1974 Roadrunner 360 Sunroof KB5 Blue

[EccentricMagpies]

i don't know if it's an 8 1/4 or 8 3/4. I honestly don't know a lot about mopars and it's been to cold to crawl under there and see. Did I say 8 1/4 at some point or give info that says it has one? Steve only said they took the sure grip out and put in the open parts. I interpret that as having the original rear end in there but with different gears... I'm not sure. I did look online and found pictures so once it warms up I'll crawl under and look to see what it is.

i live in Coon Rapids. It's a northern suburb of Minneapois if you didn't know. Where are you from?

Oh.. I'm sorry. I must have mis-read something somewhere.
Go here to ID your rear-end.
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/axle/6.html

I work in Mounds View, so kind of close by... but live in Menomonie. I know... long commute.

 

[Root2812]

That is quite the commute. Good thing gas is so cheap right now.

Thanks for the link. Ill let you know what I find.

 

[dodge1972]

Just a quick followup regarding sun roof and rear end

I have a spare sunroof and parts, a good friend rebuilds sunroofs to include seals. I have the gears and cables. Purchased for $300 on ebay several years ago for my 74 charger send Pm is interested in name and number for my friend View attachment 306977

 

[Root2812]

Dodge1972, I'm glad you posted. I'll definitely be needing help with the sun roof when it warms up. Ill let you know when I'm ready. I'm not sure what parts are missing yet but I know the crank bezel is missing. I can feel gears slip so I am sure I'll need cables and gears. Probably more too. If it's getting fixed I'd do the new seals too. I hate leaks.

 

[Root2812]

After looking under the car I can say that its got an 8 3/4 rear end.

 

[gyxffyg]

Congrats. Very nice car. I have not seen that color much and like it a lot.

 

[Root2812]

Well I have someone's build sheet but it's not mine. I pulled the back seat to get the build sheet the other day but it was in bad shape. Last night I got around to piecing it together and saw it was for another car. The seat must have been swapped at some point. Not a big deal but a little disappointing.

 

[dodge1972]

1973 Road Runner

Good news you have a 83/4. You have all the best options. If your not receiving Mopar magazines sign up for Mopar Muscle, Mopar Action and Mopar Collectors Guild. Real good articles and photos also sources for parts. Keep us posted on your progress. This is the location to find individuals who car about your hobby.

Well I have someone's build sheet but it's not mine. I pulled the back seat to get the build sheet the other day but it was in bad shape. Last night I got around to piecing it together and saw it was for another car. The seat must have been swapped at some point. Not a big deal but a little disappointing.

 

[YY1]

It appears to me that the line workers simply grabbed a seat that matched what their copy of the build sheet called for without checking the sheet inside the seat they grabbed.

It's quite common to find a sheet for a different car with the same interior. I have two that way.

Fortunately for the car that matters, I also have the correct sheet. It was under the front seat.

 

[Root2812]

Good news you have a 83/4. You have all the best options. If your not receiving Mopar magazines sign up for Mopar Muscle, Mopar Action and Mopar Collectors Guild. Real good articles and photos also sources for parts. Keep us posted on your progress. This is the location to find individuals who car about your hobby.

Thanks for the tips. Those enthusiast magazines are always a fun read. I agree the car has all the right options. I kinda wish that the last owner hadn't pulled the limited slip out and put in that open rear. He told me the pinion bearing was bad or something so they swapped in a 3rd member into the 8 3/4 that they had laying around. After I bought the car I learned that so I'll probably add limited slip at some point. I like that its (in my opinion) a drivers car. Built with the biggest small block, power breaks, and power steering. I plan on auto crossing the car some so all that helped sway me to buy it. There are only a few options that I would have gotten had I bought it new but I knew I wouldn't find one with everything. I might add the hood pins and the go wing just for fun.

It appears to me that the line workers simply grabbed a seat that matched what their copy of the build sheet called for without checking the sheet inside the seat they grabbed.

