71 Road Runner Restoration Started

[71airgrabberRR]

Quick Stand Videos

After thinking about it last night, I have decided to go ahead and post 2 of the videos that were made with the 340 engine that I built and installed in the Duster.

However when I tried to this morning the files are way too big and I can't post them here. We had them up on You Tube, but I had them blocked because I think they sucked quite frankly... I sounded illiterate and I wasn't pleased at all with the end product. Maybe I'm too hard on myself.

I have let other people look at them and some liked them and had a few laughs too, which is cool.

I'm not a computer guru, so we may have to wait a little while on it. That is OK because the next set of videos will be much better. I wrote a script to follow and will practice it before we film.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Fixed the springs

View attachment 129956 This morning I couldn't stand it so I swapped the license plate springs back into the original position.

Im happy with it now. The glass beading made the old springs look brand new.

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Today I spent some time out in the shop, but it wasn't working on either the Duster or the Road Runner like I really wanted to.

Instead I was working on our Durango. The A/C compressor took a dump and locked up. I had the wife stop by the parts store and pick up the new compressor, drier and expansion valve while I was working yesterday. This morning I started disassembly and right away noticed a problem.

The compressor was WRONG !!!!! but everything else was right......

The old one had to come off anyhow so I removed it. I figured at least this way we can match it up and get the right one.

So then I proceeded to remove the AC lines and unbolt the expansion valve from the evaporator, so that I could back flush everything since it lunched a compressor......

Everything was going fine............... until a freaking bolt BROKE OFF in the evaporator........

I tried every trick in the book..... Double nut on what was left.......... Nope Nada Zilch.... The nuts kept slipping and I messed the threads up after I snapped the bolt off AGAIN... Now its much shorter.

Cut off wheel went into in action and made what was left of the broken bolt even with the gasket surface. I re installed the expansion valve and used it as a guide to drill out what was left. Drilling went very well with a left hand drill bit.


Or so I thought............ I removed the expansion valve to see if the bolt threads were now exposed.

Nope.

I somehow drilled off center just enough to screw up the threads on the evaporator core.

So now I have to order a new evaporator, two new expansion valve bolts, AND get the proper compressor.............

Plus I have to remove the dash now............ That's going to be fun.......




On the bright side.......

The 4 new window crank handles arrived this afternoon.

Here is a photo of them still in the plastic. Nice looking parts.

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Here is a picture of the window crank handles.

 

[Budnicks]

Hummmm nice new parts, too bad about the evap., expansion valve & bolts, but chit happens... 2 project going at the same time, your a glutton for punishment aren't you ??...LOL... {been there done that} I'll bet your credit card company is loving you, hopefully you have some help, to help keep you sane anyway...he he ha ha

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Thanks for the compliments to all.

As soon as I can get the Duster done, (which hopefully will be soon) I can start getting deep into the restoration of the Bird.

I plan on having detailed posts along the way showing things like the disassembly of the car, a how to on the dash assembly , grill restoration, heater box, steering column, sheet metal and body work etc.

These posts will be similar to the mirror and console postings.....

I also plan on posting a short video showing the 440 six barrel and transmission running on my engine test stand once the engine is assembled (which will also be a very detailed post).

I would have included a 4 speed build as well but I have already done that and I didn't take pictures.

I can't wait to see that video !!

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View attachment 128320View attachment 128321View attachment 128322


Me too!!! Im sure it would make the new owner happy as well. He is a very nice gentleman who loves his cars.

Here are a few pictures of the Duster from the rear. Hope you guys don't mind because its an A Body car.....

If you look close in the background you can see my 73 Challenger which serves as a storage table......

The Duster is looken' fine...

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The console measures about 44 1/2 inches long, and is about 9 inches wide.

Brewers Performance sells the complete console assembly for a 71 -74 B or E body car for $499.95 plus shipping. I wish I would have known that before I ordered mine, it would have been cheaper in the long run rather than buy it part by part like I'm doing. The 70 E body console is by itself and has no ash tray in the back. The automatics used a different shifter too. The 70 had a round wood grained ball while the 71 and newer had a T handled shifter.

Brewers sells pretty much everything for the earlier consoles like you need for your car. The bare console is $259.95 and then you have to add everything to it like the top plate, door, key assembly etc. It adds up pretty quickly. I don't know of anyone who sells the assembly complete for your car just yet. Maybe someone on here can direct us, because I have a friend with a 69 Charger that is looking to put one in his car too.

I don't want to sell my used console. It belongs to the blue 73 Challenger you can see in the background of the last Duster pictures. I've been thinking about selling the Challenger with the new parts, a 440 with new trans and everything that goes with it to fund the restoration of the Bird. The man I'll be using to install the windows in the Duster seems to be interested in it. If he doesn't buy it I may list it here on FBBO. Not sure if I want to sell it yet, just thinking about it for now.


