69 Roadrunner SO close now

[WidowrRacing]

For those of you not aware this is my dads car that he purchased brand new at Dufferin Chrysler in 69 for $3300 tax in.

It's a 383 4speed numbers matching car that hasn't been plated since 1991.
The complete resto started about 4 years ago and is almost done now.
I was in charge of performance and cosmetic which included painting the car it's original rare colour.

[TheMustangShow]

Coming along...looks great!

Who dipped the Bumpers? They turned out nice!

[RedSN]

no offense Tony, but you're going to have to get somebody that can take some better pictures instead of these teaser pics.

incredible project, glad to see it finally nearing completion.


edit: new pics look great!

[Stephen06GT]

no offense Tony, but you're going to have to get somebody that can take some better pictures instead of these teaser pics.

incredible project, glad to see it finally nearing completion.

X 2. We need moar better pics. :D

[WidowrRacing]

Coming along...looks great!

Who dipped the Bumpers? They turned out nice!

All new chrome and bezels were purchased for the car. Needless to say my credit card took a serious hit.

[Armen]

Looks fantastic!

[WidowrRacing]

no offense Tony, but you're going to have to get somebody that can take some better pictures instead of these teaser pics.

incredible project, glad to see it finally nearing completion.

Thanks Don

This is the first time the car has moved off the hoist in 1 year so the pics I currently have are just progress pics once we got it back from the bodyshop.

I will post more pics once it done.

[ZR]

Stellar looking ride, yes please on more pics.

[KIDAGIN]

Very nice ride

[AKAFISH]

Yup-- more pics please ! :)

[BackinBlack]

Beautiful car, I love the 69 RR;s. Not sure if I posted this before , I may have. I had a 69 back in the early 80s. Mine was a orig 383 4 speed as well. I had a 440 in it. A classic and a incredible job you are doing.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd33/fastback383S/my69RR3.jpg (http://s226.photobucket.com/user/fastback383S/media/my69RR3.jpg.html)

[abeltrame]

Very very cool. Super neat story as well. Looking forward to more pictures.

[Uncle Buck]

Very cool car. Saw one today in Quebec with a 440 six pack. I noticed it had manual steering as this poor guy was turning it around in the parking lot. That's gotta be good for the pipes.

[MUSTANGWOP]

Awesome Tony and great story behind the car also.

[Rich-C]

Oh my! What a beautiful car!

[Slick_89_Hatch]

Killer car! Hopefully you guys can drive it this year!

[WidowrRacing]

The story is cool and unique of my dad purchasing the car. It was such a big deal to buying a new car back then especially being new to the country like my dad was. He and 4 others (brother, brother in law, cousins and a friend) walked into the dealership and purchased 4 Roadrunners and 1 Cuda. My dad is the only 1 to still have his car. I asked why he picked that colour and he simply said he didn't want to copy anyone else. By the sounds of it they really drove these cars hard and would street race nightly on roads and highways being built. Harvey's was the big hang out also in Toronto for car guys.

Here is a couple pics while on the hoist:

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runnerhoist_zpsb0e82cd6.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runnerhoist_zpsb0e82cd6.jpg.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runnerrearframe_zps571b0010.png (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runnerrearframe_zps571b0010.png.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runnerfloors_zpse1e77878.png (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runnerfloors_zpse1e77878.png.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runnerbrakes_zpsa9ad11bc.png (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runnerbrakes_zpsa9ad11bc.png.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runnermotor_zps240febbb.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runnermotor_zps240febbb.jpg.html)

[Blackmare]

such a nice ride.

[Ziggyzag420]

Nice looking car , what is the name of the colour ?

[WidowrRacing]

Nice looking car , what is the name of the colour ?

F3- Frost Green metallic or light Green metallic

[Darkhorse]

Looking good Tony.

[speedfreak]

WICKED car Tony!!!!!

[83 5.0]

Love all the big Mopars, having owned a 66 and 67 Charger over 30+ years ago, they just have something the others don't in my opinion. Very rare that it caould be kept in the family.

[SVOMACH1]

Beautiful car!

[CON VERT]

Very NiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiCe !

