71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[71airgrabberRR]

Tail Light Lenses

Thanks for the compliments. I found the lenses on Ebay from a store called Metro Mopar. They were $199.99 plus $12 shipping. I just looked and they are on sale now for $159........Imagine that!!!! LOL. The sale ends in 3 days. Item # 360651103955

Check it out and let me know how it went.

I've bought some stuff from them in the past for my previous Challenger and Duster restorations. They have good service.

Answer for your question on the surround paint. Not 100% sure, but I think the ones without the paint are for use with a car that had the chrome trim bezel that went around the tail light lense for a more finished look. I'm pretty sure they were standard on a GTX. (that or these are seconds / blems and didn't get painted.....):icon_wink:

These are very nice reproductions with the Chrysler lettering.

I'm pretty sure that all of the other cars, Satellite, RR, etc. had the black paint treatment on the lenses. From what I have found so far is that the black striping that went up the rear lower valance and around the tail lights was an available option, and it didn't matter what tail lights lenses you had or if your car had the chrome trim surround bezels.....

I'm not 100% positive though.

Anyone out there know for sure 100% ????

It will be a little while before I head back over to our local Chrysler dealer. They still have most of their old part books and are nice enough to let me brouse through them. The next time I'm over there I will see if the actually had 2 different PN's for the lenses. (with or without black paint) and to see if there was a difference when the chrome bezel was used.

I've heard stories that sometimes they just used what they had on hand at the time.

Thanks.

 

[747mopar]

Great car, always loved the front ends on the early 70's RR's.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Working on the Road Runner.................

Headed out back to the shop. Hopefully I will get some stuff worthwhile done today on the RR.

Will try to post some pictures up later tonight if things go well.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Glass bead small parts



Today I started cleaning up some small parts. I glass beaded the vacuum canister for the air grabber hood. It had some spots that looked pretty deeply rusted. After all of the rust and old paint were removed the ugly truth was discovered. The canister has a few small pin holes in it. I have another canister but the mounting bracket is different. I will try to swap the cans out. I'll let you know how it goes.

Other than that I removed the front lower valance today and that was about it.

The nice thing about glass beading parts is that it reveals hidden little things like part numbers, logos etc. you can see this in the last picture.

Sorry I didn't get more photos this time. I will make it up to you guys.
Stay tuned, more to follow!!!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Lightning Strike Smoked our Computer

Hello again.

Not much to report since I have been trying to salvage what I could from our last computer. It had all of my pictures on it and the "Mother board" was fried from a close by lightning strike....

Now I know why they are called that. Should be a MF board...... Surge protectors ??? Yeah right !!!! Tell that to 1,000,000 volts............ Junk most of them. Ours is.........

Anyhow, a friend was able to retrieve all of our pictures, but they are not in categories like I had them before. Now they go by date, so I'm on a learning curve here.

Bought a new tower, sent the old one off for repair under warranty (hopefully).

Have to work tomorrow. Hopefully the next day or so things will settle back down and I can make some progress on the bird.

I have been posting some here today on FBBO with the new computer. Just takes a little more time to find things.

Hopefully next time I can include some progress pictures.

Take care and stay tuned !!!!!!

 

[Budnicks]

Wow too bad about the computer, it sucks when you loose everything like that... Come to think of it, I need to get a thumb drive to back up my stuff again, I'd be pissed too, if I lost all my computer stored stuff now too... Good luck

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thumb drive

Wow too bad about the computer, it sucks when you loose everything like that... Come to think of it, I need to get a thumb drive to back up my stuff again, I'd be pissed too, if I lost all my computer stored stuff now too... Good luck

I know I'm not too technically savvy. I need to do something to back up what I have on the computer. I will burn a CD for my pictures. But I've never used a thumb drive. I guess there is no time better than the present to learn.

so I guess I'll pick one up tomorrow.

Any suggestions for capacity, brand name, etc.?
thanks

 

[tallhair]

I'd get a Western Digital digital 1TB hard drive and back up all your files. A good size is probably 1TB which can be had for ~$85 http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-External-Drive-Storage/dp/B006Y5UV4A/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thank you !!!!

I'd get a Western Digital digital 1TB hard drive and back up all your files. A good size is probably 1TB which can be had for ~$85 http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-External-Drive-Storage/dp/B006Y5UV4A/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

Thanks for the information. I will either order one in the morning or try to find one locally.

