71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[plymouthman72]

I think you missed some filler in that large taped up oval in the midde. Not sure if thats fixable though (not the smiley face I was looking for!) Seriously though, its very kind of you to help a friend in need especially with everything going on. He put his tail gate in very good hands!

 

[Propwash]

Good way to keep up on body work skills...just practice on a Ford. lol J/K Looks good!

 

[tallhair]

Very nice job on the floor shift expose 71.


and concur I think you should shave that tail gate clean before you give it back

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thanks everyone. It has been a little while since I've done any work involving body filler. I guess it IS a good thing to practice on a Ford first !!! LOL

Maybe I should remove the "Blue Oval" and add a Pentastar ????

On second though, I think the Mopar Pentastar would be best if it was on the hood of his truck, that way it would be in the lead.............

 

[Propwash]

Maybe I should remove the "Blue Oval" and add a Pentastar ????

Either that or the one below....Should fit pretty well and they actually make tough, reliable trucks...Hehehehehe!





Kidding...kidding....

 

[tallhair]

I hope everything is cool with you brother .. are you over the sickness and healed up ok? I know you were down and busy as hell with other things for a while. Lay low if you need to i just hope you're doing well

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Never a Dull Moment...................

There hasn't been anything to post about the car(s). You were right Tallhair, I got sick again. I really don't think I was 100% over the last episode. This time it was tonsillitis. I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics. I'm good to go now.

It was the Wife's birthday the other day, so I devoted the day to her. We went shopping all day and had a nice sea food dinner at a restaurant later that evening. She bought me a cool Mopar car T-shirt, (and a Harley Davidson one too) that day. She is a keeper for sure..............

I have been playing catch up now with other house hold chores. I mowed the yard, trimmed up some trees because we are starting to have new leaves sprout down here. I think we may have an early spring down here. Hopefully this cold weather stuff will be over for all of us soon, so we can get back to work on our projects. I feel for you all who live up North in the cold. Years ago I lived in PA for a little while and had my share of shoveling snow and working in the elements. It gets olds pretty quick.

I still have to finish up the tail gate..............

That's where I'm headed now. Hopefully while the filler and primer is drying on the tail gate I can get something done on the Satellite.

 

[tallhair]

I think this has been the season for lingering crap brother .. i'm glad you made it back and got in the garage but good man for setting priorities and observing the wife's special day.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Upper Door Panel Question

I still have been busy with some other things. My wife is getting ready to retire at the end of this month. We have been trying to get things organized / planned in advance for this.

I have made progress on the truck tail gate. It is in primer now. Hopefully soon I can get back to working on the Satellite.

I have a question for you all. Do any of you know 100% for sure if the upper front and rear door panels from a 74 Road Runner will fit on a 72??? I'm changing the color of the interior over to black and found a set from a later model car. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

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[tallhair]

I know almost nothing about those cars but would help if I could .. congrats to the wife and you on the retirement. Maybe she'd like to learn some body working skillz as a new hobby to fill her time LOL.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thanks for the compliments. I've been teasing the misses about working in the shop now. She's all for it!!!

I know the upholstery pattern is different, but as long as all 4 upper panels match I really don't care.

My question was about whether or not they would physically fit in place of the earlier model years. I have compared the panels from the 71 Road Runner alongside the ones from the 72 Satellite. They look to be the same other than the pattern and wood grain trim.

Now I'm asking if the ones from a 74 model year car would fit.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[roadrunnerman]

Wish I could help you on the interior panels. Had a 74 years ago and wanna say they are the same. Outside body is different (obviously), but I think some vendors sell them as 71-4. Maybe check Legendary, year one. and see how they advertise them.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Ordered some parts

Thanks for the replies about the door panels. I searched here and found another thread where the question was answered. Apparently the rear upper door panel has different dimensions due to the difference in the side window and sail panels.

I have an 8 3/4 rear for the 72 Satellite. I have to go through it and swap out the gear set with either a 3.91 or a 3.23 sure grip. While I'm doing that I will be installing new "green" bearings and seals.

So to get ready for this, I just ordered these parts from Dr. Diff.

I've purchased parts from him before and he has great service.

When they come in I will post a picture or two.

On another note, I finally got the "cat whiskers" ordeal finished about a week or so ago. What a nightmare with damaged parts .........

I ordered them before Christmas. I'll never buy anything from that guy again.

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[tallhair]

Glad to see you back man!

 

[Ron 73]

Good deal on you being back on it bud! JMO but i would go with the 3.91 gears of your choices, i think they will suit your ride good.

 

[tallhair]

RE: the gears that's a wide range so what are you planning to use the car for? Strictly occasional local driving or will you be hitting the freeway on any regular basis or doing what I want to do and driving it daily?

 

[71airgrabberRR]

RE: the gears that's a wide range so what are you planning to use the car for? Strictly occasional local driving or will you be hitting the freeway on any regular basis or doing what I want to do and driving it daily?

I don't plan on making many highway trips. If I do they wont be long distance ones for sure. Most of the driving will be in town.
The converter, intake and camshaft I have all recommend a 3.91 and lower gear set. I also have a nice set of 4.10's but I will more than likely use the 3.91 set.

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I just ordered up some more goodies from places like Jegs and Summit. Plus I have a 7 quart oil pan with pickup tube on the way. Here are the pictures they had listed with the parts.

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[tallhair]

Good plan I preferred the 3.91s I used to have over the 4.10's i have in the RR now actually .. subtle but still a difference

 

[71airgrabberRR]

I agree. Years ago I ran some really low gear sets. At one time I even ran a set of 4.88's !!!

I could start out in 3rd gear!!! It was WAY too low but fun light to light.

Big block Mopars are torque monsters and really don't need a super low gear to run good on the street. But of course it all depends on what changes have been made to the engine / exhaust system and what kind of driving you plan on doing.

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This is the oil pan and pickup tube I found.

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It's good to be back!!!!!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

A very good friend of mine just started a thread on here. He has a VERY nice 69 Charger / 440 General Lee clone, a 70 GTX project and a 68 Charger that also needs restored.

He goes by Camsdad. Please check out his thread. He's a good guy.