71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[71airgrabberRR]

I'm sure I can order up some parts or offer free advice !!!!!

Thanks Ron !!!!!!

 

[Ron 73]

;) Get well quick!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

I'm digging the Lime Green dinosaur medical tape where the IV was.

 

[roadrunnerman]

I'm digging the Lime Green dinosaur medical tape where the IV was.

Don't tell me they were out of Sponge Bob and Power Rangers. Glad you got the 2nd surgery done and behind you. Hope you heal up fast and recover 110 %.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

The nurse who was taking care of me post op must have been into Mopars too. I was talking to her about my projects and she asked me if I wanted Barney the dinosaur with plum crazy tape or the "regular" dinosaurs in Lime Green !!! LOL

So I chose lime green to match what I hope my 70 Challenger will look like some day.

I'm hurting pretty bad today. Some swelling too.

I'll get better now I've had the surgery done. It will just take some time that's all.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

Thanks RR man !!!

 

[Ron 73]

Thinking of you bud, Hold on and give that nurse a thumbs up if your still held captive away from the Mopar shop awaiting ya bro!!!

 

[ct71rr]

Hang in there man! Glad to see you on the mend!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Me too !!!!! LOL.

This time it hurts a WHOLE lot more than the first surgery on my right shoulder, plus I have a lot of bruising with it. I have another doctors appointment tomorrow.

ct71rr, earlier I was checking out the thread on your garage. Looks like you have it all done. It looks really great too !!!! Thanks buddy for the encouraging words.

 

[Ron 73]

I managed today to go out to the garage which ive tried to do for two weeks but every time i walk out i see this work i need to get done for winter, i get side tracked lol... But today i spent some time on the car and i was thinking of you and you having to stay back from things for awhile, or your supposed to, yep, i know how it works! rofl... Ive been there and to many times but know its rough when your heart's in it but the body says NO! lol, I hope you get back to yourself and hundred percent good there Louis! You'll be taking up thread space soon with updates im sure!!! I love to read and look at all the pictures and new tech stuff out in the Mopar magazines myself, sure does make the blood boil though!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Thanks Ron !!!! You're absolutely right. In my mind I have been welding on quarter panels, spraying paint, assembling my 440, etc.

But my shoulders say otherwise. Aside from the pain I currently have, the worst part is all mental. I would just LOVE to head back out in the shop right now, but I know I physically can't, and that's the hard part. So I read magazines, do my range of motion exercises (which hurt like crap right now) watch the reruns of the Mecum auctions, check out FBBO, and watch more reruns of GYC, the Military Channel, Military History channel, etc. You know the drill.

The passive range of motion machine is set up in front of the TV in our living room. It helps to make therapy a little more bearable because the TV helps keep my mind off other things right now.

I keep telling myself that I can't do anything in the shop until I'm 100% and have been cleared by the doc to do so. It's a promise I have made to myself so that I don't do anything stupid to cause a re-injury. Believe me, I don't want to do this surgery again.

 

[Ron 73]

"the worst part is all mental. I would just LOVE to head back out in the shop right now, but I know I physically can't, and that's the hard part."

Buddy, I wont go into all the whys, but trust me, I DO know how it feels, and im glad to hear you make that promise to yourself, that's one promise you'll be glad you kept!

 

[tallhair]

Glad you are on the mend and got the surgery you needed brother.

I look forward to seeing you work on whatever projects you decide to take on esp the 72 SSB ;)

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Please Stay Tuned Folks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More to follow...................

Thanks Ron & Brian.

The 72 SSB is definitely next. So please stay tuned......................

Eventually ........................... LOL

So everyone please hang in there. I have decided to "clone" it into looking like a RR, but I'm not spending a ton of money on a proper grill. I'm just as happy with a standard grill from a SSB. The money can be spent wisely somewhere else.

I've been seriously considering FE-5 red with the bumpers painted to match the body color, trimmed in black stripes and call outs. On the interior I have been tossing around the idea of either going all solid black or going with black carpet, console and dash, with everything else in white. (just not 100% sure yet) My 73 U code Charger SE was that combination and it looked VERY sharp.

