Road Runner Nest

I may be a stranger to some over here, but if you frequent Moparts.com or DodgeCharger.com, we’ve probably crossed paths in cyberspace.

I am a relative newbie to 3rd generation GTX/Road Runners. I’ve previously owned a couple of ’69 Chargers and a ’70 Satellite convertible.

This past summer I sold last ’69 Charger to MrAngry/NYCMille.

About that same time, a friend of mine picked-up the ’71 GTX that I now own. He was struck with buyer’s remorse almost immediately upon getting the car home. Meanwhile, I fell in love with the car. I made him an offer, he accepted, and then the real fun began.

Before I get ahead of myself though, I’ll give some details on the car. It’s a U-code, Curious Yellow, 4 speed car. No power nothing. It’s an “I” code, international sales order vehicle. It’s NOT numbers matching (engine or transmission). Previous owners state that it’s a California car and the N97 code, and complete lack of any rust seems to support this. Unfortunately, no broadcast sheet and very little historical paperwork came with the car.

Actually the fun began before my buddy accepted my offer to buy the car. The car wiped the fuel pump push rod before I took possession. I had AAA flatbed the car to my house. Bad omen.

So I fixed the pushrod and drove the car for a couple of weeks. Almost on a daily basis I was finding something mechanically wrong with the car. Radio didn’t work (fixed), cigarette lighter didn’t work (fixed) horn didn’t work (fixed), vapor return line was disconnected and leaked (fixed), cotter pins missing from the suspension (OMG! fixed!). It became apparent that this car had spent its years since restoration driving nowhere other than on and off a trailer. In general, the car just didn’t run that strong, but I figured I could work my way through all these issues.

I was scrambling to get the car road worthy in time to drive it to Mopar Nationals so I could participate in the Satellite/GTX tribute. I did get it road worthy, and I, along with a caravan of friends, set out to drive to Columbus from our home of Evansville, IN.

Things were going great until we pulled off the highway for a gas stop on the far side of Louisville. The car started knocking and smoking like crazy. We nursed it off the highway and watched the oil pressure drop to zero.

Needless to say, I was heart-broken at that point. The only good fortune was we managed to breakdown within a mile of a relative of one of my traveling companions. We towed the car into his barn and continued the trip to Columbus were I experienced the most depressing Mopar Nats in my 11 consecutive years of attendance.

Upon getting the car home and tearing into it, I discovered the #3 exhaust push rod had worn through the rocker arm. When we decelerated off the highway, the lifter must have popped out and starved the bottom end of oil. Further teardown confirmed the worst: all bearings and crank were badly scored.

The real kicker is the reason the pushrod punched through the rocker. Whatever dumb-ass assembled the motor used pre-’68 pencil tipped pushrods… installed upside down.

Turns out the motor was nothing more than a low compression cast-piston C-body core which explained it’s generally weak performance.

Sooooo… I got to build a new motor right off the bat. Not an expense I had budgeted.
Fast forward to today, the car is all back together and runs great now that I’ve spent a lot of time (and money) making things right.

Consequently, at this point my car budget is pretty much shot and I have financial pressures to sell it.

So as I wait for a buyer (or trader) to come along, I’m trying to get some enjoyment out of the car and put it’s rocky recent history behind me.

I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled over to this forum sooner. I would have liked to have had some more input on my purchasing decision this summer, although I doubt the outcome would have been any different. I knew the car was relatively rare and its purchase was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I told the few folks that I did consult that I’d rather regret buying the car than regret NOT buying the car.

Well, I regret buying it now. LOL

That doesn’t change the fact that it is a very cool ride. With as much blood sweat and tears shed to this point, I don’t mind keeping it around for a while.

nice toy do not sell it

Welcome to the 'nest! Great looking car. I'm guessing it's an LA built car (E is the 7th digit of the VIN)? You probably won't find a broadcast sheet if it is. I have very few "I" international order cars in my database....pretty rare.....
Interestingly, I used to own a 383 4spd 71 runner "I" code car....something was always breaking on that car too!

St. Louis car

Very cool story and car!
Welcome to the NEST!

Very cooool car. I wouldnt sell it. Time, money and patience thats the name of the game. Ive had mine for 21-22 years or so. Just recently started to tear it down for the restoration. Mine was kept in a climate control building for 14 years and on a trailer until I settled in on a permanent place(college, moving from job to job, etc), hence NO rust as of yet found! So, if I can hold on to something for this long, I think you should as well. Hell, least your car has a newer paint job. My car still wears the same Tor-Red from 37 years ago.

Welcome to the Nest! Beautiful X you've got! We won't hold that Moparts thing against you. Lots of us frequent the dark side of the Net... Sold a Charger to Mr. Angry? Dang, he gets ALL the cool Chargers!

bruce wrote:Sold a Charger to Mr. Angry? Dang, he gets ALL the cool Chargers!

Yeah. You'll probably be seeing that car again very soon, although I don't think anybody will recognize it.

rr6pak wrote:Hell, least your car has a newer paint job.

The paint on the bottom is actually nicer than a lot of cars are on top. Not "correct", I know, but pretty cool. Definitely makes it easier to see what I'm doing when I'm working underneath it.

Welcome to the nest, that is a nice Car! Great story,I wouldnt sell it either,with all the sweat you put into it.

Your car came out of Summerfield, NC didn't it? I have it listed as being there in June last year.
You'll be sorry if you let it go!

Yeah. My friend spotted it on Ebay and bought it from the collector in NC. Apparently the guy has a pretty impressive collection.... but I don't think he was much of a mechanic. He's not the guy that restored it though.

No offense to all those recommending I keep the car, but... well... you know... none of you are truly qualified to be giving me that sort of advice. Take over my mortgage payment and then we can talk. But I understand the sentiment.

The other thing is that I REALLY like to drive my cars (think Power Tour)... and modify to my tastes. This one is almost too nice to put on the road. Also, the no PS, no PB makes it a little less than pleasurable to drive in anything other than a straight line. It's not unbearable, but you'll never catch my wife taking the wheel.

That being said, I do have visions of a future with this car.

I have given serious thought to converting it to power steering. I can do that for relatively low cost.

I'd also like to install discs and a Passon OD gearset. But that's a relatively big investment.

I'm not a big fan of the Rallyes, so aftermarket wheels are also part of that vision.

In the end though, I hope a buyer comes along so that I can start with a different car and lower initial investment that allows me some financial freedom to play with it.

Jim, welcome to the nest.

I am pretty sure that all of us here at one time or other woke up in the morning and wanted to get rid of our car, too much money invested, too much time spent, ect..., I know I HAVE but at the end of the day is your car and you do what you want to, the fact is that it is a beauty of a car! Jim, send us more pictures before you get rid of her.

S T E V E

welcome here and nice GTX!!

welcome thats a sharp GTX