1972 Roadrunner Restoration

[plymouthman72]

So I have a question, I thought I read somewhere on here that you could have your door VIN tage remade if you could prove the car belonged to you. I would like to do this when ever I have the car fully repainted. Does anyone know where the information to do that is? Does it cost a ton to do? I still have my original one in the door but really dont want to paint around it if I don't have too. The same question goes for the stickers in the trunk as well.

 

[plymouthman72]

BTW thanks for all your questions along the way and I apologize if I ask a redundant question. I do try and find them before I ask but sometimes I come up short.

 

[arveeotto]

http://www.ecsvin.com/

 

[Charger72]

Keep up the excellent work!

 

[rrTor-Red]

So I have a question, I thought I read somewhere on here that you could have your door VIN tage remade if you could prove the car belonged to you. I would like to do this when ever I have the car fully repainted. Does anyone know where the information to do that is? Does it cost a ton to do? I still have my original one in the door but really dont want to paint around it if I don't have too. The same question goes for the stickers in the trunk as well.

http://www.ecsautomotive.com


ECS has them. Take a good photo of the door VIN, know where it is originally on car, and send them one in email. They won't make one without a copy. Myself, try to take the original off as a whole and retain it. As a rule of thumb, I'd keep at least one copy for myself. They make all kinds of decals, even trunk. Same with trunk, take a picture to know where the location is

 

[plymouthman72]

http://www.ecsautomotive.com


ECS has them. Take a good photo of the door VIN, know where it is originally on car, and send them one in email. They won't make one without a copy. Myself, try to take the original off as a whole and retain it. As a rule of thumb, I'd keep at least one copy for myself. They make all kinds of decals, even trunk. Same with trunk, take a picture to know where the location is

The door one is in perfect shape so if I can keep I will and that $125 can go somewhere else. The trunk might me a little bit of a problem...... It was taken off back in the 80's

 

[plymouthman72]

I am going to be taking the engine out this weekend but not exactly sure how to go about it. When my dad did it all those years ago, I remember he put two bolts on each side of the engine and used a comealong connected to the support beam in the garage. I have a 2 ton engine crane so I am good there but not sure the method of where to bolt it on the block and what size/grade the stud bolts need to be. I suppose I could wrap the chain all the way around? I am sure there is a right way to do this with out killing myself.

 

[rrTor-Red]

The door one is in perfect shape so if I can keep I will and that $125 can go somewhere else. The trunk might me a little bit of a problem...... It was taken off back in the 80's

Tape the VIN REAL good then. As far as the trunk, I've seen survivors with the decal in different positions as long as it was on the trunk lid

 

[rrTor-Red]

I am going to be taking the engine out this weekend but not exactly sure how to go about it. When my dad did it all those years ago, I remember he put two bolts on each side of the engine and used a comealong connected to the support beam in the garage. I have a 2 ton engine crane so I am good there but not sure the method of where to bolt it on the block and what size/grade the stud bolts need to be. I suppose I could wrap the chain all the way around? I am sure there is a right way to do this with out killing myself.

Bolt it to the head bolts. Grade 8 would work if you need hardware.

 

[plymouthman72]

Tape the VIN REAL good then. As far as the trunk, I've seen survivors with the decal in different positions as long as it was on the trunk lid

I see where the sticky part was in the trunk so I know the location (btw they just slapped those things in there lol) but I cant take a picture for reproduction. I truthfully am not even sure what that sticker looks like. I am not a stickler for original but just think those kinds of details are cool.

 

[plymouthman72]

I didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted but got some parts stored. I got the front headlight assembly off and some parts repainted/cleaned. I have 4 months to get the car to a shell so it can be taken in for body work and paint. I have been losing a ton of sleep with the excitement! I never thought I would be able to get to this point. Just wish I could do it myself. I still have more than enough to fix up and fix though. Thank goodness my grill is in good shape. I know most of this won't be seen but I can at least know it's done and protected.

Some repainting:

Before & After

 

[plymouthman72]

So after working getting everything out, I have a few issues. I had to get creative and cut a few rusted bumper bolts out and some gaskets have disintegrated.

