Dark Runner build thread

[patmckinneyracing]

Well so far I have finally gotten that darn vinyl top off. That factory glue is unbelievable in terms of trying to get it off. Got the car completely wet sanded of that spray paint the previous owner just threw on the car. Cleaned two little surface rust areas underneath the car, but that took only 10 minutes to wire wheel off and have cleaned, prepped, etc. Car is covered in solid gray primer as you can see in the pics. The motor does run and fired right up on the first try. The only thing we noticed is the possibility that there could be a burned valve, but other than that, the car runs like a champ considering it is a 40 year old motor. Tried cleaning up the interior as much as possible and is lookin better without all that dust in there.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

Looking good!

 

[patmckinneyracing]

For those of you who haven't seen this car, it's a 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner, 383 big block 4 speed pistol grip and has 323 sure grip posi. All numbers matching origional for 7.5k. Most of you have already seen my 1980 Red transformer malibu.

Well so far were in the process of moving which is really slowing up my progress. Tonight I tore out the factory carpet to inspect the floor pans. The funny thing is they look like they were just put on and are 99% rust free along with the trunk pans. The big mystery is there is a bullet hole going through the floor board in front of the back seat. Judging by the direction of the metal, it came from inside the car. Other than that this car is far more solid than my malibu ever was when I first got it, but that's G-body sheet metal for ya. I'll make sure to post some pics tomorrow.

The other major project finished is the gas tank. Ordered some hydrofluoric acid and swashed it around on the inside of the tank. It ate away all the rust, just had to make sure it didn't get on me since it eats your skin right off from the bones. Then used the sealer throughout the inside of the tank. Now it'll never rust or at least not for a number of decades.

Other thing is I spoke to dad's buddy. He has a full engine build plan for me that will leave the motor looking entirely stock and give me 431 hp and 450 ft/lb of torque. This involves port/polish the heads, upgrade from 208 to 214 valves, 484 mopar purple cam, and opening up the factory high perf. manifolds with a burr . But this is all internals and judges won't even be able to tell unless I start the car. Basically I'm going for a factory restoration here, but building a sleeper 383. It'll have similar specs to the 426 hemi when it rolled out of the factory.

 

[DelOhio]

Good looking car, I love Roadrunners. Reminds me of Joe Dirte' a little. All you need now is the big wale tail spoiler.

 

[maliburacinfreak]

Good looking car, I love Roadrunners. Reminds me of Joe Dirte' a little. All you need now is the big wale tail spoiler.

that was a 69 charger/daytona/superbird. completely different car.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Yeah they are a little different. There is a guy out there that sells a kit to make a 71' roadrunner into a superbird. Its a concept kinda kit since they never built a 71' superbird, but if you type 71' superbird into an image search engine it'll pop up.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

what color are you painting it? factory? (was just curious cause of the name "Dark" runner)

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Joe Dirt had 2 cars: a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona (one of 503, IIRC) and a 1967 Plymouth GTX convertible (supposedly with a 426 Hemi).

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I picked up the name Dark Runner because of a local builder who built a 69' roadrunner with one of the new hemis. He put a big picture of the cartoon's face on the trunk lid. Half the face was the traditional funny cartoon while the other half was black with a red glowing eye.

With mine i'm going to paint it the factory curious yellow. It's a high impact color. I like the term dark runner cause the outside of the car is going to look completely stock, but the motor is going to be a sleeper. People won't expect to see that performance out of a 'supposed stock' 383 hp from the factory because they only put out 335 horsepower from the factory.

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

can you get a pic of that? i wanna see it!