1978 Plymouth Road Runner

1978 Plymouth Road Runner 6 BBL

I feel they ruined the Road Runner in 75 all it was a Fury with decals and in 76 they moved it to the F body. :head_smack:

I want to go into a direction that should have been done with a Road Runner instead of going to the F body line in 76. I would like to do a 78 Road Runner based on the B Body line. Plymouth ended the B body line in 75 with the Fury they should have continued it until 79 they dropped the Ball.

Chrysler picked up the B body for 75 for Cordoba which continued into 79.

Dodge continued the Charger line with the B body in 75 then into 78 with the Magnum which ended in 79.

Now by 1980 these cars were changed into the M body line except for the Fury and Magnum. The Cordoba and Mirada continued for a few years.

So I am thinking a 440 6 BBL/4 speed with a shaker hood. Painted in Burnt Orange, Police wheels in body color with poverty caps.

So what do y'all think?

It would one of a kind, ....that's for sure

something like this one? http://www.aspenrt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=615

something like this one? http://www.aspenrt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=615

More of a B body like my Doba

yha he is going for an A12 look

1978 Plymouth Road Runner 6 BBL

I feel they ruined the Road Runner in 75

You have a right to your opinion, but I totally disagree:HappyNewYear:

You have a right to your opinion, but I totally disagree:HappyNewYear:

They had the decal package down perfectly it looked great. But they dropped the ball in the performance dept. If you wanted to go fast you had to do it yourself no different than the 60's right? Wrong

In the 60's and early 70's you had a stronger performance engine base to start with than a weak 318 or 360 which came in these cars. Very few came with a 400 and they were way down on power.

The only one who tried to keep performance was Pontiac and Chevrolet while their power was down in the Z/28 and Trans Am just a little tweaking and a few cheap mods woke them up.

Everyone told me that adding a 360 intake and a Edelbrock carb would wake my 318 it didn't. These later B bodies are heavy and should all have a 400 Big Block at least.

Even the new Mustang GT,Camaro and Challenger are a big waste as far as performance go. Yeah they handle better get decent gas mileage but they are smaller than my Doba and weigh as much.

Gotta get the 340 valvetrain rebel!

I've been obsessed with the latter B body for some time. Little remembered was the '75 and '76 240hp 400 - had the 440 magnum heads I think - works out to about 310 'gross' hp. Even the '76 Lean Burn with a mild cam made 210hp - ten warmer than the revived 455 T/A of that year.

To my great regret, I've never been able to track down a magazine road test the era - I'd bet they would e.t. in the 16s with the 3.21 rear - pretty tough for '76.

I think it would be awesome if you created a 'phantom' Plymouth Sport Fury Roadrunner out of your Cordoba. Give it black out grille and window trim - some of those 6.5" color keyed urethane styled wheels. Challenge would be to create different side marker and grille design - maybe use a Magnum trunk and taillights.

I think a 240hp "lean burn" 400 without catalytic converters would actually be cooler because it's more plausible - a real fooler people would think was a bone stock rarity. Get a 3.55:1 axle and it'll be snappy enough. Police spec 440 would be perfectly plausible too, but I vote for the 400.

Man rebel, get started!

Gotta get the 340 valvetrain rebel!

I've been obsessed with the latter B body for some time. Little remembered was the '75 and '76 240hp 400 - had the 440 magnum heads I think - works out to about 310 'gross' hp. Even the '76 Lean Burn with a mild cam made 210hp - ten warmer than the revived 455 T/A of that year.

To my great regret, I've never been able to track down a magazine road test the era - I'd bet they would e.t. in the 16s with the 3.21 rear - pretty tough for '76.

I think it would be awesome if you created a 'phantom' Plymouth Sport Fury Roadrunner out of your Cordoba. Give it black out grille and window trim - some of those 6.5" color keyed urethane styled wheels. Challenge would be to create different side marker and grille design - maybe use a Magnum trunk and taillights.

