Tallhair's Convert - attempt to get going on this mechanical refurb so I can drive it

[tallhair]

They're the biggest reason of all to see it through. I take my kids all over the place in "daddy's racecar". Ice cream, pizza, park, Stewarts (yep, we still have a couple around here!), local cruise nights. Here are a few pics of the boys helping daddy pinpoint an oil leak.

Thanks Dude ... yeah I agree man. My 3 children helped me to pull the engine and trans out one night. We pulled the motor and trans as a unit w/o bashing up the rad support. Whew! We finished up at about midnight. All the kids, and the and the wife and a buddy helped me clean it up when we pulled it out of storage.

The girls put a lot of time cleaning up the interior ... years of dust, grime, etc and some parts. It was a lot of elbow grease but came out pretty decent.

I'm looking foward to some of those ice cream runs myself in the Hot Rod Dodge

 

[747mopar]

I've got to agree with HT413 on this one. Since completing mine my daughter and I have been all over the place in it including Niagra Falls and Canada and have been having a blast. I guarantee these will be the memories we speak of about our parents as she gets older, remembering cruising in a cool Mopar and occasionally getting really sideways haha!!

Usually if you want something bad enough you'll find time so we just need to give you a good kick in the rear:buttkick:.

You've got an awesome car, hope to see you get on it soon.

 

[tallhair]

I've got to agree with HT413 on this one. Since completing mine my daughter and I have been all over the place in it including Niagra Falls and Canada and have been having a blast. I guarantee these will be the memories we speak of about our parents as she gets older, remembering cruising in a cool Mopar and occasionally getting really sideways haha!!

Usually if you want something bad enough you'll find time so we just need to give you a good kick in the rear:buttkick:.

You've got an awesome car, hope to see you get on it soon.

Thanks 747 appreciate the kick in the rear from all

 

[HYRDGOON]

It's abut time you dig into this TH! Now what is the T0-do list to get this thing going (of all people I know you have a list)

Here's my real 2 cents.... about a month ago I was talking to a contractor I work with fairly regularly. He has a 77 Bandit trans am that had been in the barn and hadn't moved for quite some time. After talking cars with me he finally pulled it out and dropped it off with a local guy to get it running and even got talked into buying a crate motor. At 50 years old on Oct. 19 he was found dead on his couch..... LIfe is TOO DAMN SHORT!! Get that car going and enjoy it!

 

[tallhair]

A few weeks ago I took all the parts out of the trunk of the R/T to check out the condition and get some pics for potential buyers and to document the overall condition.

I'll go ahead and post them up here I guess ... I know everyone loves pics, if you are like me I even like pics of rusty gold as the pickers guys say on T.V. LOL

Its fairly solid but has some rusty/scaley in the lower part of the pan. I'm not planning on doing a total resto on this car ... just a mechanical resto and leave it with it's patina and drive it as much as possible like my buddy Dennis H. and some of the rest of you do. I spoke to Dennis yesterday morning and told him I'm getting back to getting fired up over this project. Cheers and thanks for the talk Dennis.

Also thanks much for the early morning chat Kahn ... like you said. Little bites and onen step at a time so it's not such a big job.

Here's the pics

The car is PP1 Red but this deck lid used to be blue .. whoever painted it years ago taped off the jacking instructions ... it was painted in appox 1987 or before. (info from Previous owner).






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It's gonna need a new top, rear glass window, and well liner ... and boot cover eventually. When that happens I'll refurb the top bows, and pumps, lines etc and paint the top frame.

But that's much later

Also going to clean up the rust and prep, prime, seal, and paint the trunk floor to keep it from getting any worse and to make it water tight. I only found a few pin hole in the right hand corner but may find more when I attack the rusty area more agressively.

 

[tallhair]

It's abut time you dig into this TH! Now what is the T0-do list to get this thing going (of all people I know you have a list)

Here's my real 2 cents.... about a month ago I was talking to a contractor I work with fairly regularly. He has a 77 Bandit trans am that had been in the barn and hadn't moved for quite some time. After talking cars with me he finally pulled it out and dropped it off with a local guy to get it running and even got talked into buying a crate motor. At 50 years old on Oct. 19 he was found dead on his couch..... LIfe is TOO DAMN SHORT!! Get that car going and enjoy it!