I'll eventually be posting up some good pictures of the quarter panel replacement and metal work, paint work, engine assembly and even a video with my engine test run stand. I may even post a video or a series of pictures on how I use the test run stand to install everything from the bottom like the factory did.

I haven't forgotten the "how to" on changing over a column shifted steering column to a floor shift either. It will be step by step as promised, just as I have done with other things on here like chrome removal and mirror disassembly. Hopefully these postings will help someone along the way with their projects.

 

[roadrunnerman]

I know I've learned a ton reading your work that you're doing. Heck, I've already told myself I need a new set of leaf springs for my car because of you. LOL

 

[moparmarks]

Here is what is coming your way.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Todays Update.................

Thanks Mark.

That is EXACTLY what I need to finish up the driver side and have a proper repair before the new AMD quarters are hung. The parts look great, and I can't wait to get them. I know I can't do anything with them anytime soon, but sometimes, the chase and finding parts is just as fun !!!!

I may be able to talk the misses into glass beading them for me so they will be ready to go when I am.

Another part arrived today that I scored on Ebay a few days ago. They are re-popping these brackets now, but an original part with the correct mounting hardware is always better if what you find is in good condition.

So here it is................... the rear flexible brake hose mounting bracket. It mounts under the floor pan above the rear end housing.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

These little parts can make or break your restoration. Lucky for us, the aftermarket is providing some quality parts, (for the most part)

- - - Updated - - -

This will need to be detailed better in the glass bead cabinet and painted to preserve it before it goes under the car.

- - - Updated - - -

I have been doing a lot of therapy at home. It hurts BIG time, and I needed a break form the torture. But luckily for me this time the machine they sent for the "passive range of motion" exercises is MUCH better.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

Yes that's a grimace of pain in this position. But it has to be done.

- - - Updated - - -

If you look close you will see my 2 new best friends.................. The TV and cable remotes sitting on the chair next to me.

6-8 hours a day doing this gets old pretty quick. But it beats the alternative.

- - - Updated - - -

Have a good one !!!!!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

More Goodies on the Way

Last night I ordered an engine stand from Summit Racing. I wanted one that would be easier to use than the ones I have now. I'm doing everything I can to make life easier on my shoulders once I'm cleared to go back out in the shop.

This one has a manual crank on it that rotates the engine. It also folds and has a 1,000 pound load limit.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

While I was in the buying mood I ordered up a set of firewall gaskets for the 72 SSB

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

That's all for now. Have a good one !!!!

 

[Photon440]

Manual crank on the engine stand? You cheaped out again. Shoulda got the one with the Chryco reduction gear starter on it, it'll turn your motor upside down in 1/8 of a second.

I know, I'm being a :tool:

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Ending the spending...........

I hear ya Photon. I had to save some money for the following parts. So the engine stand was the one that took the hit. LOL

I had been looking through an old Mopar Performance restoration catalog while using the passive range of motion machine earlier today. A few things caught my eye. I was checking out the positive and negative battery cables that would fit the 72 SSB. (they also fit my 70 Challenger which is a plus) So I placed a call to my buddy at The local Dodge parts department to see if these items were still available and how much they would cost.

Bad news. None of the + cables were available Nationwide and 18 more were on back order. The negative side was still available but big $$$$$$$!.

So I kept the Mopar part number in hand and started searching on eBay to see what I could find.

Luck would have it, I found 2 of them at a very similar price, from different vendors. So I snatched them up.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

Then I did the same for the negative side, which was a LOT easier to find.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

Since I was on a roll, I found a washer bottle for the 70 Challenger and 72 SSB.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

The last thing I wanted to get was a "Beep-beep" horn for the 72 SSB. This one is a reproduction part and has the short bracket that is needed for the 72 SSB. I am dressing it up to look like a Road Runner so it has to son d like one too.

- - - Updated - - -



- - - Updated - - -

Once these parts come in I'll post up some photos.

I need to leave my phone out of arms reach when I'm using the passive motion machine. I have the eBay app and FBBO on here too.

My wallet can't take much more of this for a while.

 

[wvmarv]

What you mentioned sounds good to me. Good luck and have plenty of fun with your resto.