NEW to FBBO old MOPAR FAN

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

Well, I have been checking out this site for a months now and have read many of the posts. A lot of great people with a huge amount of Mopar knowledge with the same interests as mine (B Body Mopars) I'm happy to join. At the present time I own (5) Mopars.

My pride and joy is my 73 Roadrunner GTX with a 426 Hemi (Petty Blue). I'm the 2nd owner of this car. I purchased this car from Las Vegas Dodge back in 1976 while I was going to college. The car was my daily driver for over (6) years until I was out of college and had the money to start a restoration on the car. I installed the 426 Hemi and Dana 60 rear end during the two year restoration. I have completed most of the work myself. I love the Hemi and I like the fact that I built a car that is unique. My only regret is I should have kept the original 440 that came with the car.
Now that it has been (27) years since the restoration, it’s time for a refresh. But the car still holds it’s own at local shows.

I also have a 1933 Plymouth (5) window coupe Street Rod 318 motor 727 auto, 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Roadster, 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT-8,
2007 Dodge RAM 2500 Cummins Mega-CAB.

Well I'm looking forward learning more about these awsome Mopars.

Paul C.

 

[Histoy]

Welcome! Your car looks awesome, especially considering that it has a 27 year old restoration.

 

[Redhorse719]

Welcome to the site. Your RR is fantastic.

 

[72Satellite440]

Nice RR , Never seen that blue/red stripe combo before

If you would also like a alternate site id check out http://www.roadrunnernest.com/
Theyve allways been great help

72Satellite440

 

[69 Runner]

Sweet.

Welcome

 

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

Thx. for the acknowledgement/complements.

The members of this site have awesome cars.

 

[Drifter]

Welcome. great RR

 

[detmatt1]

Welcome to the site, you will fit right in. Nice Runner!

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Welcome !!I like that you retained the A/C on the hemi,cool:bootyshake:

 

[roadrunnerman]

welcome.i don't think i've seen too many other people put a 426 into that body style.was it a tight fit?nice car,i had a 74 RR that was blue w/black stripe.

 

[moparstuart]

welcome

 

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

To get the Hemi into the engine bay without interference with the power brake unit and allow valve cover removal, I had to move the engine forward 1 1/2 inches. Which meant I had to make a custom oil pan, motor mounts and notch the K-member. One of the hardest challenges was to get the factory A/C to fit with the large Hemi air cleaner. Some new brackets were fabricated and some original ones were modified.

My goal when I installed the Hemi was to retain every option that came with this car from the factory (Power Brakes, Power Steering and Air Conditioning). I wanted it to look 100% factory stock. Just the way Mother Mopar would/should have done it.

 

[racedodge]

great looking car.. i love 73/74 RRs. I am currently working on my 73RR car. Love the non-traditional hemi swap too.. very original. I second your regret on not keeping the original 440 :sad6: welcome to the site

 

[696pack]

To get the Hemi into the engine bay without interference with the power brake unit and allow valve cover removal, I had to move the engine forward 1 1/2 inches. Which meant I had to make a custom oil pan, motor mounts and notch the K-member. One of the hardest challenges was to get the factory A/C to fit with the large Hemi air cleaner. Some new brackets were fabricated and some original ones were modified.

My goal when I installed the Hemi was to retain every option that came with this car from the factory (Power Brakes, Power Steering and Air Conditioning). I wanted it to look 100% factory stock. Just the way Mother Mopar would/should have done it.

Welcome.

Looks like a fun car.

Of course hindsight is 20/20 but if you would have used an offset brake booster set up as the factory did with the 71s with the Hemi and power brakes you would have saved yourself a lot of work. Also, there is now a special A/C compressor bracket made that mounts/hides it under slung for six packs and Hemis.

 

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

696pack,
Times have changed. There is a wide selection of Mopar parts available now compared to 25 years ago when I performed this engine swap. In our spare time we had to scrounge the local junkyards, swap meets or subscribe to Hemmings for all of our parts. No Internet, E-Bay or Car Forums to gather info from or parts availability. To restore a Mopar back then you had to search for the best used parts and refurbish them yourself. Finding vinyl, plastic and rubber pieces that were in decent shape was a challenge. It was tuff to build a show quality Mopar to compete against the Ford and Chevy cars since everyone made reproductions for their cars.

When I put the 68 Hemi into the Road Runner back in 1980 most of the car guys criticized the fact that I put the hard to find Elephant Motor in a "Boat B-body" and not an E-body. At the time most of the Mopar crowd favored the E-bodies and those were the cars that got most of the attention. But I really wanted to build a unique car.

I plan on retiring real soon (January 1). I have some pressing Honey Do's to do around the house. Then I will be free to play with my cars. I would like to freshen up the RR one more time. I’m even considering taking out the Hemi and putting back a year correct (73) 440 and putting the Hemi in my 33 Plymouth Coupe.
Any thoughts?

 

[696pack]

Your preaching to the choir as I have been fooling with old cars since 1968.

Not critizing you or your car.

Your right a lot more resources at hand today.

My comments were mainly pointed at you hard work regarding making the engine movement that if someone would have helped you that knew something about these cars when new would have been able to let you know that the factory parts were produced to fit that Hemi in your 71 up B body with power brakes without moving the engine.

As far as thoughts about what you should do with the car/engine/street rod, they are your cars, do what makes YOU happy not what other think you should do.

 

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

696pack
No offence taken, I was just commenting on how things have changed over the years. I know that it takes alot of time and money to restore our cars. Probably more expensive today, But I think the cars out there today are so much nicer (much more expensive to build)than they were 25-30 years ago. Mostly due to all of the parts and technology available to the enthusiast. I appreciate the acknowledgement of the work it takes to build these cars.
thx.

 

[MarPar]

Sweet GTX 73!!

the fuselage b-body has been growing on me the past few years and you built the kind of car i would build if i were to get one.

Bravo!!! :icon_kidra:

oh by the way...
:worthless_threadmore)

haha!! we love pics @ FBBO!!!!

 

[Meep-Meep]

That's quite a unique car you got there and looks like a nice job. Welcome.

 

[440gtx]

Welcome great looking car