Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted January 30, 2015 Brought it home today ,after being in storage since 1981. I haven't even seen it in years .Well ,the motor is missing ,The rear end is missing and the interior was removed but still in the car . Some one broke into the shop were it was stored . Going to be expensive to replace every thing missing . It is a ,was, 428 CJ ramair ,4 speed with 3:91 Detroit locker . It is number 1124 Built in San Jose . I will have to do a floor because cats were sleeping in it and crapped the floor full ,and i mean full .It rotted out the front driver floor and a rusty surface on the pass side .It was rear ended in 81 and that is why i parked it so it will need a tail panel .All the interior is there ,even the fold down and a dent free trap door . I already ordered the floor and tail panel so my first step will be removing the old cat crap floor and the smashed tail panel. The instrument cluster is in good shape as is the clock panel ,needs some repainting ,but it all worked when i parked it and i hope it still does . It still has the AM FM radio in the dash What i want to do for now is make it a finished rolling body and hunt down the missing pieces when i can afford to . 2 Ernestgaig and SamellaEr reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bossed 10 Report post Posted February 1, 2015 Calypso Coral = Beautiful!!! Best of luck going forward with your project Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave R. 85 Report post Posted February 1, 2015 Not a bad starting place. We have all seen much worse. What a shame about the theft. That is a great color also. Good luck Ridge Runner. Dave R. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RPM 1,190 Report post Posted February 1, 2015 Aww! F'n thieves. That really pisses me off. C'est la vie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 1, 2015 Got it taken apart , things look good .No cracks in the big block towers and the aprons are perfect, even the battery apron and the battery tray its self . The outer side of the battery apron still has yellow grease pencil ,R8 and 5 and D .the R8 i figure to be 428 ram air V8 .Not sure about the 5 but the D must stand for Disk brakes ?It also has a F on the front cross member ,I think that means front hahaha . Soon as i get the new floor in and the tail panel in it will go on the rotisserie for blasting and epoxy primer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stangnet33 88 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 So you had the 428, locker and the other stuff ? Like Bob says, but boy wouldn't you like to catch someone with the hand in the jar ? All that aside looks like a very good project. Look forward to the progress. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Yeah i still have the heads and the 4 speed , I have to find a block ,rods and crank ,and the fly wheel and bell housing . I suppose if i found the block at least,i could do a stroker kit . 9 inch Rear end will not be a problem ,i have that . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 I found this pic on the web ,this is what i am shooting for .I may have to make this pic my screen saver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stangnet33 88 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Now that's worth shooting for :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 I got the rest of the floor out today .I have cuts on nearly every knuckle . I will need to do some very small patches on the front toe boards ,just the lip the floor spot welds to . I scraped all the old tar out ,that was a mess . I am going to sand blast the whole inside and epoxy prime before the new floor will go in. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 12, 2015 I got the roof and the quarters sanded down to bare metal .The lead line at the roof looked funny so i picked at it with a screw driver ...It went right through . I get to do a new roof ! looking inside i found two rats nest ,under that the bracing was like an egg shell . The roof is patchable but i need to blast and primmer the under bracing and patch that so i figure replacing the roof would be the easiest. And besides that there is about 8 dents around the edge ,a new roof will take care of all of the out side .The rain gutter has about 100 spot welds ,on each side ,about 1/2 inch apart so that will not be fun . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted February 12, 2015 Ah the memories. This is reminding me a lot of mine. I was actually picking out rats and wasp nests last week out of one of my torque boxes. I had a block to start with though. Not sure how I would approach it again if I knew back then what I do now. It's pretty easy to say now though what ever your budget is, double or triple it. What ever your time frame is, double or triple that too. And if you want to go for a concours build, I think you could double or triple the previous double or triple. I'm not doing a concours build but I'm pretty much have had to double in my initial outlay. And I got 20k worth of new parts receipts with the car. Rust, dents, many years of neglect and an FE all equate to a massive expense. I'm keen to see how you go. The more motivation I can get to get stuck into mine the better. If you have some progress photos, they'd be great to follow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 12, 2015 Sorry about the pics ,my camera is on the fritz .i hope to have it fixed soon. I have been knocking out mud wasp nest all over this thing ,they are every where .The rockers are full of pistachio nuts and pecans ,I don't have a clue how they got pecans in the rockers but it will be fun getting them out . This one has been painted one time and it looks like competition orange but i cant find any bondo .There is a couple of very small dents in the quarters but they are small enough i don't think i will need any bondo to fix them..The roof would have been fine if it wasn't for the rats ,rat pee will dessolve about anything . I was supposed to have a 428 block coming ,but that doesn't look like it will happen now ,i will just have to keep looking i guess. