My R/T

[71ChargerRT]

Went off on a rabbit trail that didn't need to be explored just yet, back on task now. 5 lug swap will happen with off the shelf, albeit non-Mopar, parts on the front. Rear will be welded and drilled axles and redrilled stock rotors.

Picked up some correct, nice front brake lines from the JY last week, $20 and no stress. Would've grabbed more necessary pieces, but the thunderstorms started 5 minutes after my arrival.

Started pulling the motor down again for cam and timing chain swap. What is the Cloyes number you recommended to B Body Bob, Doc? I scanned and didn't see it?

 

[Dr.Jass]

I used a Cloyes 9-3503X9 on Agnes and have another for my Challenger. It's a .250"-wide true roller chain with billet gears. Figure on about a C-note by the time it's on your porch.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Went out yesterday with the intention of installing the wiring harness in Cletus and getting him fired up, Unfortunately I found the manual and automatic crank sensors are different, also found out I broke the oil sending unit, dang it!


Since I was already set up to do some work, figured I'd take advantage and jumped over to the Dakota to finish the front to rear brake line, but I ordered the wrong kit, so while I have the fuel tank out I fixed the fuel pump plug and replaced the line to the charcoal canister. Then I pulled the rear brakes apart and found the rear brake pads deteriorated, the emergency brake shoe linings just fell off and the original rotors are terribly pitted and unusable. Even though the caliper pistons pushed in easily, since they've been dry for so long I'm just going to replace them. I was still in tear down mode, so the rear diff cover came off for inspection and the fluid looked fairly good much to my relief. I pulled the axles to have the bolt pattern corrected and while everything was apart I clearanced the rear caliper brackets to fit a 15X11" steel wheel.


Few pics

 

[71ChargerRT]

Progress is slow in temps north of 105*, but the rear bolt pattern has been corrected. Presently sitting on Ford wheels I pulled from one of my trailers.

 

[Dr.Jass]

Progress is slow in temps north of 105*, but the rear bolt pattern has been corrected.

Kev has accomplished virtually nothing on his '68 Charger since about May. Temps there aren't far off yours, and his garage is an oven. I've visited him in August in the past. Pole barns would be great greenhouses if they were see-through. I've mentioned a few times when his finances somewhat allowed that he should insulate it, but he always finds somewhere else to put the money. He has a couple of time windows in spring and fall where it's livable for working. It's too hot from late May until nearly October and too cold from December through early March.

I've got an AC window unit that maintains 73° in my (much smaller) garage without being set on "KILL", a.k.a. running WFO. It actually kicks on and off regularly, which doesn't murder my electric bill. I also keep a dehumidifier running in there, which I used to set for constant-on. That kept the humidity in the low 30s but ate a lot of juice. It now stays around 50%, which seems a good balance. It definitely makes a difference in how 73° feels.

 

[71ChargerRT]

My plan is to get the garage cleared out next month.

I have a window unit I planned to install last fall, that should help next spring/summer.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Progress on the garage, more as the month goes on, once everything has been sorted the Dak will go in and up on stands. Brakes lines are new, so I have somewhat of a pedal now but everything else in hydraulic system is suspect and will be rebuilt or replaced. Same with the steering and suspension pieces will all be stripped off and replaced or sandblasted and rebuilt. Found lowering kit to drop it 3" up front and about 5" in the rear using lower control arms and hangers in the rear, hopefully maintain most of the ride quality.

I set the motor in place before Christmas, but the oil pan hit the crossmember, so the 410 is back on the engine stand. Evidently there is a bigger difference between the Dakota and Ram oil pans than I thought. Time to order an oil pan and maybe a pickup, too much work to pull the one off the Ram.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Still rounding up parts. My brother found a Dakota up his way, west MD, with the Stampede pkg being parted out with a nice front bumper for $150. I doubt y'all have tried to round up one of those, granted it's no Hemi E body, but they're not falling out of trees either.

 

[Dr.Jass]

I've never even heard of a Stampede, so I certainly haven't sought parts for one. I'm guessig it was some kind of appearance package, though "Stampede" seems like a contradiction in terms for what appears to be street-related parts rather than offroad.

