Well a good friend of mine told me tonight that a group of locals are planning on going to the 2018 Monster Mopar Weekend at Norwalk. He is giving me notice, that I have to finish my Road Runner and I have to drag it the 750 miles to Norwalk for the event. It gives me 53 weeks to get the car painted, assembled, tested, and ready to go. Guess I have to get serious about working on it now...

Right on!

Time to get serious! The car already looks serious! Can't wait to see it at Norwalk, I promise to have my car there too.

Sweet ride. It looks bad [censored] now

No sweat, you have plenty of time. You better put a heater in the garage. Good luck, I'll buy you dinner at Texas Roadhouse if you make it. 🍖🍗🍛

see ya there???

Do they serve these at Texas Roadhouse?

Why do you think it's my favorite place to eat?

And Joel, what car are YOU going to bring to Norwalk??? I'm making a list of things to do, and most importantly things I can paint over the winter at Jay's using his paint booth.

If your painting it flat black yourself, no problem...Having someone else paint it....Problem

I'll be doing all the body work, and painting. No flat black though... Going to look just like it did in 1979. On the plus side I have 99.999% of all the parts I need to put the car together, and all the little parts are cleaned up, painted/powder coated, and ready to install. The biggest job is doing all the body work, and I'm not going to compromise quality just to get it done. I'll keep this thread up to date on the progress.

Sounds good!!! Drag 4 speed Johnny with ya!

Awesome, can't wait to see this bad boy when it's done!

Please do keep us posted, the car looks great so far.

Bill

Ya got a year, better get on that body work. Takes time to get done correctly and leave time for solvent evaporation. Not something that should be rushed, one of the hardest things to convince a customer of.

Best of luck looks killer already. But I think the stance has changed a bit since '79

...so I'll meet you in Kingman next summer and we'll tow out there?

I'm hoping to get the car on the rotisserie, and get the car into first coat of primer before winter sets in, and it's too cold to work on the car. In the spring, I'll block it out a couple more times, and it should be ready to paint by the end of May. I'm going to try and have it race ready by the 4th of July so I can make some test runs, at the local 1/8th mile track.

And yes, the stance is just a little different today.

No doubt in my mind...You will get it done Jeff!

It will either be a miracle, or epic failure... but the car will get done.

I almost have the transmission cross member done now. Been a busy last couple days.

Jay you know I am always up for a road trip. If nothing else I can have something ready to go to race

Stay at it and I am sure you will have it done and ready.

Engine and transmission are now out of the GTX.

Kind of a bittersweet moment. Happy to be moving forward on the Road Runner, but tomorrow marks 26 years of owning the GTX, and who knows how long it will be before it runs again?

Got the dummy block in and Jerico test fitted. Now to finish the trans mount, and make a fore/aft limiter. The new K member and dragster pan fits perfectly also.

too late to put that engine plate on the front side of the chassis mounts? Sure makes it easier lowering it into position and sliding it back to the mount.

I looked at that and thought the same thing but some guys like it that way. It sure makes it tight with the firewall if it isn't PERFECTLY level.

It could go either way really. The GTX was always on the backside of the mounts. It allows the engine to tip back easier if removing the transmission.

And that's important on this car.

I hope not...

Got the Dana 60 installed, along with axles and wheels. Will have to modify the quarter panels just a little, but everything is fitting well.

what are you running for gear?

Will be a 4.56 rear gear. Same as I run in the GTX. Could have possibly went 4.88, but with the car being roughly 300lbs lighter, it should be OK with the 56's, plus I'd like to gain some wheel speed to break 140mph.

Looking great, Jeff!! Still planning on redoing the GTX and making it more of a street car when the RR is finished?

That is the plan Nick. It will be set up to run Drag Week. I'm thinking 512RB, with INDY EZ heads, 11:1 compression, and a T56 Magnum 6 speed with 4.56 gears. Long term project though. Since it's my first car, it's not going anywhere.

Love the wheel selection...

Thanks Al. Glad I bought them when they were still available. Bummer they do not make them anymore.

+1

well.... 360 some odd days. hoping for the best!

341 until testing...

Some more progress last night.

Jeff...Looking good! I think you will make your deadline.

Thanks Ted. I sure hope so...

I finally finished up my rotisserie, and it is ready to mount to the car. It started out as a welding fixture from work, that I scored last fall. My plan is to do as much out the body work on the lift as possible first, hopefully get the car in primer, then put it on the rotisserie.

