My first classic. '72 Roadrunner.

[beeper]

nice ride!

 

[FridayGt]

Thanks beeper! I think so too, but I'm a little biassed. Lol. She's been a big work in progress to make her a safer more dependable legal driver before I address the plethora of body issues.

 

[Jarran]

Awesome looking car, what all is wrong with the body? She looks pretty straight to me!

 

[FridayGt]

Awesome looking car, what all is wrong with the body? She looks pretty straight to me!

Whew, where to begin! lol. Well, she's got rust that's starting to bubble up in the rear quarters, the bottom corners of the rear window and one door corner. The paint was done (poorly) in 2004 and it's been wet sanded as much as it can be, but a 20 foot paint job with pealing clear coat at best. She's got more waves than a cup of water at Jurrasic park and someone put GTX emblems on her with the two posts that go into the panels. The passenger headlight bezel is cracked, both bumpers need rechromed and the rear bumper is dented. Where ever there is weather stripping, it is dry rotted. Then, finally, there is a small crack in the windshield that is thankfully out of the line of sight.

Now, that being said, she is a real roadrunner, running, driving project. With a VERY clean underside, VERY clean interior, with minimal electrical that was needed to be done in order to get her inspectible. Had to properly wire the high beams and replace the bulbs, had to fix the radio (my bad... lol), have to replace the reverse light bulbs (hopefully that's all that's wrong) and I need to install a tank-to-filler neck grommet to seal the gas back in. Then she'll need a front end alignment as the tie rod ends were replaced prior to sale.

All in all, it's what I was looking for; a running driving project car. A roadrunner in plum crazy purple with a big block. The pictures make her look like she's in a lot better shape than she is, but she's still my baby! lol.

I'm picking up the reverse light bulbs over lunch and the tank-to-filler neck grommet arrives today. So, I'll replace the bulbs in my flood lights and make sure my compressor has a full tank because it'll be a long night trying to get it ready for inspection hopefully tomorrow morning. Now, I may be biting off more than I can chew with that deadline, but, if so, I'll have all weekend to finish and I can get her inspected next week.

 

[dgraver]

Regarding the reverse lights. Mine werent working and the bulbs looked fine, so I started off replacing a few fuses. Still did not work, so I assumed it was the neutral safety switch, so I ordered one of those (pretty inexpensive). I went to replace it and noticed the current switch was basically brand new, so I got a tester and noticed there wasnt any power going to the switch. I was stumped. Turns out I used the wrong damn fuses. Replaced the fuses with the correct ones and all the lights and signals on my car lit up like a christmas tree. So in short, if its not the bulbs try the fuses.

 

[72Satellite440]

Nice 72' RR there- Yeah, these models are easy to fall in love with, arn't they?
Nice to see you have the org. rear sway bar included-
Congrats on ur purchase

 

[FridayGt]

Regarding the reverse lights. Mine werent working and the bulbs looked fine, so I started off replacing a few fuses. Still did not work, so I assumed it was the neutral safety switch, so I ordered one of those (pretty inexpensive). I went to replace it and noticed the current switch was basically brand new, so I got a tester and noticed there wasnt any power going to the switch. I was stumped. Turns out I used the wrong damn fuses. Replaced the fuses with the correct ones and all the lights and signals on my car lit up like a christmas tree. So in short, if its not the bulbs try the fuses.

Thanks, I appreciate that. At this point I've gotten all the other lights on, wired and aimed. Highs, lows, side lights, break lights even the hazards. Also, when I put it into reverse, the little light on the underside of the dash over the hump in the center that says reverse, lights up. So, I'm hoping given that successful light, that it's one of the two following issues; Burnt bulbs, got a pack of 10 replacements for $2.40 from my local parts store. Bulbs wired improperly. When I replaced the high beams that weren't working, the previous owner had them wired incorrectly, as in only one of the two prongs connected to the wire with a two prong adapter on it... yup.... lol.:eusa_eh::eusa_eh::eusa_eh::eusa_eh:

 

[FridayGt]

Nice 72' RR there- Yeah, these models are easy to fall in love with, arn't they?
Nice to see you have the org. rear sway bar included-
Congrats on ur purchase

Thanks man! I appreciate it! I was pretty amazed to see what stuff on her looks to be original and in decent working order.

 

[FridayGt]

Well, a miserably failed attempt at dropping the gas tank last night after work by myself while trying to replace the inner neck to tank grommet, resulted in at least a small victory. Information! Well, I began to have an idea that the seller was full of it when he said the gear radio in the differential was 2.73 when I was having to cruise rediculously slow to keep the heat in the engine at a respectable level. When I lifted her up last night, I saw the number stamped on the differential 4.57!!! Just a tad different than 2.73 highway gears! Lol, I need to get a tach to show my RPM's. Cant believe he didn't have one in the car with that gear ratio, hurst shifter and fire extinguisher so obviously seeming to be for the track.

Any reccomendations?

 

[FridayGt]

Regarding the reverse lights. Mine werent working and the bulbs looked fine, so I started off replacing a few fuses. Still did not work, so I assumed it was the neutral safety switch, so I ordered one of those (pretty inexpensive). I went to replace it and noticed the current switch was basically brand new, so I got a tester and noticed there wasnt any power going to the switch. I was stumped. Turns out I used the wrong damn fuses. Replaced the fuses with the correct ones and all the lights and signals on my car lit up like a christmas tree. So in short, if its not the bulbs try the fuses.

