Since deciding to keep my '74, I've been trying to formulate some long-term plans for it. First, a bit of backstory:
Factory 318 car bought in 2019 as a light project for taking to car meets and running down our local 1/8-mile strip. The vinyl roof was coming off in chunks, so that was stripped and the car was repainted in what I call "Tupperware Tan". Close enough to the original color.
When it came out of the paint booth in July of '20, the world was shut down, I was furloughed, and the car was put into storage at my dad's farm. I worked on it from time to time, buying parts and getting advice from you guys.
Earlier this year I put it up for sale. Having to keep it an hour from house meant that I wasn't driving it much, plus I had to move two tractors and sometimes a 4-wheel-drive to get it out.
A couple of months ago, a storage unit in my neighborhood came available and I snagged it. It's just a place to keep it indoors, but it's only 5 minutes from the house. So I decided to keep the car.
Since then, I've driven it to a cars'n'coffee and a Mopar club show. Aaannnd worked on it to fix the stuff that quit working while it sat and the stuff I broke while driving it.
So far I've kept it stock, as it starts right up and runs smooth. But I still want to have a fast-enough-to-be-fun street/strip car. I'm considering rebuilding this 318 with big-valve heads and a 4-barrel, or finding an LA 360, or even springing for a Magnum-based 408 from Blueprint. From what I understand, anything stronger than a rebuilt 318 will be too much for the 904 and 7-1/4. So a 727 and... an 8-3/4? A Dana 60?
I'll be doing almost all of this myself. Dad and I used to work on cars together, but he's 89 now and doesn't have the strength. He does still watch me work and ask a lot of questions.