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 13, 2015 I got the camera working ,it just needed to be slapped around a little bit . I sanded some of the lead away ,didn't want to get it flying around .The holes are not that bad ,but i will have to wait until i get the rest of it melted out so i can see just how bad the rot is below the lead . I will sand blast the back side to see what all blows away .I may not need to do a roof if the rest of it looks like this . The quarters look very nice the few small dings show with a bit of primmer left inside them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted February 13, 2015 That's funny you say that, I had a heap of nut shells spread though out mine also. Those quarters look nice. Great work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 13, 2015 I was digging through my so called " junk pile " but i call stored parts .I found all kinds of goodies ! Enough of the plastic pieces around the radio and end of the dash to do 5 69-70s .I found the light for under the clock panel.Enough side scoops for a 69 for 4 cars and pieces for more.4 sets of head light buckets .A pile of stainless headlight trim rings .A few sets of kick panels .Three fast back back seats ,three sets of deluxe door panels with all the trim pieces ,and i just got started .No telling what i will come up with ,I have been saving parts for years .It's like hunting Easter eggs !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stangnet33 88 Report post Posted February 13, 2015 Selling the extra parts will be nice to put back into what you really need to buy. Looking great so far ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SparkyGT 26 Report post Posted February 13, 2015 will be a nice car ! better shape than the one i found in a farmers field, 428 car hit hard on right front , bad part is sitting in the dirt so the whole bottom is probly rusted out now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 14, 2015 Selling the extra parts will be nice to put back into what you really need to buy. Looking great so far ! I have 3 69s so i will use a lot of it ,but i have found some very nice 67 -68 pieces i may put up for sale .I hate to sell any thing though ,soon as i do i need it . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 14, 2015 will be a nice car ! better shape than the one i found in a farmers field, 428 car hit hard on right front , bad part is sitting in the dirt so the whole bottom is probly rusted out now. You never can tell .I was given a 69 Q code fastback a few years ago that was stuck in the mud and it dried there .The guy wanted to lift it with a fork lift .I told him do not touch it ,i would jack it up and put a dolly under it .When i got it home i pressure washed the bottom and it was just about spot less .It just depends on what type of dirt it is setting on . Rotten or not ,i would snag that 428 car . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 15, 2015 I started taking out the old tail light panel ,what a PITB ! Nothing like removing a 65-68 .The inner light mount is the hard part ,especially when you are trying to save it and the piece under the end cap .Doesn't help the tail panel is bent up .It is coming out ,a piece at a time .Going to try to get everything trimmed out and epoxy primed before the new parts come in . 1 RPM reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted February 18, 2015 The new sheet metal made it in today .The floor kit has all the plugs,rubber plugs ,seat risers ,the rear seat retaining clips although they are for a coupe /convertible ,it even has the tops of the rear torque boxes .I seldom have to replace these so i have a big pile of them .It even has the emergency brake cable bracket for the bottom of the floor . All the work i did to save the brackets for mounting the tail lights and the taillight panel has them already installed. I will save the old ones ,someone will need them sooner or later .Tail light panel looks nice . The outer air box on the driver side had a big dent and i didn't like that so i order it also. The panel below the back window is nice ,it even has the stainless molding clip studs .Problem is it is about 1/8 inch short .I will have to widen it or the trunk lid will be to close to the quarters . It has been warm and sunny here the last few days ,that is until to day ,cold and foggy .I will have to wait a couple of days to sand blast and primer the inside of the car before the new sheet metal can go in. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 I bought the sand today and the primer .The blaster is filled ,the compressor is gassed up ,the hoses are laid out and ready to go .First thing in the morning i will blast the inside and inside the trunk .Should get it primed inside also .I would like to get the floor in this weekend ,i will have two very small patches in the toe board lip where the floor sets but that will not take long to fix.I think i will blast up inside the roof where the pin holes are and see what happens ,if it doesn't blow a big hole ,cross your fingers ,i will just patch the rotted areas . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted March 7, 2015 I got it blasted ,at least what will be covered up by the new panels .I had a little extra sand so i did the cowl and the door jambs .The holes in the roof did not blow out any more than what they were before blasting so i am going to just patch them.I have a little bit of patch work on the lip of the toe boards on both sides but not a lot .I will start on the tail panel and the rear window lower panel tomorrow ,i should be able to get the outer air box as well .I primmerd inside the fire wall and under the cowl and most of the trunk ,the rest will get blasted when i get it on the rotisserie . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grabber70Mach 107 Report post Posted March 7, 2015 Nice progress, looking good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
