Boy Did I Get Lucky

[THEL78ISGREAT]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to Marcus for the cruise tonight, and iediately spotted a GEM! A white '70 Super Bird. Went over to look, and my eyes probably jumped out of my head when I seen those valve covers. I was estatic. I ask the owner if its an original Hemi car, and it is. But this isnt any Hemi powered car. This is a Hemi powered car with the completely factory and original, 2500 mile 426 Hemi. It is the first car to ever break the 200 MPH barrier because the first owner put some taller gears in back and did some other things and it hit 211 mph. I dont know how extensively it was modified, but everything on the car looked original. I spent about 20 minutes gazing at the behemoth under the hood, and turned to go look at the rest of the cars. A '71 Cuda pulls in, 440 Billboards, and that little red 6 on the end of the Shaker after 440. It wasnt original though, it was originally a 340 car but the engine was original and unrebuilt I beleive and was out of a '71. Well, after staring for a few minutes, I looked at the rest of the cars. Then I came back to where the Hemi and Six Pack were. I lingered, lookign at them and a few other cars around them for about 15 minutes (its getting dark now) and the guy fires up his 'Cuda. Exhaust had a nice lope to it, but it was stock. Sounded like stock pipes and mufflers too. He leaves, gets on it a little, and it sounds great (no burnouts or anything allowed). About five minutes later, the guy with the Hemi goes over to close his hood. He was leaving. When he started it my jaw dropped. Sounded just liek I expected, but actually hearing it is something else. He tapped the gas a little but then had to clean off the windsheil because we got some light rain and he didnt want to run the wipers. He started it back up, revs it a bit, and it sounded AWESOME! He starts to pull out of the spot(and he was parked right near the entrance), beeps the horn, and turns to leave. He starts to pull out, and eases into the throttle. Then all of a sudden he gets on it, and not even hard, and it starts to rip away, the Hemi roared, the tires started beggin for traction as they so easily busted loose (road was dry there too), getting sideways. It jumped from about 2 grand to about 4 grand (by ear) instantly. He didnt get on it hard either, but it took off like a FRIGGEN ROCKET! Then some idiot down the street pulls out of Sports Authority, so he had to slow down. Im pretty sure he was going to keep them frying all the way down the street too. But WOW. Im just going crazy! Then I came home, and now am talking to you guys. WOW! :D :D :D :D

[RiversideParish]

Darn, I wish I've ever seen a real Hemi in real life.

But I heard a GS 455 (regular) once at a show once. Beautiful sounding car, looked stock under the hood, but I could hear it idling from 20 yards away, even with the rest of traffic next to it.

[Daffy]

A hemi has a sound of it's own.That's for sure.Pulled up alonside a dart with one in it at the woodward cruise a couple weeks ago.There wasn't any room to get on it but you could tell it was potent and had that distinctive Hemi sound.

[RiversideParish]

I like the sound of the 440 better, really. Don't know why. Still sound better than anything out of the factory today, though.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

A hemi has a sound of it's own.That's for sure.Pulled up alonside a dart with one in it at the woodward cruise a couple weeks ago.There wasn't any room to get on it but you could tell it was potent and had that distinctive Hemi sound.
Thats why I waited for like a half hour just to hear it start, I knew the payoff would be sweet :D

[WINGNUT]

Nice. I saw a '70 Superbird at Musclepalooza IV in West Lebanon NY last Sunday. Me and some friends were watching the drag races (F.A.S.T cars were there as well) and I looked out behind me to the parking lot and sticking out from a row of cars I saw the nose of a bright blue Superbird.............I stood up and said WOW!..........outloud! We immediately went down to look at it.

While I was standing there admiring it, the owner started talking to me.....real cool guy. He explained how he got it, and how long it took him to restore it and everything. He found it driving buy a house a seven years ago, the door was open and he saw a giant wing and thought....."I wonder if thats a 'Bird?..........and sure enough. It took him five years to restore it in his barn. The car was MINT.....it looked brand new......right down to the factory inspection stamps. He said the hardest time he had with it was reshaping the nose.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

What was under the hood?

[WINGNUT]

A numbers matching 426 hooked to a numbers matching A-833. Surprising they both survived, seeing as how the car was drag raced in the '70s.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

Another rarity

[Duster_340]

Hemis do have the best sound to them. on my maiden voyage in our van (first time driving after i got my temps) i pulled up to a stop light, no one was around, all of a sudden i hear this low rumbling sound right next to me, i turn, and its a black 69 Charger with a Hemi emblem on the side. I couldn't help but rev our engine so he could rev his, and god damn it sounded like a beast. i was so amazed, i didn't even see the light change, until he just guns it away, even then im too busy looking at the Charger to notice the green light. makes me want to get a Hemi Mopar.

[WINGNUT]

And to think that 25 years ago you could pick those cars up for chump change almost. :(

[Duster_340]

i know. the Road Runners modo was i think, "Beep Beep, for Cheap Cheap" iv been told you could buy one for well under 3 grand. makes me want go back in time with like 100 k and just buy everything.

[RiversideParish]

I'd buy a '69 Shelby GT... 351W, 4-speed, and a Paxton supercharger.

You think checking off the "Traction-Lock differential" option would be a good idea?

[THEL78ISGREAT]

And to think that 25 years ago you could pick those cars up for chump change almost. :(
Yep, no one wanted Mopars in the mid to late 70s and 80s, and even the Mopar people didnt want the winged warriors.

[Daffy]

Yep, no one wanted Mopars in the mid to late 70s and 80s, and even the Mopar people didnt want the winged warriors.
I recall the Dodge dealer in my town who had a new 426 4 speed orange Daytona on his lot for a year and a half.Nobody wanted it.They finally let it go for 4000.The sticker price was 5200.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

Im sure some managed to get away even cheaper than that. Dont you wish you bought it and kept it? Boy, you would have a pretty penny today. Then you could sell it, and buy 3 Hemi non-winged B body Hemi cars practically, at least two.

