Noob to MOPAR

[razor4432]

I'll introduce myself by saying I'm gettin my Uncle's 69 Roadrunner as a surprise after finding out he has terminal cancer and wanted my brother and I to have the car. He knows we'll take care of her as he did. I'm just looking to get advice on stuff we should look for since it's probably at the earliest a 12 year-old frame off rotisserie restoration (my uncle held back no expense on this car) and it was his baby. Powerplant is a 440 and a TCI Street Fighter transmission (type uknown until we can get a serial # when we have the car in possession) and rear end brand unknown aside from my Uncle thinking it's a 3.77 gear ratio non-posi rearend. Personally none of those specs matter, as it's staying how he built it to fit his goal. This car I'm more or less looking for mechanical points to be mindful of in the years I own this car. It's never going to be for sale and I told him this, and any sort of modifications done to it will be what he would ahve done. Last Thanksgiving he was debating between a 6-pack option or a blower and passed on the blower because it was nothing more than a huge ass paper weight. Whether he went with the 6-pack is unknown to me, I'll find out hopefully mid next week when the car arrives. All I can say is life really deals you some weird hands, I'm beside myself knowing I'm getting a car as badass as this, but it destroys me knowing I'm losing someone I loved for decades.

 

[RAINMANYEH]

Welcome to the forum.... sorry to hear about your uncle. That kind of thing is never easy, but at least you’ll have the RR to remember him by.

FYI: post a couple pics quick or people will lose their minds. lol

 

[69hemibeep]

Welcome and sorry to hear about your uncle also. If the car has been used on a regular basis and restored it might be just routine maintenance you are looking for.

 

[Russ69Runner]

Welcome form Fla. Sorry to here of your uncles medical problem's. Think he will always be with you in memories and by having the car he can smile down and say you go boy's.

 

[razor4432]

Thanks for the welcoming and condolences it's definitely been a crazy past 3 days. Hearing that he's actually super excited about giving us this car has made it easier for me but it still seems surreal. Sent a couple pics today and it looks just as good now as it did 12-15 years ago. Not sure if he is on here or not, I'd honestly be surprised if he wasn't but the appreciation I have for what he is doing can't even be expressed. Here's a couple teaser pics from shortly after the car was done. Currently has some type of American Racing wheels on it now and not what's in the pictures (similar to the Torque Thrust).

 

[69hemibeep]

What you have there is a 68 with a 69 grill, pretty common since they don't make new 68 grills. Or you have a 69 bird with 68 fenders and quarter panels, unlikely but the side markers are the give away. Nice looking bird!!

 

[RonLiv]

Sorry about your Uncle. The car is awesome. He must think a lot of you with this gift that was so important to him. Have fun with the car. A lot of really good people on this forum who know their stuff, they helped me a ton.

 

[Russ69Runner]

Really a sharp looking car. You can tell it was his baby. Have fun with it.

 

[razor4432]

What you have there is a 68 with a 69 grill, pretty common since they don't make new 68 grills. Or you have a 69 bird with 68 fenders and quarter panels, unlikely but the side markers are the give away. Nice looking bird!!

It is in fact a '69, he liked the look of the '68 side markers so when it was having the body work done he had them install those since it was not even close to a #'s matching car anyways. It was originally a 383 car and had some oddball 70's police interceptor 413 when he got it if I remember correctly AND front seats out of a '90s Chrysler lol!

My brother gave me another huge surprise today, and told me he'll help me with a few of my bills (this time only) and when I pay him off this car is fully mine. He said until I have him paid back he'll cover any sort of parts it needs and whatnot, but gas is on me since it is ultimately mine. I was stunned. He's got a few cars of his own to mess with, mainly the '65 Buick Riviera our Dad gave him when it became too difficult to get in and out of let alone work on (they don't look that low but they are) as well as a '65 VW Beetle and a '85 Chevy Van. He knew I dreamed of having an old muscle car and saw this as an opportunity to make that happen.

 

[Steve]

Why were the side markers installed so high,was there a reason for this or done in error.Cool car BTW.

 

[razor4432]

No it's a '69. He liked the '68 markers so he had the body shop put them on, didn't like the chunky brick sidemarkers of the '69 (not to hurt feelings but I totally agree they look a lot nicer)

Why were the side markers installed so high,was there a reason for this or done in error.Cool car BTW.

Thanks, it still all seems like a crazy dream.

He wanted them lined up best they could do with the fronts. Ultimately it doesn't matter at all to me, this car is one that for the die-hard guys will never be for sale so his personal touches that may diminish value are pointless (as it was far from #'s matching from the get go, he just wanted one). This car is more than just monetary value to my brother and me, and I think that is part of the reason my Uncle wants us to get the car. Too many younger people our age (my brother and I are early-mid 30's) view an acquisition like this as easy money, to him and I, it's memories that go back before our Uncle got this car and remind us of our summer times spent with him and our Grandparents.

 

[69hemibeep]

That explains allot. I'm helping my daughter with a 69 charger that's going to get a 68 grill, she says the 69 grill is a design flaw LOL

 

[razor4432]

That explains allot. I'm helping my daughter with a 69 charger that's going to get a 68 grill, she says the 69 grill is a design flaw LOL

Nice choice on grills and sounds like a fun little project. I like the '68 Chargers rear end with the round tail lights but in general anything old, fast and loud is perfect. Never paid much attention to the MOPAR cars as my Dad and brother are both big GM guys and I somehow ended up being a Mustang guy lol.

 

[69hemibeep]

I'd take a 68 fastback!

 

[razor4432]

I'd take a 68 fastback!

