First Restore And Need Guidance

[kinghs95]

I Have a 1971 Plymouth satellite that with be a roadrunner clone. Right now I'm having to sand down the primer bc rust is coming thru it. This is my first project so I don't know a lot......but I have a 1978 440 big block I'm putting in it and I don't know how to make it work correctly with the car...also what all goes on the firewall of the car? And I have lots to the motor but I don't know what else I need besides distributor, waterpump, and lost after that.

 

[Seventy]

Your questions are kind of all over the place, lets start with some pictures of what you are starting with, and some specifics about the car you are starting with, like original engine size, tranny, disc brakes, power steering, etc???

What is your budget and what caliber car are you looking to have at the end of the money?

Depending if you car was a slant 6/318/383/400 car is going to change how much work its going to take to stuff the 440 in there, also how much its going to cost to acquire the parts to make it happen... I am not trying to discourage you but a really nice roadrunner or GTX (I would prefer) clone is going to be worth about $20K done (thats the moon), and depending on what you are starting with and want to end with it can easily cost you that times 1.5 to get there...

I would make it a gtx, I also know a guy selling a 440 gtx clone 1971 interior is all done, motor and tranny are all done, body work si done all jambed, just needs final paint to be perfect, has msd ignition, really nice 440, nice built tranny, he will take $10-12K for the car...

 

[kinghs95]

. I was told it had a 318 in it but was sold before I got it...the reason I'm doing the car is bc my grandpa died and he had one so I'm paying my respects. The motor is almost complete but needs things like water pump, fuel pump, distributor, and ect. Money is good but not crazy. It has a 4/11 rearend, but I have almost all the parts. But I was thinking of switching the rearend to 8 3/4. I want it to look like a show room car but I will drive it a lot.

 

[Bruzilla]

Welcome to the site, and it looks like you've got a lot of work ahead of you. I'll offer you the same advice I offer everyone, and that is don't worry about the bodywork until last. It can suck up every dollar you have and once they're gone you have nothing but a painted body to show for it, which kills morale and enthusiasm quickly. Also, if you've already got rust coming through the primer, it's very likely whoever did the primer did a really crappy job of prepping the body, so you're going to be constantly fighting rust issues as they pop up. Better to get other stuff done and attack the body issues all at once.

The first thing I would do is start getting the car put back together. Get the gas tank in, interior in, etc. The sooner you can get the car from the pile of parts stage to the sitting in it stage the sooner your enthusiasm will increase.

Next, for the 440, you're also going to need a big block transmission and maybe a driveshaft. As for what you'll need for the engine, there's a LOT if all you have is the engine itself. You need engine management items (carb, distributor, and ignition system), accessories (alternator, power steering pump, water pump, etc.), brackets, belts, bolts, and spacers for all those, pulleys, sender units for temp and oil pressure, bypass hoze nozzles, throttle brackets, springs, and mounts, kickdown lever, and an exhaust system. You're also going to need a set of Schumacher engine swap mounts (look at the Engine Swaps link on the right side of this page).

To be honest, I tried the "buy an engine and then all the parts" method, and it's a pain in the *** and can get expensive. I found the better approach is to find an old car or motorhome with a complete drive train in it, buy it, and pull the drive train out. That way you have most all of the parts and pieces you need.

 

[kinghs95]

[QUOTE=Bruzilla}
Thanks for all the help guys....I will update the progress, and ask about what else I need when I get there

 

[idrivemopar]

That looks like a fun project, and as Bruzilla said, see what you have first, that way you can plan and budget for what you need. May not be necessary to put it all back together, but at least lay out what you have and see what is missing. When I did my restoration, I did the body work first, yes, its the most expensive part of the restoration, however, if you want to go show room level, I think it makes sense to get the body done before moving on to the rest of the work, that way as you get funds to do other parts of the car, the body is ready to go and you can install as things get done and you can go at your own speed getting the rest done as your budget allows. I also think this makes sense because you mentioned rust coming through the primer, so I would strip it back down to bare metal and see whats really going on underneath before putting stuff back on the car.

 

[kinghs95]

Yeah I've already started stripping it down, and getting parts as I go. I plan on painting it and trying to restore everything myself, unless I'm not sure. It's just I don't know a lot of the names and especially the fact I'm putting a 78 motor 440 into a 71 that had a small block 318 lol.

 

[idrivemopar]

There are plenty of folks on here that have done small block to big block conversions, and I believe you may have to modify the k-frame mounting locations for a big block to sit properly since the small block locations are different. Hopefully someone will chime in on what you will need for the conversion. You might try searching on here as I have seen some threads on this but I haven't read them thoroughly.

 

[Homstead]

Great looking project! You have a lot of work in front of you but it`ll be worth it!

 

[kinghs95]

I have a question on water pump housing bolts, what sized bolts go where? Bc there are three different sizes

 

[super-bee_ski]

As Budnicks always states: "Fill your library before you fill your garage"

 

[waddisme]

I would make it a gtx, I also know a guy selling a 440 gtx clone 1971 interior is all done, motor and tranny are all done, body work si done all jambed, just needs final paint to be perfect, has msd ignition, really nice 440, nice built tranny, he will take $10-12K for the car...

Can you pm me about your friedns GTX clone please.
Thanks.

 

[Brandy]

Hi and welcome to FBBO! This the place to get ALL of the help you need. That looks like a nice body on your '71 and I hope that you have all of the nuts and bolts that came off of it. There will be many opinions about what to do, and how to do it as you begin your journey of restoration. Take everything with a grain of salt! Ask every question that you need to because I can guarantee you that it has been asked at least once somewhere on this forum. The search function up on the right top of the pages for each forum is very helpful to find and list all threads having to do with any question you might have. Post lots of pictures so we can get a sense of what it is you are dealing with and that will allow us to help you more better. I have a 1967 Coronet project and contrary to what Bruzilla said about what to do first I started with a running, driving , 100% complete car and completely disassembled it first. I did this because I had a plan of what I wanted to do, and the order that I wanted to do it in. That does not make him wrong! On the other hand I have done this before. Since this is your first go around I agree with Bru that you should get all of the loose stuff out of the car, lay it out and write down what you have. Make a list. This way you can then know for SURE what you might still need. If you do not plan to modify the car any, body wise, then by all means sand it down to see why it's rusting through and if no issues are found I would seal that puppy up with epoxy primer nice and tight and move on to cleaning, blasting, finishing and reinstalling stuff. Is it living inside, or outside? If outside then yes, getting it primed, sealed and painted is insurance against continued rust through. You see, a lot depends on your situation, level of skills, money, and the will to see it through to the END. It may take awhile.... and since this is so it seems helpful to me to be able to "visualize" what it will be like when finished and to work backward from there by making short lists of things that will need doing in order to get there. Taking it in small chunks of doable things will keep you from being overwhelmed. For instance: a list of a dozen things that need doing involving the interior, then one for stuff like wiring, and suspension, and engine management etc... you see. Break it down to smaller size and you will be more liable to keep at it. As I have gone along on the Express I have consulted my lists to look ahead an see what will be needed in later steps so that as I have the funds I can purchase stuff i'll need down the road. I am doing many body modifications and know i'll need leading, and filler and supplies for those tasks at some future point. My shelf's are filled with sand paper of all sorts, filler, chassis paint, a new paint gun and filters, cups etc.... see what I mean? Like I know i'll not get to suspension for ages yet but there is a Ford 9" and an 8 3/4 both sitting on the floor. Two trannies on the floor....etc. Anyway, good luck, hang in there and ask, ask, ask ,ask......lol. Ghost.