This Is Good Information To Know

[67GTX440]

Sent this guy an inquiry about the car having a 383 emblem on the hood and stating it was a 440. He has been listing this and other restored Roadrunners and has zero feedback. He replied that all 68 and 69 Roadrunners were 383's and the 440 engine was not available until 69 1/2 when the six pack came out.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plymouth-Ro...cdc28f4b0&item=261391709360&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Yeah. Well 383 or optional hemi in rr's and super bees. It has a rb motor in it now.

 

[wedge69]

HHMM ? :thinker:

 

[69Bee]

He never said it was the original engine, just that it just has a 440 in it now. The H dictates 383 Magnum 335HP, so the hood is correct. The leaf springs look as if they are the original, but just painted. There is rust under the plastic squeak pads at the end of each leaf, and the one front hanger has rust where it looks like the lower inner stud has snapped off. All I have to say is "invested over $50K, really, I mean, REALLY...." Way overpriced for a non-numbers matching car in my opinion, I don't care how pretty it is or what color.

 

[67GTX440]

I never realized that the non-Hemi Roadrunner was a muscle car "lite" and you had to order the GTX option to get the "big dog" 440. Since you hardly ever see a 68-69 Roadrunner without a 440 anymore, I thought it had been an option before 69 1/2. I learn something new every day, and on rare occasions, two things in one day.

 

[1969superbee]

Depending on what he started with. It is not out of the question to sink 40 to 50 thousand in a mopar restoration. It ain't cheap if you do it right. I have about 38 thousand and a butt load of time in my bee and I ain't finished yet. Its crossed my mind that it maybe cheaper to just buy one already restored. Only thing is I know mine is not hiding any surprises.

 

[69B5]

Depending on what he started with. It is not out of the question to sink 40 to 50 thousand in a mopar restoration. It ain't cheap if you do it right. I have about 38 thousand and a butt load of time in my bee and I ain't finished yet. Its crossed my mind that it maybe cheaper to just buy one already restored. Only thing is I know mine is not hiding any surprises.

There is a lot to be said about you doing the resto. yourself or at least being involved in it.
It also depends on the motive of the seller. Did he just buy the car to dress it up and flip it.
Or did he buy it with the intention of keeping the car and it became to much
The rareness of the car also needs to be taken into account
I have restored two mopar's and the expense is not for the faint of heart.
Usually you can buy a restored car for less than the money you'll have invested if you restore a car
But as 1969superbee stated, there are no hidden surprises when you do it yourself.

 

[Coyoteduster]

That is correct, 440's were not available in a road Runner prior to the "M" code cars. (A12's)

 

[AR67GTX]

I never realized that the non-Hemi Roadrunner was a muscle car "lite" and you had to order the GTX option to get the "big dog" 440. Since you hardly ever see a 68-69 Roadrunner without a 440 anymore, I thought it had been an option before 69 1/2. I learn something new every day, and on rare occasions, two things in one day.

Roadrunner 383s were not really muscle car "lite". The 383 had the 440 heads, cam and exhaust and if they were big enough for the 440, they were more than big enough to make the 383 Magnum a screamer. With a short 3.375 inch stroke (barely greater than the 340s 3.31 inch stroke) and a bore just .07 inch less than a 440, it can really run. There really wasn't but a couple tenths difference in the quarter mile between a stock 440 GTX, a stock 383 Roadrunneer and a stock 340 Swinger or Dart.

 

[tallhair]

Roadrunner 383s were not really muscle car "lite". The 383 had the 440 heads, cam and exhaust and if they were big enough for the 440, they were more than big enough to make the 383 Magnum a screamer. With a short 3.375 inch stroke (barely greater than the 340s 3.31 inch stroke) and a bore just .07 inch less than a 440, it can really run. There really wasn't but a couple tenths difference in the quarter mile between a stock 440 GTX, a stock 383 Roadrunneer and a stock 340 Swinger or Dart.

I'd have to agree and the winner on any given day had a lot to do with the driver, the gearing, and what had been done to the car etc. 383 Road Runners and Superbee's weren't your grandfathers 383 station dragon (nothing against them and I'd love to have one )

 

[69Bee]

Depending on what he started with. It is not out of the question to sink 40 to 50 thousand in a mopar restoration. It ain't cheap if you do it right. I have about 38 thousand and a butt load of time in my bee and I ain't finished yet. Its crossed my mind that it maybe cheaper to just buy one already restored. Only thing is I know mine is not hiding any surprises.

I guess times have changed. I did mine 88-90, and used a lot of Year One parts, and still came in under $13K. The only thing I didn't do was paint it; my buddy did.