Thanks for the compliments on the post and the cars.

Thanks for the info, I'll look into it, I've priced it all out for my year 68 GTX/Satty stuff is $1000-$1200+ for reproduction stuff after all said & done {or near that $$$ for a decent, non-total crap beat to chit original}... I'm doing a custom/resto-mod, so it doesn't need to be a 66-70 console just thinking out-loud {more like Fast & Loud} of other options....

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I do prefer the chrome to wood grain also for my car/theme

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Glutton for Punishment.......

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am a glutton for punishment... Lol

I didn't get anything done on the Bird over the last few days with everything that has been going on. Yep chit happens. Sometimes in bucketfuls.

Yep, my credit card people love me......

I did make some progress with the Duster though. I had a problem with the new Yukon axles I purchased a while ago for the car. Not the axles themselves, they were 28 inch A body parts. The problem came up a while ago when I went to install them.

The axles were too short!!! They did not engage into the spider gears.

Thats were FBBO came to the rescue. I searched for articles on 8 3/4 rear ends and found some great info....

I didn't know it at the time but I do not have an A Body housing installed in the Duster. Instead I have one from a 68 - 70 B Body car.

It bolted right in and the stock steel 14 X 6 rally wheels fit inside the wheel well. So I pulled axles from a spare rear end that I had and they fit perfectly.

So I cleaned the axles up and removed the old bearings. Tomorrow morning the new wheel studs will come in at our local parts store. I have to change out the LH thread studs to RH. Then I can press on the new Green bearings.

Another problem I found out was that the reverse linkage rod was installed upside down. I realized this when the axles wouldn't turn and the shifter was placed in neutral.

Luckily that was an easy fix because I had adjusted the shifter rods when the engine was on the test run stand.

So even with the setback with the Durango, the whole day wasn't too bad after all.

Budnicks IMHO I would stick to a console that is year correct for your car. I don't think it would look right with a later model wood grain / plastic console in it.

You might be able to find one from an A body car. They have a lot of chrome on them and are similar in appearance to what your car could have if it was a year newer. Just a thought. Anymore the A body stuff is getting hard to find too.

Thanks again to FBBO for the VERY helpful posts on 8.75 Mopar rears!!!! You saved me from a few more gray hairs.....

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Ordered New Lock Set Today



Today I ordered a complete new lock set for the Bird. This set has all new ignition, door locks, trunk, console and glove box door locks.
This set comes with Chrysler Pentastar keys. It's supposed to be NOS. I don't know for sure, but I'll find out sooner or later.

These pictures were taken from the web site. The parts should arrive in a few days. I'll post up photos of the real items when the set arrives.

Made good progress on the Duster today. I was able to press in the new right hand studs and green bearings. Then I installed the axles. Cleaned up / degreased all of the driver door window tracks and regulator assembly.

Tomorrow I will lightly glass bead the window tracks, paint them as needed and install them. I set up the appointment with my glass man for him to install the windshield and rear window. I also plan on installing the new rear brake shoes and hardware.

I didn't touch the Durango. At least I have all of the correct parts for it now.

Thats all for today........

 

[old tired rebel]

Great parts detail. Where are you buying your new parts?

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Great parts detail. Where are you buying your new parts?

It was on EBay, item number 350440912820

There is a store called http://www.ebay.com/usr/thomas-j-sestak-autoparts

He has a lot of NOS Mopar lock assemblies and other small parts. I ordered a complete lock assembly set like this one for my Duster from him a while ago. I was very happy with the service and the parts. The keys have the CHRYSLER Logo and Pentastar just like the originals did. He carries parts for B, E, A Body cars and a lot of other body lines and trucks as well. Right now I think he has over 500 listings for Mopar applications. He sells individual locks, or various sets depending on what you need.

Hope this helps......

 

[old tired rebel]

It was on EBay, item number 350440912820

There is a store called http://www.ebay.com/usr/thomas-j-sestak-autoparts

He has a lot of NOS Mopar lock assemblies and other small parts. I ordered a complete lock assembly set like this one for my Duster from him a while ago. I was very happy with the service and the parts. The keys have the CHRYSLER Logo and Pentastar just like the originals did. He carries parts for B, E, A Body cars and a lot of other body lines and trucks as well. Right now I think he has over 500 listings for Mopar applications. He sells individual locks, or various sets depending on what you need.

Hope this helps......

Yes it does Thanks

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Your Welcome.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Emergency Brake Pedal Pad

Tonight I ordered a new pedal pad for the emergency brake on the RR. Now I have all new pads for all of the pedals. They had a deal on it with free shipping.