It's quite common to find a sheet for a different car with the same interior. I have two that way.

Fortunately for the car that matters, I also have the correct sheet. It was under the front seat.

Good to know. I will check under the other seats for the build sheet.


So no one chimed in on what I should insure the car for so I just picked what I will have in it when it hit the road this spring. The value on this car is so hard to pin point. One day I wonder if I over paid and the next I think it was a deal, either way I paid what I felt comfortable paying and I like the car. I guess that's the true value of it. Just so you guys know, and maybe you'll tell me what you think, I paid $7300 for the car. 73-74 chargers are really common here but the roadrunners are uncommon and that's what I wanted. When one does come up its either complete junk for $5000 and full of rust or all done for $15,000+. Occasionally one in the middle pops up but they are usually very unoriginal and often patched work back together. Minnesota rust was hard on them. So all that considered and my car being a nice optioned car I paid the $7300 to get a driver with nearly zero rust. The swapped tranny was the only real disappointment since I was lead to believe the car was all numbers matching. Anyway, $900 shipping later and it was mine at $8200 total. Tax, title, license, tires, and odds and ends I should be on the road under $9000. So... overpaid maybe, happy yes. Cars like this just don't exist here anymore.

 

[4spd65]

Great project!! Ironic that you want to change the steering wheel to, " one with a road runner on the horn button" since with the A88 interior décor package in 74`on Road Runner, the car came with Deluxe Steering Wheel w/ Road Runner Medallion! Good idea not to force open the sunroof. If for whatever reason you have the K member out, don't forget about Firm Feel`s mounts, quite a difference! Thanks for all the photos @ info, Super color combo, plus sunroof! Best of luck.

 

[EccentricMagpies]

I would say you paid a fair price on the car. Not over paid or a steal. Just my thought.

The fact that the motor has been redone and runs great helps. Not to mention the sunroof

You are right. You just cannot find solid cars in this area.

 

[Root2812]

I would say you paid a fair price on the car. Not over paid or a steal. Just my thought.

The fact that the motor has been redone and runs great helps. Not to mention the sunroof

You are right. You just cannot find solid cars in this area.

Sorry it took me so long to get back online and post. Thanks for the comment. My motor isn't redone but the tranny supposedly was. The engine does run good though. I have spent some more time looking over the car and I have only found rust in a few small areas. The trunk has some pin holes here and there. I am not sure if they can be patched or if it will need a new trunk floor. The rest of the floors look good. The only other rust other than surface rust is the typical lower quarter behind the wheel area and a little bit in front of the wheel. I have seen the lower rear patch panels but not the ones for in front of the rear wheels. The rust is minor enough that we could possibly make them.

It finally warmed up around here and I was able to clean the garage enough to get the car inside so some work should start soon.

 

[Echothunder]

Dude... Great car.. love the looks of this car.. it has its own style and will always be a head turner..

Great story!!! I enjoy reading these kinds of story... gives a life history to the car and the emotions involved that we all build attachment..
Good on ya for finding it all out.. good luck with the project enjoy!!!!

Thanks for the great read.

 

[Root2812]

Thanks Echothunder. I love to find out the back story on old cars, its fun. I think Stacey David called it "automotive archeology" on one of his episodes when he was tearing a car down and finding clues about its past life.


So this weekend I went to the Minneapolis Auto Show because its an easy way to car shop. No salesmen and all makes under one roof. My wife is looking for a new SUV... While we were there I saw a new challenger in a modern version of B5. Maybe it was the fluorescent lights but it did not look good at all. That has me thinking of other colors... Not sure, probably stick with blue anyway but definitely thought provoking.

When I got home I put the spare tire on the car because it had a flat. The rims that came on my car are the ugliest things I ever saw but the spare was a factory rally wheel. The rally wheel made a night and day difference. I am going to have to get a set.

