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1974 PLYMOUTH ROADRUNNER
My car is a 74 Plymouth Roadrunner.
I first saw the car ten years ago for sale in the town I lived, I loved it at
first sight even though it was kind of rough around the edges.
At the time I had just moved out on my own and could not afford a new toy, but
the car did not sit for long before it disappeared.
I never saw the car for the next four years, during that time I bought a 71
challenger but I eventually got rid of that, it was in need of more than i could
give it at the time, but i loved that car, so when the time came (after i sold
my 66 Ford fairlane. we all make mistakes sometimes)to buy a new toy, I wanted
another E body.
,br> My friend told me about a roadrunner for sale but the kid wanted $3000
and I only had $2000 to spend on a project but I went anyway. As it turned out
the kid was someone I worked with and was fairly good friends with, an added
bonus was that it was the same car I had seen for sale four years ago!
Anyway because we were friends he let me take the car for $2000.
After I last saw the car it went through two hackers who took out the money
parts, the pistol grip, motor, posi chuck etc. My friend built a 68 383 with
forged pistons and a 509 lift cam (there was more than $2000 worth just in motor
recepts) then put in a swap meet pistol grip.
The car was still real rough when I took it last fall, it had a huge dent in
the rear 1/4, rust holes in the rocker, and needed a complete interior.
I took the car home and put new tires on it (the old ones were dry rotted,the
car had not seen the road in over 6 years) and drove it till winter. Over winter
I stock piled all the parts I would need to finish the car, I planned a vacation
from work to coincide with the day I was pulling the car out of storage. I spent
the week gutting the interior, I cut off the 1/4 and rocker welded the new ones
back on put on new door hinges so the doors would line up again.
After I straightened the body a friend from work sprayed the car Vitamin-C for
me, but I had to do the wet sanding and buffing but he only charged me $100
to put down the color(I had to do all the prep and masking)After the paint I
put a completely new interior in(everything was new, dash, rug, headliner etc.)
but the back seat was kept, it still looks new even after the new fronts went
in!
Next step was the stripes, I was scared because I didn't want to screw these
up they were not cheap!
But, the went on with no problems and there nice and straight to boot! I also
added the 71 spoiler and Superbird "Plymouth" stickers to the 1/4 at this time.
After the car was painted the stock rallye wheels didn't look right but a friend
had the set you see here that still look like new, I picked those up for $150
and an extra $100 for the new 255-60-15 BFGoodrich tires in the rear.
I put in a 3.91 posi chuck in the rear, added an Edelbrock RPM intake with an
Edelbrock 750 carb, a Mopar Performance electronic ignition to top off the last
owners beautiful short block. That's the way the car sits now.
I can honestly say I did this whole car myself (with the exception of paint
which I might have tried had i had a place to spray) and there were a TON of
"firsts" in doing this project but it only took 6 weeks to finish which is real
good if you ask me. (I agree..(webguy)..)
I would like to have payed someone to do it for me but I could not afford it
at the time but everyone seems to be impressed with the results and it kept
the cost down!
Andy Thompson
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