She's a keeper! 72 Plymouth

[jimbob101]

This project is awesome! I am going through same on my '72 Satellite, going from a 318 to 400, so am hoping that my valve cover will have a little more gap too. Like the '72 RR stripe, will be doing black stripe with the Tor-Red paint! Very cool car!

 

[Magnes]

So today was a busy one. I should say that the last 3 weeks have ALL been exceptionally busy days but today was even more so.

We got everything about wrapped up. Ran the break in procedure. Car runs excellent. We have to pull the valve covers on Monday and adjust the lash again now that it has heated up and cooled down. I loaded the car and took it to a local shop and had them run some pipes for the rest of the exhaust. I went with Flowmasters, 2.5 inch from headers to mufflers and 2.25 inch from mufflers to the machine gun tips. I'm happy with the sound and the look.

I'm quite tired and looking forward to a couple days of rest this weekend. Here's some pics and a couple vids from today. And yes, there's still a few small bugs to work out but it's close...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRXYEXUi-MM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cysnCSchRg

And just to show what the car looked like a couple weeks after I had gotten it. I shot this this vid after I had spent a week getting it running and another week cleaning it up, buffing the paint, etc. After I got it clean and running, I could see what I really had to work with so I decided to build it into what it is today... I bought this car 10 months ago. Keep in mind that in those 10 months, I have not only built this car but I've also built my wife a 77 Dodge Ramcharger and we moved from Mississippi to Texas. It's been a busy year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDsLvu_c7Uw

It's cool to think that, if all goes according to plan, I will be taking this car to shows one year after I drug it out of a storage building where it had sat since the 90's.

That was a lot of work.

 

[Magnes]

The other day my friend, who built my engine and owns the shop where we did the work, invited me to go to his home and check out some of his collection. He's been into Mopars since the 70's and over the years he has had every kind of bad *** Mopar you can imagine except a Daytona or a Superbird. With his business being so busy and being into Mopars as long as he has, I think he lost some of the interest he once had in his cars. It happens. The dude has forgotten more about Mopars than I will ever know. He has some really cool rides so I thought I'd share...

1969 Super Bee. 383, 4 speed car. And guess what... It's an original Mod-Top car. He bought this one when he was 19 and he said he'd never sell it. He didn't realize it was a mod top car because when he bought it, it had a black vinyl top. At some point he pulled the black vinyl top off and around the edges he noticed some weird looking material. He decoded the tag and realized that it was in fact an original mod top car. He began restoring the car a number of years ago but with family, business, and money constraints, he hasn't finished this car. Yet.

1 of none, 1969 Super Bee convertible. 440, 4 speed, dual quads on a tunnel ram. This car here is sitting in my garage right now to give him a little room. As soon as my car is ready to bring back home (this week) we are taking this one to his shop so he can do some work to it. Oddly enough, this car actually started out as a 1968 (yes 1968) Dodge Coronet 500 convertible. He liked his 69 Super Bee so much that he built this car in the 80's to emulate his prized ride. He swapped everything over to make it look legit, including cutting out the quarters to fit the 69 style side marker lights and cutting the rear out for the 69 tail panel. When he brought it to my house it had over a years worth of dust on it so I detailed it up. My wife has since fallen in love with this car. It is a real beast.

This 70 Challenger is not an original TA but he is building one hell of a clone out of it. Wicked little built 340 with a six pack set up. He's building this one for his daughter. He has an all original 70 AAR Cuda to match this one but the body is at a local body shop. The AAR is a white 4 speed car, original drivetrain. I can just imagine this TA clone and that AAR sitting side by side... That's going to be an amazing sight.

This is a fun one. An old AMC Gremlin. Don't ask me why he did it, all I know is it probably the coolest Gremlin I've ever seen...

That's just SOME of his cool Mopars. He has several others. Also has his daily drivers which is a newer Challenger RT with a SHAKER and his truck which is a Dodge Daytona.

Everybody in the area brings him their Mopars to work on...

A 4 speed 69 Charger that got a new 440 and 4 wheel disc brakes.

And this project has stalled as he waits on the owner to pony up more money...

And of course my car... Which should be out of the shop tomorrow or the next day.

When all is said and done with my car, I hope he allows me to help out with some of these other projects. It'd be a privilege.

 

[Magnes]

Well, other than minor detailing, it is finished.

It runs great, drives great, looks good. I'm happy with it.

I had it appraised by a well known appraiser in Houston and he classified it as "excellent, near show car quality" and then showed me the few things it needed to be raised to the top tier "show car" standard. Simple stuff. The car wasn't clean when he looked at it (because it had rained and we had JUST finished the engine tuning) so just detailing it out and repainting the inside of the trunk floor would raise it to the "show car" level and increase the value a bit more. As is, even being a 1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus / Road Runner "clone", he said $41,750 which was surprising to me. The value isn't necessarily based on what it will sell for, instead it is based on what it would cost to build another one of this quality with these options. It's really just for insurance purposes.