I think a 240hp "lean burn" 400 without catalytic converters would actually be cooler because it's more plausible - a real fooler people would think was a bone stock rarity. Get a 3.55:1 axle and it'll be snappy enough. Police spec 440 would be perfectly plausible too, but I vote for the 400.

Man rebel, get started!

Welcome KingElvis.

400 for these cars are a rarity for sure.But there is no way I would put a stock engine in this car.Which I can get with the K member. I like the 440 6 bbl for the wow factor.

I may use Police wheels or go 17 inch Eagle Alloys 211 I'm not sure yet. here is a Picture of what I have so far. I don't want this exact shade it has more of a candy look to it.

The only way to get rid of the side marker lights for the front is to go earlier header panel or have this one modified with fiberglass.

So KingElvis I doubt this will get built.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s102/old_tired_rebel/Cordoba/cordoba_mod_semi-final.png

There is no such thing as a 440 magnum head despite their being toted in the ads

There is no such thing as a 440 magnum head despite their being toted in the ads

Dang it there goes the new heads for my 310 4 cyl.

Dang it there goes the new heads for my 310 4 cyl.

those make tons of power even without the special heads:HappyNewYear:

those make tons of power even without the special heads:HappyNewYear:

Well I guess that ends my special V-20 swap.:rolling:

There is no such thing as a 440 magnum head despite their being toted in the ads

Looking at specs from NHRA, the 440 police and 400 with dual exhaust had higher lift cam so it could have been just valvetrain with the same basic heads.

Welcome KingElvis.

400 for these cars are a rarity for sure.But there is no way I would put a stock engine in this car.Which I can get with the K member. I like the 440 6 bbl for the wow factor.

I may use Police wheels or go 17 inch Eagle Alloys 211 I'm not sure yet. here is a Picture of what I have so far. I don't want this exact shade it has more of a candy look to it.

The only way to get rid of the side marker lights for the front is to go earlier header panel or have this one modified with fiberglass.

So KingElvis I doubt this will get built.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s102/old_tired_rebel/Cordoba/cordoba_mod_semi-final.png

See the appeal of the police wheels - maybe you could find some of those 8" Aspen Super Coupe wheels.

You could just black out the grille vanes and chrome trim - get some roadrunner adhesive graphics and tape stripes and fool everybody. I love it.

I hear you on the 318. Chrysler just never had a 'hot' version of the 318 - 4bbl version of later seventies and eighties was no great shakes.

The 400 was actually standard on the Cordoba I think in '77 - but many came through with the economy option of the 318

Personally, I like this idea. When I was a kid and had my '76 Charger I always wanted to do a "what if" build on it as a Charger R/T. 440/6 4 speed, Dana. Alas, the car was scrapped as it turned into a rolling pile of rust. Can't save 'em all. But maybe one of these days I can relive the dreams of youth. Go for it, I say!

Personally, I like this idea. When I was a kid and had my '76 Charger I always wanted to do a "what if" build on it as a Charger R/T. 440/6 4 speed, Dana. Alas, the car was scrapped as it turned into a rolling pile of rust. Can't save 'em all. But maybe one of these days I can relive the dreams of youth. Go for it, I say!


I am I have started gathering parts I will need.

I am I have started gathering parts I will need.

Gonna give us a build thread?

Gonna give us a build thread?

Yeah once I get everything together. I will need to get another vehicle to drive before I can start.

Theres no 80 Magnum. Mirada? Yes, Magnum, no!
The 400 was never standard, the 318 was, 360 first notch up and 400 being the biggest. P codes were the only other option to the 400's. 360's had 2 and 4 bbl. options and there was a few, depending on where you lived depended on what you could get.

Being the "Smog Years", the power levels sucked on every car produced. Bar none.

Old Rebel, the 318 is an under powered people mover in the B bodies which needed a jump in the comp. ratio (2pt.'s min.) and a reasonable cam to compolment. Just to start along with the 4bbl.

