Rolling Thunder's 1969 Road Runner Resto Thread

[Rolling_Thunder]

I just purchased a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner that is disassembled but complete. The car was originally a low option 383 4-speed car. The engine is not numbers matching and the original block is known to be destroyed. The car was black with a white gut. Please help me decide on what to do with it.

[Ponch ®]

I voted for the last one 

In any case...

[Old Moparz]

Street brawler, but I'd leave it black & white, I love that combination. 

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Pics man Pics.

[Rolling_Thunder]

guys...     CHILL!   I have finals this week and have not had the time to go over and take pics of it yet     I swear by this weekend I'll have some up.

[Dans 68]

Do whatever you want to do. Get lots of ideas from the members here, and then just do whatever you want. Just don't forget to post photos after your finals....

Dan

[RD]

WE NEED PICS!!!!  after finals of course (good luck btw)....

i voted for the last one.. the black & white is reminiscent of yin/yang, good vs. evil, young grasshopper... you must have evil under the hood, and good in your shifts

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Normally I don't really care about originality, but that sounds like it was a pretty cool car when new.  I voted for the 1st. 

[Old Moparz]

guys...     CHILL!   I have finals this week and have not had the time to go over and take pics of it yet     I swear by this weekend I'll have some up.

Well then.......you should be studying & should have waited until after the finals to tell everyone you got a Road Runner.

BACK TO THE BOOKS!!

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I voted for the FAST class 400 stroker.   Love when those cars run

[Sabre]

I have the perfect idea, instead of what's on the poll list, how about you give me the car for free.

[69bronzeT5]

A12

[six-tee-nine]

If it has a big engine and a 4 speed then for me the rest would be fine, but when money is not an issue the 440+6 sounds attractive enough

[Steve P.]

It's quite simple. You are in school to learn. Not to play around with old cars. Not to dream...  So you should immediately sell that car to me cheeeeap and get your head back into those books. Then a few of us old guys will put our heads together and come up with a great combo for a very low, very big tire, very scarrrrry Road RipPer. I'm thinking 528 CI with a dual overdrive 6-speed and 5:13 gears stuffed in the Dana twisting a pair of 32' x 16" wide slicks. Of course that will take some real support, so we will need to fire up the mig and burn up a nice tube chassis and 10 point cage. I'm kinnda thinking,,, maybe,,, a negative firewall. 8 inches should do it. That should give us more than enough room for a huge 4 row aluminum radiator and drive belt system for the procharger.

But I'm just spit-balling. 

[chargerrt]

In my opinion nothing is as cool as a stock looking musclecar that runs in the 11s.  Go for the F.A.S.T. 440+6

[TUFCAT]

My Vote: FAST class 400 stroker 4-speed!   But, I would also like to see it look as bone stock as possible on the outside and interior....those showroom correct, 100 point show cars racing in F.A.S.T class absolutely blow me away with their sub-12 second performance! 

[Rolling_Thunder]

I love the idea of the FAST class - but there are no events out here on the left coast...    but still - to have a stock looking roadrunner running 11s or even 12s would be sweet in my opinion   

[PocketThunder]

A12    Black car with a flat black hood                 

[Rolling_Thunder]

   It is very tempting...

[69bronzeT5]

   It is very tempting...

That is the one right there! Make your car like that! That thing is unbelievably sweet!

Hey Pocket, I guess we got the same tastes

[Rolling_Thunder]

   It is very tempting...

That is the one right there! Make your car like that! That thing is unbelievably sweet!

Hey Pocket, I guess we got the same tastes

but heres the question...    stock A12 clone or the FAST class car with a 512" stroker ?   

[69bronzeT5]

Well if it were my car, heres what I'd do. Make it look exactly like that A12. Black, flat black lift off hood, redline tires, steelies....BUT under the hood, the most badass engine I could find. So I guess my answer would be both. Make it look stock on the outside but put the engine you want (I guess the 512?) in it.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well i have a 383 block, a 400 block, and a 1969 440 block just chilling in the shop...    I am free to use any of them...     so i can make any engine combo from a stock 383 to a stroked 440+6...     my boss's Superbird is what is swaying to a six pack motor....   they are just so bad ass with a 4-speed     but wheres the fun for a stock 440 ?  I guess if i went that route go with a stroked 440 with a single 4bbl intake and carb (have them around the shop) and drive it like that for a while - then save some $$$ and drop on a 6 pack later on...    but this is a LONG time from now as i still have the charger to finish       

[69bronzeT5]

I guess if i went that route go with a stroked 440 with a single 4bbl intake and carb (have them around the shop) and drive it like that for a while - then save some $$$ and drop on a 6 pack later on...   

Thats what I would do.

[68RT4ME]

A12    Black car with a flat black hood                 

The thing would be NASTY lookin just sittin still. A street bully in black.  Awesome!!

[Brock Samson]

just for some more inspiration and another distraction from school... congrats on the new ride... some pics till ya' get yours up...

[blackcharger]

I'd build an A12 clone, but loose the steelies. put a set of Cragar SS with fat tires on the back!

[rav440]

I'd build an A12 clone, but loose the steelies. put a set of Cragar SS with fat tires on the back!

