Scamp project update

[scamper340]

Jackie asked me to post some pics of my project a while back and I just got around to updating my Photobucket account and thought I'd share.  It's not a high end job by any means and I'm limited to what I can do by the fact that I live in a townhouse apartment.  Don't want to piss off the neighbors.  Anyway, here's what Ive got so far.  First, here's what I started with, a '71 Scamp, original slant, bench seat, column shift auto.  When I found it, the PO had swapped in a mild 360/727, 8.25, 3.55 sure-grip, big bolt disc brakes, console and buckets.  I found it for sale in the vendor area at the 2000 Carlisle Nationals.  This is how it looked when I got it back to Quantico, VA where I was stationed at the time.  

[scamper340]

For some reason, I'm having trouble posting pics.  Anyway,
I was working part time at the base Auto Hobby Shop and tinkered with it here and there.  I didn't have much experience working on these old cars, even though I'd had a couple over the years.  I guess I was always worried I'd screw something up.  Anyway, I had a good friend from high school help me drop in a warmed up 340 in it when I came home on leave before the '01 Carlisle show.  The car was still kinda ugly and since I didn't have much fun showing it, I figured I'd have some fun in the burnout contest. 




I thought I broke the new motor when she quit on me after the burnout, and the temp gauge buried itself in the red.  I limped it to the field and shut it down, but it turned out I just sucked some rust into the fuel filter, clogging it up.  Cleaned it out and I was up and running again, on bald tires through heavy rain back to Quantico.  Talk about a hairy ride.

[scamper340]

Life moves on, my enlistment was up and I moved back to PA.  Got settled in and the car took a back seat for awhile.  A couple of years later the car was disassembled.

[scamper340]

In 2003 I was activated with the Marine Reserves and sent to NC for a year.  While I was gone, the car went to the body man to work his magic.  No better way to say "Welcome home":

[scamper340]

I spent some time working on the garage, painting, enclosing the ceiling, adding lights, outlets, etc.  After he added the hood blackout, it came home.

[scamper340]

Like they say, long story short, here's where I'm at today. 



This is my first major project, and a big learning experience.  I've picked up some really good tips by lurking here.  I know it's not a numbers car or anything, and some people probably think I'm nuts for going as far as I am with a Scamp. But you know how it goes, projects take on a life of their own. 
If you're interested, here's a link to my Photobucket album: http://s153.photobucket.com/albums/s207/scamper360/Scamp%20pics/

My Faceslap account has photo descriptions, if anyone's interested PM me and I'll add you.  I'll try to update this thread periodically.  I'm currently finishing up the underside of the car so I can start bolting the running gear back in. 

[Old Moparz]

The car looks great, don't forget to add more pics later as work gets further along.   

I like Scamps, here's mine. 

[71ChallengeHer]

Eric, It's about time you posted. To see this car in person ia unbelievable. The work Eric did this car is amazing. He did a lot of detail work on my Challenger too. 

[scamper340]

Thanks, I am a bit anal, I mean detail oriented.    If I wasn't so picky, I'd be driving it by now, but I love the details.  There will be some things that I won't be happy with, but right now I'm just trying to get it all back in one piece.  Old Moparz,  that is one clean looking car.  What's the color?  I'll try to keep the thread updated, thanks!

[adauto]

I watched your slideshow, very nice work! You must be a patient man, well done! 

[Alaskan_TA]

The green gene runs strong with Jackie's family. 

[scamper340]

The green gene, I love it!    As far as patience, I wouldn't say that.  More like a lack of motivation at times, and money, mostly lack of money, LOL.  Things are finally starting to come together though.  I have most of the parts to get it back on the ground now.  All the suspension and steering parts are on the shelf, along with the brake calipers and rotors.  I just have to finish painting the underside of the car.  I painted it already, but I wasn't happy with the finish, so I'm hitting it with a DA, and giving it another coat of paint.  When it came to choosing finishes on various parts, I chose durability and "cleanability" over correct finishes a lot of times.  Hopefully I did my homework and it will hold up for quite a while after it's back on the road. 

[twodko]

Hooyah! Outstanding is my first impression. Looks like a 4.0 attention to detail in my eyes.  I've always liked that body style and Darts too for that matter. Either of those cars would be a welcome addition to my garage! I'm anxious to see it on the road. I can't imagine what a Scamp/Dart GTS with a 440 would be like but I'd love to drive one. 

Semper Fi devil dog!

[71ChallengeHer]

The green gene runs strong with Jackie's family.  

Barry, You crack me up.    Funny, Shelby drove her 1st Mopar  muscle car, the other day.  And it was F4 green.  1970  Coronet 500 Vert, green interior and 383.  

[scamper340]

I'm bored, so I figured I'd go into more detail about some of  the things that were done to the car.  Starting at the front, all the seams were welded on the K-member ('73-up spool mount), gussets were added to the steering box mount, and I added stiffening plates to the lower control arms.  I have .890 torsion bars and I decided to go with rubber bushings up front due to a bad experience with poly on my Dakota.  I have the larger C-body tie-rod ends with solid adjusters from Mancini.  The 340 is out of a '70 Challenger.  It has TRW forged pistons, 10:1 advertised compression, stock rods, original steel crank and MP 292/509 Purple Stick.  Probably a bigger cam than I need, but it was already bought for my '69 340 4-spd Swinger that I got rid of to finish the Scamp.  It has the X heads that are off of my old '69 Swinger 340.  They have  been shaved a couple of times, and have hardened valve seats and the large valves.  The 727, I have no idea what it's out of, it was in the car when I bought it.  It was rebuilt back when I initially swapped in the 340, manual valve body.  It never was right, so I decided to have it gone through again, and to go back to stock valve body.  When we were tearing it down the other day, the guy that's rebuilding it showed me some worn bearings that should have been replaced apparently, and one of the valve body bolts was laying the pan.  The rear is a 8.25 with 3.55 Sure-Grip.  I'll be running Doug's headers through 2.5" with factory style stainless tips.  Outside, the scoops are factory pieces, along with a pair of sport mirrors.  The rims are later 15x6.5" Rallye's with 225-60 all around, but I'm thinking about dropping down to a 205 on the front with possibly 235's in the rear.  The spoiler is a FPAP piece, it's the cheaper version, and the posts are not the correct width.  I need to figure out how to mount the support brackets.  All of the trim is polished and ready to go back on and the bumpers have been rechromed. The seat covers are older Legendary '70 Swinger skins that I picked up with a bunch of other parts a while back.  The console was covered in boar grain vinyl that matches the dash pad.  The housing was a little chewed up, and I wasn't happy with it after it was repainted.  It's a custom touch, but I hope it will look good.  The top plate is an original rechromed pre-'70, currently being detailed.  The rear view mirror is an older piece with the stainless housing.  And I decided to go with the older chrome handle window cranks.  What can I say, I like shiny stuff.    Anyway, that's all I can think of right now.

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