 

[Budnicks]

I know I'm not too technically savvy. I need to do something to back up what I have on the computer. I will burn a CD for my pictures. But I've never used a thumb drive. I guess there is no time better than the present to learn.

so I guess I'll pick one up tomorrow.

Any suggestions for capacity, brand name, etc.?
thanks

I'm not the best guy to ask either, I just know enough to mess chit up...LOL... I don't know or not sure, depends on you size of back-up needs & I always ask my Bro. In Law all the time, he's the expert computer guru... I got mine @ Staples like $25 I think it was, not the most expensive thing, it takes too many CDs to back up all my chit, The thumb-drive works fine for me.... Ask someone @ the place where you buy you computer stuff, what's the best size for your specific needs, they are pretty cheap compared to loosen all your stuff & the time it takes to redo it all or losing it all together... I have like nearly 7,000 mostly all hot rod, vintage & muscle car photos stored now....

 

[kiwigtx]

This car will be looking pretty sweet in no time at all. You have the skills to breathe new life into that 'Runner :headbang:

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Working on Header Panel Today

Today I pulled out the replacement header panel I bought for the RR a while ago. I decided to go ahead and glass bead it to see what condition it was in, as well as to preserve it for storage until needed.

Here are a few "in progress" pictures from start to finish.

 

[tallhair]

Thanks for the information. I will either order one in the morning or try to find one locally.

Anytime .. just remember to use it religiously .. I'd recommend you download some software for it to run regular automatic backups of your files

thanks for the updates and keep em coming

 

[71airgrabberRR]

More photos !!!!



In this last picture you can see a few small pin holes. That will be an easy fix, or I may pull the header panel from the 72 SSb parts car. It's pretty nice too.

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No I didn't spray it with my Dodge Ram parked that close!!!!
li had just pulled the truck there because its getting ready to rain.....

 

[tallhair]

Wow .. nice work! What setup are you using? Pricey?

 

[roadrunnerman]

That header panel turned out pretty good

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Wow .. nice work! What setup are you using? Pricey?

I have a sandblast cabinet from TP Tools. I bought it about 5 years ago as a package deal with the matching compressor and vacuum. It's a model #970 detailer with the side extension add on. It's big enough to blast fenders, doors and small trunk lids.

right now the cabinet is going for $1,699 and the compressor is a Champion 2 stage 5 HP heavy duty with an 80 gallon tank. They are running a sale on the compressor right now for $1,999

If I had a chance to change it up a little I would definitely go with the heavy duty vacuum too.

other than that it works great and I use it fairly often.

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Shortly after I finished spraying the primer sealer on the header panel, I ordered up some goodies for the bird.

here are some pictures of the parts as they are advertised on line.

This first picture is for new arm rest pads in black. They are supposed to have a metal core like the originals did

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This is a 4 speed console top plate. I'm thinking about getting a new console housing too. I have a real nice original but the console I have is for an automatic .

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This is a Melling high volume oil pump part # M63-HV

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This aluminum water pump housing is coming from Summit along with the oil pump.

Part #CVS--7426

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These are AMD sheet metal parts. 4 speed console brackets and tunnel.

4 Speed Shifter Tunnel part # 415-1570
4 Speed Console Bracket set part # 490-1570-MS

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Has anyone tried out one of the reproduction consoles???
lf so how are they? Is there one supplier making all of them or do they come in different "grades"???

 

[Basket case]

great build, keep the pics coming!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

???? Aftermarket 4 Speed Console Question ????

Thanks for the compliments.

I have a few quick questions for you all. I am considering purchasing a new aftermarket plastic console housing shell with the door hinge installed.

Does anyone know for sure if they are all made by the same manufacturer or not (then sold under different labels by vendors) ??? I

Is the plastic the same injected material as used by Ma Mopar, or is it the hard brittle type like you find on some aftermarket vacuum formed kick panels and seat backs ???

How do they look / fit ????

I have a very nice original automatic console, but I don't want to cut it. I'm saving it for my 73 Challenger Rally.

Thoughts, Ideas, Suggestions please.........

Thanks again.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Happy 4th of July

Nothing done to the car today.

Working tomorrow.

Stay tuned!!!!!!

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July. A great big thank you to all of our veterans and current military service members.

Be safe out there!!!!!