new to MOPARS/ have a few questions

Gents,

Thought building an old muscle car would be fun for me and the kids. My Uncle used to have a Roadrunner (don't know what year it was) and I remember thinking at age 5 "if I ever own a car it will look like that."

Finally have the time and the money to give it a whirl, but I don't know Jimmeny about MOPARS, Roadrunners, or restoration.

Where can I find out info concerning the different types of Roadrunners, the stock configurations, the different body types, how the years differed from one another, etc...

Is there a book, a website, an article that will help get me started?


Thanks for your help.

Russ

Good to see new people getting into muscle cars. Books can be very helpful but you aren't going to be able to restore a car just by reading books. But run a search on your favorite book site (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) and get a few books on the subject. Try to get ones that are more specific, and I recommend a restoration guide, which are made specifically for one model. Search on the web for sites on the subject. Like I said, reading isn't everything, but it will help a lot. If you know anyone who owns or knows a lot about these cars, talk to him. You will probably need some help once you get a plan. Also, look on auto sites (collectorcartraderonline.com, ebaymotors.com, etc.) and find a car in your price range so you know exactly what you want. This will help when it comes to getting all the right books and information. Do you have a background in body work, welding, etc.? Restoring a car is a huge job, and some prior experience is great. If you do have a considerable ammount of cash, get a car that won't need a lot of work, unless of course you want to do a lot. I hope that helps and I can try to help you more if you have more specific information on what you want to do. Good luck!

The most desirable years are, in order:

1969
1968
1970
1971
1972-1974

Engine choices:

'68 - 383, 426Hemi
'69 - The same plus they added the 440/6Barrel mid year
'70 - The same as '69.
'71 - The same , but because of pollution regs all three motors are down slightly in hp.
'72 - The cars are emasculated. The 440 and 426Hemi are gone. The 383 becomes the 400 w/low compresssion and no hp. The small blocks start to predominate. 340/360/318. All of them choked by pollution regs.

I would ditto the other reply about getting Mopar-specific books for your project...may I also recommend the 3 mopar-specific magazines : Mopar Collectors Guide, Mopar Action, & Mopar Muscle...MCG is a classified-based mag with articles & vendor informations as well...

a website?

The Mopar-specific bulletin board I belong to: Moparts (http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=&C=1)

8000 hardcore engine builders, dragracers, resto fanatics, corner carvers, daily drivers, and a few lucky SOB's who own Hemi 'cuda convertibles. The board is very fast moving and very tolerant towards newbies. Language and personal attacks are the only way to get in trouble.