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Sticking my toe in the water...Road Runner

SMS68

Well-Known Member
Local time
10:49 AM
Joined
Mar 1, 2021
Messages
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Location
Oklahoma
Good morning from Oklahoma.

Lifelong MOPAR kid. First car was a '73 Charger. Since then I've owned a '70 and a '68 Charger as well. The '68 was the last one and my biggest regret in terms of cars I've let go. Spent a couple years bringing her back to life and then sold her off when I was going through some life changes.

That was over 25 years ago. Since then, I've raised a family and I'm getting the itch again. A buddy dumped an opportunity in my lap and I'm thinking of taking on a project. I have the opportunity to purchase a pretty complete and unmolested 1971 340 Road Runner. A/C , buckets, automatic console car. She's all there except for a complete engine. It does have correct period block, heads, intake and crank along with a complete marine 340 to sweeten the deal. It will all require freshening up and/or restoration to even get it to street status.

It's been awhile, and prices for everything look to be through the roof since the last time I did this, but at the same time information is much easier to come by thanks to the internet! I built my last one off of manuals, books, and magazines lol.

Looking forward to soaking in the wealth of knowledge here.
 
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Welcome to the group.
A 71 Roadrunner is a cool thing for sure.
Never heard of a 340 marine engine?
 
Never heard of a 340 marine engine?

Power plants for money pits that ride on the water instead of the road. Chrysler made marine engines out of many of the common small and big blocks that we are all familiar with.
 
Welcome from Alabama, a 71 RR sounds like fun.
 

You are correct! I wasn't thinking straight after only one cup of coffee...

Road Runner.jpg
 
Welcome aboard from Ohio.
 
May I offer some friendly advice?. Try to re-use everything you can, this China junk don't fit right and is junk to begin with or be prepared to shell out some dough for NOS parts. For example, I just saw a video posted by "Uncle Tony" who discussed how ignition points have the plastic contact block that rides on the distributor wear down to nothing in a couple thousand miles (or less) until the vehicle won't run anymore (even after applying the special little tube of grease). And no one has a source or sure solution to these problems. Even the pointless systems you can "upgrade" to are failing fast.

P.S. And nothing is "sacred", not even simple stuff like lug nuts. My new box of lugs nuts is printed "DORMAN New Since 1918" on one side of the box, on the other side I find printed the dreaded script "Made in China".
 
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And, you’ve already picked that beauty up, yes? If not, grab that puppy, it’s very worthy. Welcome to the wonderful world of FBBO, glad to have you with us.
 
Welcome aboard from the Pacific Northwest. From the picture it looks like you have a really good start and part of the motivation is when you drive this car for the first time. :lol:
:luvplace: Talk about a rush and there’s no turning back. We are responsible for the preservation and care of these cars. People can’t see and hear them if we don’t drive them. You will find lots and lots of friends here with interesting information and ideas to help you out. We thrive on pictures here too :thumbsup:.
:steering: :popcorn: :thankyou: :usflag::moparsmiley:
:xscuseless:

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Welcome. If it truly is a Marine 340 make sure that is is not a reverse rotation engine.

I've been diving down the rabbit hole too. I've read that there was more likely to be a reverse rotation engine if it came out of boat with twins...and this one did. Good thing is he has both so I can pick the right one! I saved some pictures to help identify the difference.
 
I've been diving down the rabbit hole too. I've read that there was more likely to be a reverse rotation engine if it came out of boat with twins...and this one did. Good thing is he has both so I can pick the right one! I saved some pictures to help identify the difference.

:thumbsup: See how easy it is for you to get back in the game. We really need lots of pictures please...:lol:

C543EE7D-BB02-4529-823A-C1A31A50D8F7.jpeg
 
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