Hello all. I am new to the group and in need of a little advice/direction. I am a girl who has just bought her first muscle car and all the men (mechanics) I meet give me contradicting advice on how to fix my car. If anyone could tell me their experiences on the below issues and provide advice for the best products to use for the E-Body - I would really appreciate it.

1. Ignition systems: Accel, MSD, or Mallory? I currently have Accel but when people look under the hood they all shake their heads. One guy says that Mallory is best as long as you have more than one ground.

2. Converting manual front drum brakes to Power Disk with a booster - Which kit to buy? Don't want parts from China (which is a risk if you order from Summit) One mechanic says to piece it together...One mechanic advises a $1,300 kit from PST and then wants to charge me $1,000 to install. Ceramic or semi-metallic pads? One guy recommends "Brembo" with a minimum of slotted braked.

3. Is it ok to replace one window? Someone must have done some interior work to the car and there is a sandblast/pitted residue that won't come off the passenger side window. Windows are $200 a piece - even the back triangles. But it is only the passenger window that is bad.

4. Carburetors - A tricked out Holly 750 HP-S (no vacuum) or 770 Avenger Series (w/vacuum).

5. Headers - TTI Ceramic coated or normal Hooker Headers?

6. Spark plugs - Is it true that you cannot use Platinum plugs in these cars?

7. Oil - One mechanic convinced me to switch out to Royal Purple Synthetic Blend, but other guys are telling me Mobile One is the way to go.

I know that everyone has their own way of doing things and that opinions are very subjective - I am hoping that the members of this website have gone through similar problems and that I can benefit from their experiences. Money is not the issue - I just want it done right - the first time - so that I can enjoy the car now instead of spending all my weekends at a mechanics shop funding their retirement! Being a girl has it's disadvantages.

Thanks in advance.

 

Well I guess I should have started with the specs...You can see pictures of her in my album linked to 77406.

Engine is a 440 Magnum V8 big block that has been bored out to a 40 over 440. I have been told that she has 520 hp but do not know how to validate it. It has a 727 Torqueflite 3 speed automatic transmission and 3.23 gears. Edlebrock Performer RPM intake manifold with Holly 750 carburetor. Power steering and manual drum brakes all around. 2.5" dual exhaust with correct double exhaust tips. Flowmasters and Hooker headers. Hard top E-Body, yellow with the black R/T side striping. Ground up restoration.

I have TTI ceramic headers coming in and will be installed next week!

 

They're all good, as is Pertronix. If you need more than one good ground, something is very wrong.

It all depends on how you plan to drive the car. I had a '70 Challenger, 440 Six-Pack, four-speed manual tranny -- it had the same brakes you have and they always did the job. Discs are more resistant to water. Unless you are planning to REALLY torture your brakes, the big Brembos are overkill. Slotted rotors look cool but really aren't much better than solid ones. I'd use ceramic or even organic pads -- they're easier on the rotors.

I don't know why you ask. Windows are replaced one at a time all the time.

The 750 HP-S might be a good choice on the strip or track, but I'd go with the Avenger on the street.

I prefer ceramic coated. Choose the headers that work for you and have 'em coated.

First I've heard of it. My 440 uses 'em. They're just expensive.

They're both good. Use what you like and can get easily. Don't forget to use a Zinc (ZDDP) additive if you install a new flat tappet cam. If your cam is already broken in and you're not replacing it you can do without (but using the additive won't hurt).

Girls CAN learn how to do mechanic work if they want to. Your choice. You are probably stronger than I am at 66 years old and after two open-heart surgeries, and I just changed my Jensen SP from a Torqueflite to a four-speed manual A-833 OD trans.
If you want to get your hands dirty, you can; if you prefer not to, that's cool too.