1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite from Junk to......

[Moparfiend]

Update on the Satellite:

Passenger rear brake needed a new backing plate. It was bent enough that it rubbed. It must have been damaged before I got the car. I had to pull the axle to get the old backing plate out and the new one in. New drums were machined and installed all the new hardware. What I thought would be a quick rear brake job turned into a little bit more at a time that the heat was peaking here in Arizona. Well all is good now. I also checked the bearings and runout of the whole axle assembly. Was like a few thousands total way better than I would hVe thought.

 

[Moparfiend]

In between mechanical work I am trying to restore and buff out the original chrome trim. Drip rail moldings are looking decent. Actually really good considering what I had to work with. The car was originally a vinyl roof so I believe the chrome drip rails were slightly different “oversized” for a naked rail. So I took some 3M vinyl and trimmed some for under the chrome to compensate a little.

 

[Moparfiend]

Currently in process is the installation of the Progression Distributor. Because I am working with an evolving engine (later to get a new cam and torque converter and other goodies pending my lotto status) I need a way to tailor my curve without committing suicide. My wife thought that being able to change entire curve on the fly might be a good thing…..I agreed.
Currently installed just need to figure out where 1V drop is in my Ignition source. I may run a relay.

 

[Moparfiend]

As she is right now…

 

[ct71rr]

Looks great! It’s come a long way!

 

[Bart K]

Yep, looking really good! I see it barely fits in the garage. When do you think you will have the first drive???

 

[Moparfiend]

Yep, looking really good! I see it barely fits in the garage. When do you think you will have the first drive???

About a month ago! I am working on tuning the motor and all these other issues like radiator, brakes and distributor issues had surfaced derailing the actual tuning efforts. But those are now all mostly resolved.

My brakes are not quite up to snuff the last 10 ft. It’s only a 7” booster and my cam is giving me about 11Hg so I may need to replace my booster with an 8” unit to get full power assist.

I also am having an electrical issue that befuddled me but I should be able to trace it down.

 

[Bart K]

About a month ago! I am working on tuning the motor and all these other issues like radiator, brakes and distributor issues had surfaced derailing the actual tuning efforts. But those are now all mostly resolved.

My brakes are not quite up to snuff the last 10 ft. It’s only a 7” booster and my cam is giving me about 11Hg so I may need to replace my booster with an 8” unit to get full power assist.

I also am having an electrical issue that befuddled me but I should be able to trace it down.

You do amazing work! I think you will enjoy this car so much more knowing that you have done virtually all the work yourself! It has been a long road from the heart attack and the trunk floor pan. I am truly impressed!!!

 

[Moparfiend]

You do amazing work! I think you will enjoy this car so much more knowing that you have done virtually all the work yourself! It has been a long road from the heart attack and the trunk floor pan. I am truly impressed!!!

Thanks so much Bart! I hope this thread remains interesting to others. I still have the upholstery and secret ur rather not super secret Air Grabber hood from AMD that will be modified for electric operation!

 

[Bart K]

Thanks so much Bart! I hope this thread remains interesting to others. I still have the upholstery and secret ur rather not super secret Air Grabber hood from AMD that will be modified for electric operation!

Looking forward to the surprises you have waiting for us!!!

 

[Moparfiend]

More bright work around the windshield. Took quite some time cleaning and buffing the stainless. But now she’s got the glitz and glitter. I was polishing the small front hold down piece when the wheel grabbed it and threw it across the shop. Looked for 20 minutes or so gave up and my wife found it after asking her to help in like 1 min lol. Note how that small front pillar hold down mounts.

 

[Moparfiend]

Scotty we need more vacuum! We’re giving it all we can captan!

 

[Moparfiend]

Someone commented a while back on converting the Sport Satellite to a GTX or Roadrunner. That’s antithetical to what I am trying to accomplish here with my car.
Chrysler used platforming before it is was called platforming to save money. The Belvedere was a great example of this. Using the same car across many models saved them a lot of money compared to GM. It let them compete with a smaller design budget.

The concept here doesn’t deviate from platform design it just changes what was already being used in configuration. Why Chrysler called a model “Sport” and using the 318 is not only odd but takes away from the actual meaning. The Satellite was optioned in a 318 and rarely a 383 and even more rarely in a 426. However most Sport Satellites were a standard 318. No performance cam nothing. Yet they called it and badged it a “Sport”. Why wasn’t the Sport model optioned with the available 340? To me that would have been my insistence if I was in the room. It would have differentiated itself from the standard Satellite and the Roadrunner as neither was optioned with a 340. The Air Grabber hood was within the platform availability as well.

So I took the action to build the 1970 Sport Satellite the way I think it should have been built as if I was there and was leading the design team. Not trying to clone a Roadrunner but make a Sport Satellite worthy of its name.

 

[Moparfiend]

Well I installed a Progression Distributor because I was having a hard time tuning the motor and torque converter combination. This wasn’t in the plan since I purchased a new MSD billet Distributor MSD6AL and remote variable timing control unit.

I have to say I don’t think it would have been possible to tune this set up without it. I now have a decent idle and a slight drop of a 150 - 200 RPM idle from in gear to out of gear. The transition is actually surprisingly smooth. The carb is now well tuned for idle and behaves well on the road. This Progression Distributor made this job actually fun. You can change the timing anywhere on the fly in a non linear way if needed. Balancing the timing the main throttle, secondary throttle and mixture was needed. Very surprised but pleased at the result.
I have only optimized Idle and tip in. Will be tuning for cruse and wot as I get time.

This is my latest curve.

 

[Moparfiend]

Restoring stainless is extremely gratifying. Especially when it says Detroit! This little piece of stainless I believe add not only edge protection but also a good look imo. Wondering if this door edge trim was even used on only the GTX and Sport Satellite trim? Not sure I’ve seen these on RoadRunners.

 

[Don67Satellite]

Car is looking great!

Satellites need love too.

I am sure you will enjoy the Progression Ignition. It has been flawless here so far.

 

[Moparfiend]

Thank you. Yes the Progression Distributor/Ignition system enables me to bump the timing at such small intervals I am able to finally tune for a really comparable idle both in and out of gear at idle. Can’t do this with any other ignition system that I am aware of. Really pleased so far with it.

 

[Moparfiend]

All the door seals are in as well as whiskers. It’s certainly the process. Door seals use the integrated plastic clips no adhesive. The roof rail seal also doesn’t use adhesive. The trunk seal does use adhesive and using contact cement makes it a very effective way to attach.

 

[Moparfiend]

Getting ready to tackle the interior and install a hood. Mechanicals are coming along. Good idle achieved with the Progression Distributor. Kick-down fine tuning underway. May need increase throttle pressure in the trans possibly. But dam that distributor is really nice. More to come on how I am mapping it.

Hanging parts requires more wire than the eye can see here in order to properly stabilize the parts from moving while spraying. Waiting for flash now to start clear. Going out for beer and cheeseburgers so I have to press on and hit my process windows asap.

SPI Epoxy Primer, Wanda base and SPI Universal Clear.

 

[Moparfiend]

Ah life is like a big *** hood hinge. It’s up and down and often creaks as it gets older.