Grasshopper 69 RR Full Restoration

[Grashopr]

We are restoring a 69 RR here at the shop. The back story of the car is it has a ton of sentimental value to the owner who had it at another shop who sand blasted it, cut the quarters in half, got into the rockers and the gave up (took 3 years from the story I got to get that far). Tons of rust from siting in a field for decades. 383 4sp, special order color (S. P. Orange #3 is written on the rear speaker tray, looks like from the factory). After checking the car, it plumb-bob's out to factory specs, so thankfully it wasn't bent anywhere horribly, just rusted and chopped up. Here's a few pics from the build and current photo.



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More Build Pics



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[snakeyes]

hi and welcome to the site ,that's a nice 69 bird that your building and this is a nice build thread also I spy a few bike also in the back ground and ape hangers to :headbang:

 

[Grashopr]

Almost ready for bodywork at this point. So far we have replaced:
Trunk Pan
Trunk Extensions
Outer Wheel House Patch (x2)
Inner Whee House Patch (x2)
Rear Pass Frame Rail Repair
Front Drivers Frame Rail Replace
Outer Rockers (both)
Inner Rocker (drivers)
Floor Pan
Passenger Floor Pan
Rear Floor Pan Patch
Sail Panel
Firewall Half
Front Inner Fender Patch (driver)
Quarter Skins (both)
3 corners of rear window opening
Rear Lower Valance Panel
Tail Light openings
Floor Supports
Drivers Front Frame Rail Repair

We have 2 new fenders coming, we are repairing the doors and hood. Using 3 Deck Lids to make one good one. Hood is still an unknown at this point. All we haven't had to do work on so far is the roof, top half of the firewall and airbox, passenger inner fender and portions of the rear seat back support. Good Times!

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBB0 looking good so far keep us posted on your progress

 

[LeoD]

I know this car and its owner very well, it will be bitter sweet to see it out and about again! Looks great so far! I'm building a 6 pack super bee about a mile south of ya lol.

 

[Grashopr]

Snake; Yes, we build anything 'cool' down here.. Apes, Big Baggers, Top-Fuel stuff, Dirty Toys, almost anything.

Leo; I still need to stop by and see your place! We have shop nights on Friday after 1 if you end up getting bored and want to stop by. The RR is coming together nicely now that we have steel!! It won't be long til she's out tearing up the back roads again.

Thank you all for the welcome!

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Few pics of some of the 'other' stuff we do down here;

 

[Photon440]

Looking forward to seeing this build!

 

[kiwigtx]

Some good looking work happening on that Roadrunner :icon_thumright: Keep it up and don't forget to add pics as you go. :hello2:

 

[747mopar]

Welcome aboard!!! That's some really nice work your doing on that bird and the other builds look absolutely gorgeous.

 

[Ron 73]

Welcome aboard the site! That truly is quite a work in progress and looks like great work going in it!

 

[aldal]

Welcome....very nice work.

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO keep us posted on your progress

 

[LeoD]

Everything that has come out of this shop has been top notch. I stopped by there last spring, and was impressed with everything i seen. I'll have to stop by there again. My father stopped by there and gave you some leads on the metal, looks like my friend Ron S. really came through. This is such a cool project, and the owner is now my relation and a good friend. Can't wait to see it done!

 

[roadrunnerman]

Looking at all the other builds you've done, that bird is going to look stunning.

 

[67440chrg]

Great looking work. keep us informed.

 

[Grashopr]

Got the rest of the panels repaired, started into bodywork. Getting close to going on the rotisserie now for undercarriage detailing. Subframe connectors and torque boxes came in. Have 1 'decent' deck lid out of 3... but could really use a nice one. Pics:

 

[Ron 73]

Man, That does look sweet! straight as an arrow, Good luck bud you really have it looking good for sure!

 

[Grashopr]

Been a while since we updated this build. Car is on the rotisserie right now. Bottom is undercoated and all the steel work is finished. We've moved to finalizing the interior pieces and are ready to put her back on her wheels... but there's a problem. The original dash was hacked at some point to install a standard "knob" radio and the owner wants to go back to the "dial" radio. We've found another dash that's in WAY better shape, but we'll have to move the VIN tag from one dash to the other to complete it. Does anyone have a current source for the CORRECT Dash Tag Rivets? They aren't exactly rosette-style, but definitely aren't standard round rivets either I'd prefer to not have to cut both dashes and move the surrounding metal if at all possible. Thank you in advance!

 

[ralphie361]

To keep everything legit, i would use the donor dash to repair the radio area, it could destroy the value of the car if it appears that it has been tampered with. Also some states are pretty picky about vin tags. Like prison picky. Even though the logical way to fix it would be move the vin, I would shy away from it. Beautiful work by the way, that car wouldn't have made it without you!

 

[Grashopr]

I know what you're saying about the VIN tag.. rest assured we are NOT looking to alter any data on the car... but the radio isn't the only area that has problems on the stock dash, and the owner has tasked me with going to the new dash. Need to find a way to get the original rivets or we are going to be cutting an expensive dash to move the VIN tag (and even then we may not end up with it in the 1000% perfect OEM spot). I know there's places that make the rosette rivets that came on early chevy's. Someone's got to have a lead on the mopar rivets.