My first car 72 Scamp

-

jrc4y4

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
467
Reaction score
220
Location
Columbia
Hi everyone. Been a member for a long time, been helped by a lot of you on here, but I’ve not really posted on here to share the whole story of my 72 Scamp. I got it in June of 2004 when I was 14. It was my first car and I’m proud to say I still have my first! It had been painted the year prior to me buying and came with a nice original interior. The car had a 318 that was burning oil, needed bumpers, an engine rebuild, and some maintenance. Was a great place to start and it’s been an adventure!

First thing I did were the bumpers and swapping to electronic ignition. After that I wanted a 4 barrel so my dad suggested pulling the heads “just to check,” knowing full well that the 318 was needing rebuilt. This resulted in pulling the engine, boring it .030, cam, 4 bbl, and redoing the heads. Had I known what I know now, it would have gotten 302 heads. Oh well. What was the internet back then anyway?

After the rebuild, the tranny blew as my dad didn’t hook up the kickdown. Rebuilt the 904 with a stall and shift kit and dad paid for that one .

The car ran 16.3s stock, 16.1s with ignition. Engine rebuild I ran it the day before the tranny finally went and it went 15.2 with having to let off and ease in during shifting. After the tranny it’s been 15.4s (2.76 gears and the stall don’t go well).

After college the car sat for a little bit as I got married and had kids. Was able to keep it on the road somewhat, just doing maintenance.

Last few years I’ve really gotten back into working on the car. I redid the brakes, power steering, wiring harness, had the front seat backs redone, rebuilt the front suspension, and this spring redid the back end and swapped in an 8.25 with 3.92s and SG.

Other than the rear end, most of the restoring has been to stock or similar. I have just had a desire of keeping it on the road, rather than keeping it down longer to upgrade. Part of that is just having kids and other priorities, and wanting to use the car to create memories more than wanting to have the nicest and fastest car at the cruise night.

The car originally came with a/c. I yanked out the a/c in high school during the engine build (you know, 10 hp is important). I pulled the heater stuff out when I redid the harness. The heater box needs to be completely gone through, so again, a project for later down the road. I don’t drive the car in the winter, so no big deal for now. Plus, one of our friendly fabo members sold me a dash bezel for a car with no heat or a/c. What’s not to like?!

The car lives in Mid MO and has made trips under its own power to Kansas City, Indiana, and most recently to SeMo, when the parking brake became engaged on the highway, ruining the rear brakes. I limped it the last 70 miles with only the front brakes available as well as no power steering . This ultimately led to the rear end replacement I just completed a few weeks ago.

Going from 2.76 Scamp to 3.92s I think I’m done with the long trips but I’m excited to engage in a stop light battle from time to time. Will post pics mostly in order showing the whole process. Thanks for reading and God bless!
 
Last edited:
The car originally came with a/c a 2 bbl 318, a white vinyl top, and hubcaps. By the time I got it, the car had been painted and vinyl top pulled (still own the trim). I had brought it to the Nats in 05 and got to park in the Young Guns area. Crazy to think that was 16 years ago. Here’s some pics of the first couple years I got it. Pic with my buddy’s nova in high school that he built. We were some of the few muscle car guys in votech. Rest of the guys had embraced the Fast And Furious stuff .

DD4CD889-7BE0-49DE-8BDA-C07FF32AA1A9.jpeg


E38D02A2-E130-455C-A3CC-5D3EDDC0875D.png


223E7272-B83B-4E57-8B2C-362881B3E0E0.jpeg


DC21B5F6-F963-4D35-A35A-10B1B10FFF50.jpeg


19AFBAD2-01BF-4E88-B957-DE4808348DD1.jpeg


DD7258B8-4AB5-44BB-A222-8B46006D1EC2.jpeg


19FA86A8-5035-4912-A94E-1D27A55EC3FD.jpeg


C39FBCB9-B877-4927-8973-EFED7494219A.jpeg


6C7AA4A8-9483-4E85-8D9C-FF3F5F202BDC.jpeg


95537A88-0D8E-46A1-A494-28F15D602187.jpeg
 
Pics of my first ever burnout. Had to practice in the parking lot before I did it in front of people at the track lol. Few pics of the engine swap, my kids helping out, as well as me and my dad at a show. He’s got a Road Runner which puts my car to shame. His OCD really helped a lot when I was impatient in high school.

