426 Hemi find thanks to Hurricane Matthew!

[ed-pv]

So a buddy of mine told me about a guy that lives on the beach in Florida and was badly affected by hurricane Matthew. I was told this guy has a 69 Roadrunner that he purchased from the original owner (383 car) and it was flooded by the storm surge and was totaled by the insurance company. My buddy said that the car was in this guy's driveway and since I don't live far I drove down to see it. Long story short, car was in fact totaled and the insurance was going to tow it away, a big shame since it was such a nice car. The more I talked to the guy the more friendly we became and by the end of the day he sold me EVERYTHING Mopar that he owned! Most of the items were in a location of the house that was not flooded luckily!

He said that back in 74 he had a buddy that raced a 426 HEMI roadrunner and was getting beat by 440 cars so he sold the car to him. He took the motor out of the car and has had it ever since hoping to put it in another car some day. Well, two weeks before the hurricane, he had the block line bored, decked and machined 30 over. He had the heads done and crank worked as well. He got Keith Black pistons, rods, rings...etc. etc. Pretty much everything he needed to assemble the motor...then Matthew struck. He lost a good portion of his belongings and told me he just wanted to get rid of it all.

I have pictures of the items below and was just wondering if it would be better to get the Hemi gone through, assembled and look for a car to put it in or if it would be better to try and find someone that needs a 68 HEMI block for their REAL original hemi? I have a lot more pictures, but can only put 10 in this post.

 

[moper]

If it was me I'd call it mine. But that's me...lol.

 

[Speedbird]

Do I understand that you now have a "totaled" 383 Road Runner and a non matching hemi engine that needs "work".
These are decisions only you can make based on your situation. What are your desires, needs, money and abilities.
You seem to understand what you have and it's position in the world of MOPAR.
i.e. You would have a non-matching car among other things.
Are you even considering putting the Hemi in the Road Runner?
I would lean toward that, myself

Worst case, it appears you have a Cheby that you could put the Hemi in.
That would be an upgrade.
I say this because I was not the one that had a Hemi fall on my head.

 

[ed-pv]

Do I understand that you now have a "totaled" 383 Road Runner and a non matching hemi engine that needs "work".
These are decisions only you can make based on your situation. What are your desires, needs, money and abilities.
You seem to understand what you have and it's position in the world of MOPAR.
i.e. You would have a non-matching car among other things.
Are you even considering putting the Hemi in the Road Runner?

Worst case, it appears you have a Cheby that you could put the Hemi in.
That would be an upgrade.
I say this because I was not the one that had a Hemi fall on my head.

I didn't buy the Roadrunner, just all the parts. The insurance company didn't offer a buy back for the buyer unfortunately!
Here is a picture of the Roadrunner

 

[djais1801]

such a shame...i'd hold onto the motor and find something to put it in

 

[not so famous bob]

such a shame...i'd hold onto the motor and find something to put it in

I WOULD SELL IT TO "NOT SO FAMOUS BOB FOR A SONG AND A DANCE" !!
IF THAT HEMI WAS GETTING OUTRUN BY 440`S IT WAS BECUASE THE 440`S WERE MODDED A BUNCH, OR THE HEMI WAS OUT OF TUNE. neither of mine were ever out ran by a 440.

 

[sputnik 440]

So a buddy of mine told me about a guy that lives on the beach in Florida and was badly affected by hurricane Matthew. I was told this guy has a 69 Roadrunner that he purchased from the original owner (383 car) and it was flooded by the storm surge and was totaled by the insurance company. My buddy said that the car was in this guy's driveway and since I don't live far I drove down to see it. Long story short, car was in fact totaled and the insurance was going to tow it away, a big shame since it was such a nice car. The more I talked to the guy the more friendly we became and by the end of the day he sold me EVERYTHING Mopar that he owned! Most of the items were in a location of the house that was not flooded luckily!

He said that back in 74 he had a buddy that raced a 426 HEMI roadrunner and was getting beat by 440 cars so he sold the car to him. He took the motor out of the car and has had it ever since hoping to put it in another car some day. Well, two weeks before the hurricane, he had the block line bored, decked and machined 30 over. He had the heads done and crank worked as well. He got Keith Black pistons, rods, rings...etc. etc. Pretty much everything he needed to assemble the motor...then Matthew struck. He lost a good portion of his belongings and told me he just wanted to get rid of it all.

I have pictures of the items below and was just wondering if it would be better to get the Hemi gone through, assembled and look for a car to put it in or if it would be better to try and find someone that needs a 68 HEMI block for their REAL original hemi? I have a lot more pictures, but can only put 10 in this post.

View attachment 368513 View attachment 368514 View attachment 368513 View attachment 368514 View attachment 368515 View attachment 368516 View attachment 368517 View attachment 368518 View attachment 368519 View attachment 368520 View attachment 368521 View attachment 368522

 

[Lionized]

Take the Hemi and run! (I would)
Also, that Roadrunner looks far from a total write off cosmetically judging by the photos. Did he mention what his insurance valuation was?
Complete shame is what it is.

 

[Mike67]

That a shame about the car, more than likely it will no be seen again....

 

[khryslerkid]

I would think that the RR could be totally disassembled, cleaned, rewired, upholstery replaced. Engine, trans, rear will have water contamination so if they are dried out before any rust is allowed to happen, they would be ok.
Just a thought about saving it. What's the insurance company going to do with it?

 

[65-440]

That hemi would fit good in my 68 Coronet

 

[ed-pv]

A few guys PMed me about what other parts I got...here are a few pictures.

 

[ed-pv]

I was actually digging mopar parts out of his trash pile beside the road!

 

[ed-pv]

A few guys asked about the VIN on the Hemi Block. Here are some pictures.
Kind of tough to make out the 5th digit, but I have been told it's a "7".

 

[super-bee_ski]

Holy Cow!
What a FIND!

Well, I paid $10K for my 1970 Hemi Short Block (May, 1969 build date) from Bob Mazolinni of Bob Mazolinni Racing,
This was in 2003.

 

[ed-pv]

Here are some pictures of the block.

 

[64 Post]

I would think that the RR could be totally disassembled, cleaned, rewired, upholstery replaced. Engine, trans, rear will have water contamination so if they are dried out before any rust is allowed to happen, they would be ok.
Just a thought about saving it. What's the insurance company going to do with it?

Likely tow it to a wrecking yard where it will be parted out or "rebodied".

 

[BeeKool]

RR looked perfectly salvageable. Much better than some of the beepers person people try getting 15k+ for claiming restorable. Hope they don't crush it. I would gladly own it, even with a salvage title.

 

[khryslerkid]

I didn't think about it at first but that would have been salt water!

 

[ed-pv]

I didn't think about it at first but that would have been salt water!

Yea...salt water and a lot of corrosion, but definitely worth saving!!