Yup, I also failed at the reverse lights last night... Sigh... Any reccomendation on the fuses you used? I'd like to try that before I try to remove the rear bumper so that I can try to access the wiring at the back of the light housing...

 

[Moparlar]

Yup, I also failed at the reverse lights last night... Sigh... Any reccomendation on the fuses you used? I'd like to try that before I try to remove the rear bumper so that I can try to access the wiring at the back of the light housing...

You might want to check for power at the plug in the trunk to see if power is getting to the back of the car before you take the bumper off. There are 4 prongs on it. 1 for parking lights 1 for each turn signal. and 1 for reverse.

Larry

 

[FridayGt]

You might want to check for power at the plug in the trunk to see if power is getting to the back of the car before you take the bumper off. There are 4 prongs on it. 1 for parking lights 1 for each turn signal. and 1 for reverse.

Larry

Thanks, I'll pick up a test light when I get the fuses, I've been needing one anyway. I did dig it up from the plum crazy purple tomb it was painted into the trunk with and it is at least connected... Lol.

 

[gts340]

Great car. My favorite of that body style, the 72 has the best grill IMO.
If I were driving a car someone claimed had 2:76 gears in and it was screaming down the road I would have thought something was wrong with the transmission. Your sort of better off with those gears though, at least you will have something you can trade with now for more appropriate gears.
As for the reverse lights, try having someone wiggle the shifter while you see if they have power. Sometimes it's just a loose signal switch in the shifter.

 

[FridayGt]

Great car. My favorite of that body style, the 72 has the best grill IMO.
If I were driving a car someone claimed had 2:76 gears in and it was screaming down the road I would have thought something was wrong with the transmission. Your sort of better off with those gears though, at least you will have something you can trade with now for more appropriate gears.
As for the reverse lights, try having someone wiggle the shifter while you see if they have power. Sometimes it's just a loose signal switch in the shifter.

Thanks, and thanks for the tip! I appreciate it, I'll try that tonight and see what happens. I picked up a handful of different fuses as well so, I'll see what happens there too. Hopefully that'll take care of it and I can get this thing inspected next week. If not, I'll have all weekend to get the rear bumper off... sigh... lol.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

Nice car, looks like a nice driver you can work on as you go! You got plenty of time before the next Chryslers @ Carlisle next July 6-8,http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/chrysler-nationals/. If you get it ready to go you got time for the Mopar event at MIR, Oct 29 http://www.mirdrag.com/mopar/index.htm

 

[FridayGt]

Nice car, looks like a nice driver you can work on as you go! You got plenty of time before the next Chryslers @ Carlisle next July 6-8,http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/chrysler-nationals/. If you get it ready to go you got time for the Mopar event at MIR, Oct 29 http://www.mirdrag.com/mopar/index.htm

That's exactly what it is, a nice driving project car, thanks! Well, by then I imagine (knock on wood) everything but the body and trim should be done. Heck, if I actually wind up NOT getting deployed again for once, maybe it'll all be done! lol. Thanks for the info, count me in!

 

[jteran2006]

nice car, I really wanted a 72 roadrunner, gtx, or satellite they do have the best body out of all the years in my opinion. I settled for a 73 satellite which i'm bringing back to life.

 

[FridayGt]

nice car, I really wanted a 72 roadrunner, gtx, or satellite they do have the best body out of all the years in my opinion. I settled for a 73 satellite which i'm bringing back to life.

I wouldn't think of it as settling so much! To be honest, '71 was my top, followed by '72 and closely trailed by '70 and earlier models next in line. But, the way I see it is, my dream car is the one that's sitting in my garage waiting for me to get home from work or wherever in the world work has sent me this time. It's that car that I can sit there while having cigars in the garage with buddies and say, "You know, with the dim lighting, the moon at the right angle and masked by this haze of stogie smoke, she looks like a show car!" It's the car that you get home from where ever you got her, finally relax and take a quiet moment to sit in the drivers seat, get a good feel for the key, turn, rumble and smile. Ahhhhh, nice.

 

[WileE]

Defenitely will, got to get it inspected first though. Got the high beams figured out, just need to replace the bulbs, but at least the switch is working now. Now I just need to get the gas spillage and fume leakage under control... Sigh.... Lol.

When is the next Chryslers at Carlisle? Don't let the pictures fool you, this is defenitely a work who's progress is just starting. The pictures make the paint and body look a lot better than it is.... Lol

Have fun & enjoy the car. And don't think for a second you need a trailer queen... actually, the "works in progress" cars & the people you meet & talk to are the best part.

 

[WileE]

nice car, I really wanted a 72 roadrunner, gtx, or satellite they do have the best body out of all the years in my opinion. I settled for a 73 satellite which i'm bringing back to life.

I agree with the other poster, I wouldn't regard it as settled. I had a 318 Satellite back in the day that was one of the best, most reliable cars I've owned. I wanted to buy a NEW 73, but there wasn't enough coin in this young whippersnappers piggybank back then. So, go with gusto on your car, you'll see how many people will love it !