BE85624F-68BD-4E55-A17B-A30CE1009269.jpeg


241B411A-2F3F-48EE-91BE-6202E626AD51.jpeg


CF905EE9-956D-4024-B451-C9F6B5F55A60.jpeg


49691F9A-28B5-4254-A98A-710AEF1EB923.jpeg


ED5E5D6C-FC13-4004-B5A4-33ED50B6871C.jpeg


6A173E25-7B11-43EF-A5A8-5A34A1A8A837.jpeg


73CB3BBF-C2D5-4C40-BACB-FB348C48A5F8.jpeg


8EE8C67C-361C-4676-971F-1CD79F1D8E97.jpeg


342ACBDF-652D-47E3-9B31-343C770A5041.jpeg
 
Car hit the dyno and made 200 hp and 240 tq. Not bad for a 318 car with stock heads and manifolds. Few pics from over the years that I enjoyed. Couldn’t find any pics of the rebuilding of the suspension but you can see the end product.

90B38DA8-0DA2-40EF-BE1F-142C3D7A1EFC.jpeg


0678C967-DDC6-40CA-8958-D65EF9129842.jpeg


9280D029-BA64-4362-A98D-3C7CCEE415BB.jpeg


81FDBFB7-BA58-4514-A4CA-5219EF1E1CE8.jpeg


D2895BCE-B7A2-427F-9303-30F5B55A3C4D.jpeg


467EC143-52CC-48EC-B062-E76AFCC0C047.jpeg


C2714E5F-8583-474F-8475-837B322E0F3E.jpeg


9B88630C-D773-45D8-B165-7935846771D7.jpeg


B05D1A0F-64E3-41BF-9C73-7C3415003069.jpeg


F1A719EE-08A2-45B8-AB56-0FA653B8CEB0.jpeg
 
More adventures along the way. Help from the boys. I took the car to my in-laws for a hunting trip, which is when the rear end finally took a dump lol. Also a pic with my dad’s road runner.

768B4E92-01F6-4B73-84E4-7195278726B1.jpeg


D7113959-82D6-4789-AB8D-03371F1127DC.jpeg


2308B54B-F8FC-4011-A0CF-2E23DE86DC83.jpeg


1168BABC-FC30-422D-91FF-9182E49F5D1E.jpeg


1EB81232-B2B6-45B0-BE4C-CD2279010308.jpeg


C6938863-B135-4319-9AD7-A95B0B67E9E9.jpeg


9502FFE3-B76B-41A4-9DC7-15A5BBA3969C.jpeg


66EE9202-1F9F-433D-9A81-EA54A2D05BEB.jpeg
 
Covid cruising with my nephew the werewolf . Rear ended swap pics, and pics with my buddy who has been a giant help along the years. Also pic in front of my old high school and college.

3D6AA9FA-932D-40C7-A2CA-9D4950962B9C.jpeg


F7B5A682-0A0D-4527-B5D3-90A4F6137497.jpeg


E00105E8-007D-4A05-A83F-8B2A28304C08.jpeg


950F438E-045D-4A61-97CC-F9E34732A8C7.jpeg


44B77C5C-7A87-49ED-9E40-B6A8616073B5.jpeg


C4C994F8-1C68-4D7C-970E-FD5C75F6E9EF.jpeg


12214B24-84E5-48C1-8192-11D3F6E47B49.jpeg


1C06DBCD-57C3-4433-B201-C998632E23D5.jpeg


EA0FC143-B539-45C8-8378-6CA36A11F629.jpeg


31870402-EE27-473D-B093-40D4845DBAE3.jpeg
 
More up to date pics. Current engine bay with no heat or ac. Old pic from wedding day. Also the bezel I need to restore.

48C59D2C-7BC7-4779-9B75-B3ED2EAF32EC.jpeg


6F69E6A7-7A71-422A-AB98-FAC4CD07E35D.jpeg


DA88141D-00C9-46B6-858C-57B766244C09.jpeg


278A2036-3B37-48F7-8C93-FAE5BAAD4A65.jpeg


3428659C-A3F9-4A31-9F65-DB35C0A58671.jpeg


207130EC-5952-486E-A781-869829A316B1.jpeg


7F07044D-7516-4E16-8256-3EF11B4AF082.jpeg


0D2F4577-B0F4-4296-85C4-D7F54F37B5A1.jpeg


FF7C579A-3C89-4DD7-94DD-A48967EF3433.jpeg
 
All started with Mopar collectors guide as a kid. With the rear end swap to bbp, I am running these silver rallye wheels till I can get them black. Had I known the rear end would come soon I would have done bbp discs on front. Live and learn. It’s been a fun hobby over the years. God’s been good and my wife has been patient . Thanks for reading.

