Nice pic and what to do?

[daves70]

Here's a pic I thought turned out nice. Now the what to do part. I've got a friend who just called me. Jeff kelderman of Kelderman air lifts here in Oskaloosa. They make air rides and lifts for bad-azz trucks. Anyway, he's got a 70 Plymouth superbird, 440-6 pack, all #'s matching. And then some. Car is absolutely flawless after total restoration and has over $15,000 worth of stereo equip. alone!! He had it at the SEMA show in vegas earlier this year. I told him I would like to have pic's taken of our cars together. He knows the operater of our local airport and wants to go out there. The problem is he wants to rip them up and down the runway, doing burnouts, etc. I like to have fun and hot-rod too but I do it on a limited basis as I can't afford to be replacing parts(motors)everyday. Jeff has a #'s matching 68 Plymouth GTX 440 convert. that he's pulling the motor out of and replacing with a 472 cubic inch crate hemi that he's had for 3 years. I want to go, but don't want to kill my motor. I don't think it has 200 miles on it since it's rebuild. What to do??

[Carlwalski]

How long until he wants to go out and do it? If it's in a few months or so you'll be fine Dave.
Your 440ci will handle anything especially in stock form. These motors are bulletproof.

If it's in a few weeks I would leave it, in a few months and a couple of thousand miles under the belt, no worries.
It would be fine as-is right now but you should give your engine a chance to settle in.


 

[HemiOrange70]

Go, enjoy and take it easy-if it was a Cuda i'd be worried, but a Challenger can take the heat 

[daves70]

Next week NZ.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Dave,

  I understand the temptation totally. Even thought my car has about 4K on since rebuild, I wouldn't do it. I have too much time and money in my car to abuse it. If money were not an issue with me, then maybe I wouldn't care. BUT>>>> In NO way shape or form would I abuse a car that looks like yours.  NO Dave. You car is tooo special. 


  Mike

[daves70]

Thanks Mike. I agree. 

[Carlwalski]

Next week NZ.

Yikes!!    Leave it for now, in future you'll be fine, give it a few months.
These cars were built to drive and be driven hard and I believe these engines (especially the Big Blocks) can handle it with ease. One day I'll get out with my Sister to take some nice burnout photos and hopefully on video too.

Still see if you can go out for some photos though and just let him know that in the best interest of the car and your peace of mind you'd rather not do the burnouts etc.....he'll understand.


 

[Topcat]

I think as far as break in goes, it should be alright. The 500 break in rule ie: keep her at 55 etc. was something that was more of an observance on earlier days of engine/bearings/rings. The metals and alloys that they use to make those parts today are vastly improved so that the rings seat quickly. Today, break in on an engine can be as low as 200 miles. I may be wrong on saying all this. But this is what I was told by a respectable source a few years back. It seems to make sense what he said too.

[Super Blue 72]

Hi Dave,

This sounds like a cool oppurtunity but I wouldn't do anything that I would regret the next day. 

Call me a whimp, but if you're concerned at all about the break in, see if your friend can hold off till a later time.  Would you do this after the engine break in, though?

Your car is too nice to mess around with.  Like NZ said, see if he'll go for the photo shoot.  Let us see the pics of course!