[WidowrRacing]

Thanks guys.

I'm hoping that performace wise the car will be up from the stock 335hp and closer to 400hp which I know still won't be a lot considering the size and weight of the car.
What I did want from this car was that classic muscle car sound!!
I think that was achieved by the Comp Cams muscle car cam selected, Hooker ceramic coated full lengths and Flowmaster 2 chambers. I also had the stock heads port match to the headers/Edelbrock intake and added a nice 650 Edelbrock carb with an electric choke.

After having the exhaust installed I can now say I am very pleased with how the car sounds at idle but no miles have been driven yet to really comment on performance and just general driveablility with the new suspension parts and drivetrain.
The car was also converted to power steering so that will be a huge improvement.

[ZR]

PS is gonna feel awesome in a car that size.

[WidowrRacing]

My dad and I had some time yesterday to play with the ride height on the car. I think for now it sits good considering it has all new suspension and leaf springs so I think it will come down little more on it's own.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runner08-14_zpsa62fd4c5.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runner08-14_zpsa62fd4c5.jpg.html)

[Blackmare]

Stance looks great to me.

[RedSN]

I like that colour more every time i see pics of it.

[augiedog]

looks awesome

[ZR]

Was thinking the exact same thing Don.

[WTF]

car is total porn for me

love the long square lines...much like I love the mid 60s Chevelles and GTOs

colour is perfect...beautiful and subtle.....the over-the-top part is under the lid and should be

totally jealous though.....not for the car....but that you get to do that with your Dad

love every second...you are a lucky guy

and please post more pics of that horny piece of metal

[Darkhorse]

I met Tony's dad at the track once. He's actually nicer than Tony. lol!

[WidowrRacing]

I met Tony's dad at the track once. He's actually nicer than Tony. lol!

Lol...nice Corey

Let's just say he is much much quieter then I am.

HOWEVER I remem being a kid sitting in the middle on the front bench seat and my dad would not letting ANYONE pass him cause he thought everyone was racing him. I don't remem him losing any of those 4th to 3rd and even 2nd sometimes gear battles though.

[WidowrRacing]

We have been working on the car lately and finally it's appraised, insured, plated and ready to drive.
So after about 25 years my dad is finally out cruising and we are really looking forward to Woodward this year.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/Runner2015_zpsfatevykm.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/Runner2015_zpsfatevykm.jpg.html)
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/FrontRunner2015_zpsgphpktpg.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/FrontRunner2015_zpsgphpktpg.jpg.html)
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/383Runner2015_zpsp4eohfr7.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/383Runner2015_zpsp4eohfr7.jpg.html)

[ZR]

Got a home run on your hands there, hope your Dad enjoys it.

[Armen]

Looks absolutely perfect

[Retro5.0]

Beautiful looking ride!!

[Not4you]

Wicked!!

[Darkhorse]

Hope to see you on the ave, would like to hear how it sounds.

[MUSTANGWOP]

Awesome Tony, I'll have to come by and check it out.

[Gabe]

Love it, congrats on completing an amazing project with your pops

[TheMustangShow]

Bad Ass!

[Slick_89_Hatch]

This car is EPIC!!!!!!! Awesome story, too bad your uncle's didn't keep theirs :(

[Scrape]

Beautiful car Wicked! Green is the fastest colour from what I hear. ;) Love to see it one day. Nothing like a classic muscle car.

[WTF]

absolutely love it

[KIDAGIN]

That car is just plain sick

[WidowrRacing]

Hope to see you on the ave, would like to hear how it sounds.

It does sound good courtesy of the Comp cams muscle car cam, headers and flowmaster 2 chambers.
We will have to try and hook up while in Detroit....we will be there on the 14th-16 and staying at the Holiday Inn on eleven mile road again.

[WidowrRacing]

Still looking great.

Are you taking it to New Hamburg next weekend?

No the Detroit Woodward Dream cruise August 14-16

[WidowrRacing]

Beautiful car Wicked! Green is the fastest colour from what I hear. ;) Love to see it one day. Nothing like a classic muscle car.

