What would you do with a 73 340 roadrunner

[conradsalvage]

Ok,,,, I have had this car for a long time. it was a 340 car before I got it..and the previous owner blew it up and replaced it with a 360. since then I put a big block in it and had a cage installed.
I now have enough parts to restore the body and have been toying with the idea of removing the cage and finding a 340 to put back in. I know it will never be numbers matching,,, the engine was not repairable,,, and I scattered the transmission years ago. But with all that said is the car worth more restored back to original,,, or leave it a 440 car... I dont plan on selling it,, but someday my wife or kids might lol

 

[Kernel Sanders]

Just my humble opinion as you asked what "I" would do... as you said it will never be numbers matching, I would leave the 440 in her and have fun!

 

[tallhair]

Depends. Are you addicted to that torqy 440 or would you like the high revving feel of a 340? Probably same value in the end which depends more on the finished product than the motor

 

[conradsalvage]

thats what Im getting at,,, is what it would be worth,,, either way. I have several satellites that I play with. but this is the only roadrunner. I planing to put the cage in a one of the satellites. I wolnt remove the frame connectors because I already broke a car before.

 

[idrivemopar]

Not numbers matching, go nuts!!!! Build it to the hilt!!!! Depends also on how much money you want to sink in it, as it can get expensive fast!!!!

 

[73runner]

I would build it up .... Maybe a 440 six pack????????? Now that would be cool! And T/A trumpet exhausts... Section and narrow the bumpers to fit into the body...

 

[Photon440]

You've driven it with both the 360 and the 440. Which one is more fun for you?

 

[BumperMan]

I would do what ever your pocket book could stand. From what I've been reading original is still worth a lot more than unoriginal and since you said that it is not numbers matching than you do not have to worry about it. So have fun with it

 

[conradsalvage]

Thats hard to say,,,, the 360 was built to the nuts,,,, 13:1 compresion,,, not fun to drive on the street. The 440 is a lot more streetable. but was still for the track. I'm all over the place for ideas,,,, from magnum 360 (seen a artical where one made 400+ hp and was a streetable engine) to making it modern powered,,, to 440 stroker... I have some time to figure it out though, because I still have to tear the car the rest of he way appart so body work can beguin... the car had a macco paint job 20 years ago, over lots of bondo.. the car looked good from a distance... but all I really wanted people to see was the back bumper :3gears:

 

[tallhair]

thats what Im getting at,,, is what it would be worth,,, either way. I have several satellites that I play with. but this is the only roadrunner. I planing to put the cage in a one of the satellites. I wolnt remove the frame connectors because I already broke a car before.

There's not really anyway to tell what it would be worth outside of shopping the web for the same year car in similar condition to what you envision with with a non-matching 440 and non-matching 340 and comparing the price diff.

The end price will depend on the quality and appearance of your build and the "market" at the time of sale and what is popular.

 

[conradsalvage]

Oh well,,, Its time for me to goback to the oil patch... be back in 30 days

 

[super-bee_ski]

Just my humble opinion as you asked what "I" would do... as you said it will never be numbers matching, I would leave the 440 in her and have fun!

X2

 

[conradsalvage]

Well I guess since it has a big block K member. And I set it up to be a race car many years ago it will stay a big block race car. I think I will go with some kind of Stroker so that I can get the same power or more and be more Streetable. Thank you for your input. I can't wait till I get home again so I can work on it some more. My home for the next 30 days is a Pete 379 over here in the bakken

 

[440+6]

The orig motor is gone so forget about it, 440's rule.

 

[440runner]

I would do what i did to mine. 73 Roadrunner, Bought a 1970's Motorhome Big Block (Turned out to be a 1970 HP 440),Built a 500 stroker, 3" exhaust with Super streetfighter 727 Tranny,355 with 16" Magnum 500's. Had my buddy paint it for me and decided not to put the stripes back on.You are never going to get rich from a 73 Roadrunner (Numbers Matching) so go with whatever you have in your head and what makes you happy.

 

[HT413]

If I already had a street/strip 440, I would leave it but maybe swap cam and converter for street ability and worry about the rest of the car before building a stroker. Maybe work on brakes, steering and suspension as well and why not take the cage out but stiffen the car with frame connectors, torque boxes and all the other tricks.

I think those things would make it more street able and more fun. Then the car would be prepared for a stroker in the future.

 

[Bruzilla]

440runner hit it on the head! A 73/74 Road Runner isn't ever going to be a high-dollar car, so aside from collector snob appeal and bragging rights, a numbers matching 73/74 Road Runner isn't worth much more than a non-numbers matching car.

That said, it'll likely be easier to sell with a 440 in it as that's the top dog engine out there. You won't make your money back most likely, but if your family were to sell it, they would be better able to find a buyer willing to pay for it rather than have it listed for months, and months, and months, and months....

 

[idrivemopar]

Hey 440runner, that's a sweet ride! Love the color same as mine, but I just have a little ol 340! LOL

Some other points about value, yes, very true that you will never make your money back, well, maybe in another 50 years maybe, but yes, people think I am crazy doing the level of restoration I have done on my car knowing that I wont get my money back ever, but its a labor of love of the car that drives me, and so if I had your car I certainly would keep the 440, and make a good driver/fun car out of it for sure! And by the way, I really like that color it has on it now, I almost considered doing something very close to that color before I went with the original FE5. Your car will look sweet with white stripes on the color!

 

[HT413]

Some other points about value, yes, very true that you will never make your money back, well, maybe in another 50 years maybe,

Honestly, I think that in 50 years everyone that knows and loves these cars will be dead and so will the market for them. Build the car for what you want, as, no offense intended, it's not that valuable to worry about its legacy, especially with the non numbers matching motor.

 

[Dennis H]

Bid Block addict here. 440. What is your ear to ear smile provided by torque in the basement worth? Let the kids make their own money.