1970 Road Runner Resto back to Plum Crazy

[moparsteve636]

man that is the worst rear window panel I've ever seen!!!

 

[roadrunnerman]

That car looked good in the photo's b4 your dad took it down to bare metal. I'm kinda shocked that the window channel was really that bad. It's like comparing a movie actress on the big screen she looks like a million bucks, but when you take the make-up off,that's a whole nother story.

 

[PlumcrazyRR]

Yea, it is amazing what some good bondo work and paint can hide. I was just surprised as everyone else when I saw that.

- - - Updated - - -

Go read my Media Blasting thread here on fbbo, I've seen this happen too many times first hand; that is the owner puts his heart into the car, trusting a person/shop to do the work needed/required, money is exchanged, some work is done, perhaps and too often not done too well, or as good as it could have been done. There is no other result other than frustration, anger, and ill-will! To be blunt and honest and frank with you, pictures tell 1000 words, and, frankly, these pictures scream rookie, novice and aimlessness, and lack of planning. I'm only saying this to be professional, and not personal as too often BBS rants turn into (one of the many reasons I love fbbo, that crap isn't here). You need to get this car in the hands of professionals asap. To sand like this and NOT take off the doors, and even fenders, let alone leaving the door handles on and turn signal lamps installed is absolutely unforgivable! There is NO 'cheap' or fast way to do this sort of work. You're going to hate yourself after. Media blasting will find weak areas of metal that hand sanding never will, and the mess, omg, what a mess! Send the mess to the blaster. I tend to this mess every 3 months or so cleaning out my dust collector, but, that's my lane, and my lane will deliver super clean, rust free, paint and filler free metal! It may be junk metal, but, it's clean, and you know where you stand!

I talked to my Dad and everything is being taken off and taken care of. She is going to be done right. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Propwash]

It's like comparing a movie actress on the big screen she looks like a million bucks, but when you take the make-up off,that's a whole nother story.

I hear ya Roger. Kinda like Alicia Silverstone:

 

[roadrunnerman]

Thanks will, I used to have the hots for her but now I have rethink my taste in movie stars.

 

[PlumcrazyRR]

Well, I will finally get to see my baby that I have been dropping all of this money into next week. My year here in Korea is coming to an end and I cannot wait to finally see my RR with my own eyes and hear the roar of that 440. That will make all of this money spent well worth it and I will be able to finally do some of the work myself on her. With the help of the great people in this forum I have learned so much about my car and I cannot wait to put that newfound knowledge to the test. And do not worry, there will be plenty of pics coming soon, probably next weekend.

 

[Ron 73]

A little hands on will make this a more fun project for you to complete, Sounds like you'll be home soon. Good luck with that and i thank you for your service..

 

[roadrunnerman]

Glad to hear you are coming back. Yea, we all wonder why we put all that money into a car but that feeling goes away the moment the engine fires up for the first time. Hope you get us lots of pictures and some of Korea also would be cool.

 

[Donny]

Yeah, enjoy that long flight from Seoul!

 

[tallhair]

Looking forward to your new pics!

 

[PlumcrazyRR]

Thanks guys. Yea, I love working on cars! Been doing it ever since I was a little kid helping my Dad with his cars. That has been the thing that has been killing me with being stationed overseas the many, many years that I have. Now that I will be back in the States with a garage again, let the fun begin. And yes Donny, that flight from Korea all the way back home to Florida is a long and unpleasant one.

 

[Donny]

Best way I coped with that flight the four times I've made it was to pass out off a few drinks!

 

[PlumcrazyRR]

Well, I made it back to the States. I have been working on the interior pieces and cleaning up and painting all the front and rear seat tracks and pieces. Seems like every lens on her is cracked with the exception of the taillight lens. The more she gets torn apart, the more I see how bad she had been treated. Just glad I own her now and can put her back into the shape she deserves. Tore out the fuel lines and brake lines, ordered them the other day as well as started on all the re-wiring, which is a disaster. Luckily the Air Force has spent a significant amount of time and money on training me how to work on and troubleshoot electronics. And for the bad, the engine in it is a 1974 440, which sounds pretty damn good, but I would prefer to have a year proper 383 or 440, so time to search for that. The body work is getting pretty close to being finished now. Quite a bit more to repair than what I would have thought. There were definitely quite a few pin hole spots that showed after the treatment was applied. Looks like I will be waiting until I get to Oklahoma before I get everything re-chromed. Hoping to have her painted and start going back together by the end of the month, but we will see. Time to get back on it. Hope everyone is having a great week.

