1972 Roadrunner Restoration

[plymouthman72]

Yes, very nice work, how did you go about cleaning up your lines? Something I will have to be doing shortly.

I used 4'' wire wheels designed for a grinder as well as polycarbide wheels for the same (Both at Harbor Freight). I was very careful to not apply any real pressure so I didn't damage the lines. The wire wheel worked really well with the brake hose because it has the spring type protector going all the way around it. After I was done, I lightly sanded them with some 500 grit sand paper, then clear coated them. I am sure there is probably a much more efficient way to do it but it worked well enough for me.

 

[Charger72]

Thanks for taking the time to responds, I think I will be using a similar approach.

 

[747mopar]

Nice!!

 

[plymouthman72]

The car is still in the body shop and I am optimistically hoping that it will be done by October/November. While its away, I have just been buying/stockpiling parts and fixing what I can. I recently had my rear end rebuilt and had 3.55 gear put in. My plan is to eventually go with a gear vendors unit so it will be best of both worlds. I have been prepping it for paint the last few days and now that its painted, I am going to put it back together. I also got a rear disc brake kit from right stuff and it looks pretty solid to me. I won't know how they work until I finally get her up and running though.

Before:

Brake fitting

After.

I also made my own little paint booth and I doubt I will be winning any awards on it, it does the job well enough. I also put a think house air filter to pick up all the over spray so my neighbors don't turn me in Ha!

 

[plymouthman72]

Well I finally got the rear disc brakes put in and the suspension put back on. I didn't realize I had to weld new brake line brackets until after I painted but if I had read the full directions, I would have known. All in all, I think it turned out pretty well. My right side bracket is slightly lower but no one will notice the difference. I also had to cut the brake lines and flair them.

 

[plymouthman72]

 

[tallhair]

I'm enjoying your build thread and looking forward to all those restored parts going back in the car.

 

[plymouthman72]

I'm enjoying your build thread and looking forward to all those restored parts going back in the car.

Thank you for the kind words. I can not tell you how much I am looking forward and excited I am to eventually put those parts back in the car! I want to drive it so bad.

 

[plymouthman72]

It's been a pretty rough week for me. I started a new job which was hard enough but I also got the car soda blasted and the results are much worse than anything I was expecting. I knew it was not great but she was hiding some nasty secrets. Every panel is going to need something. Needs quarters, trunk pan, front left frame rail is rusted and cracked, right is twisted, a pillar work, Dutchman panel, trunk gutters, front and rear valances and in sure more. Honestly, I feel I'm at the point of just letting every thing go and cutting my losses. My body guy is saying there is about 45000 in work to be done and its just not worth that. I also don't have the room at home to do it properly. I am just feeling defeated now and not sure what to do now.

 

[rrTor-Red]

Sorry to hear your misfortunes, plymouthman72. I can only imagine what you feel like. That is some serious rust issues to deal with on that car. I would probably have to throw the towel in and call it a day. If you do, you can sell those parts to try and recoup your loss yet. I know if it was me and I was selling parts of my car or the whole thing, I'd be shedding a tear as it went. Yea, I said shedding a tear.

 

[plymouthman72]

Sorry to hear your misfortunes, plymouthman72. I can only imagine what you feel like. That is some serious rust issues to deal with on that car. I would probably have to throw the towel in and call it a day. If you do, you can sell those parts to try and recoup your loss yet. I know if it was me and I was selling parts of my car or the whole thing, I'd be shedding a tear as it went. Yea, I said shedding a tear.

Trust me, it has been gut wrenching going through this process. However, after thinking about it, I think the guy I took it too didn't want to do the car anyways so he was trying to get me to take it. I am going to do as much as I can and take it to someone else to have them finish her out. I care to much to give up on it and this has been my dream since I was a little kid. I can't throw in the towel now!

 

[Dibbons]

quote from post #69:
"My body guy is saying there is about 45000 in work to be done and its just not worth that."

I hope that is a typo and you mean to say 4,500.00 not 45,000.00.

 

[plymouthman72]

quote from post #69:
"My body guy is saying there is about 45000 in work to be done and its just not worth that."

I hope that is a typo and you mean to say 4,500.00 not 45,000.00.

I sure wish I was but no he said 45k total including paint.

 

[Dibbons]

You could buy two or three complete, finished cars for that much.

 

[Robliepse]

Take a look at my thread on just found serious rust in my frame rails. My pain trickled in month by month. I'm ending up with one hell of a nice car but if I had to do it again I would have found a nice Sattelite and built a restomod for 1.2 the money. Don't let emotions over ride reality. I believe the $45k for a turnkey rebuild and paint is very realistic. Body shop time and parts start adding up really fast. The next issue is every part you have now won't be nice enough to put on the freshly restored car. Bumpers will need rechromed, stainless polished out, tires? Wheels, the list goes on and on.

 

[moparnation74]

Bryan

Do not give up just yet my friend! Hopefully, the right place for this car is currently being narrowed down for you! It has some cancer areas of course but the car is restore-able and not a throw away item...Sure there is a cost associated but I think "new" certain choices will be in the right budget range for you!

Your new Dallas friend!

Justin

 

[plymouthman72]

Thanks Justin, after thinking about it over the week, I have decided to continue on with the car. I got many other opinions and like you, everyone I have talked to has said this is a very savable car and that everything I have is "typical" for a mopar this age. I have decided on a new body shop (The same one you used) and I am taking the car to them today.

In reality, the guy I originally took the car to kind of bleeped me over. He quoted the car by the job and once he saw it, he did not like what he saw and wanted out. I know I could have forced him to fix it as his contract said he would fix "all" rust but he didn't want to and told me it wasn't worth saving in his opinion. He obviously was not worth paying to fix my car either.

What really hisses me off is that he left my car out after taking it to bare metal and put fabric on top of it along with a tarp. Now it has to be cleaned up again. Lesson for me is you get what you pay for and in this business even that is not always the case.

I wish I was at a point where I could say I was doing all the work myself but I just don't have the time to body and paint. My new shop should have it back in 4-6 months and I can start putting it back together. To say I am stoked would be a massive understatement. Thanks for helping me out, I really appreciate it!

Stay tuned for pictures!

 

[moparnation74]

Bryan

Glad to hear it is heading to a familiar place No doubt the quality and craftsmanship will be top notch and they will meet your deadline and goals

On a side note if you need a hand whatsoever during assembly or tools...You are welcome to anything I am not using.....As far as an extra hand I am here as well!

Any thoughts on swinging by this week?

Justin

 

[rrTor-Red]

I had a shop look at my car and quoted me $30,000 for paint and body . We're talking about a car that had VERY little rust on it. The same shop told me that it would be another $10-$15 K for parts. This is BEFORE I decided to tear my car down to just the body myself, then sourcing out what I couldn't do. Oh and the parts? I had/have all of the parts mine came with. AGAIN

 

[Dibbons]

Read this (painting car on a budget):

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/painting-a-rust-free-car-1972-ssp-in-mexico.93655/