No more Road for the Runner!

[Sixtynine_Bird]

next the clutch assy and a home made torque strap :

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Then we finally had to install the trans to back up that 451ci and installed the 2'' TTI headers :

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

For the first time in 6 years the car has received her heart transplant and reunite with life.
first time also in long years that the car has been on all 4!
Then we moved on the interior and started to install the back seats side panel, dash bord, brakes etc :

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Then, we did the trunk weatherstrip and moved on to the exhaust sytem. With the old exhaust tube we had we manage to create an x pipe out of them and redone the complete line to the tips. it has been a real pain to do the exhaust system, especially with used tube and absolutly no clearance to the floor while doing it. We had to crawl our way under the car mock up the tube do some tack welds then going out finishing the welding on every portion of it and repeat the process again and again.
Also installed front and rear bumper :

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Exhaust process

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Once the exhaust are done, the back section that goes around the rear end to the tips we jsut reused it, didn't have to modify them that is why I don't have any pics of these :

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

After that it was time to work on the steering column :

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Once the steering column was in, we couldn't wait anymore and we decided to do the first test drive! What a pleasure to start it up and finally make it move under its own power! even if there was no windshield! it was awesome.
After that first rodeo, it was time to work on the front door panel, kick panels and carpets.

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

And of course we finished with the most critical part that we all fear I guess, the install of the windshield, we took our time, a lot of soap and water and we work our way slowly and it paid. No glass shatered and the windshield was in, no leaks whatsoever we were pretty proud of ourselfs on that one!

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Now lets move on the final tunings that we can't do on our own, wheel alignment and then i nFrance we have to bring the car for inspection before we can drive it on open roads and accross the country. As it is a collection car we have go through every 5 years. "Normal" cars have to go through inspection every 2 years.
We took advantage of the wheel alignment to see the final result of the car on a lift and took some picture of the underneath.
The rear sway bar we installed was the original front sway bar of the car, we reworked it to fit the modification we did on the frame to install it.

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

After all that, we took it out for the first road test and made like 30miles or so, a lot of brake in needed to be done, clutch, rear end, brakes, engine :
Enjoyed it also with the Charger, was to be able to take the road with both cars!

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Enjoy since then more cruise, the car is a real beast and a blast to drive!

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

But we weren't happy with the braking system so we decided to remove the brake booster and to go back to manual master cylinder. Now we are happy and the car finally stops which xway better and feel safe now.

 

[Sixtynine_Bird]

Now that the car is finished, I decied to take out the engine of the Charger and do a complete refresh of it. I'm right about to order the parts for it
So now we are back with only one Mopar that can be drive lol

Hopefully we can have both back on the road by the summer of 2023!

By the way, happy new year to all of you guys and your family! have a great one

 

[quikbird]

All right!!! Glad it is done. I have been wondering what was happening with your project. Thank you for the update. I will bet you get a lot of funny looks when you bring it out. Great reason to do one.

 

[ROYSTOLL2]

Nice! Is that a factory color yellow or has it been painted? It appears much brighter than the Sunfire yellow or whatever it was called back then.

When I bought my '68 Road Runner in 1970 it was yellow and I called it Amana Yellow because it looked like a refrigerator color. I painted it Plumb Crazy after a while. Chrysler was going to call the color "Statuatory Grape", but didn't for obvious reasons.