If you're referring to Mustangs...'70 Fastback would be my ultimate dream car, but I think my true calling will be arriving later this week I am realizing a huge coincidence in all this too, my Mom basically gave my Uncle her '70 fastback mustang that was bright yellow (long ago in the mid-late 70's), and I am now receiving a bright yellow Roadrunner :O Coincidence happens I suppose, but it seems super weird now that I actually think about it...who knows. All I know is I think I'm finally hitting that turning point in life you hear people talk about where things finally start falling in place for the better. I have changes myself to make physically and mentally but this car is going to be my guidance Nothing is gonna beat going for a cruise and just have that 440 purring and hearing that gorgeous exhaust note.

It's going to feel weird calling my '07 Mustang GT the "Winter beater" but I run Blizzak WS-70's on stock 17x7.5" rims during the winter months on her and even in 3-5" snow she trucks on through. I'll accidentally turn off traction control (out of habit of course) and have a little fun in the snow though Never gotten stuck and never had trouble getting going...I love this car (that pic she's got roughly 175k miles on her too ) Lowered basically 2" all around on the Eibach Sport-system package (Eibach shock/struts and sportline springs) and the ride is surprisingly comfortable. Roads here in SE Wisconsin are kinda, well ass, but blasting some of the Kettle Moraine Scenic Highway is a dream blipping her to 4th gear and nailing it as you hit the apex of a turn. She has 230k miles on her at the moment and still gets up and goes like the day I bought her at 45k miles

 

[69hemibeep]

If you're referring to Mustangs...'70 Fastback would be my ultimate dream car, but I think my true calling will be arriving later this week I am realizing a huge coincidence in all this too, my Mom basically gave my Uncle her '70 fastback mustang that was bright yellow (long ago in the mid-late 70's), and I am now receiving a bright yellow Roadrunner :O Coincidence happens I suppose, but it seems super weird now that I actually think about it...who knows. All I know is I think I'm finally hitting that turning point in life you hear people talk about where things finally start falling in place for the better. I have changes myself to make physically and mentally but this car is going to be my guidance Nothing is gonna beat going for a cruise and just have that 440 purring and hearing that gorgeous exhaust note.

It's going to feel weird calling my '07 Mustang GT the "Winter beater" but I run Blizzak WS-70's on stock 17x7.5" rims during the winter months on her and even in 3-5" snow she trucks on through. I'll accidentally turn off traction control (out of habit of course) and have a little fun in the snow though Never gotten stuck and never had trouble getting going...I love this car (that pic she's got roughly 175k miles on her too ) Lowered basically 2" all around on the Eibach Sport-system package (Eibach shock/struts and sportline springs) and the ride is surprisingly comfortable. Roads here in SE Wisconsin are kinda, well ass, but blasting some of the Kettle Moraine Scenic Highway is a dream blipping her to 4th gear and nailing it as you hit the apex of a turn. She has 230k miles on her at the moment and still gets up and goes like the day I bought her at 45k miles

View attachment 32339

Yes I was

 

[RKNRLR]

Nice car, make sure you do some wrenching on it with your uncle if you can while you still got him.

My only advice is collect as many spares as you can, no matter how insignificant you think they might be. Good luck!

 

[razor4432]

They're definitely beautiful cars but I'm not huge on that full fastback look, I like that little bit of trunk lid flat. '65 fastbacks and '70 (my personal fav) are what I'd be interested in but I'll hopefully end of week early next have my real dream car. People can keep their million dollar Bugattis and Ferraris, what I'm going to have is priceless. I'm debating going non-collector plates and getting a regular plate here with the personalized plate he was running, to show him how much this means to me. And even though collector plates are the better bet (for the long run), I think that's what I might go with. I'll think on it and talk it over with my brother, our Mom says she'll cover it regardless.

Nice car, make sure you do some wrenching on it with your uncle if you can while you still got him.

My only advice is collect as many spares as you can, no matter how insignificant you think they might be. Good luck!

Unfortunately that won't happen regarding turning wrenches on it with him, he's just not in that kind of shape anymore (plus the car is in immaculate condition). On an exciteful note, the carrier is picking up the car Friday and she'll be here some time Monday \o/ Definitely going to be a painful sight seeing her back off the trailer, but this is what he wants (and is excited to give us) and I can't thank him enough. Sunday I'll get as much sleep as a 5 year old before Christmas morning Just to hear that baby fire up again after a long hiatus from seeing her is going to break me as well as this signaling the beginning of an end (if you catch my drift). All I can say is my Uncle has definitely been incredible about getting anything we needed to know about the car to us damn near instantly and I think that is making this easier for him. He knows she's going to as loving hands as his.

 

[razor4432]

Car was picked up today (Friday) we'll have her Monday morning some time. Gonna be painful watching her back off the trailer. My Uncle was totally broken seeing it go, but I hope he realizes, she's going to just as caring of a home. No money will ever buy this car from me, and I'll enjoy the hell out of it (as far as offers and just sayin "nope" and rompin along at 65 hearing that 440 sing ) Will post pics of car once she's here

Hearing about how broken up my Uncle was seeing this car leave, I'm going to keep her looking just as she is. I thought about losing the mudflaps and front fogs but I can't, this is his car he's entrusting to my brother and I and is ultimately going to be mine/his (my Uncle's). He built this car, I'll maintain her.

 

[Rapid Transit]

It's always good when gifts are appreciated.
Although in this case, it is bitter sweet.

People and families are funny.
Take my son's "inlaws" for example.
When the grandparents were giving up their classic cars, the grandson got the nice 66 Mustang.
What did he do with it?
Sold it.
A jock with absolutely no mechanical or interests in cars.

While his sister and my son (her husband) got offered some antique Ford.
IDK a 39 Ford or something like that.
They just said "no thank you".
(And "we don't want any of your Model A cars either". )
So basically, the most desirable car was given to someone that had no interest in any of it.
It's all good.
I built my son a Charger.