New Y8 Gold Leaf '71 Satellite owner/restorer/addict/fan

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:52 pm

Well, I'm not new to thinking the early 70's Mopars were the best looking musclecars produced during the era, but I'm new to owning one.

If everything pans out (literally, as long as I don't find rust under the carpets in the floorpans! lol), I'll be giving the guy the rest of the cash for a 1971 Satellite tomorrow and driving it back to my friend's place. It seems to have very little rust (tiny little nicks and bits here and there) with no cancer I could find, though it was dark when I really looked at it.

Haven't been able to drive it, either, but the price seems right and the problems it does have don't seem insurmountable (broken heater/fan, a couple of lights don't work, dash is cracked, seats need covers, that sort of thing). Paint is faded but with a really good workover it'll serve until I can save up for a decent repaint.

It was slow starting the other night, but it hadn't been fired up in a couple of weeks and the guy says the choke is out or something like that. I had to feather the gas for about three or four minutes to get the idle to hold, but when it did it seemed regular. Exhaust was pretty strong smelling. There was an oil leak causing the passenger side headers to smoke that he said was a valve cover gasket that he'd replace before I picked it up later this week.

Here's the basics: 30 over 318 engine with all new internals, fresh valve job with 360 intakes and 340 springs, Schneider 260 - 430 cam, Edelbrock Performer intake with Holley 600 carb, TTI ceramic coated headers, full 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhaust with pipes/tips (sounds pretty aggro) -- Bucket seats, automatic, power steering - brakes. 8 3/4" rearend, Rocket mags.

I'm leaning toward a basic Roadrunner conversion and eventually dropping in a 383 or 440, but for now, my plan is to clean it up, get the car so it runs/brakes/drives/handles as it should, and replace stuff that needs it (like the carpet, headliner, dash cover, etc).

Any suggestions? Stuff I should be on the lookout for? Here's some pics of the Satty in question. Another Gold Leafer!

Post by **bruce** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:29 pm

Good score and looks solid! And because it seems solid it should make for a much easier project. Congrats and welcome to the Nest!

As for the exhaust smelling STRONG, all I can say is welcome to '70s era Mopars!

That flat hood will be the PERFECT starting point for an air grabber hood with one of the repop fiberglass inserts installed.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:45 pm

Whatever you decide to do with it, looks like you have a great starting point. There still aren't a lot of parts reproduced for these cars, so the more complete car you start with the better.
Welcome to the 'nest!

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:23 pm

Thanks for the welcome!

I forgot, the driver's door won't open from the outside - I guess that means it needs a rod (I think there's some on ebay now)...

Other than that, it seems to work and run, lights (except aforementioned) are fine. Do you guys think this is worth $4500?

Post by **bruce** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:49 pm

A running, driving '71 worth $4500? Most definitely!

pistol grip · Post by **pistol grip** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:57 pm

Welcome to the nest, hope this experience of owning a 70'S muscle car be as frustrating, what have I done, should of got me a chevy, it won't start, is going to cost me what!, you spend more time with that than me, What do you mean fuel lock?....LOL..Man we all love it, can't wait to see more pictures of you beauty...

S T E V E

luvmoparz · Post by **luvmoparz** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:04 pm

Welcome to the nest.....and the Y8 Club.....

Rod is probably in the door, just needs the plastic clip to keep it on...those are on ebay also.

Smellslike1974 · Post by **Smellslike1974** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:57 pm

Welcome

Hey,What kind of rims are on that beauty?

1972RM23 · Post by **1972RM23** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:50 pm

Welcome to the nest!

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:00 pm

Well, got the car, has more rust than I thought but drives and runs well, so I guess not bad overall...

The rust is around the usual lower panels by the door as well as a rather nasty little hole in the body along the inner lip of the trunk, which is letting water in. I'm going to seal that right away and start saving pennies on that bodywork. Yikes!

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:53 pm

Ooookay! Got the car back to my place. It was a long weekend and after everything, had to get through some pretty heavy rain.

Here's the good: Body seems to be overall pretty solid. There's moderate bubbling of the paint at the lower fender panels on the driver side, but none on the passenger. Engine seems to run great. Decent power (for a 318, I guess). Rear seats are pretty great and most of the lights and other stuff works.

Here's the bad: There's rust in the edge of the trunk lip, about a 5-6" strip that has holes. The headliner, carpet and dash pad are shot. There's some rust in the floor pans but nothing so bad that it's gone all the way through. The windshield has no weatherstripping and leaks badly into the car (I found this out first hand today). The driver door needs to be rehung or tightened, as it doesn't close quite right. The (non-original) bucket seats need reupholstering and have these really lame Kragen seatcovers on. Also, there seems to be a bit of a lower tap or click coming from the motor and the tranny whines/moans audibly over 40+ mph.

Pics to follow!

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:11 pm

Pics!

luvmoparz · Post by **luvmoparz** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:33 am

So do you have buyers remorse, or are you overall happy with it? Mine had many more problems than expected also, but I love these cars so i will deal with whatever comes up.

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:21 pm

I wouldn't say I have remorse, just anticipating a lot of work and money... LOL

bulletpruf · Post by **bulletpruf** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:22 pm

Smellslike1974 wrote:Welcome

Hey,What kind of rims are on that beauty?

Maybe Centerline Champ 500's.

Scott