Green Hemi Bird Early History?

[Convert]

I own a Superbird and like many others, am trying to find previous owners and the early history of my car. Here is what I do know:
  The car was built on December 15th and left the factory with a 426 hemi, 4 speed, black bucket seats, console, and limelight paint. The next 12 years are a mystery. The car was owned by a Warren Hodges of Tennille Georgia in 1982. Tennille is about an hour southeast of Atlanta. By that time the hemi and the 4 speed were gone and the car had a 440 and a console automatic. Warren sold the car in October 1982. I know the history from then to now. The person I got the car from had the car appraised by GG in January of last year. That appraisal states that the car was previously owned in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Also, the Wisconsin title stated that the car was previously titled in North Carolina. Does anyone remember my car? What dealer sold it? Who owned the car from 1970 to 1982? What happened to the original hemi and 4 speed? Any other info? I appreciate all help. Thank you.

[nascarxx29]

If you got a vin number.You might get back history from both wing car clubs or a dc member

[nascarxx29]

There's a few Dec 15 superbird on the list
http://brcook.com/id17.html

[Convert]

RM23R0A181260

[wyliemn71]

just curious how long have you owned this car?

[Moparpoolman]

Can you post some pictures of your car?  Love to see it.  Thanks

[Convert]

I got the car 9 months ago.

[nascarxx29]

Was it a automatic console hemi car friend from.maryland saw this one

[Convert]

The car was a 426 4 speed from the factory. From the little information I have, the 400 and automatic were swapped in together sometime before 1982, so it was never a 426 auto car. A 68/69 hemi and 4 speed were installed in the car in the mid 80's. Thanks

[472 R/T SE]

The car was a 426 4 speed from the factory. From the little information I have, the 400 and automatic were swapped in together sometime before 1982, so it was never a 426 auto car. A 68/69 hemi and 4 speed were installed in the car in the mid 80's. Thanks

Is 68/69 block stamped with a VIN on bottom or VON up top?

[Convert]

The pad on top of the motor by the distributor is blank. There is a number stamped on the rear flange next to the top of the bellhousing and also a number stamped on the pad at the bottom of the motor next to the starter.

[PettyMower]

Was it a automatic console hemi car friend from.maryland saw this one

Dave, this one was For Sale when I purchased mine in 1986. At that time the plates read "BIG BRD"....abbreviated because Maryland limited you to (6) digits. This must have been later, and possibly with the new owner.  I always wondered what happened to this car.

[426HemiChick]

The car was a 426 4 speed from the factory. From the little information I have, the 400 and automatic were swapped in together sometime before 1982, so it was never a 426 auto car. A 68/69 hemi and 4 speed were installed in the car in the mid 80's. Thanks

Hi Convert,               27 July 2022

Not trying to nit pick but your statement above seems confusing. Here is what we see:

1970 - Originally a 426 Hemi 4 spd
Before 1982 440 and console Automatic
Before 1982 a 400 and automatic were swapped in
Mid 80's 68/69 Hemi and 4 spd were installed

This is rather confusing as some info may be typos.

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Original engine 426 Hemi and 4-spd manual
Sometime before 1982 the Hemi and 4 spd were removed and a 440 and a Console Automatic were installed.

The 400 is a typo
The Hemi and 4 Spd were removed in the mid 80's and replaced by the 440 and Console Automatic.

This is what we deduced by reading and re-reading your posts.

If we are incorrect please correct us where we are wrong.

If you can put together a history of your Super Bird, you will improve your chances of finding the original Hemi and 833 4 Spd.

It would be really super if you could find the original power and drive train.

Good luck in your treasure hunt, hope you succeed.

Best Always

Dena and Christine, 426 Hemi Chicks

[Q5XX29]

The car was a 426 4 speed from the factory. From the little information I have, the 400 and automatic were swapped in together sometime before 1982, so it was never a 426 auto car. A 68/69 hemi and 4 speed were installed in the car in the mid 80's. Thanks

Hi Convert,               27 July 2022

Not trying to nit pick but your statement above seems confusing. Here is what we see:

1970 - Originally a 426 Hemi 4 spd
Before 1982 440 and console Automatic
Before 1982 a 400 and automatic were swapped in
Mid 80's 68/69 Hemi and 4 spd were installed

This is rather confusing as some info may be typos.

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Original engine 426 Hemi and 4-spd manual
Sometime before 1982 the Hemi and 4 spd were removed and a 440 and a Console Automatic were installed.

The 400 is a typo
The Hemi and 4 Spd were removed in the mid 80's and replaced by the 440 and Console Automatic.

This is what we deduced by reading and re-reading your posts.

If we are incorrect please correct us where we are wrong.

If you can put together a history of your Super Bird, you will improve your chances of finding the original Hemi and 833 4 Spd.

It would be really super if you could find the original power and drive train.

Good luck in your treasure hunt, hope you succeed.

Best Always

Dena and Christine, 426 Hemi Chicks

Hi Dena and Christine,

Why do you think the "400" is a typo? The 383 & 400 low deck mopar engines found their way into more than one wing car, when the original engines went south. Much cheaper replacement, at a time when these cars weren't as revered or valuable. 

[PettyMower]

Why do you think the "400" is a typo? The 383 & 400 low deck mopar engines found their way into more than one wing car, when the original engines went south. Much cheaper replacement, at a time when these cars weren't as revered or valuable.  

The original post states the Hemi 4-speed was swapped to a 440 / auto / console. (scroll up to the top)
Then the next to last message states a "400".

Jay

[Q5XX29]

Why do you think the "400" is a typo? The 383 & 400 low deck mopar engines found their way into more than one wing car, when the original engines went south. Much cheaper replacement, at a time when these cars weren't as revered or valuable.  

