should i part this 1970 4 door or keep it??

Nwcharger · July 28, 2013, 06:19:55 PM

so i just bought a 1970 4door satellite to part out and my crazy ass is wondering if i should save it or part it out. its a 318 car, runs and drives pretty nice. it could be a cool cop car clone, or a 4 door superbird. or i could just part it out. what do you guys think??

Nwcharger · July 28, 2013, 06:25:47 PM

more

djcarguy · July 28, 2013, 07:40:43 PM

first few pix looked good.i was going too say family driver with a wing during winter an put the wing on a hard top in the summer. but then came some rusty pixs an what no gas tank?

quick fix and rustolium black an white for a few yrs .but parts an nose sheetmetal may bee worth more than a old 4dr?? all up too the new proud owner.sure cornering the market on 70es ply bodies. if ya can get the windshield an repair drive it..

like twin mirrors an 200 mile per hour air deflector treatment an trim on front glass?? wing an nose an lighten it an do a 200 mile pass on the salt flats,ha ha.. will bee thru in aug,got to see all ya mopars someday.latter DJ

Nwcharger · July 28, 2013, 07:55:40 PM

the gas tank is there its just pulled at this time. the prior owner cut the center of the trunk floor out and never installed another. the windshield is there and i have the gasket but its but installed. i put all that tape on to hold the gas there so the car didn't act like a giant air scoop. it was removed to patch a couple pin holes but that never got done. my older brother is begging me for it as well. he thinks its stupid to part it out.

charge69 · July 28, 2013, 07:56:15 PM

No way I could part out a running-driving car. Make it a cop-car clone or just drive it, I still would not part it out!

TruckDriver · July 28, 2013, 08:09:15 PM

Quote from: charge69 on July 28, 2013, 07:56:15 PM
No way I could part out a running-driving car. Make it a cop-car clone or just drive it, I still would not part it out!

I would totally make a daily driver out of that.

Alaskan_TA · July 28, 2013, 08:35:22 PM

Running & driving, keep it for sure. I have two 1970 4-doors so far, one Dart & one Coronet.

Ghoste · July 28, 2013, 09:15:40 PM

Keep it and drive it as it was meant.

bill440rt · July 28, 2013, 10:21:36 PM

Quote from: charge69 on July 28, 2013, 07:56:15 PM
No way I could part out a running-driving car.

x2

The car though is probably worth more in parts, so if money alone is your bag then have at it. Otherwise if you really like the car then don't touch it.

green69rt · July 28, 2013, 10:35:44 PM

Kind of a toss up, Actually a pretty good car for 40+ years old. So unless there is a big need for parts then shop for a person that's looking for this car. I like to think that every car has the owner that would treasure it.

moparstuart · July 28, 2013, 10:44:05 PM

would make a very cool cop car or taxi

green69rt · July 28, 2013, 10:45:41 PM

Can you imagine this in triple black with a big hemi in it. It would scare the hell out of the ricers!!!

JB400 · July 28, 2013, 11:36:07 PM

Considering what else is in the driveway, I'd fix it up and sell it to your brother. Have him help you on it, then when it's completed, let him have it. It'll be a nice bro/bro project.

It is too nice to part out.

djcarguy · July 29, 2013, 03:40:14 AM

oh yeah meant to say fix an keep an sell me one of the hardtops,,,cheap,lol.. thanks latter dj

cut it in half and make a family limo superbird , or frame connectors and go topless,birdable ...ok i 'll take a pill,ha ha ha

myk · July 29, 2013, 03:45:06 AM

Quote from: stroker400 wedge on July 28, 2013, 11:36:07 PM
Considering what else is in the driveway, I'd fix it up and sell it to your brother. Have him help you on it, then when it's completed, let him have it. It'll be a nice bro/bro project.

It is too nice to part out.

I'm a preserver so I'd rather he didn't part it out, also. Besides, the car seems solid...

billfury · July 29, 2013, 06:23:44 AM

Make unmarked cop car, sleeper out of it.

Or make it into a pick up and post a new thread.

cudaken · July 29, 2013, 07:06:39 AM

Boy, times are a changing! 15 years ago most people would have told you a 4 door is a parts car!