Earlier today I glass beaded and painted the side window tracks and regulator assembly for the driver side door of the Duster.

Then I pulled the windshield and back window down from storage and started cleaning them up, getting them ready for the glass man to install.

I had to strip off some old crappy window tint on the inside of the back window. That was a time consuming chore.....

The glass man is supposed to stop by on Friday or Monday / Tuesday of next week.

I didn't get the rear brakes installed, but hopefully on Friday I can finish up that task. The more I get done on the Duster, the quicker I get to work on the Bird.....

Here is a picture from the internet. The part was only $8 and had free shipping. I couldn't pass it up.

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As soon as the real part arrives I'll take a photo or two and post them.

 

[BigBlock61]

Nice score on that e-brake pad and thanks for posting the information for the lockset. I need to get that for my Coronet.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Complete Lock Set Arrived

Today the lock set that I ordered for the Bird showed up at my doorstep. Here are some close up pictures.

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This shows everything that came with the set.

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Close up of the Console and Glove Box Door Lock assembly

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Close up of the trunk lock set. This part appears to more of a "universal" type trunk lock, but it's still pretty nice. It comes with a gasket and the keys are all keyed alike for the glove box, console door and trunk lock.

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Here is a close up of the door lock and ignition lock with keys.

These keys are correct with the Chrysler Corporation logos.

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This last picture is a set of instructions showing the details on how to remove and install the glove box lock.

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I hope you can read these instructions. It's pretty much the same procedure needed to change out any Mopar glove box door lock.
I posted this for you all in case you ever have to change or install a lock in your car. I hope you can read it OK.

 

[Propwash]

Scene from 71airgrabbers $bank account:

 

[tallhair]

I hope you can read these instructions. It's pretty much the same procedure needed to change out any Mopar glove box door lock.
I posted this for you all in case you ever have to change or install a lock in your car. I hope you can read it OK.

I always look forward to your posts and new parts. I was out of town this week so I missed a quite a few posts. What's going on with the Durango?

Great job and info on the lock sets. Thanks !!

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Scene from 71airgrabbers $bank account:

View attachment 130719

That is hilarious Will !! No offense 71 AG

 

[71airgrabberRR]

I always look forward to your posts and new parts. I was out of town this week so I missed a quite a few posts. What's going on with the Durango?

Great job and info on the lock sets. Thanks !!

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That is hilarious Will !! No offense 71 AG

None taken, it is hilarious!!!!!

That photo is AWESOME !!!!!! and yes my account has looked like that not too long ago. Now it's just a pile of smoldering embers, not much left !!!!!

That's what I do for a living.......... Seriously. Structural and Wild land firefighting.

The Durango is still sitting outside the shop with everything A/C related in the engine compartment removed. I haven't tackled the removal of the evaporator yet. I have all of the parts needed to fix it now, unless the evaporator I purchased is wrong.

I'm glad you liked the information on the post for the glove box door lock. Hopefully this will help someone out.

I've decided to keep pushing forward on the Duster until it's done before I tackle anything else. For now I'm driving my full size Ram Hemi truck to work.

Yesterday the decision has been paying off. I finished up the window installation in the driver side door and adjusted everything up. I have a good start on the door panels. I had to cut out the opening for the remote control mirror knob. Hopefully today the doors will be complete, which means the interior is now finished.

The glass man changed his date for Monday. Now that's when the windshield and rear window will get installed.

It's getting closer to completion, and I can't wait.

I'm sure the new owner will be happy too.

Take care, I'm headed out to the shop.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Toast !!!!!!!

This would be a better representation of what my account looks like now........

 

[Budnicks]

Scene from 71airgrabbers $bank account:

View attachment 130719

Yeah... that looks like my credit card this month too...LOL...

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The Durango is still sitting outside the shop with everything A/C related in the engine compartment removed. I haven't tackled the removal of the evaporator yet. I have all of the parts needed to fix it now, unless the evaporator I purchased is wrong.

I'm glad you liked the information on the post for the glove box door lock. Hopefully this will help someone out.

I've decided to keep pushing forward on the Duster until it's done before I tackle anything else. For now I'm driving my full size Ram Hemi truck to work.

Yesterday the decision has been paying off. I finished up the window installation in the driver side door and adjusted everything up. I have a good start on the door panels. I had to cut out the opening for the remote control mirror knob. Hopefully today the doors will be complete, which means the interior is now finished.

The glass man changed his date for Monday. Now that's when the windshield and rear window will get installed.

It's getting closer to completion, and I can't wait.

I'm sure the new owner will be happy too.

Take care, I'm headed out to the shop.