Gotta love having a machinist friend, that can make whatever you dream up...

ok.... I'll bite. What is dat??

It's for the deck lid. Since I can only get a pin on style lid, and would rather have it hinged, these will get glued to the underside of the deck lid, and the hinges slide into these like a stock lid does. Would have been much easier to just put metal parts on this car, but the weight savings will be worth it.

Here are the pieces attached to the deck lid.

This was just a little nerve racking.

Looks pretty awesome, Jeff!

That looks like a Great setup and fab job Jeff !!!
I really like how you have the frame work done on it.
It looks well thought out.
Great Job !!!
David

Wow! That looks great. Nice chassis work. Are you going to run the 4 or 5 speed Jerico? Clutch assisted? Keep up the awesome work

^^^And pictures^^^

Great trunk hinge idea, sweet looking car also!

Thanks everyone. The trans is the same Jerico DR4 that was in my GTX. 4 speed clutch assisted.

Sure is weird seeing the car like this as it hasn't moved from it's spot in 7 years.

Jeff

I love this build!! Great craftsmanship! What chassis cert is it going to be?

Just a 8.50 cert. No FC cage.

Got a bunch of welding completed on the underside of the car, and all the old paint stripped from the roof.

Great work Jeff! I see no problem beating the deadline!

Car is looking great Jeff!

Looking good.

Awesome progress, and love your attention to detail. Little things like the stock floorpans incorporated with the backhalf, etc.

Thanks Nick. Keeping the stock pans were way more work then I ever thought. I wanted the car to retain as much of the original "character " as possible. Making the car a complete tube chassis, strut front, bare minimum deal, would have been easier and lighter, but just isn't my style. I have a thing for Super Stock type cars.

Had to step away from the garage for a bit. Did some more work on the wiring panel.

I can come over and tidy up that wiring for you.

LOL. I bet you could.

wiring like that, i admire ! having to repair many spaghetti nightmares, it restores my faith to see craftsmanship like that !

Since my last post on this, I've installed heat in my garage, and I'm loving it! Been plugging away, and got the trunk and passenger area to a point I was able to spray primer. Little by little, it is moving along.

I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite cars on Moparts.

Garage heat is a big deal. I have radiant floor heat in my shop and I love it. I used to work in an unheated shop and my productivity during the winter was close to zero. Now I can head out there in the morning and work all day.

All that shiny new metal you put in there is almost too pretty to cover up.

Awwww.... you outgrew the diesel #1 Nipco heater stage.

Wow. Great work !!! Coming along awesome

I also installed a heating system this year sure beats work in a cold garage. The looks Good keepup the Good work.













I also

Winter heat is good in Minnesota for sure!

Several years ago I got an Mitsubishi Mini Split for my small shop. Heats in winter and cools in summer. I really like it.

Back on topic, cool car, its going to be fun to follow this build.

Bill

heat is good for 99% of all people, but my MS makes it miserable, because at the least effort, i sweat so much it looks like i just got out of the shower ! that includes working in 30 something temps with just a t-shirt ! as long as i'm inside, no heat is required, although painting is impossible, and my best friend has to show up in his snowmobile suite with a nose warmer and mittens. when i'm at his shop, i'm into a sleeveless shirt with the buttons opened. only reason i don't go shirtless, is i would offend his wife and dog. then he tells me i stink. some friend he is !

.... a little quiet in here. I suspect Jeff has suspended all progress as he's making plans for the lighting of the Grain Belt Beer sign in Minneapolis coming up in a few weeks

I've been working on the car, just nothing shows up in pictures as progress. The undercarriage is about 75% ready for primer. I got tired of looking at it, and started to clean up the engine and painted that. Still have to get rid of the chrome timing cover for a plain steel one, swap oil pans, install a new ATI dampener, mill the INDY logo off the valve covers, and reinstall the intake.

It all needs to be done, so I look at it as progress, as long as I'm working on something for the car.

It's been 1 month since we got a progress picture. I think you're starting to slack off. Tick, tick, tick...

How about a teaser shot of the engine? Other then going to PRI, I've been working on the car every day.

Just got this today. Part of the trunk latch.

I had a good friend/ coworker mill the INDY logo off my valve covers yesterday. I just have a few things to finish on the engine and then I'll get back to the body work.

Where’s the LIKE button? Very nice work Jeff! Can’t wait to follow this build through the winter.

Thank you. Posting progress pictures, keeps me enthused.

Like the color. Keep going!

Nice work Jeff! Thanks for answering the wife's question on Facebook. I didn't know that was Harvs car!

