Restoring my 1969 Roadrunner Dream Car

Hey everyone. I've been hanging out on ForBbodiesonly and 69Roadrunner a lot. Been lurking around on here and figured I'd post my restoration thread here also. I've been wanting a 1969 Roadrunner since my kindergarten years and finally got the chance to buy one. I'm 20 years old so young by everyone's standards but I've been working on cars and motorcycles most of my life. I own a 68.5 swb c10 that I've been working on for the past 2 years.(Dont worry I'm more of a mopar guy then a chevy ) My dad used to have a 69 runner back in the day and it was his storys that made me come to love the roadrunner. He'd always brag about it. His was sold in the late 70's early 80's and wrapped around a telephone pole the week after he sold.Story goes the guy was drag racing the car and lost control of it.
I'll start you off with a picture of my dads runner from back in the 70's

So on to mine. Apparently she was saved from the crusher and/or turning into a parts car two or more times before I scooped her up and saved her. Originally a 383/4 Speed car. I plan on going with the same color as my dads (Sunfire Yellow) Because I have dreamed of having his car forever(Minus the post.. I like the Hardtop with the roll down windows) I dig the old school look so I'm going for keeping the car mostly original looking other then having some decent audio, disc brakes, and some other small stuff. So I will most likely go with rally wheels, redline tires, and some caps. Although if I can get my hands on some slots like my dad's had I'd love that.








The car has a 3.91 8 3/4 with the sure grip Unit. I was told that the car is believed to be an A31 Option car but cant verify that due to the lack of a fender tag or a build sheet(Which I looked all over for)


I stripped the car of it's interior and begun cleaning and finding spots I have to patch (Which I'm glad to say the floor pans need no replacing other then 1 or 2 puncture holes from god knows what)


Cleaned up the Dash and bought this cluster for $30. Tempd it up for a picture and back in the box it goes

Bonus picture of my c10

Now a little background on the roadrunner. the guy I bought it from gave me the info of the guy he got it from . Got some information. Car hasn't been on the road since 1983 or 1993 due to a front end crash(explains the sattelite hood/fenders). It had resided in Torrance CA most of its life (My birth town ). Also where my dad lived and owned his roadrunner. My dads was sold in the late 70's and after it was sold got wrapped around a telephone pole.. Some weird connections going on here. We where meant to be <3 also a member on 69roadrunner.net had owned the car for a short period of time before selling it to the guy I bought it from. Then I found out the owner of surf city garage had bought the car as a parts car but never used it. I found the lady who owned it before that but have yet to speak with her. I am a lot farther along in the car now. But just wanted to get you guys a little caught up first.

Also while I was at my dads I snapped a pic of the 383 Engine for the roadrunner. 5 hours on it from the factory. Way back in 1970 My grandfather worked in detroit on all the big mopar cars and got this out of my dads roadrunner. Had a pinhole in the block where coolant would spill out(Easy fix). Chrysler replaced my dads motor and let them keep this one. Was suppose to go in my grandfathers truck but he never got to it. All the internals are brand new including the block/heads. Just been sitting in the garage for 30-40 years Also a 455 back there somewhere

Got the roof stripped then sealed in Rust Bullet

Pulled all the Dash stuff out








Put the window back in when I was done just so the interior of the car isn't out in the open. No cancer or any real pitting in the whole firewall area. So just gotta clean it all up and give it the same treatment as the roof.

Someone in the past put in a 318/904 combo. I pulled that and sold them both for $100


Good bye and good riddance

Well got to work removing the inner fenders and when I couldnt find any spot welds I started getting a little frustrated. That's when I looked and saw the whole piece had a bunch of weld beads holding it together. Somebody did some shotty ass work on this front end. They didnt even clamp the metal together tight when they welded it together.

So off to work I went with a pry bar and grinder


I dont know what to do with this piece above. It's obviously been taken off then rewelded on judging by the big gap in the metal. Guess I might have to remove it and put it on the right way? any insight on how. I'm pretty sure it's probably not in its stock location has the people who did the front end work on this car where hacks.

Also dont really know what to do about this yet. Someone hacked it up
the other side looks normal

Also attempted to straighten out the front of the frame rail. Got it more less where it needs to be. But I think I might just replace both sides about 6 inches back. Do they make replacement frame rails for the front?




Cleaned up the excess welds and metal.

That's about how much I've gotten done in the month I've owned the car other then getting the clean title put in my name.
I'm missing the Fender Tag and Broadcast sheet so if anyone has any leads on this car the vin is RM23H9E122872

Cool project

Well other then having decided to take the car to frame shop I removed the other inner fender today. Luckily it was just spot welded so it was a little easier.
The bottom of the radiator support on the other hand was a little more of a pain in the ass. It was welded to the frame in some tight locations but I was able to get it off.






Also took her off the stands for the first time in a good month or so

Hey looks like a good project, are you checking to make sure everything is true on the suspension points? I would advise doing that as well, straight might not be straight if you know what i mean Looks good man, good luck!

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Hey looks like a good project, are you checking to make sure everything is true on the suspension points? I would advise doing that as well, straight might not be straight if you know what i mean Looks good man, good luck!

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Thanks. Yeah Everything on the frame looks to be in spec other then the bent front of the frame rail. I just want to put it on an frame alignment machine for peace of mind. Would hate to go putting fresh metal on it to realize nothing lines up.