426 Hemi Frozen in Time

I pulled the engine out of the Coronet yesterday.
I put some vinegar in the rusted cylinders for about 20 minutes, until some of you said that it was not a good idea. I cleaned out the vinegar and just soaked them down with PB Blaster.
I welded up a tool to bolt up to the front of the balancer and took some 1500 grit sandpaper and cleaned out the cylinders that had the worst rust in them. kept working the crank back and forth until it finally broke loose. I've got it all broken down and ready to go to the machine shop to get a complete workover. It was definitely going to have to be bored there was no way around it. The crank, rods, and pistons all looked good. Too bad I won't be able to reuse the pistons. I would like some feedback as to what I should do with this engine.
Should I build it back with a new set of 12.5 pistons or just build it back to factory specs of a street Hemi? I'd like to build it back just the way it was but I'd also like to be able to drive the car. I know building it back as a drag car isn't really suitable for street use.
I'll take some updated pictures tomorrow.
This car has been sitting since 1970 and has spent the majority of its life in a barn.
I removed all of the interior and cleaned all of the rat poop and dirt out of the doors and rear quarter wheel well areas. There were probably 3 inches of crap in there.
Mice had made nests even up in the headliner so I removed it too and started cleaning up the seats. The seats are in really nice condition but the thread in the seams is kind of weak.
There isn't even one hole in any of the seats. It will need door panels, rear quarter panels, and a headliner. Where is the best place to order nice door panels?
Thanks

Legendary Interiors

MO. First you need to find out what is the amount you need to over bore in engine to clean up cylinders . Hope fully they clean up before .060, machine shop could probably work on the worst cylinder first to see where you are. I'd keep a street friendly compression, you might want to make the car street able. Haven't seen enough pictures to tell how much work and money it needs.

Cleaning up rodent crap is a good use for a mask! You really don't want to breathe that stuff.
Sounds like you are working hard on it.
Pictures???

++++1 on the above. Then, street hemi compression. IMHO

From experience, 12.5 Hemi's are not streetable. I have had 2, and now only one. It doesn't like anything less than 110 octane racing fuel and runs better on 115.

Time to start big picturing the big picture. What is the end result and how much is it going to cost and and how much money is going out the window. And mainly , what's Jerrys opinion?
On the whole build.

Not knowing the history on the car and from the facts that I have seen thus far in the different threads, I think the car needs to be built back to the fender tag and build sheet if found. If all @Hemi2Much has said is true, I believe the dealership that ordered the car, ordered a street Hemi per the fender tag that still exists and that dealership made all changes before the car was delivered to its owner. I'm sure they had access to order a crossram race Hemi and other said goodies. I have not seen any documentation as to how the car was delivered, therefore if that doesn't exist, I believe it would be more usable as a street Hemi driver. If it's going to continue to be a racecar then try to duplicate what it was when parked. My opinion is sort of half assed, as I don't have the whole story or documentation. There is a solid body that is going to need a full restoration as well as a complete drivetrain rebuild. Street Hemi's aren't cheap to build and more than double it for a usable race Hemi. I would plan on 35-40K when done with your free car. It has never been tagged or registered, make sure that can happen. Your in Alabama as I am so that's probably not going to be a problem.
Most of all know what you have before you build that engine. The machine shop is your friend in that endeavor, and all stamping, casting numbers, and measurements are very important.

Jerry Hall said:

Most of all know what you have before you build that engine. The right machine shop is your friend in that endeavor, and all stamping, casting numbers, and measurements are very important.

Click to expand...

Fixed it for you... And since you are in his area perhaps you could suggest a shop that knows Hemi Engines.....

Jerry Hall said:

Not knowing the history on the car and from the facts that I have seen thus far in the different threads, I think the car needs to be built back to the fender tag and build sheet if found. If all @Hemi2Much has said is true, I believe the dealership that ordered the car, ordered a street Hemi per the fender tag that still exists and that dealership made all changes before the car was delivered to its owner. I'm sure they had access to order a crossram race Hemi and other said goodies. I have not seen any documentation as to how the car was delivered, therefore if that doesn't exist, I believe it would be more usable as a street Hemi driver. If it's going to continue to be a racecar then try to duplicate what it was when parked. My opinion is sort of half assed, as I don't have the whole story or documentation. There is a solid body that is going to need a full restoration as well as a complete drivetrain rebuild. Street Hemi's aren't cheap to build and more than double it for a usable race Hemi. I would plan on 35-40K when done with your free car. It has never been tagged or registered, make sure that can happen. Your in Alabama as I am so that's probably not going to be a problem.
Most of all know what you have before you build that engine. The machine shop is your friend in that endeavor, and all stamping, casting numbers, and measurements are very important.

Click to expand...

Street Hemi is my initial thoughts. Like I said the days of the car being hidden away in a barn are over. I want to be able to drive the car and enjoy it. There are going to be some changes that have to be made to put the car back in street form.
Gears being one. There is also a difference in the leaf springs. There is one extra leaf spring on the passenger side than there is on the driver's side.
He also removed the brakes off the rear. Parking brake only.
The car doesn't have a heater box in it at all.
the only seatbelt in it was the driver's.
I'm sure there are going to be other things as well.
Would you add these things back to the car or upgrade anything?
As far as the history goes, I can only go off what Mike had told me over the years.
I have looked everywhere for the build sheet with no luck.
The family is going through paperwork trying to find any documentation but has yet to find anything. I know documentation is key but it seems there is very little to be had.

Parking won't work without rear brakes.

Hemi2Much said:

Street Hemi is my initial thoughts. Like I said the days of the car being hidden away in a barn are over. I want to be able to drive the car and enjoy it. There are going to be some changes that have to be made to put the car back in street form.
Gears being one. There is also a difference in the leaf springs. There is one extra leaf spring on the passenger side than there is on the driver's side.
He also removed the brakes off the rear. Parking brake only.
The car doesn't have a heater box in it at all.
the only seatbelt in it was the driver's.
I'm sure there are going to be other things as well.
Would you add these things back to the car or upgrade anything?
As far as the history goes, I can only go off what Mike had told me over the years.
I have looked everywhere for the build sheet with no luck.
The family is going through paperwork trying to find any documentation but has yet to find anything. I know documentation is key but it seems there is very little to be had.

Click to expand...

Hemi leaf springs came on a street Hemi, there may be a need to rebuild or replace them. If you are going to build as the car was probably delivered to the dealership, yes, heater box, AM radio, seat belts, etc. The stock axle ratio could be indicated on the fender tag. Also check the numbers on the transmissions you have to make sure you have a Hemi 727. The car also got the Hemi transmission cooler, which may or may not still be on the car. The brake line to the rear may be plugged, but all the brake shoes, & springs are still there if the emergency brake is still working. If a line lock was used that will need to be removed.
No matter how you cut it, you have a rare and desirable car, and it will pay to do it right.