BLACK CHARGER i like the way you think 

[HITMAN 149]

and in this corner...... THHEEEEEEE BRAWWWWWLER!!!!!!   

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - I got a couple things done for my Road Runner...       Rebuilt the 4-speed and the Hurst Shifter...    Really not that difficult at all... .      I also painted the bellhousing and rebuilt the 4-speed pedals...     

Have also ordered a firewall gasket kit, heater box gasket set, inner fender from AMD, and got the 440 painted the correct color...     Very cool stuff...    still not sure on color yet...     

[WingCharger]

Build a bare bones street brawler. Make the only options A12 and Tic-Toc-Tac!

[moparstuart]

Build a bare bones street brawler. Make the only options A12 and Tic-Toc-Tac!

that would be tough , putting a whole different dash in it

[Harlow]

I think you like chargers better. You should sell your runner to me.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well   I always thought a Hemi car and a six pack car would be cool to have....     So the charger is getting the Hemi and the Road Runner is getting the six pack....    Hopefully I'll have the Charger on the road by Next Spring Fling out here in CA...         The Road Runner will be completed after that...    may be on the road however...    just in primer/sealer for a while.   

[Harlow]

Nice man. Your going to have some serious cars.

[Rolling_Thunder]

ya - figure i should build them now when i'm still young and stupid...    and can afford it...     no kids or morgage yet   

[chargerman68]

wheres the 6.1 going?

[Rolling_Thunder]

The 6.1 goes in the Charger....      the old 440 that was in the Charger is now going in the Road Runner with a six pack set up to retire the leaky and tired 383 that was already 60 over.     

[chargerman68]

so theres going to be two 68 chargers with 6.1's at spring fling

[Rolling_Thunder]

Hopefully mine will make it...    its still at the paint shop right now and i still need to pay for alot of parts   

[chargerman68]

mine too.....waiting on Mancini for parts

[G-man]

You should send it to me and let me worry about what to do with it.... wait, theres not vote option for that 

Screw the originality, and make it a kick ass beast. Custom gauges, aluminium components 850 horsepower, manual 6 speed, SS springs (unless you prefer coil overs) mini tub to fit big fat tires and let her rip! 

I voted the last 1 

[Death1970Proof]

Id go middle of the road....here is my take on it...

Outside needs black body with a flat black hood...(stockish looking)

White stockish looking interior with a couple of stylish looking gauges here and there...

Slightly low stance all way around. Big sway bars f/r, poly bushings,edelbrock performer shocks. subframe connectors...

Mopar cop car rims running some sweet 68/69 style plymouth hubcaps. Have the wheels spaced out to 15x8's on all four corners..If you dont run hubcaps on the cop rims run the chrome lug nut only treatment.  The other option is same sized american racing original style torque thrust on all four coners.

Under the hood....BALLS OUT!! 512 c.i rb indy headed 11:1 roller cammed stroked out beast,gear drive (noisy),big tube headers, single plane indy intake and a holley dominator... full performance centerforce clutch as well  4.10 or 4.30 geared dana?

Can you imagine how sinister this car would be  ?

I respect stock resto stuff but that whole trailer queen business is terribly boring..... unsuspecting STREET BRAWLER all the way 

[SFRT]

build your fantasy of what the car should be. dont listen to anyone else.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Brought my 440 home from the shop last night....       now it can just chill in the garage for a while.  The engine will run a 4bbl for a while until I get the coin to drop on the six pack set up...       i've decided stock HP manifolds are alot easier than headers and for what I want I find them necessary...   no they arent silver...   they are eastwood grey however show silver with a fill flash....             The engine is actually 512ci and should put out around abouts 475-485hp...    not bad for looking stock....       down the road I'll most likely add Stealth heads when I add the six pack set up...        we shall see

PS - anyone else like a cart that can carry a big block and roll around the garage floor ?  Took me about an hour and a half to make last night at the shop....         

[Lowprofile]

A Street Fighter all the way bro! I like what your doing already! Keep up the good work! 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - it has been decided....       the answer to the thread title will be the following....

Factory A12 Clone
512" Stroker six pack
23 spline 4-speed manual transmission
A-4 silver paint
Black and White Bench seat interior
Dana 60 differential

Some variations from stock will include a 3.73 gear set in the Dana - I also have an aluminum case OD 4-speed sitting at the shop...     I'll rebuild and swap that bad boy in for longer road trips...     71mph would be 2500rpm...           Will also go with Caltracs on the rear for a little more traction.

Also wont be factory correct when it comes to fasteners, wire looms, and small things like that...     should be nice enough to place at a show but not nice enough to not pound on

[Harlow]

Nice man. A-4 with the six pack hood with the black/white interior will look killer  . An A12 Runner is one of my dream cars.

[SFRT]

A 12 brutality is a sexy thing.

[no318]

PS - anyone else like a cart that can carry a big block and roll around the garage floor ?  Took me about an hour and a half to make last night at the shop....         

Are you thinking about making some more to sell?  Looks like it fits good to the block.  I'd be interested.

[Finn]

Do I get another star next to my name if I can rattle off colors by factory codes too?   

[Rolling_Thunder]

maybe