The original post states the Hemi 4-speed was swapped to a 440 / auto / console. (scroll up to the top)
Then the next to last message states a "400".

Jay

Ah, I see now.  Sure could be a typo, but since the "typo" happens to be another possible Mopar engine, I guess the OP will have to enlighten us. 

[Convert]

400 is the correct answer for the Superbird. Sorry for the confusion. I'm currently working on a Sunfire Yellow C500 with a 440. To many things going on for my 3 remaining brain cells to process at the same time.

[472 R/T SE]

400 is the correct answer for the Superbird. Sorry for the confusion. I'm currently working on a Sunfire Yellow C500 with a 440. To many things going on for my 3 remaining brain cells to process at the same time.

Three?  I'm envious...

[426HemiChick]

Why do you think the "400" is a typo? The 383 & 400 low deck mopar engines found their way into more than one wing car, when the original engines went south. Much cheaper replacement, at a time when these cars weren't as revered or valuable.  

The original post states the Hemi 4-speed was swapped to a 440 / auto / console. (scroll up to the top)
Then the next to last message states a "400".

Jay

Ah, I see now.  Sure could be a typo, but since the "typo" happens to be another possible Mopar engine, I guess the OP will have to enlighten us. 

Hi Clint,              29 July 2022

Whew, glad you got that cleared up before we got back here. Thought we were having "Brain Farts."

Hope all is going well and that you're getting nice weather so those beautiful cars of yours can get out and romp the highways.

Take Care Amigo

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[Q5XX29]

Why do you think the "400" is a typo? The 383 & 400 low deck mopar engines found their way into more than one wing car, when the original engines went south. Much cheaper replacement, at a time when these cars weren't as revered or valuable.  

The original post states the Hemi 4-speed was swapped to a 440 / auto / console. (scroll up to the top)
Then the next to last message states a "400".

Jay

Ah, I see now.  Sure could be a typo, but since the "typo" happens to be another possible Mopar engine, I guess the OP will have to enlighten us. 

Hi Clint,              29 July 2022

Whew, glad you got that cleared up before we got back here. Thought we were having "Brain Farts."

Hope all is going well and that you're getting nice weather so those beautiful cars of yours can get out and romp the highways.

Take Care Amigo

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

Thanks! Weather finally cooled off a bit this past week and today my youngest son and I actually cleaned up the Daytona a little, for Cars & Coffee in the morning.  Hope Tim has been making some progress on your projects.

Take care, yourself. 

[426HemiChick]

Thanks! Weather finally cooled off a bit this past week and today my youngest son and I actually cleaned up the Daytona a little, for Cars & Coffee in the morning.  Hope Tim has been making some progress on your projects.

Take care, yourself.  

Hi Clint,                 30 July 2022

Getting close to running out of July for the year; it'll return 11 months and a day from today. Time sure is flying by. Think it's an age thing. When you are a kid, say 6 years old, a year is one sixth of your life. Now a year is one Eighty-second of mine; kind of like an "Eye Blink."

Talked to Tim recently. The engine is near completion, just waiting on the rods. Apparently there's a backlog from the manufacturer so we told him to use the high end H-beam race rods of which there is no supply shortage. They add about $1600.00 to the end price, which may help prevent shortages.

Don't know if you are aware, Tim is in the process of relocating to a completely new facility in Florida. I think weather was an issue as Canada isn't free of fuzzy white stuff nor sub zero temps. Don't know when the relocation will be complete. We're not in a hurry and it will simplify the shipping of our engines.

Our friend Scott Lee is relocating his trucking business to Dena's truck depot. He should be here about mid August. Looks like I need to get my buns in gear and get my CDL. I want to do some of the driving, which is my next to the last "Bucket List" item. The last item is our own 18 Wheeler.

Take Care Clint, God Bless You and your Family. And Family includes Pets.

Best Always

Dena and Christine

[Q5XX29]

Thanks! Weather finally cooled off a bit this past week and today my youngest son and I actually cleaned up the Daytona a little, for Cars & Coffee in the morning.  Hope Tim has been making some progress on your projects.

Take care, yourself.  

Hi Clint,                 30 July 2022

Getting close to running out of July for the year; it'll return 11 months and a day from today. Time sure is flying by. Think it's an age thing. When you are a kid, say 6 years old, a year is one sixth of your life. Now a year is one Eighty-second of mine; kind of like an "Eye Blink."

Talked to Tim recently. The engine is near completion, just waiting on the rods. Apparently there's a backlog from the manufacturer so we told him to use the high end H-beam race rods of which there is no supply shortage. They add about $1600.00 to the end price, which may help prevent shortages.

Don't know if you are aware, Tim is in the process of relocating to a completely new facility in Florida. I think weather was an issue as Canada isn't free of fuzzy white stuff nor sub zero temps. Don't know when the relocation will be complete. We're not in a hurry and it will simplify the shipping of our engines.

Our friend Scott Lee is relocating his trucking business to Dena's truck depot. He should be here about mid August. Looks like I need to get my buns in gear and get my CDL. I want to do some of the driving, which is my next to the last "Bucket List" item. The last item is our own 18 Wheeler.

Take Care Clint, God Bless You and your Family. And Family includes Pets.

Best Always

Dena and Christine

Hi gals,

No, I actually didn't know that! I haven't talked to Tim in a while. I knew that he had a place in Florida that he has spent some time at during the long Canadian winters, so that makes some sense. Nice! I'm sure he is building you one of his usual masterpieces.

Yes, you better get going on that- time's a-wasting!   

Thanks for the blessings (Josie thanks you too), and right back at you. 

Clint