EEB791B2-9243-4429-BE33-13E303E46055.jpeg


6E4BECFB-6673-4BFE-9D15-0AC07472BC4B.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Nice read! I feel like I know you now... lol Coming from the same generation, I relate to your progression on so many levels. I also feel like I know your car! My dad still has his first car, a 72 Scamp 318 2bbl A/C car with a vinyl top...
B36F6F6C-C9EA-4A4D-9CC8-9D84B40DBD2B.jpeg
 
Great story!! Keep up the dedication.

As a fellow Scamp owner and seeing what you’ve done with your brought me down memory lane. Your rear end 8.25 upgrade, 4bbl upgrade and exhaust manifolds are things I’ve done with mine too.
 
Nice read! I feel like I know you now... lol Coming from the same generation, I relate to your progression on so many levels. I also feel like I know your car! My dad still has his first car, a 72 Scamp 318 2bbl A/C car with a vinyl top... View attachment 1715721611

That’s awesome! I need to figure out that rocker trim. Mine just has the studs and I’ve gone the whole time without lol.
Haha right on, how old are you? It’s tough on the times where you think “crap I need to sell my car” and figure out a way to hang on.
 
Great story!! Keep up the dedication.

As a fellow Scamp owner and seeing what you’ve done with your brought me down memory lane. Your rear end 8.25 upgrade, 4bbl upgrade and exhaust manifolds are things I’ve done with mine too.

awesome! Yeah I love seeing the scamps get attention. I like having a car no one knows about.
 
Thanks for sharing. Great story and my favorite part is your kids are enjoying it as well !! Beautiful scamp! My older brothers first car was a 74 scamp , I was 12 and thats when I got the Mopar bug!
 
That’s awesome! I need to figure out that rocker trim. Mine just has the studs and I’ve gone the whole time without lol.
Haha right on, how old are you? It’s tough on the times where you think “crap I need to sell my car” and figure out a way to hang on.

I will be 37 on the 28th of this month. The biggest difference in our stories is the car I bought in high school is still in pieces... I bought a Duster that needed a transmission and some paint and started disassembling. I just never stopped... Marriage didn’t slow me down much but the first child did! My oldest turned 8 last month and I haven’t turned a wrench on it since she came into this world. Thoughts of selling have crept in at times but I always seem to find a way to make it without having to let it go.
 
I will be 37 on the 28th of this month. The biggest difference in our stories is the car I bought in high school is still in pieces... I bought a Duster that needed a transmission and some paint and started disassembling. I just never stopped... Marriage didn’t slow me down much but the first child did! My oldest turned 8 last month and I haven’t turned a wrench on it since she came into this world. Thoughts of selling have crept in at times but I always seem to find a way to make it without having to let it go.

If there’s any avenue to avoid selling it, head down that avenue as years later you’ll likely regret selling it.
 
Thanks for sharing. Great story and my favorite part is your kids are enjoying it as well !! Beautiful scamp! My older brothers first car was a 74 scamp , I was 12 and thats when I got the Mopar bug!
Lol to be honest they’re not wild on cars. I do make them come out from time to time to see if anything sticks and also give them some basics in skills but it just hasn’t been their thing. That’s awesome your brother had one and that’s what got you hooked! My daily in high school was a fiero. I got into them cuz my big brother had one. Sadly I think my Plymouth has been more reliable lol.
 
I will be 37 on the 28th of this month. The biggest difference in our stories is the car I bought in high school is still in pieces... I bought a Duster that needed a transmission and some paint and started disassembling. I just never stopped... Marriage didn’t slow me down much but the first child did! My oldest turned 8 last month and I haven’t turned a wrench on it since she came into this world. Thoughts of selling have crept in at times but I always seem to find a way to make it without having to let it go.

Oh right on! Yeah if mine wasn’t driving when I got it, and if I didn’t rebuild the engine in high school, I imagine it would be sitting as well. It’s tough with kids man! You’ll get it done one of these days!
 
Lol to be honest they’re not wild on cars. I do make them come out from time to time to see if anything sticks and also give them some basics in skills but it just hasn’t been their thing. That’s awesome your brother had one and that’s what got you hooked! My daily in high school was a fiero. I got into them cuz my big brother had one. Sadly I think my Plymouth has been more reliable lol.
Just let the kids do their own thing. My son at 15, all of a sudden wanted an older car for his first. My brother had the 70 swinger( in my avatar) sitting in his garage for 12 years and offered it to my son for a very reasonable price. We got it running and it's his daily driver April-nov . We've had a ton of memories working on it already. Good times!
 