If you are going to make a Bird out of it, make it a 2 door.

Cuda Ken

F8-4life · July 29, 2013, 10:03:32 AM

I would not part it. 4 door b bodys had a ruff history between the family/police/taxi use and then for the next 30 years they were only considered "parts" cars.
So many were crushed/wrecked or abused... they did not have the "notority" of being a muscle car back then so they were tossed away like a common sedan. but in this day and age they are just as good as a roadrunner. Same car but fits the whole family! You never see them around anymore infact I was looking for a 1970 satellite for a driver.

bull · July 29, 2013, 10:16:07 AM

Quote from: cudaken on July 29, 2013, 07:06:39 AM

Boy, times are a changing! 15 years ago most people would have told you a 4 door is a parts car!

Cuda Ken

Not anymore. I wouldn't have the heart to part something like that thing out. If it were wadded up and cancer-ridden, yes, but not in that condition.

71green go · July 29, 2013, 10:57:08 AM

who wants a four door daily driver?....gas mileage to me would suck too badly to concider that...and if I had nicer two door car would I even bother driving the 4 door?....

I would either move it to your brother if his passion os to own it and drive it....if Not part it out,

yes having a taxi or cop car would be alright I guess, but would it get use from you?.........

Only you know what its fate would be.....

Would sure make some nice parts for other cars you shown in pictures...

Personally I hate 4 doors, unless their Modern

70moparman · July 29, 2013, 11:03:42 AM

4 door = parts car ~ unless its a survivor, and its not... GOOD PARTS!

F8-4life · July 29, 2013, 11:53:46 AM

Sure if you have a 2 door then why have a 4 door...but that is besides the point. Someone out there would love that car like it was a hemi gtx and that is why it deserves to live on.
I mean look at the junk they are producing nowadays and tell me a 318 satellite isn't a qaulity car derserving better then the butcher.
You guys have been wearing your 2door glasses too long.

ACUDANUT · July 29, 2013, 01:07:09 PM

Looks like you already have a lot of other projects to finish. Sell it whole. It would be a great cop car.

Nwcharger · August 03, 2013, 10:48:54 AM

So the car is going to be a driver for now. I guess I don't have the heart to part it out at this time. I found my older brother a 69 coronet wagon so he's off my back for my 4door. Also may pick up a 69 coronet 4door for my little brother. My little brother was telling me I should make the 70 4door a chp superbird.

C_stripes · August 03, 2013, 11:26:49 AM

I still think that it is a great parts car for the three two doors that you have.

Mike DC · August 03, 2013, 01:01:29 PM

Here's something I have thought about doing before:

Most of the mechanicals of that 4dr will swap over to a 2dr later on. Not only the engine but the rest of the drivetrain, suspension, steering, brakes, dashboard, HVAC, maybe even front bucket seats, etc. You could build up the mechanicals that you had in mind for the 2dr in that 4dr car, and have something to cruise & test it out in the whole time.

You can get one of your 2dr bodies in nice painted shape while you cruise the 4dr, and eventually swap everything over. (Even then I would probably not part-out the 4dr. You could just give it back its original drivetrain & parts.)

----------------------

But be careful, this plan will fall apart on you if you don't stick to the concept of a DRIVER 4dr. Don't start taking stuff apart on the 4dr and not getting it back together for 3 weeks.

And don't start trying to restore stuff on the 4dr that won't eventually be swapped into the 2dr. (At least not until after the 2dr project is done.) Keep your eye on the ball and remember the 2dr is the goal. Just keep the 4dr running/legal and don't abuse it.

MoParJW · August 04, 2013, 07:09:37 AM

An unmarked cop car would be cool
Dogdishes, searchlight, bigblock...

greenpigs · August 04, 2013, 09:44:06 AM

I would go with a taxi theme also.

Do you need any of the parts for your other rides?

Nwcharger · August 04, 2013, 12:21:46 PM

Quote from: greenpigs on August 04, 2013, 09:44:06 AM
I would go with a taxi theme also.

Do you need any of the parts for your other rides?

