71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[71airgrabberRR]

Ordered new 4 speed console housing


I just ordered a new console housing for the bird.

Will let you know when these parts come in. I'll take some better pictures of them and post them when the actual parts come in.

So far the pictures of the new parts I ordered recently have come from other sources.

Stay tuned.......

and have a safe Holiday weekend !!!!!!

 

[tallhair]

Same company that makes the 68-70 and earlier B body ones? I'm very interested in your opinion on quality.

BTW when is the car gonna be done cause you are moving pretty quick brother .. Way to Go man

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Time Estimate on Build

Same company that makes the 68-70 and earlier B body ones? I'm very interested in your opinion on quality.

BTW when is the car gonna be done cause you are moving pretty quick brother .. Way to Go man

Yes the same company makes this console as the others you asked about....

I have seen a few at the Mopars with Big Daddy show last November in Ocala. If my memory was correct they are pretty nice and look original, but I didn't have one to compare to.

When this one comes in I can do a side by side comparison original / reproduction and post the photos here for you guys. Just keep in mind my original is for an automatic and the new one is 4 speed.

As far as a timeline goes, a good guess would be at least one year out. Most of the time it always takes longer than anticipated.

I always spend a lot of time on body work and panel alignment.

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I have a nice 73 Challenger resto project that I started a while back.

I have a TON of new parts for it and the body is nice too. Thinking about selling it with all of the parts to help pay for the RR resto.......
l haven't decided 100 % yet. Clear FL title in my name. No BS paperwork to worry about.

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If I decide to sell it, I'll list it on FBBO

it will come with a date code correct 440 HP and a fresh rebuild 727 with upgrades....

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This Challenger also has the Rally dash with a new pad, all gauges restored professionally, new lens and wood rain too. The dash is ready to bolt in .... Totally restored

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Throw out / Clutch release bearing

Yes the same company makes this console as the others you asked about....

I have seen a few at the Mopars with Big Daddy show last November in Ocala. If my memory was correct they are pretty nice and look original, but I didn't have one to compare to.

When this one comes in I can do a side by side comparison original / reproduction and post the photos here for you guys. Just keep in mind my original is for an automatic and the new one is 4 speed.

As far as a timeline goes, a good guess would be at least one year out. Most of the time it always takes longer than anticipated.

I always spend a lot of time on body work and panel alignment.

- - - Updated - - -

I have a nice 73 Challenger resto project that I started a while back.

I have a TON of new parts for it and the body is nice too. Thinking about selling it with all of the parts to help pay for the RR resto.......
l haven't decided 100 % yet. Clear FL title in my name. No BS paperwork to worry about.

- - - Updated - - -

If I decide to sell it, I'll list it on FBBO

it will come with a date code correct 440 HP and a fresh rebuild 727 with upgrades....

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This Challenger also has the Rally dash with a new pad, all gauges restored professionally, new lens and wood rain too. The dash is ready to bolt in .... Totally restored

Here is the new throw out / clutch release bearing to go with the McCleod disc and pressure plate I have for the RR.
part # BCA 614036. With the housing and clips.
It fits all mopar 23 spline manual transmissions. The Hemi / six pack 18 spline is different.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Rear Bumper Brackets / Battery Tray Brace

Today I accomplished something on the car worth posting.

I blasted the rear bumper brackets and was able to save the original battery tray brace. Here are some pictures of the process. It's kind of boring stuff, but it's necessary if you want the car done right.

these first pictures show the parts before anything was done.

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These pictures show the process of cleaning the rust and old paint from the brackets. Amazingly a lot of times this will reveal original numbers that were stamped into the part. I tried to get a close up of this.

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View attachment 125686

This is how they turned out after painting. You can read the stamped numbers and see the Chrysler Pentastar plain as day.

I'm happy how they turned out .

Stay tuned. Tomorrow is another day. Thanks for looking and have a safe Holiday weekend.

 

[Basket case]

great job! a buddy has a sweet '71 he finished up last year.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Nice Car !!!!

Nice Car !!! Hopefully mine will look that nice. I love the color. :headbang:
My car was originally B5 blue with a full black vinyl top. I'm going to return it back that way. It's a good color combination.
Pictures like this are great motivators........... Thanks

 

[roadrunnerman]

I like the way those brackets turned out. I just may have to break down and get me a little sand blaster.

 

[Ron 73]

Looking good! Thanks for the updates the brackets did turn out great..

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Air Grabber Vacuum Canister

Back on post #64 I was working on restoring the vacuum can for the air grabber actuator. After I glass beaded it I found several small pin holes. I had another can from a different year / body style car. It had a good can but the brackets were different.