 

[Basket case]

Thank You for your service, and glad you made it home/ good luck with the build.

 

[Chris]

that car will be awesome. Enjoy the proccess and keep us posted with the pics.

btw,

If it hasen't been said thank you for your service

 

[tallhair]

Well, I made it back to the States. ...edited ... Hoping to have her painted and start going back together by the end of the month, but we will see. Time to get back on it. Hope everyone is having a great week.

Glad to hear you are back and finally able to see your car. Good luck with it, welcome home, and i'm glad you are back with your family!

 

[roadrunnerman]

Glad you made it back. Now you can relax while you are working on your car. Thank you for all you have done for country and us.

 

[PlumcrazyRR]

Sorry I have completely disappeared for so long. After my month of leave and non-stop working on my car I had to report into work. And it has been crazy setting up my new house and getting settled into my job. I am starting to get settled in, but still pretty crazy busy. I had to leave my baby (Roadrunner) with my Dad in Florida as she was not ready to bring with me to Oklahoma yet. She should be getting primered up this weekend, fingers crossed. As soon as my Dad is able to send me some new pics, I will post them up here. I have a few pics from right before I left of the car that I will put up. These were taken right before we took off the front fenders and the windshield. That was one of my last projects (and there were many) right before I left. I really wish I would have taken more pics of stuff as I was doing it, but I was so damn busy trying to get as much done as I could, it completely slipped my mind. Sorry guys. About the only things I have left to track down now are a 1970 440 and a 1970 A-833 for her. I decided to go with the 440 instead of settling for a 383. I am hoping for her to be painted by the first week of May and hopefully start going back together and be completed, well she will never really be completed, by the end of May as long as I find the motor and tranny by then. I have a trip planned for Memorial Day weekend to head to Florida for a week and hopefully she will be ready to come back to Oklahoma with me when I leave.

 

[PlumcrazyRR]

Just a little update since it has been forever. Had to put my resto on hold for a little while due to some family and financial issues. Very long story. It is starting to come back together now. I now have the correct 1970 A-833 for the car, but am missing the pistol grip, shifter, and shifter linkage. I found and bought a 1970 440 six pack motor. Another long story here. Short story, either the shipping company stole the heads and cam during shipping or the seller never shipped them out. That and the valve covers and oil pan were very dented. Still fighting that battle right now. The motor has been dipped and cleaned and is going to be sent to the machine shop at the end of the month to start the build regardless of all of all this nonsense going on. Between that and the guy that sold me the car, I have very little trust in people anymore. As the motor build progresses, I am sure I will have questions and I will be seeking out parts to include exhaust manifolds. But most of that stuff is going to have to wait until the money is there. Unfortunately nobody told me when I joined the Air Force that I wouldn't be making tons of money. Lol.

All of the body work is done on the car now. Just waiting for the motor to be closer to complete before I have them throw the paint on, so I don't have to stress out about it getting scratched while it is sitting there waiting for the motor. I got my bumpers back from Ogden Chrome and they look amazing! Those guys are top notch. My last trip back to Florida during Thanksgiving I spent about two weeks cleaning up and restoring parts, so I wouldn't have to buy repro or look for new stuff. I wish I would have taken more pics and documented some of the stuff better, but I was really busy and wasn't really thinking about it at the time. I will look through my phone later tomorrow to see if I have anything on it.

Well, there is a little update. Life has happened as it always does, but I will strive on and will not give up.

 

[snakeyes]

wow things that happen sorry to hear them but a lest you have your car it will take time but will be worth the wait and we are not going anywhere we will wait :headbang: