Restore 70 roadrunner

2023-03-12T16:10:00.001-04:00

Then weld it on.

2023-03-12T16:08:00.000-04:00

The roof skin was put on and taken off about half a dozen times. I can't rush getting it right. The last thing to do is test fit the back glass.

It's time to punch the holes, apply weld through primer and test fit one more time. Then apply the panel adhesive to the roof supports.

2023-03-12T15:42:00.000-04:00

The roof has arrived and now its time to move forward. With some help I set the roof on

Gotta do a little trimming. The only sheet metal I'll use is AMD.

1st fitting

2023-03-03T16:33:00.003-05:00

I sanded to top and then painted with POR 15

The painter's tape is to make sure the POR 15 does not get on the weld through primer

2023-03-03T16:26:00.000-05:00

I've ordered the new roof but it is on backorder so I've the time to sand frame and check for straightness.

The corner where the tree fell on it is crushed down so I setup my Porta-Power and pushed the frame back up where it needed to be.

2022-05-10T18:59:00.001-04:00

I used the torch to remove the lead at the quarter panel seam

2022-05-10T18:57:00.000-04:00

After evaluating the roof, I have decided to replace the roof skin. The skin is on back order from AMD but I can still remove the old top and prep the metal

I started removing the spot welds and peeling back the remaining top

2022-05-10T18:47:00.000-04:00

With not much fanfare I've finally been able to start working on the car! I welded in the deck filler panel (sometimes referred to as the dutchman panel)

I was also able to weld in the window channel repair panels.

2021-08-23T14:44:00.002-04:00

Well life keeps getting in the way. Maybe I'll start in the fall.

2018-03-08T16:43:00.001-05:00

I'm about to start working on the Road Runner again. But before I start I have to get the garage ready, Hook up the compressor, and lay some concrete. I just bought a Rotisserie and am looking forward to getting started. Check back in a couple of months.

Cutting away the rust

2011-09-29T11:55:00.001-04:00

I'm finaly starting to "work" on the car. As you saw in the previous post there is a lot of rust to be removed.

I started with the Deck filler panel. I cut out the inside to expose the supports and weld points

As I have stated earlier, I am not a professional body man, if you know a better way to do something let me know.

Next I cut out any of the metal that was not at a weld point.

I used a grinder to remove the remaining metal.

Cutting out the quarter panel.

Time to get started

2011-09-14T07:40:00.004-04:00

I finally have some free time to get started with the tear down on my car. I got it in the shop and started the disassembly process.
Since I'm getting older and a little forgetful I am taking lots of pictures so I can remember how it goes back together.

I am putting all of the small parts and fastening hardware in zip lock bags and labeling them.

I have learned from experiance that you should never assume that all parts are available, so I keep all of the parts that I removed. The 70 body style is a 1 year. No one is reproducing the front fenders.

(that I have found)

The next three pictures shows some of the rust that has to be removed from around the rear window.

The left lock pillar post will need to be replaced, it's had some work done before and the nut plate is welded in place.

So many cars, so little time.

2011-03-25T10:38:00.014-04:00

When I finished the hood I had to put my restoration on hold. I had three other more pressing projects to complete.
I had bought a wrecked Tiburon to repair and I had to paint my son’s car and girlfriend’s truck.
The Tiburon is to be my work car, I drive allot of miles for work and needed a car that wasn’t too expensive.
My son’s car and my girlfriend’s truck needed to be painted. They both were suffering from what I call EPA disease. In the early to mid 90’s the EPA forced the auto manufacturers to reformulate paint to reduce VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) this caused a problem with adhesion between the primer and topcoat. I’m sure you all have seen cars driving around with the paint falling off; well you can thank the EPA for this.

The Tiburon

After

My son's car

I didn't take any before pictures, but here is one when we were stripping it.

Drying

And finished

I don't have any pictures of the truck.

The Air Grabber Hood

2011-01-19T20:34:00.005-05:00

I wanted an Air Grabber hood so I looked on eBay, most of the people who are selling parts are NUTS!
They think they are sitting on a gold mine. 4000.00 dollars for a hood that is in only fair shape is nuts. For that kind of money it should be ready to bolt on.

I found this hood on Craig's list. It is complete, but the underside has lots of rust holes. To many to fix.

I figured the best way to fix it was to take two hoods and make one. I separated the skin from the under hood support.

I ground off the spot welds.

and separated the two pieces

Here's the hood skin after it was separated.

Here is a better look at the support, if you click on the picture you'll get a better look at the rust.

I then sandblasted all of the surfaces

Here's the hood support primed. The silver at the top is weld through primer.

A previous owner had drilled holes at the back of the hood, for hood pins I guess. these needed to be filled.

I squared the holes and cut pieces from the old hood. Then I welded them in.

