393W, TKO, Rolling Restoration Take II

[Runragged]

Howdy,

First post and it would appear as though it's working so, I'll post this and get on with the details next break.

BTW Since this photo was taken I've gutted the car and am in the process of doing all the things to "make the car right". I'll throw out my ideas and see what your thoughts are.

[Runragged]

OK, this ins't working quite yet, so more luck next time.

[unfrozen1969]

Some how the size of this thread became huge. Aside from that, we get an idea of what your looks like.

Bill

[maxum96]

Nice looking car. I run a 393w with a TKO. Nice combo. I really like it.

[Runragged]

Alright,

So a little history on the car. It was unearthed back in '96-ish and was gutted and all the rust was cut out and replaced by a guy in Festus Missouri that I bought it from in '02. The South African loved these cars so much he had 4 of them and needed the money for the ones worth saving, so EBay going me going on what appears to be a life long journey to the poor house.

Since I've had the car I've replaced everything...everything and what I haven't, I'm working on now.

Currently the car has the, already stated, 393W, stock heads with a TKO 5spd, alum shaft, 9" 350posi rear end running 12.6s with 16mpg.
Smooth, but you might imagine not happy yet. :helpsmilie:

The interior has been completely redone with new vinyl, cushions, door panels, dash, dynamatting everywhere except for the roof, addition of AC and sound system.

So now I'm working on suspension upgrades, heads, custom fit seat platforms, new headliner and folddown backseat. Here is what she looks like now.

[rd49221]

Welcome! Great color. Can you tell me what it is?

Thanks

[Runragged]

It is House of Kolor Candy Apple Red, 3 shades dark. Real good looking paint though, red in the sunlight and maroon in the dark. Wife picked it out...color of her toe nail polish.

Color isn't necessarily one I would recommend only because it's almost impossible to repair. Toyota makes one that's not a candy and real similar.

Didn't get to do much last night. Since I'm having to custom build my seat platforms, they've been lowered and moved back. Therefore the access holes in the floor pan had to be relocated so I spent my time cutting out plates to fill in the holes and will hopefully get some time to weld them up tonight. Back when the platforms were originally replaced, 69 risers weren't being remanufactured so a guy had to go with whatever he could get his hands on and in this case they were 65-66 risers...they sucked. So for years I drove the car with my head in the headliner...not any more, these have been cut, leveled, sliced, propped, tested and retested so now the wife has a custom fit seat and so do I:shifty:. This is a picture of the passenger side riser recently tacked in, will weld out later.

[rd49221]

Thanks. Yes, I've seen the Toyota color used on Toyota as well as Lexus. Looks good as well

[Protowrxs]

Currently the car has the, already stated, 393W, stock heads with a TKO 5spd, alum shaft, 9" 350posi rear end running 12.6s with 16mpg.


Sounds like loads of fun - Mind sharing what / where / how long your drive is? I am going back with a 3550 and have a small steel shaft that would work but want to replace with an alloy one.

Thanks
-Stephen

[MikeStang]

He based his 12.60 @109 off his last track numbers, that I can verify, the car runs super for stock unported small valve heads...
His mileage was based off of his last 5 hour trip from baton rouge to other side of Houston I believe around easter :P Only reason I know so much about this car is because it has been part of my life for about what 6-7 years ?? I have had the privelage to help out on the restoration to include installing the motor and trans, tons of welding, some of which involved getting sparks on the pretty paint, and various other hammer related activities LOL, to also include putting quite a few miles and drag strip passes on it with me at the helm :P "Thanks for trusting me behind the wheel of your baby Louie"
I do how ever let him dog on my Trans Am some times, which had been in the family since about 1996 LOL
Mike

[rainingbells]

Seats relocated? How tall are you?

Because I'm 6'4" and want to have a notion of what I'm looking forward to in being comfortable with my `69 fastback. I have an `05 and it's fine, but no one other than the baby in her seat can sit behind me. In the end of my resto, I expect my daughter to be about 4, and she's ALREADY as tall as a 4yo at 2yo, so...how tall are you and how did you have to relocate your seats?

EDIT: unlike my manual `05, the `69 will be auto, so I don't have to worry about room for working the clutch and bumping the wheel, but still....