Good question and thanks for asking Goon. I'll tell you that last part of what you said has been on my mind a lot lately and was what was motivating me to sell and buy a done car or get this one back on the road.

Looks like I've moved onto plan B of that brainstorm LOL.

So the plan was and still is:

Mechanical refurb and clean up of all mechanical systems front to back - Fuel system front to back incl fuel tank, Oil, Front suspension, brakes, rear end, transmission rebuild.

Car shows 84K on it and may be actual. I've had it for 15 years, previous owner had it for 13. Neither of us put many miles on it. The guy he bought it from pulled it out of a bar or old garage and fixed it up ... he either did the paint or had it done. Not super high quality but it's at least 28 years old now (paint that is). Suspension seems to be the original and when I was driving it it was pretty solid and not sloppy. The motor was also strong and trans shifted like it was supposed to. Top worked and all systems worked.

Everything except the original radiator and the spare tire hold down rod was with the car when I got it so it again that seems like a lower or less than 100K miles car to me .. at leasat its an indicator.

Seats have been recovered and carpet replaced but rest of the interior is original and in good shape also pointing to it being less than 100K.

All that amounts to I don't think I need to rebuild the engine but may just do it

OK so back to the list:

Engine - pulled to clean it up and paint it and replace gaskets
Had an old B&M 727 so I had it rebuilt - waiting to go in the car (original 727 to stay on the shelf)
Had a set of 915 heads gone through with all new stuff and very minor port work done on valve stem shroud area

Parts on hand:

Firm Feel II Power Steering Sector
New fuel pump (probably larger later year lines too)
New fuel tank
New fuel pickup
New PST front complete front suspension polygraphite kit.
Tubular upper control arms
Box lower control arms plates kit
Reinforce K frame by welding seams and adding stiffener kit with skid plate got the kit and skid plate
Cordoba big brackets and A body spindles to swap to 11.75" Disc
New from PST - Bilstein Shocks all four corners
440 6 BBL set up
Eddy 750 Carb
3 speed wiper switch and correct 3 speed wiper arm thing I have those so I'll probably swap to 3 speed wiper setup to be able to mount 6 BBL.
A bunch of other crap

Stuff still needed:

Correct dual diaphram power booster - probably buy a reproduction
Oil pump - can't decided on which one
Correct orignal 045 Rad (have top and bottom tanks but need correct straps)
Engine Gasket kit
New 11.75" rotors and calipers, brake hoses (73 or 4 style to swap sides for rear mount hoses/calipers to keep factory style anti-sway bar), and hardware
New alternator
Rebuild orignal PS pump
Get Torque converter rebuilt or buy new
Possibly go to smaller high torque starter
battery, hoses, belts etc


Later:

Wheels / tires - I have to decide on what wheels I'm going to run and tire size - the Coronet's have some room out back.
A friend got me the good relays for coverting to HD headlights
Refurb power top stuff

I have a few options on the carb and intake systems:

Carb / intake options - stuff on hand:

Original Intake and with Edelbrock/Carter
Edelbrock Torker or Torker II with 750 Edelbrock/Carter
Original 440 6 BBL aluminum intake and brand new 3 2BBL carbs, breather and all linkage etc - really always wanted to drive a 6 Pack equipped car!

Once engine, Kframe, and front suspension is sorted it will go back in from the bottom as a unit

I probably forgot a bunch of stuff so I'll revisit later

 

[barnfind]

I'm glad to see you moving in the direction of getting your car functional tallhair. In viewing your other thread about the 70 seems like you may have the same feeling if your 68s fate were to be the same as the 70s. Been waiting a long time to see this, and I can only imagine how long your wait has been. When I'm at these crossroads of sell, I get out and do something small so I can see some results. Seems like you have alot of folks wanting to help, If I were closer I'd be over too. I take it the bottom end is still solid and not getting any other work done?