Just let the kids do their own thing. My son at 15, all of a sudden wanted an older car for his first. My brother had the 70 swinger( in my avatar) sitting in his garage for 12 years and offered it to my son for a very reasonable price. We got it running and it's his daily driver April-nov . We've had a ton of memories working on it already. Good times!

Right for sure. I don’t push hard for them to like cars because everyone has their own thing. That’s awesome! What a great car to take to school! Slant 6 or V8?
 
If there’s any avenue to avoid selling it, head down that avenue as years later you’ll likely regret selling it.

Something will have to go completely sideways for me to get rid of it now... I spend days under that thing scraping undercoating and sandblasting the bottom.
C7453B77-EBB7-4726-BA53-002546B79657.jpeg
DF2901D5-EEB4-4DA0-9D02-0ECA6AB02846.jpeg


Oh right on! Yeah if mine wasn’t driving when I got it, and if I didn’t rebuild the engine in high school, I imagine it would be sitting as well. It’s tough with kids man! You’ll get it done one of these days!

Honestly, I just hope one of the kids take an interest so I can justify the time! Lol My girls are obviously much like yours. They like to ride around but being in the shop is just not much fun at their age and my boy is just too young. He’s all about cars but he’s 3 and I’m usually messing with something so he just likes to be there. At this point in our lives time spent there is just quality time away from them so we take on weekend projects that we can take on the road a little sooner.
 
Something will have to go completely sideways for me to get rid of it now... I spend days under that thing scraping undercoating and sandblasting the bottom. View attachment 1715721668View attachment 1715721669



Honestly, I just hope one of the kids take an interest so I can justify the time! Lol My girls are obviously much like yours. They like to ride around but being in the shop is just not much fun at their age and my boy is just too young. He’s all about cars but he’s 3 and I’m usually messing with something so he just likes to be there. At this point in our lives time spent there is just quality time away from them so we take on weekend projects that we can take on the road a little sooner.

Yep 100% understand where you’re coming from on hard to spend the time away from the kids. Man that undercarriage is beautiful! That’s something I’ve never touched on my car. It’s under coated from factory. It’s not pretty, but it’s not crusty so I leave it. Man that looks really good!
 
Yep 100% understand where you’re coming from on hard to spend the time away from the kids. Man that undercarriage is beautiful! That’s something I’ve never touched on my car. It’s under coated from factory. It’s not pretty, but it’s not crusty so I leave it. Man that looks really good!

It already feels like I’ve missed some of the early years and I’ve been right here! No car is worth that to me...

Thanks!! We spent hours on that undercoating... Just leave it all under there and black it out for a driver!! Wish so badly I would have... Might be done with it!! First we tried soaking it through the week with diesel fuel and scraping but eventually just heated it with a bottle torch and scrapped along. Then came the sandblasting laying on our backs. What rotisserie?!? Lol I was pleased with everything then and I’m still happy with it but it’s been just like this for over 8yrs...
1AC2F629-131D-4B32-B449-A89946E34E07.jpeg
B9B7E704-DAC4-4718-BE42-3B3876810149.jpeg
5ACF40C3-3D37-427E-A9AC-11BE5D0123A2.jpeg
 
Just got done reading your post and wanted to say that I have heard a lot about this car from hanging out with your dad at some local car cruises. Your dad's RR and my 71' Dart is behind the El Camino.

Screen Shot 2021-04-10 at 9.45.13 PM.png
 
It already feels like I’ve missed some of the early years and I’ve been right here! No car is worth that to me...

Thanks!! We spent hours on that undercoating... Just leave it all under there and black it out for a driver!! Wish so badly I would have... Might be done with it!! First we tried soaking it through the week with diesel fuel and scraping but eventually just heated it with a bottle torch and scrapped along. Then came the sandblasting laying on our backs. What rotisserie?!? Lol I was pleased with everything then and I’m still happy with it but it’s been just like this for over 8yrs...
View attachment 1715721671 View attachment 1715721672 View attachment 1715721673

Yeah that’s a ton of work to get it clean!!! You’re a better man than me lol. Yep I’m with ya man. Put it on hold. Enjoy what the kids enjoy.
 
-
Back
Top