mrmike Posted October 12, 2017 Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) About twenty years ago, I built a '68 383 Road Runner and the other day I was looking at it sitting on the shelf and I said to myself, "That looks like it should be re-built." The following day, I was rummaging through a carton of stuff and found a '69 GTX body and I wondered, "I wonder if I can make this into a Road Runner?" Out came my sanding stick and files and I removed the side moldings and the GTX scripts. My original intent was to re-build the 383 I had cobbled together from my parts box, but decided to find a better engine. This one came from a long parted out AMT '71 Charger R/T. A couple of days staring at the "new" engine and I started to hate them both. So, back into the parts box again and I found an un-built 440 CI engine from a '70 Hemi Super Bee. I built it last night and painted it this morning with Mopar Street Hemi Orange engine paint. In my mind, I could envision a Rallye Green Road Runner and an online search found me an image of a Rallye Green '69 Road Runner with a Coyote Duster air induction hood and the Performance Hood Treatment. I ordered a '69 Road Runner grille from Hart's Resin Parts and i hope to have that in a few weeks. Edited January 23, 2018 by mrmike
High octane Posted October 12, 2017 Posted October 12, 2017 I just love dem Mopars, as I owned a '69 Super Bee back-in-the-day.
PARTSMARTY Posted October 14, 2017 Posted October 14, 2017 This looks great and i'm a mopar freak !!!
mrmike Posted October 15, 2017 Author Posted October 15, 2017 Thanks guys! I've done some rudimentary sanding on the body and I still need to do some more. I should be painting with Tamiya Metallic Green soon!
mrmike Posted October 16, 2017 Author Posted October 16, 2017 I got my '69 Road Runner grille in the mail today and it's a really nice and clean casting, too! I had to modify the grille area on the body for the grille to fit. More to come...
mrmike Posted October 21, 2017 Author Posted October 21, 2017 I sat down at the bench this morning with an idea that I had used on my '68 Hemi Road Runner from several years ago. I had an issue with the thin scribe line on the hood and the hot MCW lacquer paint I had used burnt through the hood and showed a nasty burn mark on the top of the hood. I am not using MCW paint on this hood, but I am using Tamiya TS-20 Metallic Green paint which is not as hot a paint. But, the scribe mark is still there and I would like to eliminate that line as much as possible. Using some sheet styrene, I cut a small and thin piece and filled the line with glue and layed the styrene into the groove. When the glue has dried, I will trim the styrene level with the hood and the groove will be filled. Since I am using the air grabber duct, I needed to find a air cleaner to match. I can't remember where this air cleaner came from and it really doesn't fit the duct, but it is better than nothing. More to come...
mrmike Posted October 26, 2017 Author Posted October 26, 2017 Arrgh!!! I hate it when I mess up like this and I can't correct it! After staring at the engine, something didn't seem right and now I know what it is. I put the valve covers on the wrong sides of the engine and they are GLUED ON!!! I should have known better, but no!!! Well, I guess I'll have to live with it! Arrgh!!!
1972coronet Posted October 26, 2017 Posted October 26, 2017 (edited) Fantastic work as usual , Mike ! I hope that you and yours are well . The rocker arm covers ... that stinks , man . Any chance that you and carefully free them from the heads ? If I remember correctly , the oil filler doubled as the breather on 1969 & earlier 383 and 440 engines ; the Air Grabber may have changed that arrangement , too . Great idea regarding the trough-fill on that scribe on the bonnet's underside . Keep on keepin' on , sir ! Edited October 26, 2017 by 1972coronet Added Image
mrmike Posted October 26, 2017 Author Posted October 26, 2017 (edited) John, that picture is different from all the others I have seen and it shows the breather on the left (driver's) side of the engine. Maybe they are different with the air grabber.John, we here are doing ok. I hope you are doing well. Edited October 26, 2017 by mrmike
randyc Posted October 26, 2017 Posted October 26, 2017 I've read that putting in freezer can break glue joints. Might be worth a shot. OR..... find a place you can get an xacto blade under hte edge and pry them off? Or leave it - not a lot of folks will know the difference if you can live with it...
Mr mopar Posted October 26, 2017 Posted October 26, 2017 Beep Beep Look'in good keep up the good work !
1972coronet Posted October 27, 2017 Posted October 27, 2017 John, that picture is different from all the others I have seen and it shows the breather on the left (driver's) side of the engine. Maybe they are different with the air grabber. John, we here are doing ok. I hope you are doing well. I'm pleased that you and yours are well , sir . The only other variation I've seen in-so-far-as valve cover design is the 1970 & later engines . As a concession to then-new hydrocarbon emissions standards (e.g. , "sealed" fuel system ; '69 & earlier cars' raw gas vapours were vented to the atmosphere) , the breather was moved to the passenger-side . But , that's all moot . "Road Runner , Road Runner / goin' faster miles an hour ..."
mrmike Posted October 28, 2017 Author Posted October 28, 2017 Well, at this point I think I'll just leave it alone. I can't justify stripping the engine and attempting to take it apart, because I'll end up destroying the engine.
Dirkpitt289 Posted October 30, 2017 Posted October 30, 2017 I have no doubt that this misstep will drive you mad. hell, it would drive me mad but the reality is once the air cleaner is on and the other bits it'll be hard to notice. I wouldn't sweat it to much or let it take away from the rest of the build
espo Posted October 30, 2017 Posted October 30, 2017 I think I agree with the others your the only on that will really know the Valve Covers are reversed. I'm not a MoPar fanatic and I may be wrong but looking at the picture of the 1:1 car's engine the relief in the Valve Cover may be there to help clear the Exhaust Manifold or something else. Something on the order of the Chevrolet Big Blocks that had their Valve Covers notched to clear the brake boaster. I would give this a good test fit just to be sure. If it is an issue you'll be even madder at your self at that point or do what ever modifications you need to do for everything to fit. The '69 Road Runner was and is a great car whether in plastic or steel.
mrmike Posted October 31, 2017 Author Posted October 31, 2017 Dave, I have decided to let the valve covers stay where they are. I can't bring myself to try and remove them cause I'll destroy the engine. I'm not mad, but it erks me that i wasn't more careful. I have now seen pictures of a '69 383 (440) with the valve covers on either side, so I guess I'm safe in that regard. I just need to get moving and git-r-dun!
mrmike Posted October 31, 2017 Author Posted October 31, 2017 I got the Road Runner body painted this morning. While the paintbooth was up and running, I got the interior side panels, dash, and steering wheel painted as well. I'll paint the seats shortly when the headrests are securely glued on. More to come...
mrmike Posted October 31, 2017 Author Posted October 31, 2017 The seats are painted with Tamiya TS-29 Semi Gloss Black. The interior floor has been flocked with embossing powder and the Air Grabber has been painted with ColorPlace Flat Black Paint. More to come...
drodg Posted October 31, 2017 Posted October 31, 2017 Looking good. Don't sweat the valve covers as Chrysler was capable of doing that on a 1:1 car back in the day. LOL!
mrmike Posted October 31, 2017 Author Posted October 31, 2017 Thanks David! I have moved on from the valve cover issue. They are not coming off.
mrmike Posted November 2, 2017 Author Posted November 2, 2017 I got the chassis together, but I may put in a tach for a little more visual interest. Wiring the engine is in progress and I need to find some more wire insulation to make plug boots with. I'm also in the process of plumbing the chassis. More to come...
mrmike Posted November 3, 2017 Author Posted November 3, 2017 Thanks David! I try not to get too much overspray on the chassis. This isn't too bad, but I have done worse!
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