68 RM23 Roadrunner, The rebuild of an old friend

[hunt2elk]

Glass looks great, wish I had the patience to do that. Might as well wait a bit before making the final adjustments. When you get the motor and drivetrain in the car, I'll bet you need to fine tune the door adjustment. I piddled around getting the doors and glass set perfect when on rollers just like you have only to find out they needed to be redone with the weight on the wheels.

 

[HawkRod]

Passenger side glass in and adjusted pretty close, all original. Will wait to finalize everything until after the whiskers and drip gasket are in. Whiskers should be here in two weeks.
Driver side glass on the way.

View attachment 1193892

This has nothing to do with the glass (besides the fact I remember adjusting the glass and vent window to be a pain in the arse), but I just love looking at pictures of your car with the paint. It just looks super and I'd love to see it outside in person some day. This is going to be a very nice car!

Keep up the good work!

Hawk

 

[Runner 68]

Glass looks great, wish I had the patience to do that. Might as well wait a bit before making the final adjustments. When you get the motor and drivetrain in the car, I'll bet you need to fine tune the door adjustment. I piddled around getting the doors and glass set perfect when on rollers just like you have only to find out they needed to be redone with the weight on the wheels.

Thanks Elk. To be sure, that glass isn't perfect, looks pretty damned good for 53 years old though.
Not too worried about the adjustments. Between the frame rail connectors and torque boxes this car does not flex. I have had it up and down several times in various configurations of stands, jacks and carts and the body does not move.
Right now on the cart it's only sitting on 3 casters due to the unevenness of the floor.

 

[Runner 68]

The front rims showed up today. Trying to determine if they're keepers or not. Kind of hard to do without having the tires mounted up.
American Racing Torq Thrust M. 17x8, 4.5" BS. 245/45/17 tires currently planned. I wish Nitto had a 50 series in the tire I want but they don't.
Opinions welcome.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I like the style of wheel, but to me, larger wheels with lower profile tires just don't look right on older cars.

 

[HawkRod]

I like the style of wheel, but to me, larger wheels with lower profile tires just don't look right on older cars.

I agree. However, in my opinion 17" rims aren't too bad as you can get a tire with enough side wall to look decent.

 

[Runner 68]

The front rims showed up today. Trying to determine if they're keepers or not. Kind of hard to do without having the tires mounted up.
American Racing Torq Thrust M. 17x8, 4.5" BS. 245/45/17 tires currently planned. I wish Nitto had a 50 series in the tire I want but they don't.
Opinions welcome.

View attachment 1201752 View attachment 1201753

I agree. However, in my opinion 17" rims aren't too bad as you can get a tire with enough side wall to look decent.

Thanks RC and Hawk. I know this is an old debate in our hobby. Trust me when I say that I appreciate the more traditional stance as well as the resto mod, pro touring look. They both have their merits and draw backs. I started down the resto mod trail a while back and will stick with it. I have been very attentive to the modifications I make to keep in mind that if somebody wants to put this car back to concourse, some day, it shouldn't be too much trouble except for the frame rail connectors, which in my opinion make a hardtop a better car anyway.

One of my son's will end up with this car. Their problem. I have tagged and documented all of the numbers matching parts in case they want to go the concourse route after I am taking a dirt nap.

For now, my car since 1978 and I want to make it into my own vision. After all, the paint ain't exactly stock. Not changing it at this point.

Your feedback is valued.

 

[HawkRod]

For now, my car since 1978 and I want to make it into my own vision.

And that is absolutely what you should do! Make the car what YOU like and the heck with everyone else!

 

[Runner 68]

Picked up the new heads and a few other parts over the weekend.

 

[Nxcoupe]

And some homemade salsa too!

 

[Runner 68]

And some homemade salsa too!

I suppose I should have set that up a little better. Napping dog and son in the background too!

 

[HawkRod]

I suppose I should have set that up a little better. Napping dog and son in the background too!

..and a mid year Vette too?

 

[Runner 68]

..and a mid year Vette too?

Damn!, good eye Hawk. 65 convertible.

 

[Runner 68]

The front rims showed up today. Trying to determine if they're keepers or not. Kind of hard to do without having the tires mounted up.
American Racing Torq Thrust M. 17x8, 4.5" BS. 245/45/17 tires currently planned. I wish Nitto had a 50 series in the tire I want but they don't.
Opinions welcome.

View attachment 1201752 View attachment 1201753

Sending these back. The rear 18x10s to match don't have enough front spacing or "dish" for my vision. Too much back spacing. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and go with custom 2 piece rims. Stay tuned.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Is that a 9mm or a .40 cal?

 

[Runner 68]

Is that a 9mm or a .40 cal?

 

[HawkRod]

Damn!, good eye Hawk. 65 convertible.

Nice. I had a line on a 65 coupe but it got away (long story). I now have an original 62 that was handed down to me by my father-in-law. Yes, I am a Mopar guy at heart, but the solid lifter 340 HP 327 with a close ratio 4 speed and 4.11 posi rear really flies!

 

[Nxcoupe]

View attachment 1207933

Looks like a holster on the hip of the guy digging in the tool box.

 

[Runner 68]

Looks like a holster on the hip of the guy digging in the tool box.

That's actually a woman NX. I guess you don't have the eye for the thigh like most males. She is a relatively small woman. That is her phone.
Look closely or maybe get a better monitor.

 

[Runner 68]

Taking advantage of the time off over the holidays here.
I returned the rims shown above. Going a different direction. Stay tuned.
Still waiting on the stroker kit and driver side glass. No matter, plenty to do.
I have been working on all the under dash componentry. Fun stuff as all the parts on this car are about as virgin as they get. The pedal assembly will go in tomorrow.
The heater box had a mouse nest in it the size of a football. Still in perfect condition though.