Author Topic: Originality question (Read 3440 times)

Troy · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2008 - 11:30:09 AM »

Thanks for the input guys!

Quote from: moparnut on September 04, 2008 - 09:28:46 PM

My 2 cents
Dont worry about originality, once the drive train is gone no ones cares. Slap a BB or hemi in it and have fun. Its pointless to worry about getting everything original when its not numbers, in my opinion.

I forgot to mention - no big blocks. Even though I have a whole pile of them laying around, all my other cars are big blocks and I think of e-body cars as road racers (Trans Am) with a light, high winding small block.

Quote from: Grasshopper on September 05, 2008 - 09:04:40 AM

All the value was stripped out of my car so I am going the hemi route.

Oh....I am not a particularly bright man either!!

If you do decide to do the Hemi, there are a few of us here currently doing the same thing and comparing notes to help each other out. Join us!! I'm not sure if it a case of "all great minds think alike" OR "misery loves company"!!

If the car's originality has already been compromised, my vote is for the Hemi.

Yeah, I try to keep up but I read a lot more than I post. If I only had one car to work on it would be easier and progress would come faster.

Quote from: gtx6970 on September 05, 2008 - 10:11:28 AM

Another alternative is just give ME the car I'll take care of it in a private ceremony

Um, yeah.

Realistically, if someone were to purchase a certain Charger of mine I'd be very tempted to buy your old A66 and sell this one. I'd be afraid to drive it though...

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on September 05, 2008 - 10:28:26 AM

it really doesn`t matter which way you go any of the 3 choices will work , I would build what you are most happy with , the 340 can be installed at any point down the road if you use the Hemi or 5.9

Right. The only reason I bring it up now is because of the availability of the engine I found. If it were just another bare block or a later engine I wouldn't even be concerned about the engine at this time. It will be a while before this car is road worthy any way.

Troy

Carlwalski · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2008 - 11:44:11 AM »

Quote from: moparnut on September 04, 2008 - 09:28:46 PM

Dont worry about originality, once the drive train is gone no ones cares.

100% agree. I have never understood people who do back flips and get excited saying: "It's an original ###ci car with a 4-speed!!! But, the drive train is gone, BUT, I still have the fender tag!" IMO - Who gives a shlt. The gold has been taken and you're left with the chest. Nice to know for history sake what it the car came with espaically (and really only) if it's a 440/426 car but at the end of the day it's a non numbers car like any other.

I like 340ci engines but if you have the cash, go for gold, maybe an alloy block. Rock n Roll brother and make it your own. I laugh when people say that's "Not correct". Correct? To who? You? The factory guys? Galen? Pffft. It's correct to me. Keep us posted on your choice and be sure to post photos. Sounds to me like it's a 340ci and 4-Speed combo by viewing your posts, so, go for it. Maybe a TA theme style car.

Jacksboys · « **Reply #17 on:** September 05, 2008 - 12:24:22 PM »

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on September 05, 2008 - 10:28:26 AM

it really doesn`t matter which way you go any of the 3 choices will work , I would build what you are most happy with , the 340 can be installed at any point down the road if you use the Hemi or 5.9

I never really understood why people get so crazy over having to find the original parts of a car once they are missing. I my opinion, as long as you do not destroy the car, build it the way you want it. Look at it this way, if you lived back in the day, would you have ordered the car with those exact options? Also, what is the point of having an old car unless you can make it your own? In your case, it is just a drivetrain choice, and you can change that later if you are not satisfied.

mcgheejt · « **Reply #18 on:** September 05, 2008 - 12:36:11 PM »

If I had an A66 car, I would definately go with the 340. It's a great combo and a rare one to boot. I would love to have a convertible one; I think even more than an R/T.

426HEMI · « **Reply #19 on:** September 05, 2008 - 12:56:12 PM »

I am a small block guy. I would go with the 340. I hope to find one for my car. I had a low mileage 340 but had to get rid of it wish I had it back now. I want to make some changes to my car also to make it more modern and even more fun to drive. I hope to be able to restore it when I get home. Was thinking of doing an extra year but now my plans have changed and I will be coming home for good the early part of march of next year. I am tired of being over here in Iraq and I am going to get married right after I get back over there.