If you just added the 4bbl. and expected anything more than the most mildest gain, you were not on the same page as everyone else.


Just a FYI, My Magnum (79) with a '78 400 is only updated with a orange box and headers and a added 3.55 gear set. It ran a garbage mid 15 at the best. A swap to a AFB 750 didn't help matters at all.

So I am thinking a 440 6 BBL/4 speed with a shaker hood. Painted in Burnt Orange, Police wheels in body color with poverty caps.

So what do y'all think?

Go for it. I know a fella around my way that did just that minus the shaker hood. He actually popped on a , er, crap! I can't remember if it was a Challenger hood scoop or a A body hood scoop.

Dang! I hate when that happens. Anyway's, it's on a Magnum, white with black accents. Nice ride.

Theres no 80 Magnum. Mirada? Yes, Magnum, no!
The 400 was never standard, the 318 was, 360 first notch up and 400 being the biggest. P codes were the only other option to the 400's. 360's had 2 and 4 bbl. options and there was a few, depending on where you lived depended on what you could get.

Being the "Smog Years", the power levels sucked on every car produced. Bar none.

Old Rebel, the 318 is an under powered people mover in the B bodies which needed a jump in the comp. ratio (2pt.'s min.) and a reasonable cam to compolment. Just to start along with the 4bbl.

If you just added the 4bbl. and expected anything more than the most mildest gain, you were not on the same page as everyone else.


Just a FYI, My Magnum (79) with a '78 400 is only updated with a orange box and headers and a added 3.55 gear set. It ran a garbage mid 15 at the best. A swap to a AFB 750 didn't help matters at all.



Go for it. I know a fella around my way that did just that minus the shaker hood. He actually popped on a , er, crap! I can't remember if it was a Challenger hood scoop or a A body hood scoop.

Dang! I hate when that happens. Anyway's, it's on a Magnum, white with black accents. Nice ride.

I can say in all honesty I did expect more,but I wasn't expecting a lot at one time. A decent burnout would have been nice. Which I have been able to do with past 318 Mopars. But the car is too heavy.

A 440 or 451 Stroker is the right choice for this car. It doesn't have to have a 6 BBL. But I do want tire shredding performance and I will put it in this car one way or another. I do plan on taking weight out of the car.

Theres no 80 Magnum. Mirada? Yes, Magnum, no!
The 400 was never standard, the 318 was, 360 first notch up and 400 being the biggest. P codes were the only other option to the 400's. 360's had 2 and 4 bbl. options and there was a few, depending on where you lived depended on what you could get.

Being the "Smog Years", the power levels sucked on every car produced. Bar none.

Old Rebel, the 318 is an under powered people mover in the B bodies which needed a jump in the comp. ratio (2pt.'s min.) and a reasonable cam to compolment. Just to start along with the 4bbl.

If you just added the 4bbl. and expected anything more than the most mildest gain, you were not on the same page as everyone else.


Just a FYI, My Magnum (79) with a '78 400 is only updated with a orange box and headers and a added 3.55 gear set. It ran a garbage mid 15 at the best. A swap to a AFB 750 didn't help matters at all.



Go for it. I know a fella around my way that did just that minus the shaker hood. He actually popped on a , er, crap! I can't remember if it was a Challenger hood scoop or a A body hood scoop.

Dang! I hate when that happens. Anyway's, it's on a Magnum, white with black accents. Nice ride.


Beg to differ rumblefish:

Read em and weep.

Would acknowledge many Cordoba's actually came through with something smaller. 400 4bbl appears to be largest engine available, since the dual exhaust 400 was cancelled that year - apparently due to the necessity of catalytic converter.

One thing people forget about the Lean Burn settup - at least as originally conceived for '76 - it allowed Chrysler to throw away the A.I.R. pump, the EGR system AND catalytic converters. Look at the 210hp 400 of '76 - it was stronger than the 455 Pontiac T/A engine, rated at 200hp.

