Hey guys,

I have already hit you guys up with a couple questions, I think I am starting to get a good feel for things. Very new to working on cars, but quick learner. Any tips are appreciated.

My situation/Car status:

Purchased the car from a recently divorced woman for $1000, ex-husband bought it from someone, never got a chance to work on it. Didnt get a chance to ask the name of the guy originally purchased from, so there are a lot of unknowns. Body in very good condition, except for some big dents on the roof (car was under a car port, crushed down by weight of snow). Just by looking at it right now, it needs a radiator, driveshaft, lots of rewiring/wiring harness, battery, all bushings and automatic shifter. (any suggestions on shifter or good driveshaft place is appreciated).

Car:
Car has both bumpers, and most of the trim and lights (bumpers in my basement, trim in the trunk. Checked the engine code, its reads as a 1978 truck 440. Carter Thermoquad carburetor. 9.25 rear axle.

Plans: Not doing a hot rod, track car, or stock restoration. Just want a cruiser with some power. I am going to get all the surface rust off, get the body pretty square, then do a cheap prime/paint job (black), paint the interior vinyl black, get it running good, then later on take everything back off and do a quality paint job. Keep in mind I am on a fairly limited budget.

Pics:

http://picasaweb.google.com/timmymac...eat=directlink

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

 

Looks like you have a bit of a project on your hands, but your expectations are reasonable. Also, the price very good. You will have a great cruiser when you get done.

Welcome to the forum! Keep us uppdated on your progress.

 

Here is my input on the project.

You have, what sounds like a great base to start with. For the problems that you have here is was I would do -

1) Painless Wiring harness for the whole vehicle. Just spend the money on one and never look back.

2) As for the driveshaft, go see a local driveshaft shop and have them build you one.

3) The shifter will depend on what is there now that is still on the vehicle. If it is on the column, then maybe you can piece together something from parts that you get off E-bay. If there is nothing, get a B&M cable shifter.

4) The radiator, get a alum one with an electric fan and shroud and be done with that and get a set of rubber bushing (or poly if you keep up with greasing them) and then get an alignment with a new set of wheels (if you can't use what you have) and tires.

5) For the motor since you want to add some power, I would not tear into the heads or block. If it runs good, leave the guts alone. Maybe add an intake, headers w/full exhaust, ignition upgrade, maybe install a shift kit in the tranny, and posi/limited slip in the rear axle.

 

78D200,

Thanks a lot. Just the advice I was looking for. One more opinion please. The Carter Thermoquad. Worth rebuilding and keeping? What tools do I need to adjust/set?

1. Where would you suggest picking up a wiring harness? I havent looked into much beyond year one for parts so not really sure where the best place is. Proper nomenclature is on a lot of parts.

2. Are Driveshaft shops common? wasnt sure if there was one withing driving distance or if I should order one.

3. Console shifter, no parts. I know the name B&M, wasn't sure if they were that good, or just the most popular. Does the boot and casting it comes with fit proper to stock or will i need to do some customization?

4. Can you suggest a good company?

5. Pretty much what I was thinking, but should I start looking into new internals? From what I have read the truck engine has a much lower compression, wouldnt that defeat the purpose of having a 440?

 

I think the thermoquad is a good carb and worth keeping. Probably just need a screwdriver to adjust.

For the wiring harness, check out
http://www.painlesswiring.com/
http://www.jegs.com/
http://www.summitracing.com/

Driveline shops are pretty common. Most towns with a population more than 10k will have one, just check your local yellow pages.

In my opinion, B&M is a good brand. Hurst is also another option. Not sure if the boot comes with or not, but whatever they sell should bolt up with little to no customization.

I do not know enough about 440 truck engines to comment on that piece.

 

I love how all these 71, 72 an 73's are coming out!!!

That is an awesome start to a potentially beastie Charger. Looks like its just needs to be cleaned up and get some tune up love and you should be good to hit the road for little money.
I would personally ditch the Carter. Get a used or new Holley and an assortment of jets, accelerator pumps, accessories etc. to play with.
Good luck on your project!! Bring another one back!!!

 

Good to see another 440 charger... my 72 project is close to what you want to do but my pain and body is not done and i have no need to rewire the car. I have a basic bolt on 440 (1968 Magnum, luckily) with the intake, Holley 4bbl, Electronic ignition, and long tubes. i also had a drive shaft made at a shop here in Orlando, and of course painted the interior black. I have a B&M shifter (which i liked.) but i reinstalled the stock column one cause i love having the bench seat open for my friends. As for parts i always use Summit, Jegs, or Year One. Good luck and welcome bud

 

I don't know much about them but have heard good things. I usually go with Edlebrock carbs.

I would just call up Painless Wiring themselves and talk to them. Tell them what you have and that you want a full wiring harness and who in your area is a dealer of their's or if you can get it directly from them.

There are two driveshafts shops across from one another right behind my house. If there is nobody local to you, you can go to www.4xshaft.com and have them build you one. Very, very nice work.

If you get a complete shifter, then it will come with everything, minus cable. B&M is a very good brand, I have had very good luck with them in the past.

Be Cool, Griffin, Kooler Flow (I think).

I would do a little research into this if I was you. I do know that they did have a lower compression than some of the car blocks, but I'm not sure how much lower. You can tear into the guts of the motor but if there is nothing wrong with it....

I would do everything else first and drive the car with the motor the way it is now and then decide from there.

 

drive it before you yank the motor. I decided when I was 16 that I was going to rebuild the entire car on my 73, I didnt drive it, went and picked it up on the flatbed, yanked the motor and trans and all wiring out of it and 6 years, alot of bloody knuckles, arguments, and thousands of dollars and I still have yet to hear this thing run. Def learned my lesson