Then came the bad news. Like any old car you are bound to have to fix someone else's mistakes. I knew the engine had a leak form at least one valve cover. I went to go take a closer look and it looks like they over tightened the bolts and snapped two off in the head. No wonder it was leaking. I know the last owner put in a rebuilt tranny and he told me he had a leak from the pan gasket. Who wants to bet all those bolts are over tightened and the pan is deformed?

 

[YY1]

This is a GREAT resource for factory 1970-1974 colors, and clearly illustrates the difference in iterations of popular colors like "B5" blue.

This is why that first letter is important, as you can see EB5, GB5, and KB5 are all quite different.

http://www.aarta.com/challenger_colors/challenger_colors.html

 

[gyxffyg]

Don't give up on finding your build sheet. I have read about some people finding 2 or even 3 build sheets in one car. After looking in all the usual places for the build sheet for my 73 Satellite, I found it this weekend under the carpet, and under the drivers seat, bolted to the floor. Yep, it had a bolt through the middle of the paper. Could be anywhere.

 

[Root2812]

Don't give up on finding your build sheet. I have read about some people finding 2 or even 3 build sheets in one car. After looking in all the usual places for the build sheet for my 73 Satellite, I found it this weekend under the carpet, and under the drivers seat, bolted to the floor. Yep, it had a bolt through the middle of the paper. Could be anywhere.

I will keep looking. I am getting some free tires from my dad so I'll have what I need to get on the road. He is a few hours away so it will be at least until after Easter before I can get them. Its March anyway so no hurry to get the car out in the salty roads. In the next few weeks I want to fix my broken bolts in the head and start servicing everything so I can trust the car. Once its road worthy I am going to start interior and I'll keep my eyes pealed for that build sheet.

I am pretty broke so the name of the game will be budget. This years goal is to get mechanicals squared away, new carpet, and find as many used plastics as I can that can be dyed white. I may do a little paint. I need to rebuild the hinges since the doors sag so bad and since the doors will be off I want to paint the jambs.

I have a few questions for you guys. So my car had the sure grip stolen out of it by the previous owner and he put in this open differential. I have casually been keeping my eyes open for a replacement and I saw some on craigslist but I also heard that some can't be rebuilt. How can I tell a rebuildable one from a non-rebuildable one? I don't want to spend hundreds on someone else's junk. Also I know where there are 3 71-74 chargers in a junk yard. I never looked close enough before to know what year. They are a little sunk into the ground now but is there a way to tell if one has a sure grip if I can't spin a wheel or get under the car? I assume the fender tag won't tell me anything...

- - - Updated - - -

This is a GREAT resource for factory 1970-1974 colors, and clearly illustrates the difference in iterations of popular colors like "B5" blue.

This is why that first letter is important, as you can see EB5, GB5, and KB5 are all quite different.

http://www.aarta.com/challenger_colors/challenger_colors.html

This year I am going to go to car shows and pay special attention to those blues. Something inside tells me to keep it original blue but I have seen some pictures on this board and on google that make me think otherwise. It will be a hard choice.

 

[YY1]

KB5 has a little green in it making it a bit on the turquoise side. I personally love it, but I also like the others.

741 and 742 cases (pre-1970-ish) generally have a clutch style SG, which is more easily rebuildable.

489 cases (70-ish and newer) generally have cone style, which can possibly be reconditioned, or possibly not.

72 and up sure grip cars are kind of far apart.

I'd start by learning the axle package fender tag codes.
(note that the harder to decipher Lynch Road tags do in fact list the axle package)
(also note that IIRC an SG could be ordered without an axle "package" and may not appear on the tag I'm sure we'll hear otherwise if that is not correct)

Of course there's no guarantee that what it was built with is still in it.

 

[Root2812]

Not a glorious update but something none the less. I wanted to get something for the car and what's a Roadrunner without its beep beep. It arrived and I hooked it up today, quick easy project!



YY1, I'll have to see what case I have in the car now but maybe I should just go with an aftermarket limited slip and put it in my case. I'll look up those axle codes like you suggest and then see what those junk yard cars say. I did check under my bucket seats and no build sheet yet. I'll keep looking.