My $300 a month budget 69 RR project (AKA, Wholly crap, what did I get myself into)

[GearAddict]

Thanks Ron.... I can't wait to actually get it on the road to feel the payoff.

 

[sleepar]

Jegs sells an alignment tool for around $150... havnt used mine yet still in the box... I thought about a lazer level to do a 4 wheel thrust angle alignment... don't take it to a shop get the tool and spend a day and save some money

 

[wvmarv]

View attachment 179599

There you go. Right side up.

And great job so far by the way! She is looking great!

Doesn't look too bad to me. I think I would have put the speedo and tach in the center and the smaller gauges lined up on each side. It would resemble the original layout a little more. But hey it's your car. You do it how ever you like it. I think you have made a lot of progress and it looks great.

 

[Ron 73]

Thanks Ron.... I can't wait to actually get it on the road to feel the payoff.

Most say that's the best thing about it, myself i always enjoy the build, but, I always have one to have the fun in while im building it! I guess that makes the difference but my wife and kids always told me when i was done, my mood changed, they said i had to be working and "struggling/Ticked off" with one or wasn't happy, at one time i argued but i don't now, i have my 73 am playing with and right now having a few problems with it and it needs to have a few things done to it, but i do have a 69 RR that im so slowly doing and i shouldn't even say i am doing it, my biggest problem is my shop holds one car, and the 73 isint in there lol, I guess its all part of it but im trying my best to have fun, I love my cars, they keep me going!! enjoy yours!

 

[GearAddict]

Doesn't look too bad to me. I think I would have put the speedo and tach in the center and the smaller gauges lined up on each side. It would resemble the original layout a little more. But hey it's your car. You do it how ever you like it. I think you have made a lot of progress and it looks great.

Thanks...unfortunately the gauge cluster housing is smaller at one end than the other. The larger speedo fit in the center as there is a larger opening in that area that allowed me to squeeze the bigger gauge in, but couldn't get both.

- - - Updated - - -

Most say that's the best thing about it, myself i always enjoy the build, but, I always have one to have the fun in while im building it! I guess that makes the difference but my wife and kids always told me when i was done, my mood changed, they said i had to be working and "struggling/Ticked off" with one or wasn't happy, at one time i argued but i don't now, i have my 73 am playing with and right now having a few problems with it and it needs to have a few things done to it, but i do have a 69 RR that im so slowly doing and i shouldn't even say i am doing it, my biggest problem is my shop holds one car, and the 73 isint in there lol, I guess its all part of it but im trying my best to have fun, I love my cars, they keep me going!! enjoy yours!

Great approach Ron... I can honestly say this is the first time I done this kind of work for the fun and experience of the work itself... All my other hot rods over the years were daily drivers as well and I spent more time just trying to keep them on the road so I could get to work, which kills some of the fun.

 

[Ron 73]

Yes sir, i remember those days, back then they were just cars, fall came and we didn't wax them up and put them in the garage for winter, we dug out the snow tires, checked anti-frezze and got ready, we had to! Now, its fun, lots of work but still fun i think, were getting some rain here and although i don't have to worry about getting flooded out as my radio keeps telling us i still getting a lot of water lol...





a little that ive been doing, now its spring perches but you get the idea. Im not very good standing on one leg taking pictures but they are what they are, I wear a special shoe and need to keep foot dry as its exposed in that shoe, not to bad of picture quality though i will say so myself! lol, Thank you...





I need to work on my 73 but as you can see, One in my shop and clean it up or no room to work on it! lol, I did start it and warm up the engine, this humidity and all the rain makes to much condensation that Mopar electric systems seem not to like! But yes, Back in the day it was that we needed them and now we need them more!

 

[GearAddict]

The 73 looks sharp. I envy you on the major surgery to the 69... I figure, by the time I'm done just getting mine to be a complete running car, it'll be ready for me to tear it down and start on the full rotisserie job.

 

[Ron 73]

Thank you!, I don't understand the "I envy you on the major surgery to the 69..." Its not the fact of the you want to do it but most who have these cars want them done NOW! lol, It sounds like you could handle the time involved and really enjoy doing it, I think that's cool as heck buddy, I really do enjoy a project car, this one really stated off complicated, and its been a ride that really is just getting started and i work alone and really didn't want it at the time, my wife kind of pushed some with it, complicated it is but i always look forward to the finish line but its fun, its work mentally and physically and your looking for parts, looking up info, asking questions and its all part of it, Its a mission if i can put it that way, and to me its all part of the life of someone who loves the cars, I don't see that many guys thinking that way, there is so many hear that has the enthusiasm to want to do it all and just looking you can tell everyone has pride and the want to go the extra mile to make one thing right, make one thing look better and some are as young as i was when these Mopars were "just cars" Amazing people on this forum and particularly in the resto forum...

