1972 SSP 400-4BBL Progress

[rr6pak]

Looking good!

[DixieSatellite]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Tf5Mi9_qM

Looks better on full screen IMHO. Freshly ported / dynoed 400-4BBL (modest improvement to 304 BHP)/ new tranny / all brakes / suspension / fuel system redone. Next up in 2010 bodywork / EW1 respray + Argent Silver and interior.

[philcollin]

Nice car.

[Hugh]

Beautiful Car!!!!Love the 400!! My dream Car

[DixieSatellite]

Hi,

Thanks for the comments. I have some nice stills I took over Xmas, which includes the completed and factory correct engine bay (they are on Mrs. Satellite's camera...).

As far as the SSP is concerned, I still have a fair bit I want / need to do - the paint is too white (mismatched - should be EW1) and the Argent Silver too dark (also mismatched) during '80s repaint and she has a little panel rot. After that, I think I will consider it finished. Original Plymouth SSPs seem to be getting pretty rare - many have been cloned to RRs because of all good options they had (for example, mine has the 150 MPH speedo among original equipment). I got lots of looks when I took the SSP out, but not as many as you might think - most people seem pretty geared towards Japanese cars and SUVs.

Time is a huge factor in finishing up the car. The car is still pretty much all original (incl. matching # 400-4BBL), with the exception of the 15 x 7 Magnum 500s and drives like a new '72 Plymouth. The car used to have 14 x 6 Rallyes, but I never liked them, so got rid of them a few years ago. I might go with a slightly fatter tire next time though - the '71~'72 B-body guards take some filling out. Even the bit of trim missing from the right side of the C pillar in the video is in the boot.

Going through our stuff over Xmas, I also found some old pics from when we drove the car cross country for school in '91 and '92. The '91 trip was 8 weeks all up - long enough for Mrs. Satellite to go from brunette to blonde to redhead and back to brunette The '92 trip was (a lot) shorter as I had a job to go to (no pics).


Fuel stop outside Atlanta, Georgia


Messing around outside Charleston, South Carolina


Breakfast (and fuel) in Texas


On the road in New Mexico


Arriving in Santa Fe NM (look at the fuel prices


On the road in Arizona




Painted Desert, AZ


Arriving in Las Vegas NV


Las Vegas (very tired) - all our crap / stuff filled up the back of the Satellite and trunk.


Las Vegas again


Las Vegas / tired again - car was still fitted w/ original Rallyes at this time.

Ian B.

[DixieSatellite]

Some still pics from Xmas.









Ian B.

[DixieSatellite]

Hi,

Been a while since I posted. Have started the next resto stage - interior. Here are some pics for anyone wondering what a well-installed (as in, I didn't install it) dash-cap looks like. More pics to follow as I redo a full off-white ('72) SSP interior.

Before:



Now:





Works for me.

Ian B.

[72rrGTX]

Car looks great. I am really impressed with that dash cap, best ive seen. Where did you get it from?

I got mine from coverlay and definitely does not look like that. I had (and still having) real issues getting the dash insert to fit with the added thinkness of the new dash cap. Also not happy with the hard, shiney plastic look of mine, your looks more like the real thing. Very nice!

[1971SSP]

Your car is looking great! I think the dash cap looks pretty nice...I would be like to see how it lined up with the front speaker cover...was there a gap?

[DixieSatellite]

Hi,

Thanks for your comments. I did not install myself (I am away for work), but the shop that installed it confirmed it is an Accuform dashcap. I have not seen it myself yet, so I can't confirm if there is a gap. I do remember looking at a similar (Accuform) dashcap installed in a Challenger being restoed and the fit was great.

More photos to come as more progress made.

Rgds,

Ian B.

[DixieSatellite]

Progress is still slow, but better some than none. Interior has been completed (new buckets / door panels etc.). here are some pics of the roof lining for those interested.

Ian B.

[sdweatherman]

Looks good Ian!

[DixieSatellite]

Thanks - will post pics of the new interior when available w/ white doorskins / buckets / plastic panels / kick panels etc. I also included this update because someone was asking about dashcaps. My car has a dashcap and it looks pretty good IMO. I am away working at the moment, so have not seen the interior. I am particularly interested in the driver seat as I drove the car coast to coast (twice) with a collapsed driver seat.

After this is done and some paint / panel work we will be done (no, REALLY - I have a kid in college....)

Ian B.