Letting this shop build my engine turned out to be the best thing possible. I got my foot in the door. With the owner seeing my work and my drive to get work done, he has me finishing some cars for him. I am working on a 70 Challenger convertible 340 4-speed car now as well as his 69 Super Bee convertible clone car. There are others waiting including his personal 70 TA Challenger clone and a real deal 70 AAR Cuda.

Anyway, I suppose I will quit posting on this thread now. I appreciate you guys for following along with the build. It's hard to believe the car has come this far in less than 10 months but it just goes to show what is possible if you really set your mind to it. I'll be keeping my car for a long time. I really love it.

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement during this build. Best of luck to you all with your builds. If any of you guys need anything be sure to let me know.

 

[Ron 73]

Yea we do need something, You to stay and keep us going buddy! That video of your ride running just about made me faint, All i have heard for almost two weeks is a B/S snow-blower, or a snow plow, if i could get to and inside my 73, it isint the same, lots of cool stuff, please keep us busy, occupied, stick around what the hey, may as well join in for something!!!! Start another project! Got to say, im in love with the 69 SB convertible! lol, I got on here to cheer myself up tonight and this one got me just plain excited... And ill wager im not the only one.. Good stuff....

 

[73SwingerDart]

Really great job Magnes! I loved watching your posts as we were neck and neck on the same 72 SSP's. Your motor sounds really mean, throaty and overall just a great Mopar tone to it. nice choice on the exhaust combo. Would you post a picture of the way the exhaust tip come out below the rear valance? Mine does not have the factory exhaust cut outs either but from your video the exit point looks good to me. I plan on putting the machine gun tips on also. where did you get yours and are they red or orange?
I have not done anything on my car lately. I picked up my upper door panels, recieved my new rear package tray and dash pad. My dad died last part of January and I just havent had the time or energy to go out and work on it.
Thanks again Magnes...if you ever find yourself up in Oklahoma let me know.
Todd

 

[Magnes]

Yea we do need something, You to stay and keep us going buddy! That video of your ride running just about made me faint, All i have heard for almost two weeks is a B/S snow-blower, or a snow plow, if i could get to and inside my 73, it isint the same, lots of cool stuff, please keep us busy, occupied, stick around what the hey, may as well join in for something!!!! Start another project! Got to say, im in love with the 69 SB convertible! lol, I got on here to cheer myself up tonight and this one got me just plain excited... And ill wager im not the only one.. Good stuff....

LOL! Your response cracked me up. Glad you like the car. Move to Texas and get out of the snow. Yeah we have skeeters and heat but at least we don't have to write off half the year because of the cold. Hell, I mostly drive around all year in my 77 Ramcharger with no roof on (another Mopar I built in the garage).

I just couldn't stand not being able to drive my fun stuff all year long.

The engine is out of the 69 Super Bee convertible now. We are freshening it up and I've got to paint the engine bay. I've got a lot of work done on the 70 Challenger convertible 340 4 speed car and we hope to fire it up this week but I lost a day today having to pull the engine in a 66 Rustang. We also have to freshen up the engine and repaint the engine bay on that one. I'm staying super busy doing jobs at my friend's shop but I'm looking around for MY next project. If it turns out to be another B body, I'll do another thread like this one.

Anyway, thank you for the response and I wish you the best of luck with your 73.

Really great job Magnes! I loved watching your posts as we were neck and neck on the same 72 SSP's. Your motor sounds really mean, throaty and overall just a great Mopar tone to it. nice choice on the exhaust combo. Would you post a picture of the way the exhaust tip come out below the rear valance? Mine does not have the factory exhaust cut outs either but from your video the exit point looks good to me. I plan on putting the machine gun tips on also. where did you get yours and are they red or orange?
I have not done anything on my car lately. I picked up my upper door panels, recieved my new rear package tray and dash pad. My dad died last part of January and I just havent had the time or energy to go out and work on it.
Thanks again Magnes...if you ever find yourself up in Oklahoma let me know.
Todd

Thanks very much for the kind words. I will take a pic of the exhaust and post it for you. I got my tips from Accurate Exhaust, and they are red. I got the ones for the 73-74 RR's because I like the way they mount better than the others. My car isn't correct by any means but I built it how I wanted so it's all good to me.

I have been following along with your build as well and your car is looking great. You've really done an excellent job with it. I can't wait to see it finished out.

I am very sorry to hear that you lost your father. That is just awful and I offer you my condolences. I'm going to say a prayer for you and your family. I wish I could do more.

If we get up to OK, I will give you a shout and if you ever get down around Houston, you do the same. Take care up there Todd.