 

[MT_Mopar]

Hey G.A., how it going? sounds like you are getting close to having your mochine on the pavement - awesome!

Where did you get the new flexible covers for the control arm access with the little clips - (the stiff rubber stuff that cover the front fender well hole)

Can a guy order just a couple of those, or do they come with some kit you purchased?

I need a couple for mine, they are all old and boogered up.

Thanks

 

[Ron 73]

Hey G.A., how it going? sounds like you are getting close to having your mochine on the pavement - awesome!

Where did you get the new flexible covers for the control arm access with the little clips - (the stiff rubber stuff that cover the front fender well hole)

Can a guy order just a couple of those, or do they come with some kit you purchased?

I need a couple for mine, they are all old and boogered up.

Thanks

View attachment 195735

These ones pictured may be different then what you need but dealing with these guys sometimes it works to call them, maybe they can point you to the exact ones needed. Good luck...
1-888-277-1960

http://www.autobodyspecialt.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=668-9

 

[GearAddict]

Hey G.A., how it going? sounds like you are getting close to having your mochine on the pavement - awesome!

Where did you get the new flexible covers for the control arm access with the little clips - (the stiff rubber stuff that cover the front fender well hole)

Can a guy order just a couple of those, or do they come with some kit you purchased?

I need a couple for mine, they are all old and boogered up.

Thanks

View attachment 195735

They came from Classic Industries... you get both sides and clips for under $30. I had a hell of a time finding them on their website...even called them and the nice guy I spoke to on the phone searched for 20 mins and in the end said they didn't carry them... If you can't find them on the website let me know and I'll go lookup the P/N on my order receipt.

 

[GearAddict]

Dopped off the Roadrunner at the alignment shop. New Tires and Alignment ETA 4 hours!

Have to say that I know the motor is going to need a little work, but I shifted focus away from that while I worked on getting it to roll, turn and stop properly. The car ran on the hot side (210-215ish) just in the 5 mile drive to the tire shop. It idles fine but I don't think I have the air fuel mix worked out right (know the power valve is to big, stock 4.5" and I have very little vacuum with the big cam that's in it). Also need to do a leak down test as I think I've got compression issues in a few cylinders... good news is it doesn't blow smoke.

more on all that to come, right now I'm just happy that It can be driven without it floating all over the place.

 

[Basket case]

good to hear, but need pics...:toothy12:

 

[HawkRod]

good to hear, but need pics...:toothy12:

...and a video of it driving around!!!! :director:

 

[Darius]

Nice job Bro! Sure feels good to actually drive it after being so "intimate" with it huh? Isn't it interesting how pissed you can get about this kind of work but you can't wait to get back to it anyway.

 

[GearAddict]

Thanks guys, I'll shoot some pics when I get it back from the alignment shop...

Stopped by today to pick the car up and I asked for the alignment specs... They said they were only able to get -.5 deg camber +1 deg caster... I guess that's ok, but then they they told me they set it to 1/8" toe out! I specifically asked for toe in.

When I asked about ride height, they said that it was close so they didn't touch it... I severely doubt it was close as I only set it by eye... I told them to redo it as I asked, set height, camber/ caster, toe in.

We'll see if they can get it right.

 

[GearAddict]

OK...Back from the alignment shop! They corrected the toe in and all is well so far, with the exception of the fact that the she ran hot on the way home (200 deg) and then puked out a bit of coolant when I shut her off. I'll be tackling that next.

Here's a quick pic snapped with my phone.. not the prettiest as it is overcast and the car is dusty from not having left my garage in virtually 2 years... The wheels are 15" AR T70's, they look black in the pics but are actually a dark grey. 235/60/15 fronts, 265/60/15s out back.

I know I owe you guy some better pics...more to come

 

[Ron 73]

I don't know about owing any one but i think that is a sweet picture right there!!! And she is looking nice!

 

[Coyoteduster]

Sweet pic! :headbang:

(your mailman probably wont be very impressed though) :laughing4:

 

[GearAddict]

Sweet pic! :headbang:

(your mailman probably wont be very impressed though) :laughing4:

Who needs the mail...Only thing that ever comes in it is bills, which is interfering with my project budget.