The parts would help me with at least 4 of my other cars. I had it all planned out. The front clip was going on my b5 satellite. The trunk, tail light panel and bumpers where for my f8 4speed sport satellite. The dash and wiring was going into my fk5 satellite. The drivetrain was going into my 69 318 coronet so I can sell it as a running project. The frame rails where going to my Daytona. But i keep looking at this car and think it could be super cool. Damn mopars.

70moparman · August 04, 2013, 01:50:03 PM

You will save yourself time and money by using that 4 door as a parts car, sounds like you need all those parts, and they would definatly cost you more than whatever you could sell that 4 door for... STRIP THAT 4 DOOR ALREADY and fix up your 4 other cars, which are all WAY COOLER!

greenpigs · August 04, 2013, 03:23:58 PM

Quote from: Nwcharger on August 04, 2013, 12:21:46 PM
Quote from: greenpigs on August 04, 2013, 09:44:06 AM
I would go with a taxi theme also.

Do you need any of the parts for your other rides?

The parts would help me with at least 4 of my other cars. I had it all planned out. The front clip was going on my b5 satellite. The trunk, tail light panel and bumpers where for my f8 4speed sport satellite. The dash and wiring was going into my fk5 satellite. The drivetrain was going into my 69 318 coronet so I can sell it as a running project. The frame rails where going to my Daytona. But i keep looking at this car and think it could be super cool. Damn mopars.

Yep, sounds like you need to part it out.

Daytona R/T SE · August 04, 2013, 05:27:55 PM

Start chopping.

Nobody wants to pay any money for a four door old car.

It doesn't matter how nice it is.

Old Moparz · August 04, 2013, 07:43:29 PM

It's a cool car but I say stay with your plan & use what you need from it & scrap the rest. I parted a fairly decent '69 Charger a few years back & sold the shell to someone who cut off some sheet metal & scrapped the rest. This was right before AMD & PG Classics parts were available, but I'd have still stripped it because I needed so much for my shell it wouldn't be cost effective to buy it piece by piece.

Make a more detailed list of what the car has & a list of what you need. Then start looking at what all the parts cost from suppliers & ebay vendors & you may not be so quick to "save the four door" & still need more parts. As it sits it looks like a $1200 car tops & I bet you won't sell it fast. Keep it & you'll be buried in projects & will be working on them until you're buried in the ground.

Baldwinvette77 · August 04, 2013, 08:27:15 PM

part it out to save your multiple 2 doors, saving three 2 doors at the cost of one 4 door is worth it in my opinion

TUFCAT · August 04, 2013, 08:46:14 PM

Quote from: 70moparman on July 29, 2013, 11:03:42 AM
4 door = parts car ~ unless its a survivor, and its not... GOOD PARTS!

djcarguy · August 19, 2013, 05:04:37 AM

do one side as a cop car an one side a taxi???

i have a taxi roof dome with lights or cop caps an a red light. but if the old 4 door needs much work, use the parts to save hardtops.

:Twocents:latter dj

tan top · August 19, 2013, 05:45:43 AM

Quote from: TUFCAT on August 04, 2013, 08:46:14 PM
Quote from: 70moparman on July 29, 2013, 11:03:42 AM
4 door = parts car ~ unless its a survivor, and its not... GOOD PARTS!

as much as I want to say keep it , & use it daily , think best plan is to part it for all the stuff you need

why spend time & money on this four door , when you got other 2 door mopars ,

bull · August 20, 2013, 11:43:04 PM

But why does it have to be parted out and destroyed? Sell it whole.

nvrbdn · August 21, 2013, 08:53:34 AM

yep, save the life of the car and sell it. you have a buyer right here looking for that car.

ODZKing · August 21, 2013, 09:05:29 AM

I agree with all the comments on keeping it.
Like all the folks who have cloned Satellite Sebring's into Roadrunners. The Sebring is now the rare car.
If you wanted to do something interesting show-wise with it, as mentioned, make it a cop car or taxi.
People ALWAYS gather around those at our show with amazment.
Either way, in that condition, I'd keep it.

bull · August 21, 2013, 11:53:52 AM

I wouldn't eve worry about the cop car/taxi thing. Old Mopar 4 doors don't need theme jobs to look cool and get attention if their reception at car shows are any indication. While the 2 door Mopars remind us of summers spent street racing, partying and chasing girls the 4 doors remind us of family road trips to Yellowstone and learning to tinker with the old man. They bring back good memories too.

green69rt · August 21, 2013, 11:53:52 AM

I can see why you would want to ask for opinions on the site. I also see that you are not getting a clear direction. It would be a tough call for me. I wonder what the savings would be to part this car to save the others given AMD now? Time to cut out the parts, manpower to recondition and install....