-Thomas

 

[Ron 73]

LOL! Your response cracked me up. Glad you like the car. Move to Texas and get out of the snow. Yeah we have skeeters and heat but at least we don't have to write off half the year because of the cold. Hell, I mostly drive around all year in my 77 Ramcharger with no roof on (another Mopar I built in the garage).

I just couldn't stand not being able to drive my fun stuff all year long.

The engine is out of the 69 Super Bee convertible now. We are freshening it up and I've got to paint the engine bay. I've got a lot of work done on the 70 Challenger convertible 340 4 speed car and we hope to fire it up this week but I lost a day today having to pull the engine in a 66 Rustang. We also have to freshen up the engine and repaint the engine bay on that one. I'm staying super busy doing jobs at my friend's shop but I'm looking around for MY next project. If it turns out to be another B body, I'll do another thread like this one.

Anyway, thank you for the response and I wish you the best of luck with your 73.




Thanks very much for the kind words. I will take a pic of the exhaust and post it for you. I got my tips from Accurate Exhaust, and they are red. I got the ones for the 73-74 RR's because I like the way they mount better than the others. My car isn't correct by any means but I built it how I wanted so it's all good to me.

I have been following along with your build as well and your car is looking great. You've really done an excellent job with it. I can't wait to see it finished out.

I am very sorry to hear that you lost your father. That is just awful and I offer you my condolences. I'm going to say a prayer for you and your family. I wish I could do more.

If we get up to OK, I will give you a shout and if you ever get down around Houston, you do the same. Take care up there Todd.

-Thomas

Don't Gloat!

 

[Magnes]

Well since it's been about a year since I started this thread, I figured I would give a little update on what's been going on.

First off, I repainted my buddy's convertible for him this Spring. We pulled his engine and I detailed everything. He has since freshened up the interior and re-did his bumblebee stripe.

It turned out pretty good.

My car has been doing good. I've had a lot of fun with it this year.

I took it to 3 judged shows and each time I walked away with an award. The very first show I took it to (which was exactly 1 year and 1 week after I bought the car and began the "restoration"), it won "Best Mopar Muscle" plaque and they are using my car's image on their awards and t-shirts next year. Won another plaque for "Best in 70's" at another show over the summer and also won my 1st real trophy about a month ago.

I went to several other shows that were not judged and people just love the car. Now that's not to say that some guys didn't care for it... And it was always some know-it-all Mopar guy with a big chip on his shoulder talking about how his 383 Road Runner was real and my car was just a Satellite with a 440. That's fine though. Everybody doesn't have to like it, and you know you're doing good when you have haters.

I took it to Cruisin' the Coast in Mississippi last month and had a great time cruising around in it all week there. I changed things up in preparation for the traffic there and went with a electric fuel pump, regulator, fuel return line, etc. to solve a vapor lock issue I was experiencing when it was hot out. I also ditched the 2 12" electric fans and went with a big Mopar 7 blade fan, modified a stock shroud, HD fan clutch, and added a Fex-a-lite 16" pusher fan for when I'm sitting in bad traffic. I also added a mechanical temp gauge and ran it separately from the other gauge just so I know exactly what my temps are like.... Anyway, long story short there, I had no issues all week and just had the best time. All the work was worth it.

The car has been running good. I've put a few thousand miles on it so far. I just enjoy every minute of it...

The wife won pretty big at the casino one weekend and surprised me with that new 20' tilt trailer which was awesome beyond words.

But just before I got the trailer, I bought 2 more Mopars in one weekend.

I got this one up near Hot Springs, Arkansas. A 72 Satellite Sebring. Trunk floor was gone. Deck lid smashed. Lower quarters toast. But all in all... Not the worst car in the world. It was 20 hour round trip to drag that thing home. I probably should have bought a different car but I just kept missing out on better deals and didn't want the summer to end with my project line-up being empty.

And the second I dropped that 72 Plymouth off the trailer, I loaded up and hauled butt across Houston and grabbed this 74 Charger SE. No title on this one but I got it for peanuts and since it is a big block, 400 4 barrel - 727 car, I figured it'd be a good donor for the Plymouth (which actually DOES have a title).

We stabbed a battery in the Charger and shot some carb cleaner in the carb and it actually fired up so again, all in all, not the worst car in the world.

And since July I have been working on the Plymouth... Swapping panels off my OTHER 72 Satellite Sebring parts car. Cutting out bad metal and welding in new AMD panels. Long story short there, she's solid as a rock now. And last week I painted it.

Sooooooo, it looks like I'm at it again. It's a lot of work but I've got a few thing planned for this car that will be a bit different. Nothing drastic but since you just don't see many white ones, I think it may stand out a bit. I was originally going to paint it PCP but decided to just go with the modern Chrysler white. It'll have a black interior and black strobe but the rest you'll just have to wait to see. If all goes according to plan, it'll be on the road early next year just in time for the shows to start back up. Wish me luck!

 

[Homstead]

Wow your a busy guy! Cars look great! Keep it up!