first time mopar owner questions

yannick47 · Feb 25, 2012

i bought an 1974 roadrunner with a 440 and 4 speed in it and rebuild the engine /trans...anywas just wanted to clear some stuff up
1)smell of petrol while driving ..it not realy bad but yeah is this normal??
2)vibration...the car vibrates quite a bit...while crusing on the highway etc 4th gear 50mph..gets a little shaky again is this normal??
3)driver side foot panel gets quite warm too normal??

thanks

mopar367 · Feb 25, 2012

Well, those first two things are actually why i love my mopar lol. I would just make sure your not leaking gas, sometimes if your just running rich it can smell like that. Also about shaking while driving at that speed, that doesn't sound right. Shaking at a stoplight is normal from a big cam maybe. Are your tires new? Maybe there's a broken belt in one or something?

tpodwdog · Feb 25, 2012

none of those things are normal..

smell of petrol....you have a leak someplace

vibration....balance the tires...check for broken radial belt....check universal joints and front suspension

warm kick panel.... i dont think theres anything behind the kick panel to make it warm...maybe just the harness connector to the rear of the car, thats all i can think is behind there. does that car have headers on it???? perhaps heat is transferring throughout the front of the car because of that,,,if it has headers on it......

74 RR guys ....you may be able to help this dude better than i can

69clone · Feb 25, 2012

yannick47 said:
i bought an 1974 roadrunner with a 440 and 4 speed in it and rebuild the engine /trans...anywas just wanted to clear some stuff up
1)smell of petrol while driving ..it not realy bad but yeah is this normal??
2)vibration...the car vibrates quite a bit...while crusing on the highway etc 4th gear 50mph..gets a little shaky again is this normal??
3)driver side foot panel gets quite warm too normal??

thanks

Welcome, not familiar with 74's so i'm just guessing. Someone else who is experienced will probably know how to further help but anyways...
1. as far as smelling gas I don't know what to say, you shouldn't smell gas while driving maybe at idle but other than that...
2. vibration isn't normal. Is it only when speeds exceed 50? or does it happen at a certain RPM (engine related) or gear (trans related)?
3. I don't know what the foot panel looks like on 74' but I don't think there would be anything causing it to get warm?? Have you pulled it out to see if there is any wires running behind it?

marlabuck · Feb 25, 2012

:icon_salut:Sorry about the problems...no one likes to buy a car and have problems...but hey,you came to the right place...I just bought a 1973 Roadrunner and had numerous questions answered by the guys here and everyone has provided super help and invaluable tips...you sir are in good hands...Marla

72Satellite440 · Feb 25, 2012

yannick47 said:
i bought an 1974 roadrunner with a 440 and 4 speed in it and rebuild the engine /trans...anywas just wanted to clear some stuff up
1)smell of petrol while driving ..it not realy bad but yeah is this normal??
2)vibration...the car vibrates quite a bit...while crusing on the highway etc 4th gear 50mph..gets a little shaky again is this normal??
3)driver side foot panel gets quite warm too normal??

Smell of gas is most likely either from the connections in the rear of the car or the front -also inspect the lines running down the frame rail of the passenger side of the car.
If its the rear and common places is the filler gromet or the sending unit seal located on the tank itself & In the front check near the filter or any suspicious looking connections. Hey, even your carb could be leaking.

Vibration could be a # of things get the front jacked up and check for up and down(ball joint play) & side to side tie rod play...like some other guys said balance the tires

Also ive heard the 73/74 owners complain of the body mounts wearing out and it being a much stiffer drive with these replaced
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PTP-4-101-BL/

yannick47 · Feb 25, 2012

thanks for the reply's i got to checking the car up today morning
firslty i cant find any leaks ..inspected the lines running down the frame rail of the passenger side of the car.tank seal ...nothing..but the trunk has no seal ...its just a wooden board separating the trunk from the inside of the car could this cause the smell?
and about the vibration ....its not a really bad vibration but for eg if i hold the gear lever i can feel it vibrating quite well

heat on the foot panel ...i do have headers on could this be causing it???
again thanks for al the response

72Satellite440 · Feb 25, 2012

As for the heat problem - you could try some sort of sheild or even a good header wrap that could supress the heat for that driver side header.That carpet underlay may also be very worn..

The trunk seal shouldnt have anything to do with the gas fumes since the tank isnt open to the trunk unless theres some rust issues// double check with a really full gas tank....
when do you smell it?

I guess take care of the shaking issues one thing at a time- whatever shakes tighten it up...linkage loose ?

greenmonsta79 · Feb 26, 2012

Smelling the fuel, you could be running rich and your gonna smell fuel if your not used to driving a carburated vehicle alot of people can smell the fuel and think something is wrong. The heat is from the floor especially with headers I would get some heat shielding mat and install it under the carpet on the driver side and passenger foot area, the driveline you say you can feel it shaking through shifter? I would say improperly balanced driveshaft, u joints,or tires also check your engine and transmission mounts.

moparmarks · Feb 26, 2012

greenmonsta79 said:
Smelling the fuel, you could be running rich and your gonna smell fuel if your not used to driving a carburated vehicle alot of people can smell the fuel and think something is wrong.

Ding ding. Yep fuel is always evaporating on a carburated car unlike an injected car. Common even if not running rich.

jessipup · Feb 26, 2012

Don't worry at all about that trunk board as far as I know many cars did not come with anything seperating the trunk from the trunk. Just for grins you could replace the gas cap. But don't let the ripoffs on ebay get you for 25 bucks or something like that. I got one at napa and I think it was less than 5.00. They had to order it and that was a day or two it is a Stant just like they used when they were new
You also may take a peek at your charcoal cannister. weather it is full or not correctly plugged and lined, Mine has three elbows but only two were actually used on that model the third is supposed to be plugged.
If you ever completely stop smelling fuel you'll be pushing.

barbee6043 · Feb 26, 2012

vibration??? i bought a roadrunner once, the guy had rebuilt the engine, sounds, drove good, sold it to a fiend, he opened it up on i 40 (race testing), had big vibration. cracked open the engine, , the 440 had 6 regular rods and 2 six pack rods!!!!! yep it had vibration at speed!!! could be lots of things wrong, where would the list end????? BILL

yannick47 · Feb 27, 2012

greenmonsta79 said:
Smelling the fuel, you could be running rich and your gonna smell fuel if your not used to driving a carburated vehicle alot of people can smell the fuel and think something is wrong. The heat is from the floor especially with headers I would get some heat shielding mat and install it under the carpet on the driver side and passenger foot area, the driveline you say you can feel it shaking through shifter? I would say improperly balanced driveshaft, u joints,or tires also check your engine and transmission mounts.

yea this is me first tim e on a caburated car...and the smeels ist reall that badd just when i reach a traffic stop etc.....and about the vibration....2 of the exhaust mounts has broken(from 1 side) and im guess the previous owner welded the mounting onto the exhaust...and even the rear bracket(above the rear axl ...one of them the same problem has been welding on to he exhaust (hits the shockabosrber uner acceleration and deacceearin...:icon_axe:gueesing this is causing the hideous vibration???

yannick47 · Mar 7, 2012

any thoughts on ht exhaust being wielded on?

dangina · Mar 9, 2012

warm kickpanel would probably be from headers- depending on the headers their have been some where you can't even leave your feet on the floor because of the heat!

first time mopar owner questions

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