71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[roadrunnerman]

I need to find out your secret so I can get my wife to help me in the garage. The challenger looks like it's going to be a sweet project. I hope everything works out with your mom and your sister can do things to help with your mom's Alzheimer so it doesn't worsen too fast.

 

[Ron 73]

I just would like my wife just to visit me in the garage once in awhile like she used to lol! Louis, My Ma has dementia / Alzheimer's to, shes up and down with all the related problems with it, she herself wanted to go to a "active age home and she's happy there with her friends, lady's her own age with the same interests She has diabeties real bad and had to have a kidney removed due to cancer and made her mind up, at least for now not to do dialises, She has had enough she said, she can change her mind if she doesn't wait to long but with the Alzheimer's and Dementia it makes things confusing, I pray all gos well with your mom, Being a dieabetic i can understand, Sue and i hope you get back to yourself soon, That Challenger does look like a sweet project What one isint! My wife wants one of them....

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone.

Ron, I didn't know your mom had Alzheimer's too. It's a nasty disease.

Every since my Dad passed away (2 years ago the 29th of this month) mom has gone downhill VERY fast. She has told us that she no longer wants to live and she is looking forward to being with Dad. They were married for almost 50 years. It has to be hard on her.

My sister has been keeping Mom very busy doing things with her 2 children, school events, etc. and it seems to be helping some. Plus my sister is getting mom in to see some new doctors now that she has moved.

Anyhow, hopefully things will get better for Mom emotionally.

We appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers, and will keep you and your loved ones in ours too.

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RRman, the secret is to make it fun for her.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Many thanks to Mopar Mark

Earlier today I got with Mopar Mark to see if he had a better set of grill mounting brackets because the ones the misses cleaned have some major pitting.

He had some and hooked me up with a good deal.

I should be getting them in a little while. I'm also planning on getting the C pillar inner reinforcement metal for the driver side of the SSB from Mark in a month or so since right now funds are a little tight.

Thanks for the hook up Mark !!

 

[moparmarks]

Glad to help on your awesome project.
My grandma had Alzheimer's and my 87 year old dad is stage 3. Has the mind of a 3 year old with no memory. Has to be one of the worst diseases ever and can be very stressful on a family. We have been dealing with his for over a decade and it just kills me to see him like this. I figure between my two brothers and I that one of us will come down with it.
I feel for ya brothers.

 

[tallhair]

Keep the chin up brother glad to see you still posting and focusing on the hobby

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Decisions, Decisions...................

Since my injury I have had a lot of time to think about a LOT of things.

After posting the pictures of my 70 Challenger on FBBO a few days ago, I finally came to realize something. I have WAY TOO MANY projects, and I'm not getting any younger. I have been talking about "thinning out the herd" for a while. The money from the sale of a car or two could then be used towards the final goal of finishing up the 2 cars that I really want to keep. (my 70 lime green Challenger, and 71 Winchester Gray RR)

I have been talking with one of my local Mopar friends "Camsdad" (who is a fellow FBBO member as well) about what my end goals were.

The B-5 blue 71 Air Grabber RR (that I originally started this thread with) will be up for sale soon. I will list it here, and possibly on several other places. I have a clear FL title registered in my name. I'm not looking to get rich from it, and would really like to see it go to a good home for restoration. (and not cut up for parts)

Since I was lucky enough to find the Winchester Gray 71 RR with the numbers matching drive train, the B-5 blue 71AG car went on the back burner. The Blue car has a lot of desirable original options if someone wanted to go that route. It's a true N96, B-5 Blue, with a full Black vinyl top. It would be a stunning combination if restored to it's former glory, and I have a correct year 383 to go with it, (since it started out life with a 383).

With my other cars, they don't need as much work to complete, and on some of them, (like the 73 Challenger and 72 SSB) I have accumulated a nice collection of parts and have a great start by having already restored a lot of the items that go into the cars once they have been painted.