Does anyone know where I can get the black gaskets that go over the headlights? I don't know the techinal name for it but my passenger side is pretty much gone. I found the square gaskets that go under the light but it looks like there is some kind of cover that goes in the valance area. Does anybody know where I can find those items? Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I will be needing a new bumper as mine is bent from my brothers accident but at least I will be getting a cool wall decoration out of it!

 

[rrTor-Red]

So after working getting everything out, I have a few issues. I had to get creative and cut a few rusted bumper bolts out and some gaskets have disintegrated.

Does anyone know where I can get the black gaskets that go over the headlights? I don't know the techinal name for it but my passenger side is pretty much gone. I found the square gaskets that go under the light but it looks like there is some kind of cover that goes in the valance area. Does anybody know where I can find those items? Thanks for the help. Unfortunately, I will be needing a new bumper as mine is bent from my brothers accident but at least I will be getting a cool wall decoration out of it!

Gaskets- www.detroitmuscletechnologies.com Jim is AWESOME.

Also, take PLENTY of pictures for reference AND to re-install. Also, to help out anyone else as well

 

[plymouthman72]

Gaskets- www.detroitmuscletechnologies.com Jim is AWESOME.

Also, take PLENTY of pictures for reference AND to re-install. Also, to help out anyone else as well

Oh... I definitely am! I probably take at least 15 pictures of each thing because I know I will forget. And if I have 2 of something, I make sure to leave the 2nd one untouched so I can see how the 1st goes back together. Even then, I still never have enough pictures haha.

 

[plymouthman72]

Not much of an update but I have been working on the grill. It's extremely time consuming (as most everything is) but I think it is turning out well. Just have 2 more pieces to go. It's darker than the Argent silver it came with but I really like the lighter metal grey I went with. I think it will look good with the chrome and orange.

 

[plymouthman72]

I finally finished my grill and am very happy with how it turned out. It's not perfect but it's close enough for me. The few blemishes are towards the back and Noone will ever see them. I can not wait for the day until it goes back on the car.

 

[plymouthman72]

I hope everyone on here had an enjoyable and safe Memorial Day.

I got a lot done this weekend on the car in terms of disassembly. I took the engine and transmission out, the rest of the interior, and the side glass out. Out of all of that, the side glass was easily the hardest, the screws were rusted so bad I had to drill most of them out. I did find some replacements at Lowes which is on the 71-4 thread. She is definitely getting easier to push around.

I'm not exactly sure what they were thinking here. I see why so many of these cars rust in the cowl. It's set up to be a pool in there.

I wanted to take both out together but I didn't have the room so I did the next best thing. It was close enough as it was.

Overall I am extremely pleased thus far. Minus some body panels there has been minimal rust so far and the frame rails, while dented, do not have any rust and can be fixed pretty easily. At least the body guya says it can. I don't have the tools to fix it myself.

I hope to have it completely stripped by the end of the month and make it a rolling shell.

Question. What all parts of the suspension can I take off and still keep it a roller? The guy I'm taking it to said he will take the suspension off when he puts it on the rotisserie but to take everything I can off.

 

[rrTor-Red]

You can take everything off and give the body guy just the shell. Put body dollies on the four corners of the car and it will roll. That's what I did

 

[plymouthman72]

So I had a fun weekend working on the car and am just now getting around to posting.

I finished removing the power booster, brake lines and took off the torsion bars.

Does anyone have any idea where you can find the brake lines that go from the master cylinder to the distribution valve? Corrosion ruined mine but the lines going everywhere else are great, just needs a good cleaning.

I didnt actually need to use the vice grips. I was amazed at how easy the torsion bars came out. I didn't scratch em at all.

This leads me to another question, after 44 years should I replace those or do they ever "go bad"? Never seemed to have an issue with them.

Now that I removed the shocks and torsion bars, she has become a low rida! I have to say I kind of like it! The car looks a lot longer!

This is kind of a cool nugget for me. This is the first time a rallye wheel has been put on the car since the day after it was bought. I really love the rallye rims.

View attachment 344061

 

[plymouthman72]

As I pull all the parts off the car and store them, I can easily see why so many people start projects, don't finish them, then sell them later. There are just so many parts and items that need to be replaced, it gets extremely overwhelming when you know you have to replace so many things.... and remember how to put them back where they went.

Thankfully I have a future spouse that is extremely encouraging and reminds me how therapeutic the hobby is and how awesome its going to be once its finished.

I hope to have it finished for the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2018.