Follow along and I'll show you how I tackled the problem. It was a pretty simple fix.

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These pictures show the new vacuum can after I removed the mounting bracket and glass beaded the can down to bare metal. It's easy to remove the brackets. All you have to do is hold the can firmly and bend the bracket away from the can. Don't ever do it, just bend it enough to remove. Do this on both cans.

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Then take the original bracket and install it in the same position as it was originally. Then simply bend the bracket back into position. Take a straight punch and lightly tap the clips down tight.

Then paint everything, detail it and your done!!!

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This color is a model enamel paint and is very close to the inspection paint mark that I found on the original canister. It's made by Testors and is in the "model master" enamel paint line.

Its called Dark Green FS 34092

I used the underside of the Duster's hood for a good color contrast to show the finished part.

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BTW I used Rustoleum metallic spray paint to duplicate the original finish on the center of the can. The color is called "Metallic Matte Nickel".

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One more thing I can mark off the list!!!

Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.......

 

[tallhair]

Thanks for the how to and by way everything pops against that yellow duster backdrop so good choice

 

[Photon440]

Great tips on the vacuum can resto, 71airgrabberRR. If anyone else finds pinholes in theirs, these cans were used on a lot of different makes. I have the identical can (just matched it to my '70 RR airgrabber) that I pulled from a 1973 Olds Cutlass, where it was used for controlling the heater/AC doors. Presumably it could be found in a lot of similar cars. Like yours, the bracket itself is different, but you just showed us how to fix that.

-=Photon440=-

 

[Basket case]

that looks like a Bf-109G if I'm not mistaken. I have one of those(amonst other WWll aircraft) hanging over my train board.
oh, nice work on the can.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Bf-109g 6

that looks like a Bf-109G if I'm not mistaken. I have one of those(amonst other WWll aircraft) hanging over my train board.
oh, nice work on the can.

You are correct Sir !!!!! I have a bunch of 1/48 scale planes. Love the German stuff. Did you see the 1/6 scale Pratt & Whittney R975 radial engine ????

 

[Basket case]

yes I did!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Some New Parts Arrived Today

The wife told me that I have some packages at home. It looks like the Melling HV oil pump , aluminum water pump housing and AMD console mounting brackets for a 4 speed came in. I'm at work now, so I'll have to wait and post some pictures tomorrow.

Hopefully some more stuff will come in tomorrow.

Take care and have a quiet night.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

High Volume Oil Pump / Console Brackets

Here are a few pictures of the parts that came in yesterday when I was at work.

The high volume Melling oil pump , part # M63-HV and the AMD 4 speed console mounting brackets came in. I'm expecting a lot more parts to start arriving during the next few days.

anyhow here are the photos..... Enjoy

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Summit Racing Aluminum Water Pump Housing

The FedEx guy just dropped off the aluminum water pump housing that I ordered from Summit a few days ago. When I ordered the part I spoke to a sales rep to make sure the part had Mopar casting numbers like shown in the pictures on line. I am going for a stock looking engine with hidden "upgrades" shall we say.

When I opened the box inside was a nice looking housing but NO FACTORY STYLE CASTING numbers!!!!! (Or Mopar pentastar)

Damn it man.......

So if you plan on ordering a new housing with casting numbers on it.... Don't order this one. It does look to be a good quality part though. I can fill in the logo and no one will be wiser. CVR part #7426

At least the part was made in Canada and not some Chinese crap like some of the other stuff we need for our cars that's not made here at home.

Hey things don't always go as planned.

So now the dilemma..... Keep the part or order one from Chrysler......

Whats your opinion???? Learn from my mistakes.

Does anyone know if this is the same housing offered by 440 Source???

 

[Budnicks]

Making progress, looks good, so many little things when doing these cars...

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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.

I'm not sure who make any of them really, I'll follow you thread a little & see how you like the quality & fit etc.... I've been debating on putting a console in my 68 RR, I have new buckets in, they never came with one, only bench seat in 68.. but I want one like in a 68 GTX, I'm going to use a B&M Quick Sliver shifter too, instead of the original type, so it will need to be slightly modified anyway... all the original consoles I've seen have been total junk or priced thru the roof, or I was just broke, at the time & missed a great deal...LOL... IMHFO thou, I think I'll just buy an aftermarket assembly, if I do it, not modify an original, unless I get/find a great deal on one somewhere... good luck

 

[Basket case]

I must be getting old...I can remember buying nice complete consoles for $20 in the yards....