Operation Superbird: Lemon Twist pistol-grip 4-speed

Whew, what a long day yesterday... Went to an old-time wreaking yard to see what's out there... Not much for this day.. But, thanks to my friend Mark Melde, I was able to bring home a 440 for my Superbird that ACTUALLY came out of another Superbird. It is my understanding the Bird was totalled back in the day... So, if I am to replace the 440, what better scenario than putting a Superbird 440 back in it.... It was great catching up with Mark.

Information on my new 440 for my 'Bird.

From Brennan's website.

http://brcook.com/id17.html

147 RM23 U 0A 161591 11-Nov 11-Nov

Original Post on getting my Bird..

Getting my 1st Superbird thread

Browsing around like days of long ago, the American junkyard...

Yeah, kinda reminds me of that time we went looking for a fender for your 69 RR.

Tom

Had to check that number. Know someone with 1607xx U-code 4-speed 'Bird without original motor. Probably removed in Michigan.

Who is doing your engine/machine work?

Yeap, the good ole' days.. Mark and I had a good visit over lunch when I picked up the Superbird 440 of his chatting about Richard, your Dad, you and those times on Elms' house on Friday nights... Good times for sure. Made my days active duty at Carswell AFB that much better...




Two options:
1. G & G Performance out of the Magnolia area. They have done a couple of big block mopars for myself and other friends of mine here. Real good work

2. I may work out a bartering-troy-trade of sorts thing by helping a friend with the installation of his window system in his Hemi 'Cuda restoration in exchange for him rebuilding my 440. He'll get all the machine work done, I'll supply the new parts needed and we'll put it together.

Wow! I about had a stroke when I read the VIN on that block. My old Superbird was the next VIN after the car that your block came out of. RM23UOA161592. Lime green bench seat automatic car. I sold it in 1987 to build my house, and as far as I know, the dude in Fitchburg, Mass. that I sold it to still owns it. That's wild to see the motor from the next car ahead of my old Bird. Good luck with your build.

Wow JD, that is something. The Bird that this motor came out of was green as well, auto.. No idea about the column or console selector.. Shame, but it is what it is.. You don't have any fender tag information on your old car do you?

Dang Troy ! Where did you come up with the Superbird at? There is suppose to be 2 different ones around me but I can't get in to see either one of them. But maybe one of these days.

A longtime friend mine had it for decades... I recently sold my Challenger T/A and thus, I was able to give my buddy what he needed to get for it. It came from the Ft. Worth area but lived its early life in San Antonio, sold new in New Mexico... Then I found this "barn find" '70 440 that actually came out of another Superbird.

troy,

why go through all the trouble of putting a 440 in it, when you know you will want a hemi down the road? skip ahead a step, save yourself some time, and just throw a hemi in there!

Actually found a B-body Hemi k-member this weekend... Don't fret, the thought HAS crossed my mind.. But, first things first...

Has a Hemi been run in it in the past?

Yeap.... Way in it's early years......

Hey Troy. I don't remember much about the fender tag info, but I think I gave it to Monroe (Aero426's dad)when I joined DSAC. The only thing I kind of remember was the J number was a lower number....in the 335th bird built, or very close to that. If I remember right, the J numbers started at J97000. So if mine was J97334, that should have made it # 335. This was all told to me in the mid 80's when I bought the thing out of a gas station parking lot next to the old Myrtle Beach High School. I may be remembering the J number stuff wrong...or it was told to me wrong. Mine was just a basic Bird. PS, PB,FJ5 with black bench seat interior. 3.55 8 3/4. Check with Doug, as he may have that info around somewhere, if I did in fact send it to his dad.

The J97 number wouldn't work after it reached J97999 ,only six digits and it would take seven to for 1920 estimated production.

Like I said, I may be remembering that wrong. If it's true that the J number is actually the build order, it should still work when it jumps.
J97999
J98000
J98001, etc.
Again, I'm not sure if that is what the j number means. Hopefully, Doug can educate us all.