I need to concentrate on one car at a time, plain and simple.

So "Camsdad" and his son came over today and started reassembling the B-5 RR for me. I was like a band conductor showing them where the parts were for the car. They took car of the rest. They made some good progress on bolting the car back together today.

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They bolting in the K frame and front suspension, then installed both doors and front fenders.

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The rear leaf springs and gas tank are back in now as well.

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As soon as the rear end has been installed, they can mount the wheels and off the rotisserie it comes.

(so the blue 73 Challenger can take it's place)

Then they can install the 383 and automatic trans, dash and steering column.

I will then take a lot of good photos and list it for sale. So if you're interested, shoot me a PM...................

At this time I'd like to give Hagen and his son a big shout out, and say THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!!!!!!!!!

Take care, and I hope you had a great weekend.

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Don't worry, the 72 SSB is still scheduled to be my next finished project. It's going to be a nice driver, but not rotisserie level of restoration.

So please stay tuned..................

 

[Photon440]

While I was looking forward to seeing this '71 get built, I can understand your need to prioritize. I went back and reviewed the first few pages, it's hard to believe it was only last summer when this started. Good luck in finding a deserving buyer for this car, someone who will continue with the fine work. It would be nice if it was a member here so we still get to see it when finished.

Staying tuned for the next installment.

 

[747mopar]

Well at least it's a good problem to have (to many cars) but I can see your point. I would love to have a Challenger myself if I thought I could actually build another without being killed haha. Good luck

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Time Flies when you're having fun........................

While I was looking forward to seeing this '71 get built, I can understand your need to prioritize. I went back and reviewed the first few pages, it's hard to believe it was only last summer when this started. Good luck in finding a deserving buyer for this car, someone who will continue with the fine work. It would be nice if it was a member here so we still get to see it when finished.

Staying tuned for the next installment.

WOW !!!!! I never realized that. Man the time has FLOWN by.....................................lane:

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:angel7:

Well at least it's a good problem to have (to many cars) but I can see your point. I would love to have a Challenger myself if I thought I could actually build another without being killed haha. Good luck

MANY years ago I had a 72 Challenger Rally 340 car. When I bought it, the car had a 400 / 727 combo in it for power. Needless to say it didn't take too long to spin a rod bearing !!!!!!!!!!! (heavy right foot syndrome)

It gave me a good excuse to build a 440 for it and convert it back to a 4 speed, since the pedal assembly and frame rail bracket for the bell crank were still in the car.

That allowed me to find the next weakest link............... 8 3/4 rears are good, but I was young and stupid. 12 gear sets and 3 clutches later (thank God for the scatter shield, one blew up):angel11:

So I guess a fellow could end up getting in trouble too if, if not careful when the '70 Lime Green Challenger is done.:3gears:

 

[Propwash]

Awfully nice of those fella's to give you a hand. I gotta commend you '71 on all the work done thus far, including parts gathering and the detailed documentation. Definitely a major feat in itself. Just having one car can become quite overwhelming and to a lot, it ends not so well. You should be proud of all the work you've done, and who ever is lucky enough to buy her from you is going to have a very well documented resto to this point, and a great head start in to parts and research that very rarely would ever come with a project type car. Good luck with your sale, as well as your other current rides '71.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thanks Prop.

Today was my first day back at work in a light duty status after my shoulder surgery. :headbang::headbang:

The surgery for the other shoulder will hopefully be scheduled soon now. The Doc was very happy with my progress so far.

The grill brackets that I got from Mopar Mark arrived today. I am VERY happy with the quality of his parts. A quick trip through the glass bead machine and they will look like new. They have a little surface rust which should clean up nicely.

I will use the ones the misses cleaned on the 72 SSB, and keep this set for the A-4 71 RR.

Overall it's been a great day !!!

Here's to ya Mark !!! ccasion14:

Thanks again !!!