Gordon

Changin Gears · « **Reply #20 on:** September 05, 2008 - 01:07:32 PM »

I say do the Hemi, its the old school way - put a modern motor in an old chassis. This works great for car shows also if you want some attention, everybody seen a small block e-body.

moparnut · « **Reply #21 on:** September 05, 2008 - 11:41:19 PM »

Quote from: Carlwalski on September 05, 2008 - 11:44:11 AM

100% agree. Nice to know for history sake what it the car came with espaically (and really only) if it's a 440/426 car but at the end of the day it's a non numbers car like any other.

LOL you just contradicted what you said, once the numbers are gone who cares if it had a 440/426? I don't. And the assumption from some of those "weekend" mopar collectors are that the only valuable mopar is a 440/426 is just plain arrogance. I bleed true blue mopar and think all mopars should be saved and restored, no matter if its a /6. The 383 is no slouch either. How many chevy and ford guys would die for a BB? I have never heard a mustang or camaro owner complain they had a SB, have you? Lets face it, they arent making them anymore, I may change my tune too on only buying numbers cars if they arent any left in 20 years, if im still breathing.

hemi71 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2008 - 10:23:48 PM »

Since the #'s drivetrain is gone, build what you want. I dont thiink I could remove a numbers drivetrain from a car (maybe a slant 6 car). I'm more of a traditionalist, like to see period correct drivetrains in the old Mopars, but thats me. It's your car, do what YOU want.

Troy · « **Reply #23 on:** September 09, 2008 - 01:28:33 PM »

Thanks for the input guys. I bought the motor "just in case" but it will be a while before I have to make a final decision on which one I'm sticking in the car. Once I get the thing home I'll open it up to determine what I have to work with. At this point I'm going to see how much money I have left over after getting the body work done. If I'm broke I'll probably drop in the 5.9 initially since it will be real easy to swap that to the 340 later. I'll probably end up selling the Hemi. Either that or I need to sell some cars but what fun would that be?

Troy

JS27N0B · « **Reply #24 on:** September 09, 2008 - 10:32:18 PM »

I would add a another vote to keep it an original A66 car with the 340 that it was intended to have.

Super Blue 72 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 10, 2008 - 04:16:05 PM »

There's a guy that works at a Toyota dealership close to me that has a '71 Demon with a 340 stroked to a 454 or some crazy #. It's one of those blocks that Mopar puts out now, what's it called, a R-3 or W-3 block or something?

ShelbyDogg · « **Reply #26 on:** September 11, 2008 - 01:48:08 PM »

I say go with the 340 and restore it to original looking. You'll never have time to do it again later and install the 340. Once it's done move on to the next project. Put the 5.9 or hemi into a "G" coded car.

Rob

craigsmytcudas · « **Reply #27 on:** September 14, 2008 - 12:51:04 PM »

i think you should do what winds you up ,that said if theres more than two its not rare .if #s are so important then why are parts so expensive if the cars they are bought for are worthless .if a guy says your cars junk with out a drive train thats the guy that will give you nothing for it then get his trusty stamps out . the gm and ford guys are so easy going on the #s thing and modified cars that they actually have enough cars for a show. i love my mopars but the pompas azz #s guys are slowly killing the hobby look at the car counts at shows and local digs no cars the mopar world needs a revamp mopar rip .c

Moparal · « **Reply #28 on:** September 15, 2008 - 09:30:40 AM »

Quote from: 426HEMI on September 05, 2008 - 12:56:12 PM

I am a small block guy. I would go with the 340. I hope to find one for my car. I had a low mileage 340 but had to get rid of it wish I had it back now. I want to make some changes to my car also to make it more modern and even more fun to drive. I hope to be able to restore it when I get home. Was thinking of doing an extra year but now my plans have changed and I will be coming home for good the early part of march of next year. I am tired of being over here in Iraq and I am going to get married right after I get back over there.

Gordon

I was going to get a 70 340 block off of jacksboys but you can contact him and make arragements for it if you'd like

Troy · « **Reply #29 on:** September 23, 2008 - 12:22:35 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. Just a quick update, I wasn't able to get the 340 so it looks like I'll be sticking with the 5.9 any way. I'd seriously consider the 5.7 if I could find a few deals on the conversion parts but right I have some time before I have to make that decision.

Troy