Good luck on the Durango, what year ??, what all are you doing with the Durango ??, any performance mods ?? Did I miss something ??... I have a 99 Dakota SLT extra-cab 4x4 5.2ltr. auto {a member over @ www.ForTrucksOnly.com too, posted in the Dakota section a little} with a bunch of bolt on stuff & a Hypertech computer tuner, it really woke it up, especially some 1.7:1 Harlen Sharpe bolt on rollers, AEM air intake, with gauze type filter & swirl TB spacer, 3" cat-back Flowmasters exhaust, 32"x11" tires, I also have some slotted & drilled rotors & Edelbrock "chrome" ooooh headers still to install, when I need to finally do the brakes & shocks, it only has 57k mile on it, my Daily Driver... Also very cool detailed photos of you build, nice job documenting the build...

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Dakotas , Durangos, and everything else.......

Looks like you have a nice Dakota there Budnicks. We came VERY close several times on buying several different Dakota R/T's. We have always liked the 4X4 versions too. They just look bada$$ with how they sit from the factory. I like the ride height on the factory 4X4 trucks.

One of my goals when I started this thread was to document as much as possible, and to list parts along with part numbers to help out other people with their restorations. I plan on keeping it detailed, but hopefully not too boring........

We have had a lot of different Dakotas over the past years. Started out with a 98 and a 99. Both were "Brilliant Blue", and had the V-6. Mine was a stick, while the wife's was an auto. You couldn't tell them apart other than the headlight switch or the back window. One was factory tinted darker than the other.

Then I bought a Black 2003, V-6 with a 5 speed. Then we bought a "Flame Red" 2004 V-6 auto.

We traded these in. The red one on our Durango, and the black one on my Full size Ram 1500 with a Hemi. It's "Flame Red" too and has a Flow Master exhaust system on it. I love it big time. Right after I bought it, I put to shame a younger kid in a 5.0 Mustang. My Ram truck is a stripped down short bed version with manual everything and a vinyl floor (just how I wanted it, I use it to do work with sometime and it's easier to clean) It has the trailer towing package and a 3.92 Sure Grip. It jumps out of the hole pretty quick.

I told my wife I was going to start posting kill decals on my driver's door. The 5.0 would have been the first...... You should have seen the look on his face when the tires squealed when it hit 2nd gear as I passed him...... Priceless.

Then my wife saw a 4.7 L 2007 Dakota SLT in white, and she just had to have it. So as you can see we love the Dakotas. One day I might find one with a bad drivetrain and pick it up. I want to install a newer 5.7 or 6.1 Hemi in one. That would be a real sleeper.

As far as our Durango, it's a 2001. Bone stock 4.7L with almost 150K miles on it. The AC compressor locked up so that is the reason for pulling the system apart. I have to flush everything out real good before I install the new parts. In the process of taking the expansion block off, I broke off a bolt in the evaporator. That sucks, because now I have to pull the dash. Such is life..... "It" happens when you least expect it too.

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Here are a few pictures of the emergency brake pedal pad. It arrived today.

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[Budnicks]

Yeah sorry, I don't mean to hi-jack your thread, I've had 2 Dakotas too, my last one 2wd was a 99 R/T extra cab 360/5.9ltr. fast fun little rig, same Emerald pearl green color as my 4x4 is, allot of the same stuff done to my current 4x4 combo's, but it also had fully ported heads & allot more camshaft, higher volume injectors & an F&B throated larger TB... big Baer Brakes, custom bigger & wider rims & sticky BFG Comp tires, larger sway-bars & better shocks, it handled pretty damn well & ran pretty good from a dead stop too, I really loved picking on & beating especially Fox Body Mustangs & Camaros, from a stop-lite...LOL... if I could beat them, with the Dakota R/T, I would tell them to meet me at the track, I would take my old sliver beast 68 RR & really whoop on them really bad @ Sacramento Raceway, in the valley about 10 or so miles away, where I lived at the time, in Rancho Murieta area... ok now back on subject

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It was just my morbid curiosity...

 

[71airgrabberRR]

No problem brother. You didn't highjack nothing. No foul no harm.

I could talk trucks all day........

I haven't done anything to the Bird because I have been spending every spare minute trying to finish up the Duster.

Its getting a lot closer to being done. Yesterday I finished installing the passenger side door glass and adjusted everything up nice. Now if things go as planned tomorrow the glass man will install the windshield and back window. I will also try to finish up the door panels, rear brakes and then the car will be finished from the windshield back.

Yesterday I restored and installed both tail light housings, lenses and bezels.

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These door photos were taken the other day. I didn't take any of the passenger side.

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I will take some of the other door and tail lights tomorrow.