Thanks.....I'm thinking of adding the factory type Matte Black stripes on the hood maybe next year. I will research it during the winter and decide.

My dad never had them when the car was new but we both like them and they just seem to just suit the car.
I would do them to factory specs/material. They partially covered the top of the fenders and cowl so they were very wide.

[WidowrRacing]

This car is EPIC!!!!!!! Awesome story, too bad your uncle's didn't keep theirs :(

One of my uncles had a Yellow 69 Runner....and in the early 70s his future father law told him if he wanted to marry his daughter he must sell the car first so he did.
The glove box full of tickets was the main reason.

He and his son now have a 69 Runner they bought about 10 years ago in the Nobleton area.

[WidowrRacing]

Woodward trip was a great time....sooooo many different kinds of vehicles and some really cool rare stuff.
I was really impressed with the show Dodge and Roadkill put on. They even did the famous 3 way tug of war strapping the Viper, Challenger and Charger together. I thought a car caught fire with all the smoke until I realized what they were doing.

The Runner was a big hit there and I could tell my dad enjoyed telling the story about his car to all.
My only complaint was we didn't have enough time so next year we are doing 3 nights 4 days.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/truckamptrailer2015.png_zpsin7cdfbr.jpeg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/truckamptrailer2015.png_zpsin7cdfbr.jpeg.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/woodward2015_zpsbutd7mrj.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/woodward2015_zpsbutd7mrj.jpg.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/woodwardjr2015_zpsdsnv6cm1.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/woodwardjr2015_zpsdsnv6cm1.jpg.html)

[Darkhorse]

Tony, was your RR sitting on the crest of a small hill along Woodward around 13 mile? If it wasn't yours there was a replica of yours with Centrelines as well.

I also agree the Dodge Pavilion was beyond epic. I scored a couple epic t-shirts and the vibe there was pretty awesome. Didn't realize Chally's have 11 different levels of trim!

So glad that I only do Mustang Alley for like an hour and starting to see other parts of the event. Can only do a couple things every year. Last year I did Chevrolet, but this year I saw Chev and GM performance had two displays but didn't make it there, was too hot. Roush has displays, so do sooo many others that I'd like to see eventually. Just hard to move around.

[WidowrRacing]

[QUOTE=Darkhorse;125184]Tony, was your RR sitting on the crest of a small hill along Woodward around 13 mile? If it wasn't yours there was a replica of yours with Centrelines as well.

Yes, that was us parked there.

We stopped 3-4 times along Woodward Ave on Saturday to walk around and sit near the strip to just take it in.
We had chairs and a cooler with water in it so all we seeked was shade at times.

[WidowrRacing]

Couple small changes for the RR this year so far.

We lowered the rear more and swapped to an aluminum rad/electric fan to deal with the Woodward stop and go traffic.

My parents have been hitting all the cruise nights in the Peterborough surrounding area this year and really enjoying it :)
I'll take some more pictures once I get it all cleaned up for Woodward.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runner%202016%20lowered_zpsmzeesdbl.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runner%202016%20lowered_zpsmzeesdbl.jpg.html)

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r294/WidowrRacing/runnermotor2016_zps9gp58x27.jpg (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/WidowrRacing/media/runnermotor2016_zps9gp58x27.jpg.html)

[Intmdtr]

sweet, love those cars.

[ZR]

Hell yes it is.

[Biz]

Awesome car!!!

[WidowrRacing]

Updated some pics at the start of the thread to keep it alive.

Not much news/changes to the car...it's only been driven about 5km this year and with my dad on vacation it won't see many more unless I can find the time to take it for a cruise and actually take some decent pics of it.

[ZR]

With the roller coaster of weather we've seen this year, hearing lots of folks (including me) have put little to no miles on.

[Armen]

Car is beautiful.

I usually put about 10K on a season and I'm +8K from where I started in the beginning of May, so I'd say I'm pretty much right in line with last year.

[RedSN]

Updated some pics at the start of the thread to keep it alive.

