1973 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER GTX 440 U CODE Project thread

[rav440]

1973 PLYMOUTH road runner GTX 440 "U" CODE #s matching 440 & 727 1 of only 117 made in 73 .

#s matching car is originaly from honolulu hawaii it was shipped over to the main land in late 1999 , i got it in may of 2001 the car is solid for the most part and has solid trunk floor pans .. the lower 1/4 in front of the wheel well on the passenger side needs replaced . the motor com partment has been media blasted and new metal added where needed ready for filler and paint . the car is in pieces . the seats are perfect they were redone in 2000 it will need carpet and head liner . this is a column shift auto . most parts IE: suspension , brackets , pulleys ect have been media blasted and are ready for paint or are already painted .

the motor was redone 50K miles ago by the original owner .030 speed pro pistons . 346 heads with mild port job 1.81 exhaust 2.14 intake new never run ! .

i have over well over 90% of the parts tagged and boxed to to it back togather

this is an original B5 True Blue Metallic W/ white stipe

N41 Dual Exh system
N42 Bright Exhaust Tips
R11 Am radio
V8W Sport Stripes White
28 28 inch radiator supportend
GB5 True Blue Metallic
D6X9 Deluxe Vinyl Buckets (Black)
DX9 Black (upper door frame)
308 March 08, 1973 production date
13xxx order number
E86 73 440 8Cyl 1-4bbl HP 275hp U RB
D34 automatic 727 transmission
RM21U3G1xxxxx Plymouth Satellite Medium 2 door Coupe 440 1-4bbl Hp 1973 St Louis, Mo


these are pics of the runner before i took it apart

some in the state of resto

 

[Bens69PlymouthSatellite]

Sweet ride Was this car on youtube? If so she sounds awesome and looks like it runs like a scalded cat!

 

[joemac1j]

What a wonderful job you have done on this car!!

 

[jaygtx440]

I don't know if you still have the '73 Roadrunner GTX or not, but just wanted to inform you that there were 749 1973 Roadrunner GTX "U" code engine cars produced in 1973. I have seen many websites proclaiming 117 units but that is definitely wrong. There were also 749 400 "P" code engine 4 speed Roadrunners produced for 1973. The "U" code cars were only available with the automatic transmission, although I never understood that. The information is readily available in the Plymouth production booklets.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Production Numbers ???

Hi Jaygtx440.

I have a 73 rr gtx 440 and am also trying to pin down the numbers. 749 or 117? like you I'm leaning toward the 749, however I caught a thread that cited the 117 to the book--Dodge and Plymouth Red Book by Peter Sessler. The author of the thread stated the book was in his possession. I just ordered the book 1st edition on e-bay and will have it soon. He's a well respected auto author. The 2nd edition is much more expensive-- hope we don't have to go there.

Chuck

 

[Doubleclutch]

One strike against the 117 number. There's no controversy on the number of 74 GTX 440s at 386. In 74 the gas crises peaked. Doesn't make sense for the production number to triple from 73 to 74. I'll report back when the book arrives.

Chuck

 

[440+6]

Don't know how accurate this is....

http://beep2beep.tripod.com/Roadrunner_Production-Figures.html

 

[Doubleclutch]

Nothing in the Sesser Red book first edition.

 

[440runner]

This is what I found in the Sessler Red Book, page 120 under facts ( The 440 was available only with TorqueFlite Automatic (117) Built and once again became the Roadrunner GTX

 

[Doubleclutch]

You must have the Sasser book 2nd edition. I'm now convinced Sasser is wrong and the 749 number is right. The GTX 440 shows 453 for 72 and 386 for 74. I looked up the Arab Oil Embargo and the blockcade was made in the fall of 73 and it ran from then to March 74.

Very unlikely production fell as low as 117 without being discontinued. Also the 73 model production was largely over when the embargo started.

My own car tells the story. I have it's entire history --73 GTX 440 bought as a Brass Hat in the fall of 72. Used as a demo to the fall of 73. It hit the used car lot of the dealor in the fall of 73 right into the teeth of the gas lines and nobody wanted it. The Brass Hat (manager) bought it for 50% of the sticker and locked it up.

 

[rav440]

work done since last posted . under side and engine compartment are now painted in B5 , new leaf springs bushings seals , all new front end bushings and ball joints , need installed .


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- - - Updated - - -

This is what I found in the Sessler Red Book, page 120 under facts ( The 440 was available only with TorqueFlite Automatic (117) Built and once again became the Roadrunner GTX

117 does sound low but that is the # i am going by . the 749 # is the 400 4spd # for sure and as for the 1974 rr GTX i think the # is 79 built . all i can say is good luck finding a 73-74 rr GTX especially one with matching #s . yes they come to market every now and then but they are few and fare between