70 Hemi Road Runner Street Monster build

[jimynick]

Looking good man! How in the hell are you bending that 3/16ths? And neatly at that! I hear you about blowing $500 in the blink of an eye, too. 

[70chall440]

Thanks. I use a variety of methods ranging from pure brute strength and a BFH, to heat and also a press. Its kind of a pain to manipulate but it can be done.

I got the final torque box in, so that is all done now. I will plate the subframe connectors to make them similar to the US car tool ones, but I need to do some work on the floors first and I want to make sure I can get out what I need out.

Got some of my parts today (got to love Summit...). Got my windage tray and some of the parts for my external oil system for the Hemi. 

[jimynick]

I've got severe hemi envy going here! 

[70chall440]

You know its funny, I never really had a desire to own or have a 426 Hemi (or any hemi for that matter until the GIII came out). Growing up being a Mopar guy back in the mid 70's, a "hemi" was a mythological thing as I never saw one until probably around 79 or 80 when a local guy build a 69 Cuda with a 426. Even then I thought it was cool but wasn't dying to have one, I guess because it didn't seem like something that was possible. Fast forward to today and I have all 3 generations of the Hemi (GI = 330 Desoto, ,GII = this 426 and 3 x GIII) and not really through any targeted or focused effort on my part, just kind of happened.

Its a bit of a learning curve to be certain, while there are a lot of similarities between the 426 and say a 440, they are obviously vastly different when it comes to the heads, valve train and motor mounts. The motor mounts specifically are a current focus, I could buy the Schumacher at around $250 but most places seem to be back ordered or I could pay $300 for Tin Man versions, but to be honest I am not real impressed with any of them. My current thought is to just make some, but we will see. This option is very attractive due to the tilt front end as it allows a lot of access. I don't have any intentions on buying $1000 TTI headers, rather I have a set of B body 426 headers that I intend on using and I am sure no one makes mounts for those.

[70chall440]

Got a little work done today, managed to get all of the crap out of the trunk and began to remove the trunk floor. I took a little time to remove the paint and bondo from the right lower quarter as I suspected there was some rot under there and sure enough there is... I am going to have to order some lower quarters for it, but I figure this was the case.

I have  to decide how I am going to do the trunk floor, the replacement connects to the tail panel and I don't want to remove all of that, I am thinking of  going to the body line inside the trunk floor (where it angles up to where the trunk lock bracket its attached. It a pretty distinct line but I have to see if that line is good all the way across the trunk, there may be some issues on the left side, but we will see.

[jhaag]

Motor plates...solve a lot of issues and easy to do...not a stock build so why not? Just a thought..

[70chall440]

I actually thought about that, but I dont have any experience with them and don't know much about them. Don't they go behind the water pump?

[70chall440]

Been looking at and reading about motor plates, seems like all things cars there are a lot of opinions about using them ranging from "don't do it" to "they are awesome". It seems the 2 most controversial issues are;

1. Vibration issues
2. fore and aft engine movement

In relation to #1, the "anti" guys all proclaim that a motor plate passes all of the engine vibration into the car which over time will result in a cracked motor plate. I have read posts (in other forums) from people who say they have used motor plates for years without any issue. There is a 3rd opinion which suggests installing some type of dampening material between bracket and motor plate to reduce or eliminate this issue in street cars. Magnum Force has bushings in their plate (ears) to address this issue.

In relation to #2, many state that the engine will "flex" fore and aft (front and back) especially under hard acceleration. To combat this, some suggest fabricating or buying a rod to connect the plate or engine to the K frame to restrict this movement. As I think about this issue, it does make some sense as the plate controls up/down and side to side movement but would be weakest at the front/back plane. This seems easy enough to combat or address.

I like the concept of this option, I just need to make sure the "view is worth the drive" so to speak. A set of Schumacher mounts are $259 plus shipping however they seem to be back ordered in most places. A motor plate from AR Engineering is $175 however it does offer some challenges in alternator and power steering placement.

[jhaag]

Depending on your fabrication skills, all you need is some aluminum plate, and make your own. As for front to rear movement, again a fabricated limiter solves this issue. Just like a torque strap , only mounted horizontally instead of vertically. You would get vibration transferred to the chassis. How much can you stand? What is the ultimate purpose of the car? Only you know these answers. Ran motor plates for years in various drag cars. No issues with flex, engine movement, or broken parts...again just another option

[70chall440]

You make some good points. I am fully capable of making a plate but to be honest, its more beneficial just to buy one. It seems like the guys who have used them all state that vibration isnt an issue or concern whereas those who have not used them all remark that they produce too much vibration.

As to "how much I can stand", well thats kind of difficult to say; for me it would be more about parts breakage than feeling in the car. This definitely is not going to be a daily driver. The ultimate purpose of the car is pretty much a hot rod, show piece, project (like all of my old cars).

I am going to be running a Mopar Performance "purple" cam which is not a big lumpy cam at all, has a little bit of "lope" to it but about 1 step above the stock one. So, I don't think it is going to be jumping around.

So, do you attach the plate to the motor and install it with the engine or mount the plate and then attach the engine to it? Would seem that putting the plate onto the engine would be the way to go in order to get the gaskets positioned for the water pump.

[70chall440]

I received some more parts for the Hemi today, specifically I picked up my heads and received the external oil system and oil pan. I still need a rear main seal retainer, plug wires, head gaskets and some other small parts.

Got back to work on the trunk floor, its like archaeology... someone put sheet metal over the top of the rusty trunk floor (dick move) and was very liberal with the bondo trying to make the trunk floor look good. I am thinking the body guy was Leonardo Da Vinci as there was some very nice sculpting of bondo on the drivers side... Oh well, if it was easy everyone would do it...

[jimynick]

Hahahaha! We used to call those guys, Michelangelo! When somebody'd ask "isn't that hard to do?" we'd just say, "nah, just cut off everything that doesn't look like a 1/4 panel". You've got this. 

[70chall440]

LOL... I am not too concerned about it, just metal...

[YellowThumper]

Mike,
Nice ride and agree with your plan.
My singular vote for motor mounts. Fabricate your own or purchase.
Motor plate can ease some things. However they can also open the can of worms for all accessory mountings. Yes behind water pump. Water pump then needs to be shortened to have belts still line up with crank pullys or then shim everything else out.  Then add in fabrication of limiting strap. Etc...
If you do go motor plate I would purchase one and modify as needed. From addition of bushings at the rails. I have also seen ones where people have enlarged the motor mounting holes and added some captured bushings to them.  Again more work above then just utilizing motor mounts. Header clearance between motor mounts would provide direction for motor plates.
Now on to color choice. Can you guess what mine would be?
This was at the Spring Fling last month or so. Absolutely flawless. I particularly appreciate all the manufactured pieces.
Oh and an all aluminum Keith Black Hemi...

Mike.

[70chall440]

Mike - I deeply appreciate the comments and advice, I am thinking it all over, my main concern with purchased mounts is as you note, header clearance. I think I have a grasp on what effect using a plate would have and it doesn't bother me all that much. Making my own mounts is an option as well. The up side here is that I can remove the tilt front end and have full access to the engine compartment, so conceptually I could mock it up with the headers and then figure out what will work the best. If I go motor plate, I believe it will be one from AR Engineering as they are just down the road from me in OR.

That RR looks awesome and we are in agreement on how that color works with that body style. Man I would love to have the money to have an all aluminum KB hemi, thats got to cost some major $$

Mike