X2 Good luck with the target date too.

Mark

Awesome job Jeff! That's gonna be one awesome car.

Haven't surfed or posted Moparts in a long time. Today I log on and happen across the one year challenge thread. Man that is a challenge too, but if there ever was a time to be challenged it is now. It will be a epic time and some fun is bound to happen. I know you have been working hard it looks great and I know you will do all you can to meet the deadline. If there is anything you need please contact me even if it is to be your Mick- like in Rocky fame. You know I could come over and say things like "You lay off that pet shop dame. Women weaken legs". You know golden wisdom like that. The car looks awesome. I will leave you with this pearl "You got heart, but you fight like a EDITED ape" Now get out there and work on that car

The "383" going into the Road Runner. I just need to order a few new bolts, and intake gaskets.

The last time that car saw a 383, my dinosaur was in diapers.
pretty sneaky

Nice lookin motor there

335hp right?

Looks excellent, I am a big fan of the turquoise.

I like the color even more with this pic! I like that everything is painted.

Love the look of the bullet for sure...

Last time the car ran was 1979.

Progress has been moving at a snails pace lately. The heat in the garage doesn't keep up under 10*, so it was best to shut it down, and take care of small projects in my basement.
Thanks to JBody for the advice on an engine diaper. I bought a custom made one from Russler. It fits very nice, and Russel was excellent to work with.
After attending PRI I decided to buy a Stroud parachute. Friends advised it, but with talking to Stroud directly, there was no other choice. I'll be ordering seatbelts and a window net from them as well.

This last week, a friend came over and helped me set up the Dana 60 gears. It's been a while since I set up a set , so I wanted to make sure it was right.
Hopefully in a few weeks I can get the heat going again and get back to doing body work.

Looks great Jeff. Guess you are going to be your own trunk monkey?
Or Joel?
I really like the trunk hinges!

Keep up the good work!

Don

This car will not be for Drag Week. Just a bracket car is all.

JUST a bracket car? Now you hurt my 1 feeling.
Looks cool.

Don

Well, I wish I had better news on this project, but as stated earlier, it would be a miracle, or epic failure. Just as I was about to get back on this project, my Mom had a massive heart attack, and spent a month in the ICU. Between working 7 days a week, and spending time at the hospital, the car was the least of my worries. Everything is going to be fine, but making Norwalk is not an option. With the weather finally being nice, I've found some ambition to work on the car s couple hours a night on it. I'm hoping to have the shell in primer fairly soon.

What good is a deadline if you don't break it?
Keep at it, you'll get it. I'm so glad that your mom is doing better now.

Sorry to hear about your Mom. Hopefully things are looking up.



If my current roll cage install turns out 1/100th as nice as what you have posted in this thread I'll be enamored! No sense rushing things they end up needing to be reworked with that methodology.

One day at a time, set backs are just part of it ..glad Mom is doing better, don't rush it, you will regret it ..

Jeff sorry to hear about your Mom but glad to hear she's recovering. I just lost mine 3 weeks ago at the young age of 97 and am glad for the time I spent with her instead of under the hood.

Mike

This. Glad your Mom is ok.

Well as I said before, getting the car ready for Norwalk, would either be a miracle, or epic failure. It's no where near done. I'm getting close to having the car in primer, and have put some steady hours in lately.

Cant wait to see this one done. Nice work!

Thanks David. Looking forward to seeing your Demon done myself.

YOu're making good progress on that, buddy! Maybe your car will be on the dragstrip before mine.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll never make Norwalk.... maybe if you get done for next year I can fly out and check your tires or something

Shot some primer on the doors and bumpers last night. Not real happy with the drivers door. Might have to redo some of it.

A little more progress.

Looking great, Jeff!

Nice!

I have found that cars never keep to a schedule. Whether at work, or at home. Just keep chipping away, 1 day at a time. I'm hoping to get my chassis certified within the next month. Still far from done, and it won't do me any good except piece of mind, knowing that I built it right. If I'm lucky (not a good track record so far! 3 years in the making.) maybe I have a shot at Spring for my 1 year project.
Your project is looking great. Family always comes first, glad Mom is feeling better. Keep at it.

Another big task done. On to getting the engine compartment ready for primer now.

Looks great Jeff...Got any news for me? I don't do facebook..

All of the main shell is now in primer.

Don't give up blocking the body until it's right. It'll just bug you later. The speed your moving along at is fantastic. WAY faster than what it took me.
Doug