72 satellite clone runner

[Budnicks]

More pics.View attachment 87263View attachment 87264View attachment 87265View attachment 87266View attachment 87267View attachment 87268View attachment 87269
These pics are pulled from "Muscle Car Jungle" I've got some more that I took in the garage, and I'll post those soon.

the car looks pretty decent in those photos

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Cool beans. Time to roll up the sleeves and get to work.

I agree X2

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It's home, and it's a nice motor. Turns over beautifly with no binding or grinding. Biggest problem is that the previous owner took the heads off to help with loading in my truck and didn't mark the pushrods. Is that a big issue.

not a real big issue, especially if your going thru the engine, just clean everything up & look them all over...

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It's been so slow!!!
My son hasn't wanted to do anything, he want's to build up some cash before he starts. Plus, he likes walking into the garage & seeing the car. I think that that's the problem, he's afraid to see it torn apart. My thought was to at least start tearing it apart inside and working on cleaning up good bits. Since the last post, I've picked up a Weiand 8007 manifold for the spare engine, and a buddy has given me a rotisserie that he doesn't need anymore. I really want to get working on this. Hopefully soon, now that the weather is warming up.

Is this going to be a complete restoration ??, or a cleaned up driver/runner ??, it didn't look too bad in the early photos... but sounds like a full on restoration, if your needing a rotisserie... get the kid motivated...LOL...

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This is my biggest regret, I'd never do it again, I had a 72 roadrunner that I tore apart when I was around 20 and sat for years because of no money, school, partying, girls ect ect ended up selling it for a running 73 charger(which I had alot more fun in even though it was in worse shape). One piece of advice I would give to him is fix only what you can during the winter months so you can still drive it from spring-fall. When you have your life in order then you can think about a full resto. Life is too short. Car looks good, have fun driving it.

I was kind of thinking the same thing & unless there is a ton of hidden rust somewhere, that the photos aren't showing...

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Well, it is a runner. Only thing is that it can't get the safety certificate and licenced for the road because of the rotten driver's side front frame rail. That will need replacing.
I don't have any worries about him losing interest, he's stubborn & determined. This is his car and as his first, it will be with him for a long time. Hell, I watched him changing the 16 sparkplugs in my Durango a few years ago. There was no way in hell he was going to be defeated.

those 2 things about your son say allot... sometimes being stubborn & determined is a good thing... I wish him & you both, good luck

 

[satman72]

This will be fun to do. It's the type of project that doesn't need to get done. So basically we can start something and if we get pissed off with it, we can walk away and calm down, and then get back to it.

I do have a funny feeling that we will find other bits that need to get replaced/restored. But in the end.... What the hell, we'll have some good times together, drink some beer, work on the car, what's the worst that can happen? We screw something up! Hell, we can re do it, or pay someone to fix it if we're beyond of our ability.

And the best part is that we have you guys to help. That in itself is priceless.

 

[satman72]

Picked up a 5.2 Magnum engine with a A518 overdrive tranny on Saturday. We discovered it's a real PITA to haul a motor/tranny combo out of the back of my '04 Durango.

 

[satman72]

Tomorrow, I think I'll give the motor/tranny a good wash down with the pressure washer & degreaser. It will hopefully give us a good idea as to how bad some of the bits are.

 

[satman72]

Here's a pic of the motor.


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Looks much better now, all cleaned up.

 

[Propwash]

Cool beans man. Looks like she cleaned up pretty dang good. Good to hear the '04 Durango achieved its mission without any issues.

 

[satman72]

Yeah it cleaned up nicely. According to the previous owner, it was out of a '92 Dakota. He said 350k kilometres, which is just over 200k miles, but he said it was all highway and the guy worked for a Chrysler/Dodge dealer, so it was maintained. He only dumped it because the body was falling apart. Hopefully we'll get the tranny to work, but if not... what the hell we have a spare motor and tranny and all the attatched bits.

Yeah the Durango did good with the haul. The back end didn't even sag very much when the motor/tranny was loaded in.

 

[rebootej]

Cool looking car! Love the father/son project, thats how mine started. Are you gonna put the A518 in the Satellite?

 

[Propwash]

Are you gonna put the A518 in the Satellite?

I was wondering the same thing...Would love to see someone put one in for future reference. :read2:

 

[satman72]

Well, that's Patrick's plan. I'm not sure exactly what work is going to be involved. Right now were at the stage of doing a bunch of research to see what needs to be done. I know there will be some modifications to the crossmember because of the extra length of the overdrive. Another possibility is a 4 speed stick. We're not firm on alot of the details yet. As it sits, I think the first thing to do is to get the front subframe and inner fenders done. At that point the car is good to drive.
As it is, he can't get classic car insurance for another 4 yrs, so it's a bit of a dilemma, do we rip the car apart and rebuild it properly, or do we just do the minimum needed for now.

I'm kind of between a rock and a hard place right now. I've got Patrick's car in the garage waiting the rebuild, then his new daily driver on the driveway, but I've got the younger son looking for a classic to restore and him looking for a daily driver as well, plus my truck & car. The next few years are going to be interesting to say the least.

 

[Propwash]

Holy smokes...gonna be a Car Corral at Satman's place. Cool!

 

[satman72]

More like a junkyard... but oh well. Can't say no to #2 son when you let #1 get his car. Damn, I hate being a parent sometimes.

 

[Propwash]

LOL! I hear ya. I'd give you a paddle to row, but mine went down creek a long time ago.

 

[satman72]

It wouldn't help. The damn canoe sank.:angry9:

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In all seriousness though, I got good boys. Sr boy just graduated from University with honours, and Jr is starting College in the fall. I have been blessed with these two. I've never had any issues. After getting a double degree in Anthropology & Urban Geography, Sr is working for city planning this summer and going to college in the fall to work on an urban planning certificate. Jr is starting college in the fall to work on his marketing diploma. Somewhere between work and school, they'll find time to help dear old dad.

 

[Propwash]

The damn canoe sank.

:rolling:

 

[rebootej]

Very cool, I'm planning on putting a A518 in my 74 satellite. PATC has got some good info http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm
Ive got a bunch of other links if your interested.

I'll be watching your build. Looks like fun.

 

[satman72]

One question. A few sites that I've read say that I need to use the hydraulic version of the tranny rather than the electronic. I guess it's a bit late to ask the question, but how do I tell which version we got? As it stands all I know is that it came out of a '92 Dakota. I've got the motor, tranny, complete wiring harness, computer & driveshaft.

 

[Photon440]

One question. A few sites that I've read say that I need to use the hydraulic version of the tranny rather than the electronic. I guess it's a bit late to ask the question, but how do I tell which version we got? As it stands all I know is that it came out of a '92 Dakota. I've got the motor, tranny, complete wiring harness, computer & driveshaft.

This site might help for pre '95 and earlier swaps:
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm

 

[satman72]

Yeah, I've seen that site. Thanks. So, I'm guessing that as long it's a pre '95 tranny it's hydraulic and not electronic? Are there some numbers or something to confirm?

 

[rebootej]

Yes if it is a 92, it should be hydraulic. It should only have 2 plugs on it, the neutral safety switch, and the 2 or 3 pronged plug for the od/converter lock up the is located by the kick down. I believe the RE should have another plug/s since it is computer controlled but ive never seen one/havent looked for one.