And so it begins...

[Mopardik]

I'm fairly new here, and a few of you know me from all the questions I'd been asking in preparation for the purchase of my '68 Newport. Well, now that she is mine, I've wasted no time in starting to make changes to really make her "mine". So I figured I'd start a buildup thread to document what will most assuredly be a long and (hopefully) fulfilling journey.
I will try to get as many pics on here as possible during all this, and will get some on here later on today of progress thus far.
Anyway, so far in the 3 or so weeks I've had her, I have replaced the turn signal switch, the battery and hold down, a window crank, the antenna, and the lock knobs. Easy peasy I know, but it's all I've had time for lately. However, I have also crawled over, under, and through the car listing parts and needs to address. Many of these parts have begun to arrive, and as such now the real fun begins!
The wheels and tires are here and I'm gonna get them mounted up today. Then this evening, I'm heading down to my buddy's shop and we are gonna tear into her. On the agenda over the next few days: Intake, carb, fuel pump, cam + lifters, timing chain, distributor, water pump, HP manifolds and duals, trans. pan, new fluids, filters, belts, hoses, and a whole lot of detailing. I'm not going for a show winner here, she's gonna stay a driver (been down that road!), but I'm gonna pay the ol' girl some long overdue attention. I'll keep y'all posted on the progress and try to take lots of pics.
Away we go!:yaayy:

 

[1978 NYB]

That's great. How about some pictures before you start all that work?

 

[polara71]

Nice......... looking forward to you working and us watching....

 

[Mopardik]

OK, so we wound up mainly working on my bud's race car on Sat. night. Hey, what are you gonna do? Free labor and use of his shop has it's price after all, I guess.:yes: I did manage to get a few before pics taken, though. It's almost a crime to molest such an intact engine compartment, but I am what I am, and I have never been able to leave anything alone! :devil1:We are going to try to hit it hard the next couple of evenings to make some real progress. I will post more pics when we actually get somewhere with it.

 

[commando1]

Mighty clean engine bay you got there. Very nice.

< Sent from my tablet >

 

[polara71]

Looks great with nothing done

 

[commando1]

We wish they all could start out that way.

 

[1978 NYB]

I wished my engine compartment looked that good!

 

[Mopardik]

Thanks guys! Yeah, that is one of the reasons I bought the car, because in general it has been well cared for an unmolested. Although she will soon be decidedly unstock, I think you'll be pleased with the finished result. You ain't seen nuttin' yet!

 

[bluefury361]

Thanks guys! Yeah, that is one of the reasons I bought the car, because in general it has been well cared for an unmolested. Although she will soon be decidedly unstock, I think you'll be pleased with the finished result. You ain't seen nuttin' yet!

Welcome to the site...... I'm happy you found such a nice car and I know it's yours to do as you please........
But I just can't watch as she becomes "Chevyized". Good luck with it.

 

[polara71]

There are a lot of purists on this board

 

[bluefury361]

There are a lot of purists on this board[/QUOTE

]

And I concider myself one of them when it comes to C body Mopars.

It just dosen't make much sense to me to want to go fast in a tug boat...... Kinda defeats the purpose. The effort & result would be much better applied to a smaller, lighter vehicle.
And to start with a nice original dosen't help much. It's one thing to start with a well used vehicle and create something for fun.
Kinda reminds me of the trend a few years back to purchase top notch restored V8 Fords and convert them into another run of the mill street rod.

I like a nicely modified street cruiser as well as most..... But C bodys don't fit the profile.
I'm seeing a disturbing trend, mostly by folks who either don't relate to the original demographics of C bodys... Or just can't afford a A-B-E body car, to "modify to taste" cars that don't benefit from the modifications. Sort of like painting over the Mona Lisa.....


But thats just MHO.... and i'm wierd like that.

 

[polara71]

I am the same way, its obvious.


E's and B's dont weigh that much less if at all, dont let them kid you

 

[Mopardik]

I just can't watch as she becomes "Chevyized".

Wow, that's kinda hittin' below the belt there! So let me get this straight, only Chevy boys modify cars? Oh, OK. The judges at the Mopar Nats and Monster Mopar would beg to differ though, as none of the trophies for my other Mopars have bowties on them. Also, I wonder why Chrysler offered high performance options for these cars if they do nothing to enhance the performance (and enjoyment) of them?

Additionally, if it bothers you that much, you should probably avert your eyes from all my other Mopars as well. From my daily driver truck, down to my show cars, ALL are modified. It's what I do. I can do many things Chrysler didn't because I'm not constrained by catering to the lowest common denominator in a buyer, and I don't have an army of bean counters looking over my shoulder.

