. I actually had it in my house but didn't put together what it was for until I noticed it.
Later in the day I went to mount it back, when I noticed that it was missing a bracket for it. So it's just kind of flopping around at the moment.
Should be a very easy fix later on.
 
Nice back seat upholstery and door panels. Should be an easy restoration. Hubcaps will dress it up so much.

Guess this was the era just before vinyl roofs.

She will be a beauty when you get her done!
 
Nice back seat upholstery and door panels. Should be an easy restoration. Hubcaps will dress it up so much.

Guess this was the era just before vinyl roofs.

She will be a beauty when you get her done!
Yup just needs some kinks worked out. Was thinking about going the whole nine yards with paintjob as well, completely re-doing it in the original color. New carpet and headliner.

The current rims on it are 15", I thought about buying period correct hubcaps from another Chrysler that had that size, but in the end I think the 14"s would look nicer (also be cheaper to replace, since I already have the hubcaps and rims).
 

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EurekaSevven
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