muscle cars
- Thread starter Kinnakeet
- Start date
WingsOfGold
Well-Known Member
WingsOfGold
Well-Known Member
Owned a mess of cars since I was a teen in the 60's. First new.... Challenger 340, giant killer. Gas went up to 70 cents so I dumped it for a 500 Kaw. 
One of my best friends in HS had a '71 Challenger 340, 4-speed. That was one fun car... I had a '66 Mustang GT 4-speed at the time.Owned a mess of cars since I was a teen in the 60's. First new.... Challenger 340, giant killer. Gas went up to 70 cents so I dumped it for a 500 Kaw.
WingsOfGold
Well-Known Member
Fun times, mechanically simple. Even a 17 year old could do engine swaps with minimal tools and formal education. SBC were easy drivetrain to R&R junkyard parts, jackpot rears and xmissions. I now own a anemic 69 Mustang 302, not fast but looks good. Cheap parts where as now a tube of adhesive is now 10 bucks. duplicolor paints 17 bucks, bondo kits 50 insane.....
Favorite car was a 60 Impala with a 327/350 out of a 65 Vette, spun a rod bearing going to work at Ft Mead no money but got a dog good running 348 for 30 bucks and a head gasket for less than 10 lasted me till I said I Do for the Navy in 69. $129 bucks a month! Beautiful car, sold for $350.
Sold small block for 25 complete with double hump heads.Same engine mounts, bell housing ect... big pig block and sb used same components. Drive shaft center support 5 bucks new, I used a LOT of them.
Last edited:
Sneakers
Just sneakin' around....
I was 19 when I did my first. Blew up a 360 in a '64 Jeep Wagoneer at Exit 9 on the Jersey Turnpike. Replaced it with an AMC Ambassador 360, same motor, but had to make an adapter for the torque converter.
Bought a brand new 327-365Hp vette engine in the crate..soup to nuts including carb and Corvette script valve covers for $800 bucks at local Chevy dealer. Put it in this '57. M-21 4-speed....67 Chevelle buckets and console... That was my ride when I was a senior in HS.Fun times, mechanically simple. Even a 17 year old could do engine swaps with minimal tools and formal education. SBC were easy drivetrain to R&R junkyard parts, jackpot rears and xmissions. I now own a anemic 69 Mustang 302, not fast but looks good. Cheap parts where as now a tube of adhesive is now 10 bucks. duplicolor paints 17 bucks, bondo kits 50 insane.....
Favorite car was a 60 Impala with a 327/350 out of a 65 Vette, spun a rod bearing going to work at Ft Mead no money but got a dog good running 348 for 30 bucks and a head gasket for less than 10 lasted me till I said I Do for the Navy in 69. $129 bucks a month! Beautiful car, sold for $350.
Same engine mounts, bell housing ect... big pig block and sb used same components. Drive shaft center support 5 bucks new, I used a LOT of them.
WingsOfGold
Well-Known Member
Almost free by today's standards.
Kinnakeet
Well-Known Member
bet that was fun to keep up if that was the solid lifter motor
Yep..solid lifters. I didn't/don't consider it an issue really...several of my hot rods were solid lifter engines. Even to this day..the 302 in my 16' Donzi has solid lifters. I much prefer solids for high-revving engines. Only have to adjust them occasionally.
I cringe when I think what that engine is worth today to a vette restorer.
My buddy's older brother came back for a visit one day driving a 1965 GTO 4-speed with triple 2-barrels on it. He ran the crap out of it all day and ended up having it towed back to VA Beach because he threw a rod or spun a bearing. Not a happy day for him.