Hello from Branson, Mo.

[blkmagnumgt]

Hello, My name is Nathan, and I've been a Mopar guy since I was 13. I've always dreamed of a 70 Cuda, or Challenger, but as many of you know, Their not very cheap, and have been out of my budget. I did the next best thing, I built a budget Mopar. I found my 1978 Dodge Magnum Gt, T-Top, for $250, and over ten years have put blood and tears in this car. I REALIZE some of you will say NO WAY, not a 78, but take a look at the picture, and hopefully you can see that although the B-body is heavy and UN-muscle car, but I get more compliments, and discussions and at the car show, Theirs only ONE Magnum there, and its mine...

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site Nathan and don't sweat the Magnum! I remember when they came out and actually thought that one done up with decent wheels and a 340 or 440 would make a decent looking, later day Charger replacement. If you've got the stamina to spend 10 years on that beast, you'll do well when you DO get your E-body! 

[brads70]

   Welcome, nice looking ride! What rims are you using? Got any more pictures?

[blkmagnumgt]

As I said, A budget build. The wheels are standard steel wheels ( cheap $45.00 ea ) with beauty rings. Here's a grainy shot of me breaking in the new 295-50-15 tires.

[brads70]

Ah, I couldn't quite see them in the last picture. They almost looked like stock car rims ( bassett?)
What engine you you have?

[blkmagnumgt]

Check these out!

[blkmagnumgt]

When I got a parts car with only 65,000 miles, with heavy duty police alt. 100 amp. ( has different brackets than normal Mopar alt )  I freshened that 360, with a new oil pump, timing chain, and a mild RV cam. ( heavy car works great ) With a friends help, we ported the factory heads and used Ramcharger truck head springs, after installing new valve seals. Bought engine gasket kit, 8 cans of carb cleaner for grease removal, and 4 cans Mopar blue engine paint. TOTAL engine refresh cost. $400.00, INCLUDING battery!! MSD ign. 600 cfm 4 bbl carb, factory 85' 4 bbl intake with adapter plate. Cheap Summit $80.00 full length headers. Summit crossover exhaust tube ( 2 1/2 inch ), with Afterburner mufflers ( These sound aggressive at idle, but mellow out at highway RPM's). The exhaust ends before rear tires, making it free-flowing and UNIQUE sounding...
    Note, the attention to detail my brother did in masking off the factory 202 valve cover sticker. I wanted to keep this sticker for UNKNOWN reasons, maybe cause it looks cool!

[blkmagnumgt]

Here's two before pics of Magnum. The side shot is the day I bought it, you can see the stock GT wheel, The second photo is 6 months later... It looked good black, but too hard to keep clean, and too hot!

[Super Blue 72]

SWEET CAR!!!!! 

   Hi Nathan, welcome!

You got a steal on that car.  IMO those were really sweet cars, especially since you got the GT with t-tops!  IMO those were one of the best cars for cruising in the late 70's.  Lots of room and comfortable and can be made to be quick. 

You did it up real nice.  Colors are nice, sporty but not to flashy but you know it's a mean little car the way it's set up.  I like the side exhaust too.

Your car reminds me of this Chevelle this guy did.  He said he wanted a car he could rob a bank in so he made his car like this:

http://www.chevyhardcore.com/videos/car-features/video-oddball-pro-touring-73-chevelle-laguna/



Welcome to the site, feel free to hang out and ask questions and what not.  If you want an E-Body on a budget, stick with the '72-'74 cars as they'll be a little cheaper to buy.  Get one that doesn't need so much body work.  Looks around craigslist locally or the for sale section here.

Have fun!

[blkmagnumgt]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome to this site. I'm not a big fan of red interior, but as you can see in these photos, the interior was shot! Leaky t-tops, I first doctored it up with salvage parts, but when I found the 78 Magnum ( grandma parts car ) the red interior was too clean to pass up, so I swapped it. You can still see the black at the glovebox, seatbelts, and headliner...

['cruddy mutt']

Welcome cool car

[blkmagnumgt]

Thank you!

[AARuFAST]

    "Don't Crush UM. Restore UM" Nice Ride!

[blkmagnumgt]

 

[hooD]

Welcome to the site, Nathan!  You did a complete turn around with your '78, great job.  I like the color combo you made it.