If it's clunking when making turns you may want to add some differential additive assuming it's a Suregrip.

If it's clunking when making turns you may want to add some differential additive assuming it's a Suregrip. [/quote]

I agree that is usually the "fix" for the clutch type Suregrip. I don't know what the dealer was doing back then for a repair, but they would keep the car for days, waiting on parts!
I put an "open" rear end in it for while, and then a 3.23 Suregrip from a 69 RR (489 case) which is still in the car today. It will need a rebuild or replace though, as it doesn't always pull with both tires.

Thanks,
Mark

great story.

I will be starting on the car soon and I was wondering how you guys are stripping / prepping the area under the cowl louvers? Is this accessable after the dash is out through vents ?

Thanks,
Mark

On my 69 Dart, the underside of the cowl was accessible with the dash out.
I imagine it's similar on the b bodies.

I was hoping that was the case.
Thanks,
Mark

We ran the 470" engine I built for the car on the dyno back in Oct. It's pretty stout for what it is.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2396623/1.html
So, I am going to do some tranny and rear end upgrades before I put it in the car. I don't want to blow the trans.
So I will start on the body.
I need to keep the car moving under it's own power as long as possible, since I work by myself most of the time, and my lot in front of the garage is not level, and in fact uphill . Another challenge .

Mark

I love the current color. What is wrong with the trunk and quarters? Repairs under the paint?

The current color is 72 Corvette Elkhart Green . I painted it with lacquer. (1981) The last color coats were cut with clear, then top coated with the clear. It changed the factory color quite a bit, almost candy like in the sun. I had recently painted a friends Corvette and I liked the color.
The trunk was rusted through and I covered damage in fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. It has held up well, but I am ready to do it right now. I just started removing that old material in chunks and the holes are now easy to see. The quarters were badly rusted as well, and the repairs made have held up well, but the car deserves much better. I have new AMD parts now to do it right.
It was a daily driver, and never garaged until 1982 after the repaint, it came inside.


Thanks,
Mark

Old pictures out in the sunlight when the repaint was still in good shape.
It's been this color for so long my friends don't remember the original color on the car !

Mark

These pics show the need for the new parts. In 1981, the RR was showing the signs of having had three teens driving it, plus sitting outside. It still ran good, but the interior, paint, door hinges etc. were pretty bad. Mom had driven it looking this way for long enough, Dad bought her a new car, and they gave the RR to me. I fixed up as economically as I could. Having just started a very small bodyshop business and time and money were scarce. My dad worked for a chemical company and I was given some products free for "field testing" . Epoxy resin, various primers, and a urethane clear that he formulated, among other useful materials. I used some of these in the RR repairs as experiments in rust repair.

Mark

Dad had good taste in cars.

I have made some progress on the old road runner. It's a start. My goal is to replace the rusted panels with new ones, repair others and paint it back original color. New interior, (seat covers already done) and try out the 470 engine. Because I live in a rural area and plan on driving the car, a full rotisserie restoration doesn't work for me. The road I live on is not good, to say the least. I already have to trailer one car out in order to preserve the underside detailing.
Mark

Cool story and a neat project!

When I was in HS (early '80's) I had a friend who's parents had a V code '70 'Cuda. They had bought it in '71 or '72. The Dad liked fast cars (or at least looked fast) but it had never been anything more than family transportation. It was used for family vacations and the Mom used it for her daily for a number of years. The 'funny' part about that was the 'Cuda had manual steering and she stood 5' even and weighed maybe 100 lbs soaking wet. At some point a 383 4bbl was swapped in, but all the parts off the original engine had been kept.

Last time I saw my friend and the car was about 1990. The 'Cuda was just sitting and he was insisting he was gonna restore it.

Went past the house in 2011 and not only was the 'Cuda long gone, but so was the whole dang house! Never did find out what ultimately happened to the car or my friend.

Thanks Satilite 73.
I hope to drive and enjoy this car when it is done. Here are a few more pics of the work being done.
Mark

Nice work!

Very impressive,works looking great!Good luck!

Thanks JERICOGTX !
I wish it is was a 4 speed !

Mark

Thanks rdrnr6970,
It great to hear positive feedback from guys on the board !
So many very nice cars here.
Mark

great job. You're this far into it...why not do a 4 speed sway. Keep the original auto stuff tucked away.