May be close to a toss-up. But then< I don't think this car would be worth much in the future so about all I would do with it is keep it going and drive it. Not a very attractive car, so...........

edit: took another look at it and it's not a bad looking car, kind of grows on ya. (for a four door).

C_stripes · August 23, 2013, 11:57:53 PM

It's actually a really nice car... But you have a 70 sport sat 383 HP 4spd car that could use a lot of those parts. And to gather up the parts you need, would cost more than you could sell that whole car for....

XS29L · August 25, 2013, 07:26:25 AM

I would add an Air grabber hood and a set of Rallye wheels do a quickie flat black paint job and just drive it.

greenpigs · August 25, 2013, 03:56:10 PM

Buying repo parts for his other rides to save a 4 door, makes ZERO sense. Think a little bit people, not many care about a 4 door and would be willing to buy it for the $ he needs to get replacement parts for his other rides. Sure it will be another old car gone, but it happens.

djcarguy · September 10, 2013, 09:23:42 AM

will charger fenders and doors fit a 70 satillite?? start measuring an mapping it out to your charger clone. then use all the front an rear ply parts on ya hardtops an the unbody an floor an cowl to graft a charger roof an quarters an tail too..

part it an save others, just call it a donor program,ta help save the more deserving. let me know when an i'll be up with sawzall and drills an grinders and axe an pry bars an big hammers.

waiting for ya call,till then .hahahah latter DJ

MaximRecoil · September 10, 2013, 04:22:53 PM

Quote from: djcarguy on September 10, 2013, 09:23:42 AM
will charger fenders and doors fit a 70 satillite?? start measuring an mapping it out to your charger clone. then use all the front an rear ply parts on ya hardtops an the unbody an floor an cowl to graft a charger roof an quarters an tail too..

You could probably put Charger fenders onto that car, but you can't fit doors from a 2-door onto a 4-door, and even if you could, what are you going to do about the 2 rear doors and the B-pillar? With enough fabrication skill, anything can be done, but I think swapping in a Charger front clip is as far as you can get before you have to start drastically redesigning stuff. You'd have better luck trying to clone a Charger if you started with a 2-door Satellite by swapping the front clip, doors, roof skin, quarter panels, trunk lid, and so on, though I believe the Satellite has a wheelbase that is 1" shorter than a Charger, so that would have to be dealt with.

Nwcharger · September 10, 2013, 07:11:36 PM

As far as I know the wheelbase from 2 door to 4 door is the same. Also should be the same from charger to satellite but I'm no expert. I'm sure it could be deskined and 2 door jams installed and reskined as a charger but none of the inner structure would work. The 4 door is on the back burner for now. Now working on my 69 coronet wagon, my wife wants to drive it so I want it on the road ASAP so I can get rid of her minivan. I have 22 cars right now and need to thin the herd before I go crazy.

MaximRecoil · September 10, 2013, 08:50:10 PM

Quote from: Nwcharger on September 10, 2013, 07:11:36 PM
As far as I know the wheelbase from 2 door to 4 door is the same. Also should be the same from charger to satellite but I'm no expert. I'm sure it could be deskined and 2 door jams installed and reskined as a charger but none of the inner structure would work.

The Charger has a wheelbase of 117", the Satellite has a wheelbase of 116". That was a difference between the Road Runner (116" wheelbase) and the Super Bee (117" wheelbase) as well. This is according to what I've read; I've never actually checked with a tape measure.

green69rt · September 12, 2013, 11:39:12 PM

Got a little afield of the original question. Yes, I would have a hard time parting it out but most of that is emotional need to preserve old things, including cars. So, what's the answer. What are you leaning towards???

nvrbdn · September 13, 2013, 12:43:16 PM

yep, i would like to know also. whats it gona be?

ive been hard on the side of saving the old beater, but if the parts were to be donated to the other projects so that they could be finished, and would be, then i would have to agree that it just makes sense to save yourself a bundle of money by getting your parts right there.

greenpigs · September 14, 2013, 06:18:24 AM

QuoteI have 22 cars right now and need to thin the herd before I go crazy.