 

[tallhair]

I'm glad to see you moving in the direction of getting your car functional tallhair. In viewing your other thread about the 70 seems like you may have the same feeling if your 68s fate were to be the same as the 70s. Been waiting a long time to see this, and I can only imagine how long your wait has been. When I'm at these crossroads of sell, I get out and do something small so I can see some results. Seems like you have alot of folks wanting to help, If I were closer I'd be over too. I take it the bottom end is still solid and not getting any other work done?

Thanks Barnfind. Yeah it's a bird in the hand thing with the convert - I love 68 R/T's .. have had 3. Also love having a convert. This is second one -first was the Hemi orange 70 Sat I wrecked then sold with the 6 BBL car. I do regret selling both - especially the Lime green 6 BBL car. But hey many of us have done that. I could live with selling this one as long as I would up with another nice one to replace it but I value it more than everyone else who's looking apparently.

I do still have this car which I will never sell ... doesn't look this nice anymore though. It will get the Hawk-Rod treatment one day once I sort out my present mess

THEN:



NOW:

 

[daytona kid]

Bitchin! lol.. Love them 70 RRs! My 1st, 2nd, and 3rd mopars..

 

[HawkRod]

Great magazine cover shot! When was this from? I am not sure I saw a date on it...

For your Coronet plans: I think they sound great, and are really very similar to what I ended up with my Road Runner. I am more and more gravitating to the less than perfect cars that are driven and enjoyed than the museum pieces for folks to stare at only. It is a blast just to drive them, so your plan makes great sense!

From an engine perspective: My RR had 81K on the original engine. I decided not to rebuild it before the trip and it ran great the whole trip. I did use a couple of quarts of oil, so it is showing its age a little bit, but it was still smooth and plenty powerful.

For me, I would let the rear main seal make the decision. Mine was bone dry, so I figured why mess with it. I would suggest the same test for your engine. If the rear main seal is leaking like a sieve, then go ahead and do the rebuild. In OK shape? Then clean it up and throw it back in. You can always rebuild it later when the rest of the car tasks are done...

Just my $0.02

Hawk

 

[tallhair]

Bitchin! lol.. Love them 70 RRs! My 1st, 2nd, and 3rd mopars..

Thanks again Kid I agree - the 70 RR and the 68 R/T are my two favorite Mopars

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OK so

STEP 2.

Spill guts and get started posting mass quantities of pictues

Check.

 

[tallhair]

Great magazine cover shot! When was this from? I am not sure I saw a date on it...

For your Coronet plans: I think they sound great, and are really very similar to what I ended up with my Road Runner. I am more and more gravitating to the less than perfect cars that are driven and enjoyed than the museum pieces for folks to stare at only. It is a blast just to drive them, so your plan makes great sense!

From an engine perspective: My RR had 81K on the original engine. I decided not to rebuild it before the trip and it ran great the whole trip. I did use a couple of quarts of oil, so it is showing its age a little bit, but it was still smooth and plenty powerful.

For me, I would let the rear main seal make the decision. Mine was bone dry, so I figured why mess with it. I would suggest the same test for your engine. If the rear main seal is leaking like a sieve, then go ahead and do the rebuild. In OK shape? Then clean it up and throw it back in. You can always rebuild it later when the rest of the car tasks are done...

Just my $0.02

Hawk

Great advice from a guy who know's what he's talking about Hawk. I'm into the patina so that's all good - may even go that route with the 70 RR but yours made me drool so much I want it to be as nice one day. As for the R/T I just want it reliable and roasting hides and taking trips as soon as possible. I plan to daily drive it for as much of the year as I can here in Southern IL. We get ice and snow and plenty of rain in the winter so it'll be out of commish during those months but that's probably only 4 months of the year the other 7 or 8 I'll be stress testing it daily.

I'm also very tempted to get on the list for a 5 speed manual like you so I can have everything ... but that will be much later after plenty of you guys road test them LOL

I definately hearing you on the main seal ... bit troubled about that.