...then I had to edit my post #3 LOL

[WidowrRacing]

The plan was to put a few kms on it today after washing it but the rain prevented that from happening.
I love the rear of this car! I think it's the angled tails and exhaust shape/tips.

https://i.postimg.cc/VkvZF4R1/8-D553-B8-D-6-E22-464-D-B027-B021-CA8-B4-AC4.jpg (https://postimg.cc/HrGtYwRP)

[ZR]

https://i.stack.imgur.com/8hrPg.jpg

[WidowrRacing]

https://i.postimg.cc/zX0PW4T0/AC99-FA8-B-08-E9-44-C2-9-DF0-2-F23656470-F2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/7fJVrss2)

[WidowrRacing]

My cousin just finished his complete resto of his 69 road runner and thought I would share some pics from Motorama 2019:
He purchased it with his father in 2005 and decided he was going to do a full resto on it last year.
It’s a 383 4spd car also but from the U.S with A/C in F8 green.
I can’t wait to do some cruising together and get some pics with both cars.

https://i.postimg.cc/sXDBWmdG/BC263-CC2-1-A03-40-B7-A33-B-050-D8-DF81-CFD.png (https://postimg.cc/3yVJ5gw3)

https://i.postimg.cc/qvsdTdh4/D42-CDC2-D-4-AB2-45-AA-A8-F3-24-DF017-DE2-A2.png (https://postimg.cc/k2gHQzvp)closest huntington bank to this location (https://banks-nearme.com/huntington-bank-near-me)

https://i.postimg.cc/hPJSNw1t/75-D76-FC1-C330-446-E-A971-7412-CCEA3323.png (https://postimg.cc/PPjswS7g)

[WidowrRacing]

Not much new with my dads Runner this year….he drove it twice and I drove it once.

https://i.postimg.cc/N0X4ZjQ1/20272-D97-EC0-A-4-F46-BD82-57669-A72476-F.png (https://postimg.cc/v1QfVMgB)

However my cousin did some wrenching on his and had the car polished and added the factory pinstripe.
He’s all about it looking original and period correct. Beautiful car!
I’m thinking Pro Touring personally for ours one day.

https://i.postimg.cc/GmwnZHCQ/79-F15721-5-C9-C-4-CDB-A758-FFD1-A4534486.png (https://postimg.cc/VdRhts5r)

[cudaboy]

Great story/pics.....Mopars forever.

[ChickenLips]

the family car when I was a tyke was a 6 banger auto Coronet. I remember my father fishtailing it back and forth on a deserted stretch one snowy 70's winter. My brother and I cheering in the back, my mother clucking in the passenger seat and my father chuckling as he swung it back and forth.

[WidowrRacing]

Oh the memories….

I can remember being a kid (early 80s) in the back seat with my grandfather and my dad driving with my grandmother up front.
Anytime someone would attempt to pass him my grandmother would say in Italian “Don’t let him pass you”.
My dad would drop from 4th to 3rd and disappear…they always got the hit…I don’t remember him ever losing a roll race lol.
My grandfather and I would just chuckle in the rear.

That was one of the primary reasons my dad bought a B-body in 1969….his parents were both in Canada (Toronto) and didn’t drive and he would have to drive them around. He wanted a 2dr and the Runner was bigger, more comfortable and easier to get into the rear seat VS a Mustang or Camaro.

Another memory I’ll share is when my dad would occasionally drop my sister and I off at elementary school.
I would get out of that front seat feeling like a rock star trying not to smile but wanting everyone to see lol.
I realized at a very young age my dad had a cooler car VS nearly everyone else!

[WidowrRacing]

Well….it’s been 10 years since this thread was created and figured it was time for an update with the recent decision.

My dad is now 78 years old and in good health but the Runner’s car cover never came off this year and he only raised a corner to show the odd visitor the car.

When the car was restored the motor was freshened up with the trans but to me it just didn’t feel right and didn’t perform like it should.
I find the car difficult to drive with the shifter and I’m just not confident with its reliability.
The car has a history of overheating while in traffic and my dad’s tried multi fan and rads with no success.
My dad has also just revealed to me he finds it difficult to push in the clutch with his left leg/hip so I’m starting to think that’s why the car wasn’t driven this year but he didn’t want to admit it.

