79 Roadrunner project

Posted By: MGC340

79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:40 AM

Building a new drag car and I thought I would share with you all. I bought this car last September thinking it would be some what race ready. However once the car was home we found out it needed much more work then we thought. It was tubbed poorly and had a 6 point cage. We removed the old cage and tubs and installed a four link with a 12 point cage. We still have the interior to finish but it's coming together nicely. The motor is a small block stroker with ported w-5''s, bullet cam, and Indy intake. "Small blocks ROCK!" Should be a nice little bracket car. Here are a few photos. I'll post more as the build goes!

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Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:42 AM

Funny car cage

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Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:43 AM

Cage....

Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:45 AM

Cage.....

Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:47 AM

Rear end is a Dana 60

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Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:48 AM

We got it sitting nice

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Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 04:50 AM

Removed the heavy k-member with the torsion bars and replaced it with a unit from checkered racing

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Posted By: dvw

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 05:13 AM

I see the roof off in the early pics. later pics I don't see any seems? I've always liked the F-Bodys. Trouble with mine is weight. Street car but 3700 w/o driver small block. What a Tank. Looks like you've got that problem solved. A note, a 70-72 Duster front bumper is a very close fit for a better looking narrowed rear bumper.
Doug

Posted By: E-Ticket

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 05:21 AM

I like the stance........

Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 05:27 AM

The roof is still off. Set it back on to see how things fit. Yes they are tanks! Hoping this one will be around 3000# with me in it race weight. I've heard the duster bumpers work but I was fortunate enought to find a pair of fiberglass front and rear bumpers for a volare that were used but in great shape! Also have a fiberglass hood and deck lid for it. The main weight saving was getting rid of that k member! That thing had to weigh 250 lbs!

Posted By: mopars4ever

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/18/15 05:27 AM

Love the look.

Posted By: John Burdine

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/19/15 05:05 AM

Keep us up to date with pics.

Posted By: Wv68charger

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/19/15 12:15 PM

Awesome looking ride! Always been a fan of F-body's myself and the fact you don't see many at the track

Posted By: TC@HP2

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/19/15 10:06 PM

Quote:

I see the roof off in the early pics. later pics I don't see any seems? I've always liked the F-Bodys. Trouble with mine is weight. Street car but 3700 w/o driver small block. What a Tank. Looks like you've got that problem solved. A note, a 70-72 Duster front bumper is a very close fit for a better looking narrowed rear bumper.
Doug

Roof picture looks like it was before the cage went in.

F bodies can be heavy. You have to find places to take weight out of them to lighten them, like the bumper bracing, door bars, impact absorbers, etc. I got my all steel paneled one down to 3100 and change without a driver, but it took a lot of little work in a a lot of places to get that.

I had a '74 Dart bumper on the front of my Aspen once. I didn't like how the lines didn't line up very well and I ditched for a gutted steel original unit. The rear unit from a Duster is a good idea though.

Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/20/15 02:59 AM

Yes the pic was taken of the car with the roof on before we installed the cage. We gutted the doors and took the crash bars out. And it will be all lexan except the windshield. We will see how light we can get it! It's a slow process building one but it's coming together slowly but surely.

Posted By: dvw

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/20/15 03:07 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I see the roof off in the early pics. later pics I don't see any seems? I've always liked the F-Bodys. Trouble with mine is weight. Street car but 3700 w/o driver small block. What a Tank. Looks like you've got that problem solved. A note, a 70-72 Duster front bumper is a very close fit for a better looking narrowed rear bumper.
Doug

Roof picture looks like it was before the cage went in.

F bodies can be heavy. You have to find places to take weight out of them to lighten them, like the bumper bracing, door bars, impact absorbers, etc. I got my all steel paneled one down to 3100 and change without a driver, but it took a lot of little work in a a lot of places to get that.

I had a '74 Dart bumper on the front of my Aspen once. I didn't like how the lines didn't line up very well and I ditched for a gutted steel original unit. The rear unit from a Duster is a good idea though.

Just to clarify. A front 70-72 Duster bumper for the rear. Might have to go in the press to take a little of the V out.
Doug

Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/20/15 04:09 AM

I was lucky enough to find these fiberglass volare bumpers

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Posted By: MGC340

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/20/15 04:11 AM

This is not my car. Just reference photos from the seller of the bumpers

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Posted By: dvw

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/20/15 01:25 PM

Quote:

I was lucky enough to find these fiberglass volare bumpers

Cut a 2" strip out of each side under the parking lights and reglass them back together. Then glass the bracket to the bumper, clean no bolts,no rubber body filler at the fender.
Doug

Posted By: Volare4life

Re: 79 Roadrunner project - 02/27/15 09:03 AM

this is a sexy build, and sweet score on the bumpers, I am planning on making and running fiberglass valances and bumpers for my '79, might do a nice aluminum "egg crate" grille if I can find a nice tig setup,

-Mike