WOW!

How many are worth mentioning?

Mike DC · September 14, 2013, 06:39:49 AM

With all due respect, the fact that you have several half-finished projects going at the same time makes me suspicious. Guys who do several projects at once usually either have lots of money & time or else the projects have a way of dragging on unfinished forever.

What I'm trying to say is this:

If the 4dr gets hacked up, and it saves several other cars soon, it may look totally worth it in hindsight.

But if the 4dr gets hacked up, and several years later the other cars that it was supposed to save don't look much farther along, they just have a few more parts in the "to be used eventually" pile . . . IMHO that's going to seem like a bit of a shame. That 4dr could have some more life & fun left in it right now.

Nwcharger · September 14, 2013, 12:41:13 PM

Quote from: greenpigs on September 14, 2013, 06:18:24 AM
QuoteI have 22 cars right now and need to thin the herd before I go crazy.

WOW!

How many are worth mentioning?

The 4 door will more than likely be saved and will end up going to my older brother to make a cop car clone. As far as all my cars, here is a list starting with running cars. Keep in mind they are not all mopars as I do have other makes I like (just not as much as mopars)

1991 honda crx hf
1999 honda odyssey
1996 honda accord
1964 vw baja
1993 dodge cummins w250
1969 dodge Daytona clone
1982 Toyota sunrader rv
1973 dodge powerwagon 3/4 ton
1989 honda crx sir
1984 Winnebago rv
1969 dodge coronet wagon
1989 Toyota uhaul
1980 Toyota 4x4 shortbed
1981 Toyota trekker 4x4
1970 satellite 4door

Non running cars
1965 honda s600 sports coupe
1968 charger rt
1970 satellite b5 318
1970 satellite fk5 318 (superbird clone)
1970 sport satellite 383 4speed
1969 dodge Daytona
1969 coronet 318
1965 vw 13 window bus
1970 aar Cuda or at least story gos. Now a circle track car with a fiberglass lebaron body

Looks like a had a couple more that I forgot about.

tracpack440 · September 15, 2013, 11:58:43 PM

Save it.

ThomasTedder · September 17, 2013, 01:16:31 AM

Strip the parts you can use for the other cars in the driveway and sell the rest.

C_stripes · September 17, 2013, 11:54:06 AM

Quote from: tracpack440 on September 15, 2013, 11:58:43 PM
Save it.

Can't save them all!

JB400 · September 17, 2013, 01:12:24 PM

Quote from: C_stripes on September 17, 2013, 11:54:06 AM
Quote from: tracpack440 on September 15, 2013, 11:58:43 PM
Save it.

Can't save them all!

We can try. If everyone doesn't have some sort of a "Save it" mentality, there will most certainly be none left for the future.

greenpigs · September 17, 2013, 01:25:54 PM

Sorry, but MOST car guys will not bother buying a 4 door to fix up. Of course a bunch of people here will say they would, but when it comes time to fork out the money......

TUFCAT · September 17, 2013, 09:01:51 PM

Is this debate still going on? By now you should have sold the damn thing for parts, parted it out yourself, or cut it up.

I'm pretty sure the concensus was "worth more dead than alive."

ws23rt · September 17, 2013, 10:06:07 PM

It looks a bit too nice to kill. ------ Since four doors were always seen as the family car (less than cool) their are few left.

For that reason alone they have become perhaps more rare than two door cars. Can't say what the future collector will like but there is always the odd bird that likes the odd stuff.

I know when I go to car shows---after walking past row after row of nice/ cool/ hot cars they tend to run together but then there is an odd one and people (me included) seem to pause a bit longer.

My vote is to hang on to it intact. But if you do that doesn't mean park it out back in the weather.

News:

should i part this 1970 4 door or keep it??