Hello mopar family. I need help getting my 68 roadrunner back on the street

[1968RRTEXAS]

I joined this forum in hopes of getting some guidance in getting my car back on the road. A very long story got me to this point. I will ask my question first and put my story below for those who wish to know.

I am putting a 1978 440 in my 1968 roadrunner. Will my 68 headers fit okay? Do i need to put a 1968 water pump on it. What motor mounts do i need exactly ( i believe its two pieces on both sides)

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My story,

My grandpa bought my dad a 1968 roadrunner brand new off the showroom floor and my dad still has it, numbers matching and everything. It was something he kept for years in the yard, but it never ran good enough to drive. He devoted his time and money to raising 3 kids and coaching. He bought me a 1968 roadrunner when i was 17. I joined the army and moved the car from nebraska down to texas where I am stationed. That was almost 10 years ago. Since then the worse has happened. I turned my engine and transmission into a shop before i left for iraq the second time and the owner didnt pay his rent on his shop, so my engine and transmission was auctioned off while I was gone. So my car has been hauled around to missouri and back with no powertrain and I am fed up. Last year my best friend bought me a 440 with transmission out of a 1978 motorhome. So here I am. Im a mechanic, but I obviously dont have the answers to everything. The only funny part to this story is the shop i took the 78 440 to has my original 440 heads. He said some lady brought them in and he bought them for 10$ lol. The engine builder is wanting $1,000 to get my engine worthy of putting it in my car. I know this is a long story, lol. Thanks in advance for the help

Brett

 

[am3rican]

My neighbor has a 68 roadrunner with a 78 440 engine in it. It can be done. I know its out of a 78 because I double checked the stamp pad myself. He is running a reverse flow cooling system in it. I also have a 68 roadrunner with a 440 out of a c body.

Good luck with the build. Shouldnt take you much to get her back on the road.

 

[monaco66coupe]

I would like to help, as I live in Nebraska. I have a perfect complete 1968 383 roadrunner engine sitting here, as well as other 440's. Around here, putting a 70's 440 in a 60's car is taboo. If I can help, let me know. I have a trailer, and a truck to move whatever.

 

[Photon440]

Hi 1968RRTEXAS, welcome to the forum! :wav:

Hmmm, motor homes have some funny stuff, I'd get a passenger car water pump if I were you. Doesn't have to be specifically for 1968. And yes, your 1968 headers will fit fine. You say you found your old 440 heads? Did you have a 440 in the car when you bought it? 383 or 426 Hemi were the only two engines available that year from the factory in that car but a lot of bigger engines have found their way in there, it's so easy. The 383 engine mounts work fine on the 440.

I like your back story on the car and your grandpas original one!

 

[1968RRTEXAS]

It had a 440. When me and my dad went to buy it, the guy said the 440 in it was out of a truck. Not sure on the year.

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I see your from omaha. That's crazy. I'm from nebraska city. Your offer is amazing, however I don't have money to buy another engine. I didn't know that it was taboo.

 

[Photon440]

It's not taboo.

 

[Car Nut]

aboard!

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO good luck with your road runner keep us posted on your progress

 

[Budnicks]

Welcome to FBBO,
it'll fit no problems...

good luck what ever you decide

"build it, how you want it, drive it like you stole it"

I'd suggest you post these types of questions,
in the specific forums sections or the general discussion forum,
you'll get more responses,
this is the welcome wagon,
more for intros, some background, photos maybe & getting to know one another etc.

 

[Outlaw525]

Brett- First of all, welcome and thank you for your service. You will need a car water pump, oil pan & pickup and car motor mounts. I have been in your shoes when I was younger and now am able to help someone else out. I am no Jay Leno and can't give away a Hellcat, but if you need those parts, I have them and will give them to you. Just pay the shipping. PM me and we can figure it out.

 

[hunt2elk]

Brett- First of all, welcome and thank you for your service. You will need a car water pump, oil pan & pickup and car motor mounts. I have been in your shoes when I was younger and now am able to help someone else out. I am no Jay Leno and can't give away a Hellcat, but if you need those parts, I have them and will give them to you. Just pay the shipping. PM me and we can figure it out.

:icon_thumleft: Very generous offer Outlaw. It's people like you that make this the best Mopar site out there.
Welcome to the site Brett. There are a lot of great people around here willing to help you get your bird back on the road.

 

[mopar12372]

thankyou for your service dude !! REALLY

SOO what do you need to get the car going and do you have pictures of that beautiful mopar you own ?

as mopar guys we love pictures soo........

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

 

[am3rican]

I switched my water pump housing and water pump over the summer. Both High flow. I bought the housing from 440source, new milodon thermostat, and a milodon water pump off amazon.

 

[1968RRTEXAS]

Brett- First of all, welcome and thank you for your service. You will need a car water pump, oil pan & pickup and car motor mounts. I have been in your shoes when I was younger and now am able to help someone else out. I am no Jay Leno and can't give away a Hellcat, but if you need those parts, I have them and will give them to you. Just pay the shipping. PM me and we can figure it out.

Saying thank you never seems like enough when people are so generous. Thank you outlaw!

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This is the last picture of it in running condition. lol. I think it was taken in 2003.

To get the car going I need:
ignition system ie plugs, wires, distributor
intake manifold
carburetor
transmission....I assume the one that came with the RV motor isn't going to be right in the car or fit (guidance)
Pistons
Cam

that's the big stuff I need

thankyou for your service dude !! REALLY

SOO what do you need to get the car going and do you have pictures of that beautiful mopar you own ?

as mopar guys we love pictures soo........

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So this is the pic I took after the engine builder informed me he had the heads off the 440 that got auctioned off (they are the orange ones). It is still kinda crazy lol.



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here is a pic of the 440 I use to have when I did the rebuild on it..

 

[1968RRTEXAS]

Good possibility that I will get to fire up my engine this upcoming weekend. Im so excited and nervous. I put in a cam while rebuilding the engine. I know I have to break it in on first start up, but nervous that something is going to go wrong during first start up. i.e. oil leak, water leak, no oil pressure, everything is running through my mind lol.

 

[Car Nut]

Fingers crossed for you!

 

[eric383]

Welcome Brett. Like I have always said being part of the Mopar family is like belonging to a fraternity. Good luck.

 

[mr. b]

hay great to see you getting it together let us know how it runs

 

[Basket case]

welcome to the site, and Thank You for your service. Great story,and love to see current pics of your car.