Curious Yellow Runner 2
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:29 am
Well guys the time has come to finally start fully committing to the roadrunner's restoration. My 80' Malibu spun a bearing or something on new years eve and has a freight train knock and no oil pressure. I've learned as much as I possibly could off the chevy and wasting money on it. So now its parked. I was going to park it that day for the semester to start on the road runner anyways.
Just a quick background on my 71' Roadrunner:
- Completely Original #'s Matching
- Built June 10th, 1971
- 383/ 4 speed/ Air Conditioning Car
- AM/FM with Cassette Recorder on 4 speed Console
- Curious Yellow with Black Interior
- 100,017 mile California Car
- Rally Gauges with Electric Clock
The plan is to pulley the #'s drivetrain and put it aside for now since I'm 21 and plan on driving the car quite a bit, cruising the coast and cross country. The car came with a spare 4 speed from 69' and I already had it rebuilt so that's ready to go. I had acquired a free 69' 383 HP block, but the guy gave me like 10 main caps and only 1, 3, and 5 match while 2 and 4 are missing. Next to that one is a 30k mile 78' 440 I pulled out of an RV at the local pick and pull 4 days after I got the car and paid $220 for the complete long block.
That same day I got the 440, I went with my dad to a local mopar meet and we picked up a forged crank and forged TRW .030 L2355 pistons for cheap.
So after evaluating the cost to machine the rusty 383 block that sat out, find caps, line bore, and all other machine work to it, I would have spent almost double in machine work than if I had just gone with the 440 which is in excellent rust free shape. Plus to make the spare 383 work, I would have needed the crank out of my stock 383 and I really didn't want to pulley anything out of it.
I've decided that the 440 is the best option with all the parts I have for it an ease of cost at the machine shop. I have already ordered the EZ-EFI kit which I am very excited to put atop this engine when all is said an done. I'm going with a rather mild build and plan on keeping the engine stock appearing and hi-po manifolds. Yes I know, 71' only got 440+6 but I really wanted to go with this EZ-EFI kit in this car to begin with.
The TRW pistons I have have a compression height of a six pack piston so getting decent compression shouldn't be too bad. Going to measure the distance the TRW's are in the hole and get an idea of how much needs to be shaved off after the block is squared up. I'm aiming for 9.5 compression after cleaning up and working the stock 452 heads a bit.
Other than the engine and trans, my father is donating me a sure grip 3.23 third member out of his collection of third members to replace my stock open 3.23 rear end. I'm also waiting on the passenger side quarter panel, tail panel (with exhaust cutouts....dang california turndowns), and the front end polygraphite rebuild kit from P-S-T.
Taking the 440 block to the machine shop and pick up the 383 block I originally dropped off. I will keep you guys posted as I slowly move along. Having to go to school full time, work, and then work on the car whenever possible. So it will be a fairly quick but slow process.
Just a quick background on my 71' Roadrunner:
- Completely Original #'s Matching
- Built June 10th, 1971
- 383/ 4 speed/ Air Conditioning Car
- AM/FM with Cassette Recorder on 4 speed Console
- Curious Yellow with Black Interior
- 100,017 mile California Car
- Rally Gauges with Electric Clock
The plan is to pulley the #'s drivetrain and put it aside for now since I'm 21 and plan on driving the car quite a bit, cruising the coast and cross country. The car came with a spare 4 speed from 69' and I already had it rebuilt so that's ready to go. I had acquired a free 69' 383 HP block, but the guy gave me like 10 main caps and only 1, 3, and 5 match while 2 and 4 are missing. Next to that one is a 30k mile 78' 440 I pulled out of an RV at the local pick and pull 4 days after I got the car and paid $220 for the complete long block.
That same day I got the 440, I went with my dad to a local mopar meet and we picked up a forged crank and forged TRW .030 L2355 pistons for cheap.
So after evaluating the cost to machine the rusty 383 block that sat out, find caps, line bore, and all other machine work to it, I would have spent almost double in machine work than if I had just gone with the 440 which is in excellent rust free shape. Plus to make the spare 383 work, I would have needed the crank out of my stock 383 and I really didn't want to pulley anything out of it.
I've decided that the 440 is the best option with all the parts I have for it an ease of cost at the machine shop. I have already ordered the EZ-EFI kit which I am very excited to put atop this engine when all is said an done. I'm going with a rather mild build and plan on keeping the engine stock appearing and hi-po manifolds. Yes I know, 71' only got 440+6 but I really wanted to go with this EZ-EFI kit in this car to begin with.
The TRW pistons I have have a compression height of a six pack piston so getting decent compression shouldn't be too bad. Going to measure the distance the TRW's are in the hole and get an idea of how much needs to be shaved off after the block is squared up. I'm aiming for 9.5 compression after cleaning up and working the stock 452 heads a bit.
Other than the engine and trans, my father is donating me a sure grip 3.23 third member out of his collection of third members to replace my stock open 3.23 rear end. I'm also waiting on the passenger side quarter panel, tail panel (with exhaust cutouts....dang california turndowns), and the front end polygraphite rebuild kit from P-S-T.
Taking the 440 block to the machine shop and pick up the 383 block I originally dropped off. I will keep you guys posted as I slowly move along. Having to go to school full time, work, and then work on the car whenever possible. So it will be a fairly quick but slow process.