I'll post some engine pics soon if not now. It was leaking so much from the valve covers over the years I don't know what came from where

If I have to rebuild I may go with another 440 I have and get it done as a stroker - ala Prop, Goon, and others ... but that starts getting a little deep into this one that started as a simple spruce up .. famous last words right !

P.S. the magazine cover is a fake that was up on the net ... you add your own caption and photo. I'll see if I can find it later and send it to you









damn those pics suck ... I'll get some better ones later on.

 

[69a100]

The girls put a lot of time cleaning up the interior ... years of dust, grime, etc and some parts. It was a lot of elbow grease but came out pretty decent.

I know what it's like just to keep a white interior clean, let alone having to scrub years of crud off of them. Try working on a 66-300.
Sounds like you have a good platform already in driving shape and tons of parts to boot. I say if it ain't broke, don't jack with it as it's only original once. Fix the most important stuff that needs fixin first, then just make it a do a job a weekend doing the other stuff when it needs it. Hey, you got all winter coming to get-er-dun.

 

[tallhair]

I know what it's like just to keep a white interior clean, let alone having to scrub years of crud off of them. Try working on a 66-300.
Sounds like you have a good platform already in driving shape and tons of parts to boot. I say if it ain't broke, don't jack with it as it's only original once. Fix the most important stuff that needs fixin first, then just make it a do a job a weekend doing the other stuff when it needs it. Hey, you got all winter coming to get-er-dun.

Thanks man and great advice. I love white interiors but if you let them go it can be a lot of work to get them cleaned up. I'm still loving it though.

I'm going to just get the mechanicals done and get it back on the road ... not going to go getting overboard on the 5 speed, HD lights, or top or anything crazy at first but will get what needs done done right in the right order. First priorty is everthing up front, engine, brakes, front suspension, cooling, and fuel system.

That is the elephant in the room, the most work, and biggest obstacle ... I think it will go quickly after that and then I can do it a piece at a time.

 

[MarPar]

I've kept the white interior on the GTXer presentable by using half water and half simple green on a microfiber towel...and for the deep dirt, a green crothbrite very lightly in small circles!! imp_daddy:

 

[tallhair]

I've kept the white interior on the GTXer presentable by using half water and half simple green on a microfiber towel...and for the deep dirt, a green crothbrite very lightly in small circles!! imp_daddy:

Love that car ... looks great Mar

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Here are some pics of my interior .. not great shots but what I have.

The seat backs seem warped so they will need to be replaced eventually or something donet to make them look better than now.

The only rip in seats is the buddy seat has a split seam. I have an upholstry guy who should be able to take care of that easily.

The materiel is not original looking but they pattern matches the factory style ... again dates to 1987 or before. Door panels are originals and look OK. I will definately pull the seats and carpet eventually to see what the floor looks like from the top, and do some patching of what I find. Then new carpet and new seat spacers ... current ones are broken.

I'll probably get legendary covers eventually but that's going to be a later.













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A lot of these pics were taken before cleaning was done or finished ... during the cleaning actually.


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[747mopar]

That's what I'm talking about!!!! Tallhair is at it, that's great to hear your getting the ball rolling and from the looks of it you've got allot of parts on hand already. I envy your position, having something so nice to start with..... it's great being able to do a little here and there instead of having to do a full resto right off the bat. Good luck bud

 

[HawkRod]

It really is a fabulous car - a jewel really. In my humble opinion, absolutely worth the work.

I'll come down when it's done and you can give me a ride in it and I will be glad to give you my unprofessional opinion for free... :toothy10:

 

[HT413]

So, what all needs to be done to the old girl? Just trying to get her on the road, or looking for something more?

 

[Pistol Pete]

Glad to hear you're moving forward with the semi resto Bryan. 'Verts are just different enough to be a pain, but you already know that it's worth it in the end and I'm sure you'll do a bang up job.

PS - check with Bob at GlenRay for the radiator brackets.