My 1970 Satellite project

[Mark1972]

Hello all. I recently joined and put a few pics in the welcome section. I thought I would share a few more of the progress over the years. First few are before I bought the car. I had no idea what I was getting in to. A total resto rookie. My first project was the front floor halves.

 

[Mark1972]

Here we have the quarters. As you can see there was a lot of rotten metal just above the quarter on the sail panel. It was from the vinyl roof trapping moisture. The next few pics show the fix of that issue.

 

[Mark1972]

So I patched in some clean sheet metal which was welded solid of course before being covered in short strand fiber glass. It all blended in really nicely. I know it isn't a Mopar thing, but I wanted the engine bay gloss black,and after lots of sanding it was shot with 2 component.

 

[Mark1972]

So the engine made it home. A 1969 318. The 1970 motor was too far gone. A nice clean underbody, the new fuel tank finally went in today, and the car in etch primer, except the quarters. Gotta sand the edp coating first.

 

[Mark1972]

So this is the first car I've ever restored. I've had to learn a lot. Luckily I have a great friend who is fantastic at body work, and really just overall very knowledgable about cars in general. I wish I would have found this forum group sooner. Probably would have saved me a lot of swearing, lol. Anyway, it's great to be here.

 

[JB400]

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you're making good progress

 

[69roadr]

Welcome Mark, nice job you're doing on that Satty. Is the 318 a stock build?

 

[cryplydog]

Looks to me like you are gonna have no trouble at all. Nice car

 

[Mark1972]

Yes, the 318 is stock. I put a new timing chain kit in(the camshaft timing gear was cracked as well) and new gaskets all around. I put my 1970 water pump on as it allowed my pulley driven accessories to line up. The main goal this year before stopping for winter is have the car in paint, have the car running, and have the headliner done and maybe carpet. Next year more than likely will be to finish interior, exterior trim, front windshield, bumpers, and a safety. Enjoying driving the car for July 1st next year. Here's hoping.

 

[HawkRod]

Mark,

Nice "start" on your restoration. You've made some great progress already. I restored my 1970 Road Runner (essentially the same car as yours in most ways) through the help of this forum. If you like, you can cruise through various portions on my thread as applicable for yours - might be of some help. See link at the bottom. Otherwise, the folks here are extremely helpful - ask away with your questions!

Good Luck,

Hawk

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/hawk-rod-the-restoration.65096/

 

[Mark1972]

Thanks Hawk. I had a look at your resto project pictures. I think they will come in very handy for me going forward. Great job taking on a big time project. I had no idea what i was in for when i bought it. Had i known, i probably would have honestly moved on to a less formidable project for my first project. Having said that, it has been 4 years i have been working on this car. I dont have to tell you the cost involved. But the day i drive this car out of my garage i have this feeling it will all be worth it.

 

[747mopar]

Nice project, looks like you're off to a great start already on an awesome car! Like Hsormen this site was very helpful on getting mine back together, great bunch of guys here. Good luck

 

[Mark1972]

A little more progress the last week or so. Thought I'd share. The rad was finished today. Now a 3 core with original tanks. The car finally has eyes. The wiring is good enough to get the car running soon. Just doesn't look great. Really want this car running in the next 2 weeks. The new fuel tank had dual vents. So I hooked up the original and drilled and piped the second. A work in progress. My local part store has made me an unofficial staff member, lol.

 

[JimKueneman]

Love another B Body guy leaving the 318 in there!

 

[NJRR]

Love another B Body guy leaving the 318 in there!

X2

 

[Darius]

Keep plugging away brother! Looking good so far. My GTX was the first car I ever built also, never even welded before I replaced all but 5 pieces of original metal on that heap so I feel your pain.

 

[Mark1972]

I was going through old posts, and had forgotten about this thread on the restoration. I Thought I'd pick up where I left off just to get caught up. So you can see it in the green self etching primer. It was still on jacks so I assume I was still working under the car. Brakes, diff, suspension, undercoating, etc. The grey was the first coating of high build primer. The first of 2 coats. Lots of block sanding. About 40 hours I think. Then the day it was home in its current blue. There was 3 different brands of paint tested, but all the same paint code. All different shades of blue. I test shot them all. This one is the one I chose. In the shade its much darker than I thought. I'm happy with it though.

 

[Mark1972]

Can't seem to upload the interior pics at this time. But the "finished" project was finally assembled, safetied, and driving around as of September 2nd, 2019. So as always, things took longer than expected. I have since decided on a 440 for it. It's at the machine shop now, and should be done by May. Hoping to have it in the car and driving by July. Old cars are like old houses. Are they ever really done?