Now maybe I could see leaving it be if it was a mega-optioned Imperial, or a convertible, or even a factory HP car. But a 383-2V Base Newport? Sorry, I just don't see the historical significance of keeping it numbers matching correct. And I'm not trying to make a drag car here, but no matter how big and heavy a car is, there's still nothing like the sound and feel of those other 2 barrels kicking in, or a nice cam doing it's thing at idle, or a nice set of duals letting the world know that something is up. I guess I just feel that personalizing the thing is way more enjoyable than lifting the hood and showing off everything that I DIDN'T do to it.

Look, you seem like a nice enough guy. You have your opinion (obviously), and I have mine. I've had many Mopars over the years, and I currently have 8 of them. I also worked the line at Chrysler for over 22 years, so I think I have earned my Mopar stripes. I'm pretty sure that I can be trusted to not "Chevyize" some of Ma Mopar's handywork. In the end, I just feel that some well chosen modifications enhance the entire experience and add to the enjoyment of owning these old cars. And that's what it is all about!

 

[bluefury361]

Wow, that's kinda hittin' below the belt there! So let me get this straight, only Chevy boys modify cars? Oh, OK. The judges at the Mopar Nats and Monster Mopar would beg to differ though, as none of the trophies for my other Mopars have bowties on them. Also, I wonder why Chrysler offered high performance options for these cars if they do nothing to enhance the performance (and enjoyment) of them?

Additionally, if it bothers you that much, you should probably avert your eyes from all my other Mopars as well. From my daily driver truck, down to my show cars, ALL are modified. It's what I do. I can do many things Chrysler didn't because I'm not constrained by catering to the lowest common denominator in a buyer, and I don't have an army of bean counters looking over my shoulder.

Now maybe I could see leaving it be if it was a mega-optioned Imperial, or a convertible, or even a factory HP car. But a 383-2V Base Newport? Sorry, I just don't see the historical significance of keeping it numbers matching correct. And I'm not trying to make a drag car here, but no matter how big and heavy a car is, there's still nothing like the sound and feel of those other 2 barrels kicking in, or a nice cam doing it's thing at idle, or a nice set of duals letting the world know that something is up. I guess I just feel that personalizing the thing is way more enjoyable than lifting the hood and showing off everything that I DIDN'T do to it.

Look, you seem like a nice enough guy. You have your opinion (obviously), and I have mine. I've had many Mopars over the years, and I currently have 8 of them. I also worked the line at Chrysler for over 22 years, so I think I have earned my Mopar stripes. I'm pretty sure that I can be trusted to not "Chevyize" some of Ma Mopar's handywork. In the end, I just feel that some well chosen modifications enhance the entire experience and add to the enjoyment of owning these old cars. And that's what it is all about!

Nicely put........And I respect your opinion....... What really bothers me the most is all the chrome "niffy-naffys" like aftermarket valve covers, oil pans, air filters, tinny mufflers...etc..... These all lend to the "chevyize" effect that I refered to. A Mopar big block in blue, (or orange), is a statement in itself, kinda like a badge.

 

[commando1]

Wood:


No wood:

 

[bluefury361]

Wood:

View attachment 11060

No wood:

Perfect........ See what I mean.....?

I can understand the need for a good set of coated headers...... a bigger carb, aluminum intake, (painted engine color), electronic ignition, etc..... And there is NO aftermarket air filter housing the looks as good as an original Mopar dual snorkel in black wrinkle powder coat.

 

[70NPORT]

Here's a fast tugboat....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Op17p46gMw

And IMO its very understated, take away the slight "rake" and the centerlines, you'd think it was your uncles car. Cool car, but not too wacky.

 

[Wildaugust]

I personally like the modified look if it's done right. A few chrome engine parts and some aftermarket wheels don't ruin the car. They are just bolt-ons that can easily be removed later if you decide to sell. Just make sure that you keep your original "take off" pieces so that you can put them back on.
Any car can be a nice "street cruiser". Furies, Monacos, Galaxies, Impalas, Bonnevilles, you name it. Hell, there's even a big ol' modified Cadillac rag top from the early '60's on Youtube!
:3gears:Besides, when my car was completely original it was viewed by most as not being worth anything and of no interest to anyone, except as an engine donor or a derby car. Now that I've started to make a mildly modified boulevard cruiser out of it, people show more interest in it and I get compliments. Of course the purists still feel that it's not worth anything, but they weren't exactly beating down my door with offers before I "molested" it either.
As far as i'm concerned, it's your car, so do whatever you want to your engine and run whatever style wheels you like, just don't &$%@# up the interior and DON'T cut the body!

 

[Mopardik]

Wood:
View attachment 11060

No wood:

Well, I will fall somewhere in between those, but definitely closer to the first pic. So I guess that puts me in kind of semi-chub territory then? :laughing7: There is some chrome, but just a few bits to set off that beautiful turquoise! Here are some in progress pics so you can kind of see where I'm heading with this thing.