68 RM23 Roadrunner, The rebuild of an old friend

HawkRod · Jun 25, 2017

Runner 68 said:
After all, what's a restoration without a coffee can with a few left overs. I call it weight reduction.

Who HASN'T been there? The extra fasteners just go in my nut and bolt bucket for the next time!

wagonman · Jun 25, 2017

First off Nice car. Secondly did you get your fastener issue straightened out? If not I have the Big Yellow Book from Parts Mix that I could let you borrow. It details most if not all the correct type and placement of just about everything on our B-bodys. I am about done with it. PM me if interested.

Runner 68 · Jun 26, 2017

wagonman said:
First off Nice car. Secondly did you get your fastener issue straightened out? If not I have the Big Yellow Book from Parts Mix that I could let you borrow. It details most if not all the correct type and placement of just about everything on our B-bodys. I am about done with it. PM me if interested.

Thanks Wagonman.
I think I have the fenders covered but thanks for the offer. I wouldn't want to borrow it as it may take me a while to get this thing back together. I just found it out there online and ordered a copy. I didn't know there was such a book. I should have bought one a while ago.

Runner 68 · Aug 19, 2017

Got the US Car Tools frame rail connectors welded in today. What a bitch to do it laying on your back. 12 gauge to 18 gauge didn't help. It should stiffen the old boy up fairly well. Some rotary file work is needed to clean up the chicken **** and runs but it went well overall. We didn't burn the car or the shop down. The Eastwood 135 MIG worked like a champ.

whayden2003 · Aug 20, 2017

Which kit did you buy from US tool? Just the sub frame or the whole shooting match.
Also. How do you like the Eastwood mig? I have a larger 175 miller that is community property(belongs to my uncle and I just use it most of the time). Been threating to buy a dedicated sheet metal rig.

whayden2003 · Aug 20, 2017

Also. How the heck do you guys keep these cars from just flash rusting??

conv67bdere · Aug 20, 2017

Runner 68 said:
Got the US Car Tools frame rail connectors welded in today. What a bitch to do it laying on your back. 12 gauge to 18 gauge didn't help. It should stiffen the old boy up fairly well. Some rotary file work is needed to clean up the chicken **** and runs but it went well overall. We didn't burn the car or the shop down. The Eastwood 135 MIG worked like a champ.

View attachment 503269 View attachment 503270 View attachment 503271

Oh I know how much fun you had welding upsidedown all to well . . . but we do what we need to do so we can complete our projects . . .

Keep us updated on your progress !

Runner 68 · Aug 20, 2017

whayden2003 said:
Which kit did you buy from US tool? Just the sub frame or the whole shooting match.
Also. How do you like the Eastwood mig? I have a larger 175 miller that is community property(belongs to my uncle and I just use it most of the time). Been threating to buy a dedicated sheet metal rig.

I just purchased the frame connectors. This car wont be a racer but plan on putting ~600 pounds + of torque in it just for fun. Being a hard top I didn't want to split the quarters in the door jambs again.

The Eastwood performed very well. We essentially ran roughly 16 feet of bead and only blew the the first breaker on the machine once (double protection on these). The setting was at about 30% for these thicknesses. Bought it on sale for $250. Would I do it again? Hell yes.

Runner 68 · Aug 20, 2017

whayden2003 said:
Also. How the heck do you guys keep these cars from just flash rusting??

Easy, Colorado, the relative humidity is about 5%.
Just prepped and primed everything today though. :thumbsup:

Runner 68 · Aug 20, 2017

conv67bdere said:
Oh I know how much fun you had welding upsidedown all to well . . . but we do what we need to do so we can complete our projects . . .

Keep us updated on your progress !

This is one of those times I wished I had put a lift in but still feel I made the best decision. My neck hurts. Nothing that a few beers and 800 mg of ibuprofen cant't take care of.

whayden2003 · Aug 20, 2017

Louisiana here. 85 to 100 percent is normal. Like not kidding. Crap rusts while your grinding rust off.

Runner 68 · Aug 21, 2017

whayden2003 said:
Louisiana here. 85 to 100 percent is normal. Like not kidding. Crap rusts while your grinding rust off.

Or work up a sweat drying off from a shower.

Runner 68 · Dec 19, 2019

Jesus Christ I can't believe it's been over two years since I felt the need to post something worthwhile to this thread.
I think my boys are finally pointed in the right or at least "a" direction (for now), time to get back to the wife and car (hopefully in that order).
Over the past few months I turned the Bird into a non-roller and started blocking. I'm about half way done at 320 and haven't found too much to curse my body man about except the passenger side fender.
I wrinkled that fender back in '78 because of looking at a nice @ss walking down the sidewalk, f@cked it up pretty good, now I'm paying the price. If anyone is looking for a passenger side 68 RR fender, I now have 2 spares. I originally wanted to keep 68 steel on it but after too much $$ I broke down and bought an AMD repro. The fender on the car in the pic below is coming off. I know it doesn't look that bad but it isn't right. I will pick it up the new AMD this Saturday from a friend that gets them at dealer cost. (The mark up on Mopar parts is unreal).
The plan is to shoot it early this summer then start the re-assembly. A couple of update pics below. I'll try to update this as I can for those of you who care.

whayden2003 · Dec 20, 2019

We all care. Please keep posting posting updates. Don't feel bad about taking a couple years to post updates. At least you are working on yours. I'm just looking at mine from time to time. To many other projects. One of these days I'm going to stop building other people's dream machines and build mine.

HawkRod · Dec 20, 2019

Keep plugging away, and little by little it will get done. These cars are long term projects, so keep at it! We love to hear about updates, even small ones.

Hawk

Runner 68 · Apr 1, 2020

Some progress made because of the Kung Flu.
Blocking through 400 complete. Some minor details to be addressed but pretty much there.
Time to tear it apart again to shoot some "inside" surfaces with with cheap single stage.
Still on track to the real paint this summer.

HawkRod · Apr 1, 2020

Looks nice!

I remember when I got paint on the body of my car. It was a real motivating event for me because I felt I had turned the corner and it was time to start assembling the car again.

Keep up the good work - almost there!!!

Hawk

Runner 68 · Apr 1, 2020

Thanks Hawk.
God I am sick of blocking. 4 laps around the car at this point. It reminds me why I went to college. I forgot how much real estate is on these B bodies. On more final "finish" lap before paint.
Plenty to do yet. "Almost there" isn't in my vocabulary yet.

HawkRod · Apr 1, 2020

Runner 68 said:
"Almost there" isn't in my vocabulary yet.

No but "Good progress" is in your vocabulary (or at least should be)!!! :thumbsup:

threewood · Apr 2, 2020

Glad you are back on the RR. Great looking project, makes me remember finally getting epoxy on my 69 GTX...

68 RM23 Roadrunner, The rebuild of an old friend

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