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[Ron 73]

Very cool to see you back at it and.... taking it a little easy to start Louis!!! You'll be back at it full time before you realize it.. Mopar mark is one cool dude, i agree with you as i just ordered a part myself and he has it, even sent me pictures, its great to know we have Mopar buddies willing to help us when we need it, especially the ones like Mark who know what there talking about! Keep on keep on man!!!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Grill Brackets Finished

Yesterday while I was at work, the misses glass beaded the brackets that I purchased from Mopar Marks. They turned out great, and look brand new.

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Before picture

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After Glass Beading

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And after painting. I am very happy with how they turned out.

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Enjoy your Holiday weekend !!!!

 

[Ron 73]

Back at you and everyone with the holiday!!! Your parts from Mark look great, I just ordered a couple parts from him, a great guy to deal with for sure!!! It really is great to see you back at it bud and the better 1/2 did a good job on them for you!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Well I have some good news. Wednesday I am scheduled to have surgery on my left shoulder now. The doc feels that I have progressed far enough with my right shoulder now. I still have a way to go but I'm trying to keep it positive.

So I'll say Wednesday I will be half way done!!!

Have a good weekend.

 

[Ron 73]

You too bud!! And we will be thinking of you and sure this will turn out great!!! I imagine your a bit nervous but just think of all the good things coming once all this mess is done away with!!!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Taking care of business...................

Thanks Ron. Things will get better for sure.

This afternoon Hagen, his son, and brother in law came over. They bolted the rear end housing back in the 71 RR, and did some other stuff car related for me.

Thanks fellows !!!!!!

Hagen's son just took his driver's license exam the other day, got his license, and was driving the General Lee when they pulled into our driveway. Hagen has a SWEET 69 Charger General Lee with a 440 / automatic, that has been autographed by the entire cast of the Dukes of Hazard. Its correct with everything, all the way down the proper style CB radio, antennae base, and bow / arrows carried on the package tray.

It has to be seen in person to really see just how exacting the GL car is in details.

So I'm one step closer to listing the 71 bird on the market. I've been toying around with the idea of trailering it over to the upcoming Garlit's show in November. Like I said before, I'm not looking to get rich off the car, and any reasonable offer will be considered. Since its a true RM code / N96 B-5 Blue car, I'd like to see it saved, rather than crushed or parted out. I just have too many projects, and this one will take me the longest to complete.

Since my surgery is on Wednesday, I've been trying to tie up some loose ends. So a little while ago I sent Mopar Mark a PM.

I'm looking to see if he has some more sheet metal that I will need for the 72 SSB before the rear quarters can be welded back on.

Here is the area I'm talking about. Its the inner roof reinforcement, and goes from the outer wheel housing up to the top of the quarter panel just behind the drip rail on the driver side.

I was going to fab this area out of 16 gauge sheet metal, but it looks like the driver side is a little different from the passenger side, and I don't have a pattern to start with.

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It kind of looks like a big "Y". I cut the crumpled section off a while ago.

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It gets spot welded to the top of the outer wheel housing.

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It would be killer to get the inner sheet metal along with the "Y" part, since I had to hammer on this section that is behind the sail panels to get the area close to being straight.

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This is an old photo I took last winter. Hopefully by this winter the new AMD sheet metal will be on for good.

The grill brackets I got from Mopar Mark were spot on. I'm hoping he can help me out with the inner metal I need for the driver side of the 72 SSB.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Take care.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Deja Vu ????? I've been here before.

A little while ago I got home after having the surgery on my left shoulder. Right now it's not too painful, but when the nerve block wears off it will be a whole new game.

So I have completed another step on my road to recovery, and one more step getting closer to getting back out in the shop where my cars "miss me".

Hopefully it won't take too long to recover now.

Chin up!!!!

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OK this phone isn't cooperating. (Same thing last time too) LOL

Before photo.

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After picture. You get the idea. Can someone please fix this????

 

[Ron 73]

Great to hear buddy, you look like you can handle a lot of Mopar "stuff" from there!!!