Here's the '75 (I think applies to '76 too) 360 was standard.

Looking at specs from NHRA, the 440 police and 400 with dual exhaust had higher lift cam so it could have been just valvetrain with the same basic heads.


Same valves, rockers and shafts, just different valve springs

Here's the '75 (I think applies to '76 too) 360 was standard.

360 was a optional engine not Standard. 318 was the base engine. How do I know? I also had a 1976 Doba with a 318/904 trans and T Tops. There was 3 different 360 option engines,360 2
BBL,360 4 BBL,and 360 4 BBL High Performance the last 2 are not the same engines.

This is from my first post.

Now by 1980 these cars were changed into the M body line except for the Fury and Magnum. The Cordoba and Mirada continued for a few years.

[quote=rumblefish360;43062]Theres no 80 Magnum. Mirada? Yes, Magnum, no![quote/]

Now I posted from my first post where did I say there was a 80 Magnum?

To my great regret, I've never been able to track down a magazine road test the era - I'd bet they would e.t. in the 16s with the 3.21 rear - pretty tough for a 76.



Not even the 400 helped these monsters out. Car and Driver tested a 75 Runner with the 400 and 3.21's out back...car ran a 17.1. I have a copy of the article, I'll scan it on Tuesday and post it up.

[QUOTE=old tired rebel;41874]

I feel they ruined the Road Runner in 75 all it was a Fury with decals and in 76 they moved it to the F body. :head_smack:

Ouch!! That's going to leave a mark. I happen to think that they are a very good looking car that is the last to have the true Road Runner vin and the last Road Runner to have a big block.:yes:

[QUOTE=old tired rebel;41874]

I feel they ruined the Road Runner in 75 all it was a Fury with decals and in 76 they moved it to the F body. :head_smack:

Ouch!! That's going to leave a mark. I happen to think that they are a very good looking car that is the last to have the true Road Runner vin and the last Road Runner to have a big block.:yes:

I agree they are a great looking car but like all auto makers they all dropped the ball. Why couldn't a 75 RR be had with a 400? The Cordoba had small and big blocks until 1978. There wasn't anything around that could compete with Pontiac until 79 which very few T/A could be had with a 400.

That 75 Runner is beautiful!!!

Everything with performance was scrapped after 73. Just about everything from 74 to 80 was choked down to nothing. It was pretty much the end of the muscle car error as we knew it.

The gas crisis was in full bloom and the government was cracking down on all the auto makers to stem the pollution coming from the tail pipes. Along come the smog heads, lower compression, cats, and unleaded gas. They tried to make up for it by dolling up the cars with spoilers, decals, and selling the cars with names that were once high performance models(Road Runner, Charger, Firebird, Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, and let not talk about 74 - 78 Cobra mustang.

A 440 or even a stoked out 360 would be great in that 75 RR. Definitely would be Cool. and turn that lead sled into a real tire fryer.

[QUOTE=droptop;71884]

I agree they are a great looking car but like all auto makers they all dropped the ball. Why couldn't a 75 RR be had with a 400? The Cordoba had small and big blocks until 1978. There wasn't anything around that could compete with Pontiac until 79 which very few T/A could be had with a 400.

They were available with the 400 HP. That is the engine in my '75. It was sold late in '74, so there is no cat. conv. true dual exhaust, and a dual snorkel air cleaner. There are no "Unleaded Gasoline Only" stickers on the gas gauge or on the rear bumper. It even had the larger diam. fuel filler neck for the leaded fuel filler nozzels. The engine responded very well to some bolt on parts that woke it up quite well. I used 906 heads, cam, intake, carb, and exhaust manifolds from a '69 Road Runner. It is no quarter miler, but I am not afraid to pull out in front of someone on the highway either.

That 75 Runner is beautiful!!!

Thank-you.