Recently I was at my parents place and he has started cleaning out his big garage and asked me to post some stuff for sale including his cherry picker and transmission stand. I didn’t think much of it at the time but understand what he’s doing.

Couple days later I thought if these items are sold with the property we won’t have the ability to remove the engine etc and work on the car with all the luxury of tools and equipment and that’s when the light went on in my head.

It’s time for ONE more Re and Re with his car being the last!

I’ve shown pictures of my cousins Roadrunner on here and he and I are very close and we talk almost daily.
He is so knowledgeable about the car it’s insane.
We’ve spoke in great lengths about the car and he’s totally on board with helping with step 1 being:
-Compression and a leak down test followed by removal of the engine and transmission.

After that convo I had a quality sit down talk with my dad and breaking down what was happening with the car and to my surprise there was no disagreeing or arguing back from him and he actually pulled out a piece of paper from his wallet with the steps from the MTO to register the car into my name.

I simply said to my dad if I didn’t enjoy driving it and wasn’t confident with it’s reliability I wasn’t going to be driving it in the future. That he totally understood and is something he doesn’t want to see happen.

So stay tuned for an update on this thread shortly with the goal to just make this car right again like it was for him when purchase in 1969.

[hammerhead]

I miss driving those old cars. Had many "B" bodies and several "A" bodies. Those old clutches are a curse to many hips including my own. I remember getting out of my last mopar and after a weekend of cruzing than jumping into my fox on Monday morning and dam near sending the foxes clutch pedal thru the floor boards because it was that much softer LOL. I miss those old cars and maybe someday. Looking forward to this.

[WidowrRacing]

I’m eager to jump into this and learn whatever I can about this car.
My dad seized the motor in the 70s and a rebuild was done but I doubt the proper pistons were used and compression could be low as a result. I’m also not convinced the heads might have issues from being overheated but there is only one way to properly find out.

What I do know is the original block, transmission and rear end is still being used and that’s going to remain the same.

I’ve also recently watched about 4hrs of Nick’s garage on YouTube and learning quickly about the 383 engine.

[hammerhead]

383's were a preferred engine to a lot of drag racers. It's hard to say why the compression is low until you investigate. Some engine guys in the past could be a little shady. Could be other factors holding it back (intake, carb size and timing). I'm not familiar with Nick's garage but the cars are fairly simple to work on from bumper to bumper. It's cool your going to keep the drive line and the nostalgic feel of the car. I think if I owned one I wouldn't do any kind of updated swaps to the power train. I remember going into my first fuel injected cars and not liking it as much as a well tuned carb on a tight engine. If I did own one It would be more stance and handling I would change, but it is fun sliding around sharp turns at high speeds like the old movies with cars that have positive front camber. I'm excited for you, you're going to have fun.

[WidowrRacing]

Thanks….I plan on using what aftermarket parts I can during this build.
I would guess it has about 2000kms since we did the resto.
During that we installed an Edelbrock Performer intake, 650 carb, full exhaust and Comp cam.
I’m leaning towards Edelbrock aluminum heads if required and trying to make it 10-11:1 compression.

I would be happy with anything over 400 at the crank which seems easy enough with the cubes.

[Uncle Buck]

Great to see you putting some love into the car. It’s a very special car, especially to you and your Dad.

Getting them driving right is important. I spent a long time getting my 66 so I could enjoy it and was really worth it. Now I’m doing the same on the 69 as it was not great when I got it but is steadily improving.

For the clutch, don’t overlook the pedal assembly and linkages. It was a night and day difference on the 69 when I fixed the pedal box and installed a roller bearing.

[WidowrRacing]

Good advice!
Yes I believe the factory Hurst shifter needs a rebuild and something is not right with the linkages.
Nearly all this stuff are things my cousin went through with his Roadrunner when he did his full resto.
I drove his when completed and it drives really nice.

[MUSTANGWOP]

Keep the updates coming Tony, this is a great story.

[Scrape]

Old thread resurrection brings back a lot of memory. Glad to hear your dad is well and car is getting a "Tuneup" :drool: