(10/10/2008)

I continue to wage war on rust, thank God its only restricted to the trunk and rear window lip. 

(10/11/2008)

I tried to rotate the crank, well it didn't, I think the 440 may be seized.  So unfortunately I will most likely replace the engine.  (Oh, boy there goes 6 grand.)

(10/12/2008)

Body Work!  I am removing rust from the fan, hood, trunk and everywhere else it is spotted. I am also trying to remove someone's "half-ass" bondo-job.  Removing this bondo revealed that the decklid rear lip has a case of "worms".  (This will get cutout and replaced.)

The worms are covered with primer to prevent more rust

This is the right 1/4 panel before the roof on the C-pillar; this is a giant lead patch.  Th sratches were made from when I strached it with a chisel.  I will melt out the lead and patch it with good metal.

(10/13/2008) Columbus Day - No School

I will continue to de-bondo and de-rust the car.

(10/17/2008)

I came up with a budget for the project: $44,084.50 - 10 times the original cost.  I also checked the casting numbers I could reach: Heads are correct and the intake is 3830733 for 74-76 440's so this will get traded.

(10/18/2008)

I will be checking the body's dimensions the make sure the body is not twisted or bent.  Well I am not 100% sure but the body maybe bent.  The engine is a huge dump, the block is a '77, the intake is a '74, the heads are '69 and the timing cover is a '71.  Only God knows what the rest of the engine is. 

On a positive note, I painted the fan and pulleys and other engine components with Rust-Oleum High-heat.  This paint is a special enamel that is heat resistant upto 1200 degrees.

I took off the headlamp buckets and bezels, repainted the gas cap and removed the fender tag:

V8X  26 END                                                                                                         

H51 J25 M21 M31 R11 V1F

A04 B51 C16 C55 G11 G33

 F3  F3 C6G F8 227 238075

E86 D32 XS29 L9B 306676 

(10/19/2008)

Removed the headers from the heads but the person that made the headers was a dumbs**t he had to put them snug against the engine.  This means that they are still under the hood and can't come out.  I got the spark plugs out of cylinders 1 & 8 both which are covered in oil and a seriously doubt that 2-3-4-5-6-7 are any better. 

(10/20/08)

Estimating an engine cost, just under $9,000

Well here's the plan:

(10/25/2008)

I removed the headliner and the dome lamp.  The Insulation was loaded with nicotine and so was the roof it was hiding (eww!)  Well I'm glad that when I'M through with that interior that I will only be smelling new vinyl and carpet. 

(10/28/2008)

The "plan" is starting to look shaky.  I'm kinda leanin' to T5 Copper or R4 Red with C6T Tan interior or going numbers matching F3 Light Green, C6G Green Interior and V1F Green Vinyl top.  for sure I will add a tachometer, hood mounted turn signals, and a sport steering wheel. 

(11/2/2008)

I started to disassemble the body, the paint is coming off, the mouldings are comings off and most exterior trim. 

(11/3/2008)

Colors have been finalized T5 Copper, C6T Tan Interior, V8W White Stripe V1T maybe an option.

(11/6/2008)

Today I recieved my Carburetor a Carter AVS 4640S.

http://www.classicpreservation.com/carterAVS.html

(11/7/2008)

Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep of Winona, Minnesota.

I recieved my 440 Magnum Air Cleaner pie tin. I also started to adjusted the carburetor, the Float Drop, Float Level, and Idle Vent