People naming trucks watched entirely too much Gunsmoke and Rawhide as kids. Sheesh.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Yep, stupid name for a ground effects kit on a lowered truck. I debated on removing it, especially without the front bumper, still may. It is nice having the whole set though.

 

[Dr.Jass]

Yeah, ground-effects/aero kits are always kind of an "all or nothing" affair. I used to get a kick out of seeing second-generation Camaros with that giant Kirby-lookin' "Hugger" front spoiler and literally no other ground effects on 'em. Worse yet were the doofuses (doofi?) that put said snout on jacked-up cars with large rear tires like this cretin (extra demerits for the 4-by front stance):

Actually, upon second glance there's so much wrong with this car someone should slap his mama.

Anyhow, ever notice how the Camaro occasionally resembled Chevy's cheapest model? From the windshield forward, the '70-'81 F-car has a strong stank of Vega up front (even after the revisions of both cars), and its '93-'02 descendant looks like an overinflated similar-era Cavalier.

OK, back to our regularly-scheduled Mopar silliness.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Here are a couple pics of the package on a regular club cab. Sits way too high for a 2wd semi sportish truck.

 

[Dr.Jass]

To me, it's almost as if the wheel arches are too big. By the time you get the wheels were one would expect them, you're nearly dragging the rockers, and parking barriers become a terrifying proposition. I suppose that's because they started with a high-clearance wheel arch for 4WD, then added even more freeboard (so to speak) to an already tall profile.

It's kind of the reverse situation from '70s Japanese mini pickups (Toyota/Datsun/Ford Courier/Chevy LUV). Those were primarily designed as 2wd, and the wheel arches look almost cartoonishly small when you lift one and install 35" tires. A friend's Ram 50 had 33s on it and looked like a mini-Bigfoot.

 

[71ChargerRT]

Here's the planned stance, potential wheel size, wider rear tires though.
First time I really paid attention to the squared off wheel wells.
3/5 drop on 255/35/20

 

[b-body-bob]

To me, it's almost as if the wheel arches are too big.

The beauty of a Durango is the wheel arches keep getting bigger and bigger as the fenders and bed sides rot from under those stylish flares.

My truck has little bitty tires on it that make the arches look even worse. But no flares and no rot there. Don't ask me about the cab floor though.

 

[b-body-bob]

A friend's Ram 50 had 33s on it and looked like a mini-Bigfoot.

I had an 87 model and the wheel wells had grown some by then. It wasn't as cool as the Arrow trucks though.

 

[Dr.Jass]

Paul's Ram 50 was an '83. He bought it in '89 without a speck of rust on it. It was still rust-free when he sold it in '91, despite being his daily through two salty winters. He loved that truck, but its terrifying top speed of 70 on a slight downhill convinced him to trade it. Passing, merging, and any kind of city driving were not strong suits despite the manual trans (a 4-speed; 5 was optional). It was too underpowered, and I'm sure the taller tires weren't helping. He traded it on a fully restored '78 W150 standard-cab shortbox with a factory 440 that was mildly warmed. Power ceased to be an issue--it would do 4WD burnouts--but fuel economy raised its ugly head.

 

[68R/T]

--but fuel economy raised its ugly head.

Seems to be the main issue of anything remotely satisfying.

 

[71ChargerRT]

The beauty of a Durango is the wheel arches keep getting bigger and bigger as the fenders and bed sides rot from under those stylish flares.

My truck has little bitty tires on it that make the arches look even worse. But no flares and no rot there. Don't ask me about the cab floor though.

I’m glad I’m not in that region to deal with that anymore, now I have to deal with crumbly plastic, vinyl and cloth deteriorating. Trade offs I s’pose.

 

[b-body-bob]

I’m glad I’m not in that region to deal with that anymore, now I have to deal with crumbly plastic, vinyl and cloth deteriorating. Trade offs I s’pose.

I walked outside yesterday to load the recycling in my car and found the fiberglass rear widow lip "spoiler" now has a crackle finish on it. I guess single digit temps a foot of snow on top and open (eventually) warming air below induced some delta of shrink rates between the fiberglass and the paint.