Here's the hood welded back together and ready for the repair to have a thin coat of filler put on.

Engine Assembly

2011-01-13T11:44:00.005-05:00

Here is the block with the forged steel crank installed, notice the billet main caps. I had to get these from 440 Source to replace the 383 caps that came on the block.

The pistons going in. These are Hypereutectic pistons, They are favored because of reduced scuffing, improved power, fuel economy and emissions.

The heads are on, notice the new springs. The timing set is a standard set, but there was a little to much play for my liking.

The heads and rocker arms are on. I used the standard rocker arms.

The timing set has been replaced with a Comp Cams double roller set. Much tighter than the stock set.

Notice the gray paint flaking off.

The water pump and housing is installed. They came from 440 Source. I got the one with their logo on it and they gave me $10.00 dollars off.

The valley pan is on and I'm taping the intakes with painters tape to keep the junk out.

I set the intake and valve covers on for this picture. I also test fit the harmonic balancer.

This is an SFI certified fluid balancer from 440 Source.

After thoroughly sanding the engine I painted it with ceramic paint

The carburators and distributor are installed. I picked up the carbs at a swap meet. The throttle shaft bushings were shot. I was able to talk the guy down to $100.00 a carb. I ordered new base plates direct from Holley. You can still get parts for these carbs from them. You can even buy brand new 6 pack carbs from them.

The distributer is an electronic unit that works with the stock setup, no ignition box required. I got it from, ya you guessed it, 440 source.

The linkage has been added to the carbs. I got The linkage and air cleaner from Fredericks Chrysler Jeep Dodge. They are no longer in business, a casualty of Chryslers down sizing. They got the Dodge dealer here also. I think Chrysler pulled their franchise more on the look of their building than their sales numbers. If you didn't have a new building you were gone. But that is a rant for later.

I put the headers on so I could finish the plug wires.

And the engine is done (for now)

Block

2011-01-13T10:30:00.001-05:00

The block on the engine stand. The only bright spot in all of the trouble I had with the block and heads is that the bore was standard. I had it punched out .030 to clean it up. For some reason the machine shop decided to paint it with this gray paint and it didn't go on smooth. This will need to be removed before it is painted.

The Engine

2011-01-12T13:01:00.003-05:00

I got the block, heads and 6pack intake from eBay. They were sold by gdmusclecarparts3wng, advertised as "good", ready to bolt on. When I took them off the crate and started to examine them the heads were junk! The valves were rusted open or closed and the exhaust studs were broken off. I had to replace all of the vales, valve guides and 11 of the 16 seats. The block was usable with one exception. IT HAD 383 MAIN CAPS!!!!! When I contacted the seller he said ya they are cores. The ad didn't have the word "core" in it anywhere. He refused to do anything. I contacted eBay and Pay Pal, they were both worthless. So I don't buy anything used from eBay any more. If you see him selling anything on eBay, I'd run,run as fast as you can.
Well, live and learn.

1st I had to build a shop

2011-01-12T11:16:00.001-05:00

I knew this was going to take a long time to restore and I had no place to do the work. So I had to build a shop. You can see it in the background Of this picture. It is 20x30. I built it myself with the help of my girl friend and sons. It was to be a steel building. I had the foundation and floor poured for it. There are keyways on the long sides to support the arches, but as we were putting it up we had a very strong wind storm that twisted and tore down the arches we had put up. My girl friend suggested that we build a conventional building. I'm glad she did. I think it turned out better than the Quonset style I had bought. The only thing I wish we had changed was the door location. I wish we had cut the keyways away on one side and put two doors on the long wall. Oh well hindsight.

Getting Started

2011-01-07T06:10:00.002-05:00

I purchased this 1970 Roadrunner off of Ebay in 2006. I have always loved cars and have done all of my own work on them. I used to restore cars for other people to make a little extra money. But now I wanted to do one for me. I thought I would buy a 69 and 1/2 SuperBee 440 6 pack like I had when I was in high school, but there were none to be found ( at a price I could afford ) so I looked at Roadrunners. I found this one close to home. When I went and picked it up I was informed that the fender tag was missing. OK so it won't be a numbers matching car. But I thought "why not make it into what I wanted". It started out as a 383/335 automatic in the column. Drum brakes. Other than that nothing special.
Where it will be when I am finished is:
440 Six Pack
4 Speed
Air Grabber Hood
Dana 60 rear end
Trail Duster stripes.

2010-12-08T06:49:00.002-05:00

Hello and welcome to my blog. Thank you for spending the time look at it.This is more than just a "look what I'm going" blog. I would like it to become a discussion on restoring muscle cars. I am open suggestions, If you have a better way to do something, let me know. I have no formal training in bodywork or painting. I have done allot of reading listening and have learned by trial and error.