after 46 years - finally getting at it

Bought this '69 RR in '73. Drove it that summer then pulled the motor in the fall for a rebuild. Had it running the next summer but broke a pushrod. Repaired it over the winter and back on the road the next summer but had more issues. Didn't have it back on the road again till '84 but blew the motor up. Back on the road in '85 with a borrowed motor which got sold and pulled. Moved out west in '86 and family and life took priority till a few years back. I stripped the car around 2014 and had the front end blasted. And that's how it sat till 2 weeks ago. For years I've been trying to find a good sheet metal guy. I knew who I wanted but never seemed to be able to get hold of him - till last summer. He came and looked over the car and said he's take it on sometime in early 2019. He called in mid February and said he's be ready for it in March. I knew it wanted it stripped and epoxy primed but had been busy/procrastinating all that time. So, under the gun a buddy and I trailered it and ran it up to the dipper who turned it around in three days. Then to the painter who primed it and gave it back yesterday. Today we took it and all the new sheet metal to a man who ranks right up there with the top sheet metal guys in North America. I am absolutely elated that there is now some light at the end of a very long tunnel. Most parts have been restored, repaired, replaced or bought so although it will still have to go for body and paint work, I'm on the downslope !!

What about the drivetrain?
What's it going to get?

This was originally a base model 383, 4-speed, bench seat car. I pulled the correct '69 Plymouth bucket seats out of a wrecked Sport Satellite back in '73 and they are in such good shape with only minor wear and tear that I can't bring myself to recovering them or the rears. The motor is a 440 based 528 stroker - 440Source kit, Indy EZ1 MW heads, Lunati 600 lift solid roller, HS rockers. Planning to put EFI on it. Centerforce diaphram clutch. 18 spline gearbox. Caltracs going out back - springs moved inboard. The mini tub is part of the sheet metal work being done so I won't order the new rear end till that's done and wheels and sizes have been determined. probably going to go with a DTS or Moser Dana. Car was originally Y2 but going with either a factory orange or a House of Kolor "toxic orange"

One or the other ...

sexy!

Those two pics are of some STELLAR stuff!

Sounds like it is one heck of a powerful fun car done up exactly how you want it. very nice.

Tim

Very nice!

Good for you. Just for perspective I was born in June of 1974 sooo yeah.

That is cool! hope you get it done in good time and done right. then you can have some fun!

What's up with the HUUUUGE intake ports on the tops of the firewall?

twin turbos !!!

Good for you. Sounds like its going to be done right and the combo sounds like its going to be a blast to drive. I'm more a fan of the factory orange, if our votes count at all Keep us posted on the progress

Very nice. Can’t wait to see it finished

I like the Toxic Orange

Good to see "One of these days", finally come around.
If it ever gets here, I'm gonna be one busy fella.

A few tried and true suggestions from personal experience...

* Full US Cartool Chassis stiffening kit.
* Run a 5 or 6 speed and 4.10's
* Keep the car up off the ground enough so it can be driven on the open road at speed.
* Make sure it can run on pump premium with a larger than stock fuel tank.
* Run Nitto Drag Radials out back and at least a 149mph rated front tire. (you won't be as nervous when you stretch it up over 150mph on occasion.)
*spend a bit more now instead of regretting saving a few bucks here and there.
Besides, once it's done, you have no car payments.

Mine took just shy of 4 decades and 5 years for restoration. It seems a while back now, but I learned some of the above lessons along the way. It still keeps getting better each year.

have their frame connectors and torque boxes. Haven't decided on the other front end pieces yet.


Hemi 4-speed and probably a 3.54 gear. Motor is cammed for bottom end.


Yeah - nothing done to lower the car substantially. Stock style front end. Caltracs out back.


Stock style EFI tank.


Good tip - wheel/tire combo to be determined BUT will NOT be running big rims with rubber band tires - I like the look of a big tire wall on these older cars


For the past ten years of building the motor, trans and accumulating parts I have not cut corners (other than the 440Source stroker kit - which I have complete faith in). Money is no object. Wasted enough and got ripped off enough in the past. That's one reason its taken so long, seeking out the right qualified people to do the work I can't. This won't be a million dollar trailer queen but it won't be a cobbled together piece of crap either.

UPDATE:

So I got the car back last Friday after 6 months at the sheet metal guy's place. I pretty happy with the work. Last night I decided to answer two questions that have been on my mind ... 1) car the engine be installed from below with the headers attached (Dougs 452's)? and 2) will everything fit under the 6-pack scoop (RB with Indy single plane and a '70 air cleaner. Well, the answers are YES and YES . The scoop is 3" tall and it looks like I should have about 1" of clearance. The biggest hangup for the engine install was the dipstick tube but there was enough flex in it to go.

Dr Diff is apparently having 3.23 gears tooled up for a Dana 60. AndyF is supposed to have a set.

Kevin

Looks killer so far. When does it get paint?

I love that Toxic Orange color. Looking good, congrats.