73 Satilite or 73 Roadrunner????

[rooster1911]

Hey Guys, I am at a dilema. I have a 73 true Roadruner. I am picking up a 73 Satilite for a donor car the problem is the Satilite is way I mean Way better shape than my RR. I need to replace almost the whole floor, trunk and a good bit of the frame. While the Satilite is solid through and through. My delima is should I take My RR parts and put them on the Satilite which would save me countless hours of cutting and welding or go down the hard road and risk the chance of not gettting something just right, I know most would call it a clone but only I would really know since all the parts with the VIN will be on the Satilite.

 

[Revhendo]

Read away my friend.
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=14203&highlight=swapping+vin+tags
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=12505&highlight=swapping+vin+tags

 

[FridayGt]

Personally, I say clone it out if that's what you really want. Who cares? Leave the VIN as a Satty and be proud. Hell, leave it as a Satty and be proud still!

 

[rooster1911]

Thanks Guys.
I didn't think of the legeal area of it, I guess in my heart I want it to be a true RR replaceing everything will not be so bad anyway, measure twice cut once right? Now where is my plasma cutter.....

 

[rooster1911]

Thanks Revhendo!

You nailed it, I guess I was looking for the easy way out, I should know better and I will keep the intergrity of my RR.

 

[FridayGt]

Thanks Guys.
I didn't think of the legeal area of it, I guess in my heart I want it to be a true RR replaceing everything will not be so bad anyway, measure twice cut once right? Now where is my plasma cutter.....

It's all good man, no worries. In the end, the legal issues I'm sure aren't worth and will probably far outweigh the saved effort in the vin swap.

Also, in the end, you'd still know even if no one else did. And if it matters that much to you that it is a true road runner, than no saved effort will make the end result taste any less bitter. Me, personally, I could care less as they're both just as fun. But, if you want real, than real is the only way to go. Good luck buddy!

Hey, when you're done welding yours up, you want to slap some new rear quarters on mine for me? lol.

 

[Bruzilla]

Thanks Guys.
I didn't think of the legeal area of it, I guess in my heart I want it to be a true RR replaceing everything will not be so bad anyway, measure twice cut once right? Now where is my plasma cutter.....

Here's how I've looked at it over the years. Both your cars came down the same assembly line, some guy or gal sitting in an office read some requirements and checked off a couple of boxes on a form, the guys on the line put one set of parts and trim into one car, and another set of parts and trim into the other, and out popped a Roadrunner and a Satellite. The only difference between then and now is you're the guy checking off the boxes and determining what trim and parts go into a car... that and you have to do the installing yourself. It's not like God pointed a finger at either car and each was created to meet some special purpose in life. They're just cars.

If your Roadrunner is a basket case, strip its cancered carcass and make your own Roadrunner. Keep in mind these cars have been built and rebuilt so many times over four decades that unless you're the first or second owner, there's no telling how many Roadrunner parts are already on your Satellite, or how many Satellite parts ended up on the Roadrunner. Besides, I've been dealing with 73/74s for over 30 years now, and they've never had the panache or pedigree of Pre-72 cars, and likely never will, so a nicely done clone sells for maybe a grand less than a nicely done Roadrunner. If you're sweating future resale value on these cars, don't. You're never going to hear "Hey, I hear those original 73 Roadrunners are hitting over $100k at auction, but those clones can barely break $7k."

 

[rooster1911]

I just got my hand slapped from a buddy of mine who knows allot about mopar's. He has forbided me from cutting anything unless he does it and yes he has the same view keep the RR and part the Satilite I know a 73 will never break the 100K but I will never sell it, I bought the car for me and will build it the way I want it to be and I guess it all falls down to what is in my heart. Mopars are in my blood and always will be but thanks for everyones opinion and replys.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

If you are serious about the keep it forever part then unless you have the tools and skills to do all the replacement panel work yourself, I would figure how much it is going to cost do all that work before you would sacrifice the rust free car for parts. It would be a whole lot cheaper to clone your Satellite into a RR that you are never going to sell anyway. The cost for replacement panel work is not cheap. After you are done stripping the RR of what you need there will still be someone who will want to buy the carcass for whatever reason. When you get your car done the only people who will be able to tell the difference will be those who know the numbers on the VIN, unless they ask you, and I'm sure you would tell them what it really is.

 

[rooster1911]

I have the skills and tools, plus I have a good friend who has restored several Mopars who is going to help. he says it not as bad as I think. And is actualy wanting me to resale the good Satilite and use some ploor pans and other parts from a wrecked satilite he has, it's a thought.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

I have the skills and tools, plus I have a good friend who has restored several Mopars who is going to help. he says it not as bad as I think. And is actualy wanting me to resale the good Satilite and use some ploor pans and other parts from a wrecked satilite he has, it's a thought.

That sounds like a good plan, find the Satellite a new home and use parts off the wreck! So when you getting started and don't forget.....
:worthless_thread:

 

[Ron 73]

I have the skills and tools, plus I have a good friend who has restored several Mopars who is going to help. he says it not as bad as I think. And is actualy wanting me to resale the good Satilite and use some ploor pans and other parts from a wrecked satilite he has, it's a thought.