[Duster_340]

im cringing at how much things will cost 30 years later. if you could but something like a Superbird for like, $116,000 less than the average price for a decent one, what will they go for then?

[Daffy]

And that car had NO miles on it....Oh well

[RiversideParish]

426 4-speed? Bet you wish you had a time machine, huh?

[74runner]

well, if a non hemi superbird is $116,000 an I have $19,000 in the bank, a $25,000 roadrunner, a $12,000 Duster, an $8000 satellite, a $2000 fury, and a $500 ramcharger. if I sold everything I'd still be 49500 away from my dream car........man i HATE barrett jackson.

*all professional estimates

[RiversideParish]

8 grand... for a 74... Satellite? Where can I find this pro appraiser? Maybe he'll appraise my car for 20 grand...

[74runner]

first off its a sebring plus....in really good shape with a 400.....and second off I was as surprised as you are, but sometimes for fun I drive around with a for sale sign and people have offered me 10,000. some guy offered me 35,000 for my RR....tempting. I guess some folks are desprate.

[WINGNUT]

You got offered $35,000 for your '74 Runner?

[72Chero]

Well when you start talking Barrett Jackson offers????you take it baby. That will never come by again.

[74runner]

You got offered $35,000 for your '74 Runner?
ya I was shocked, I don't think I'll ever sell it.... first car that I ever bought, first car I've ever worked on, someday son it will be yours.

[Duster_340]

then can i get the 71 Demon?:o

[74runner]

actually I sold that to my cousin... he came by my house, saw the scoops and was in love.

[RiversideParish]

Haha, Duster. Too bad for you.

[74runner]

well I doubt that he could ship it from here to the states....would cost a small fortune

[Duster_340]

... ~slowly gets up~ you... son of a *****. ~makes a B-Line for your Runner.~ "IF I CANT GET THE DEMON IM TAKIN THIS!!!!"

[74runner]

all the talk about hemis soundin differnt made me go outside and check my duster aganst my satellite and my runner, fired them all up and the hemi has a definateally differnt sound.

[RiversideParish]

Better or worse?

[74runner]

I like all big block rumbles, but I'd have to say the hemi's is sweeter sounding, if that makes sence.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

I like all big block rumbles, but I'd have to say the hemi's is sweeter sounding, if that makes sence.
It certainly does. You should have heard that Hemi roar last night. I was real giddy all night, I still am. Its going to be the best week ever lol, thats how great that was. And just think, you were listening to an early Hemi, not a 426.

[74runner]

ya I was thinkin about gettin a crate hemi for the charger, just too hear how it sounds.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

Plus, a crate engine you wouldnt be so scared to modify like you might with an origianal. Get some headers and a bigger cam and see what that puppy can do!

[RiversideParish]

ya I was thinkin about gettin a crate hemi for the charger, just too hear how it sounds.
Problem is, the crate has quite a few differences, namely a hydraulic roller cam instead of the flat tappet mechanical on the old ones. And a different top end, etc.

You could use one as a base and recrate a '68 spec Hemi off of it, though.

[74runner]

well I kinda want to gat one to pop in the charger..( It's a present for my dad...don't know if he can handle the power:D ) or throw it into one of the dusters (6cyl to HEMI......fun) I don't know if its worth it 13,000 is a bit steep for me.

[Duster_340]

god dude, where do you get all these cars?

[74runner]

feilds mostly.......there used to be alot of strippers up here so there are alot of good bodys sitten around. and all the farmers never would sell their cars so there are alot of cars just sitten in yards and they will sell them for cheep or just give them away.

[Duster_340]

the only car like that around here is my friend has an 80's olds 4 door cutlass in his feild thats a target for paintball. i dont want to break my ass on an 80's cutlass. atleast make it a 70's 442.

[74runner]

well I am just happy the sawchuk boys were around in the early 70's and the cops only found their little stash of cars.......too bad they buried the really valuable stuff.......would love to dig up that ss 396 chevelle or that superbird:(

[Duster_340]

they buried 2 cars? DIG THEM UP!!! all you need is a metal detector, and rent a back ho., or just get a bunch of budies with shovels and have a ball.

[74runner]

they buried 2 cars? DIG THEM UP!!! all you need is a metal detector, and rent a back ho., or just get a bunch of budies with shovels and have a ball.
they buried more than 2 those are the best two...they buried an El Camino, a GTX, and a couple stangs, theyve found the GTX though Its around town now.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

Problem is, the crate has quite a few differences, namely a hydraulic roller cam instead of the flat tappet mechanical on the old ones. And a different top end, etc.

You could use one as a base and recrate a '68 spec Hemi off of it, though.
So? They had hydraulics in '70 and '71, and part of the fun of the crate engine could be actually modifying it.

[psychlone]

There's nothing wrong with modern hydraulic lifters. The good ones are good to at least 7000 rpm. If you're revving a street car engine tighter than that, youre taking a big risk with an expensive engine. I would never go back to solid lifters. Now in a race car, it's a different story.

[72Chero]

Interesting we just went from Hydraulic lifters in the CJ motor to Solids....it took alot of the lifter noise away from my motor. But then again the Clevelands have been known for the noisy lifters. I guess too, having a lift of .541 and .569 doesn't help either. :D

[RiversideParish]

You guys are missing the point. With a completely different top-end a such a mild roller cam, a new Hemi crate just won't sound like a real Hemi would.

[THEL78ISGREAT]

I dont think the cam is much milder, and im sure it would sound very similar still. The sound doesnt just come from the cam.