Im not going to tell you how to go, Ill just say good luck to you, This, from your posts ive read will be a big undertaking, My RR is a clone, With the work i did to it to make it the way it is now, and still moving forward to make it better, I don't envy you the work your about to start on. Hope you'll keep us updated in your progress...

 

[Bruzilla]

What's funny is for close to 40 years now, when asked, I've been telling people Roadrunners are just Satellites with different options, and Satellites are just upgraded Belvederes. I've always seen these cars as Belvederes for the earlier cars, and Satellites for later cars, first and Roadrunners second. I guess that's why I don't have a hang-up with the whole clone thing.

 

[rooster1911]

Thanks everyone for your opinion and expertise, I have decided to Go with my original RR and Patch it up Although it looks bad and this is my first resto, I have experience working in a body shop and I have allot of good friends to ask for help if needed. I am recently retired military and have plenty of time I just got got a little to anxious. I will take what I need from the good Satilite ( Int-Fenders and winshield ) and then take what I need frrom the wrecked Satelite ( floor pans, trunk pans etc) and the n sell the rest of the Good Satilite to some one who needs it. I started on the RR Tues and already its just a hull all I heve left to take off is the K-frame and a little clean up,then the body work begins.

 

[rooster1911]

Thanks, and I respect and apreciate your opion Bruzilla,you bring up a good point. I guess it's all whats in your heart. If you look at other producers -Chevy, Pontiac etc... is a SS Chevelle a Chevelle or a Malibu, is a GTO a GTO or a LeMans (Bless there hearts). Real vs Clone. Real brings more money when sold but I am not in it for the money. I am a tried and true Mopar guy. Born into a Mopar driving family and all of my vehicles are Dodge. (Except my wife who has a KIA Soul but I will have to admit it gets great MPG, and a 51 Chevy pick up which I am working on,I forgive her for the truck). I just want to be able to show it off as a real RR. It's like when I joined the Army 28 years ago I wanted to be a real Infantryman not a Clone like the Marines ( Just Kidding) ha ha.

 

[rooster1911]

73 Roadrunner under going Surgery

That sounds like a good plan, find the Satellite a new home and use parts off the wreck! So when you getting started and don't forget.....
:worthless_thread:

I have started on it already and have striped almost down to the hull, attached are some pics, still have the K-Frame to go and a little clean up. The body work begins after that.

 

[Bruzilla]

Okay, you've brought your intelligence and decision making abilities into question by stating you joined the Army. Anyone with any sense would have joined the Navy, the greatest armed service of all time; and served as an aircrewman aboard P-3C Orions, the greatest aircraft of all time (I guess I have a bias).

I think there's a distinct difference between purpose-built cars and upgraded ones, and market prices reflect that. For example, 1968 Roadrunners were true purpose-built cars. They had a unique engine, brakes, and interior that you couldn't get as a package on any other Belvedere platform. They were built for the specific purpose of street racing. Superbirds are another example. Super Stock cars are another. There was a genuine world of difference between the 68-69 Roadrunner and the Satellite and Belvedere for those years.

The problem was by 1973, that distinction was gone, and the Roadrunner marque had been relegated to a marketing scheme. Yes, you could order a larger motor, disc brakes, a fancy steering wheel, but pretty much everything was for show, and not go, and this is why the market for post-72 cars is what it is. There's some real panache to saying your '68 Roadrunner is a genuine Roadrunner because you have a special engine, brakes, etc., but the only bragging rights we later guys have is a hood and stripes. Is that bragging ability worth thousands of dollars in added costs for body work? That's a very personal call.

Anyway, I'm just to the south in Florida and maybe someday I can have the pleasure of parking my car next to your car.

 

[rooster1911]

You got me there on the earlier models, and I agree. I would be honored to park my RR next to yours some day. Also thank you for your service ( seriously ). Even though its was swabing a deck with a bucket and mop. ( Not seriously). Every Soldier has a job and one could not perform his/hers without the other.

 

[Ron 73]

You sure didn't waste any time getting the old bird undressed! I think the most pleasurable part of our cars is when we do them ourselves, my wife says im not happy unless im working on them. Naaaa.. But cant wait to start on the next one! Please keep updating..

 

[Bruzilla]

The last old Mopar I worked on, a 73 Roadrunner of course, was way back in 1992. I've been working on newer cars, mainly Crown Vics and Police Interceptors (and my daughter's 2002 Mercury Cougar... worst car ever!!!) since then, and I must admit I had forgotten the comparatively simple joy of working on old cars.

I went to replace the shocks on my new Roadrunner this week, and was dreading it because I had gotten used to changing shocks in Vics and PIs, which are a major PITA. I crawled under the bird, looked up, and there were two easy to reach bolts. That's it. No twisting, no tearing flesh, no ballet moves or contortions... just reach up and turn. I must admit I had totally forgotten how much more enjoyable "working" on older cars can be, and it can be a fun hobby again instead of an annoying chore.