[Shotokan1509]

I would prefer a 69-70 sportsroof but it looks like that route would be more than I am looking to spend.

Building a street machine that would only see the track for fun. Want a bit of handling out of it, as well as the power. Would be stuffing a 393/408 351W in the engine bay, forged with low compression for eventual supercharger and backing this with a manual trans with overdrive. Car would be getting subframe connectors and eventually a 4point cage for stiffness.

1.) Should I start off with a 6cyl car (cheaper to purchase) or a V8 car? (My thinking is... I do not want to do body work, I keep running across nice 6er's for relatively little money, not really a point in buying a 289 if I am going to just rip it out). What I really would like is a roller ready to drop my motor of choice in, but that will just be luck if I find what I am looking for.


2.) What bolt on front suspension options are out there? Are there companies will full tubular k-member/a-arm setups like for the sn95's?

[Preacher17]

Look for a v8 car. Your profile doesn't say how old you are so I'm going to guess your young and havn't done this before, if I'm wrong...sorry, anyway don't blow off the 289 so quickly there is a lot of potential there especially if you consider a stroker which is down right cheap when compared to supercharging. If you are on a budget the 289 starts looking real good. If this car is only going to see an occasional trip to the track then you should be able to do quite a bit with the oem suspension simple upgrades will work wonders without resorting to all out replacement. Your plans are actually a major modification and you won't be able to drive the car much while it's going on...don't know if that's a consideration or not also skills and budget should be a concern. The biggest thing is to make a plan that takes all this into account and then stick with the plan. If you've been down this road before you know this already if not it's something you really need to give a lot of thought to.

[Shotokan1509]

Originally Posted by Preacher17

Look for a v8 car. Your profile doesn't say how old you are so I'm going to guess your young and havn't done this before, if I'm wrong...sorry, anyway don't blow off the 289 so quickly there is a lot of potential there especially if you consider a stroker which is down right cheap when compared to supercharging. If you are on a budget the 289 starts looking real good. If this car is only going to see an occasional trip to the track then you should be able to do quite a bit with the oem suspension simple upgrades will work wonders without resorting to all out replacement. Your plans are actually a major modification and you won't be able to drive the car much while it's going on...don't know if that's a consideration or not also skills and budget should be a concern. The biggest thing is to make a plan that takes all this into account and then stick with the plan. If you've been down this road before you know this already if not it's something you really need to give a lot of thought to.

Have the mechanical skills, have done suspension/motor/trans work on a 66 before. Plus work on my dailydrivers. What I have no experience with is bodywork, hence the reason I am looking for a clean slate to start with.

I want to sort out the suspension/brakes/stiffen the car before I throw in a big powerupgrade. When I do anything I prefer to do things right the first time. Down time while work is being done is a given, and I am keeping my truck so that is not an issue.

As far as motor, a 331/347 is also on my maybe list. I have driven some high power street cars, and again I would prefer to do mine right the first time rather than wishing I had gone bigger a few months after it is all together.

order would be:
1. Suspension/brakes/chassis stiffening
2. Motor/trans/rear
3. Paint

I also tend to do a LOT of research before starting any project, so here is where I am starting. I'd rather not do a bunch of work to get it all back together, just to find now there is another weak spot that I have to tear apart again.

[Jay H 237]

The 6 cyl suspension and rear end won't handle a V8. There are also other changes than need to be made to convert an I6 to a V8. The gas pedal rod is different, the radiator, exhaust, and another difference I just found out is the gas line routing to the engine compartment. A 6 cyl the line comes into the compartment on the INSIDE of the inner fender. With a V8 it comes OUTSIDE the inner fender right behind the driver's side front wheel before going through a hole in the inner fender to the fuel pump. This is done so it stays away from the exhaust manifolds on the V8s.

In addition to the suspension work all this will have to be changed to convert a 6 to 8. If you're planning on replacing all this anyhow then it won't matter which car you start with.

I would say go for a 6 cyl if you find a solid candidate to start with. You're already planning on swapping out most of the stuff anyhow and the extra additional stuff is still cheaper and easier than repairing a bad body. I'd rather do mechanical work than cutting out rot and reconstructing a vehicle.

[Jay H 237]

I should have added that since you're planning on doing the suspension first you could change that out to 8 cyl 5 lug on a 6 cyl car and still drive it as a 6 until you decide on the motor and tranny. That way you could still enjoy the car and not have it sit. Just don't swap out the motor for a 8 and expect the 6 cyl 4 lug suspension and brakes to hold up to it.


I know what you're talking about with the prices of 69-70 Sportsroofs currently. I'm considering one for my next project.

I'm also kicking myself since I was offered a 69 Sportsroof (non Mach, like what I'm looking for now!) a few years ago. It was a running and driving car that needed floors, quaters and trunk floor work. It had it's original 351w 2v (H code) and 4 spd. The owner had started a restoration on it but giving up when realized the floor and trunk work needed. The battery area was replaced and the engine compartment repainted with the addition of an export brace. I don't believe the motor was totally rebuilt but it was cleaned up and all the upper gaskets replaced along with the entire fuel system being new (lines, tank, fuel pump, carb rebuilt) and the rug, door panels, seats reupolstred, and new dash pad. The whole front end was rebuilt, all new brakes and it had new tires and rims. It had a fresh tune-up and new battery, radiator and hoses. I can't remember but it was either Silver Jade or Gulfstream Aqua (needed repaint though, wearing original paint or close to it) with black interior. He also had other additional new parts not even on the car like repro bumpers, new trunk mat and weatherstripping. He had owned the car for many years and just got it out of storage a year or so before and was beginning a restoration on it before deciding it was too much for him.

You want to know why I'm kicking myself now? He was asking $4500 for it! The car wasn't that far from me in Wolcott (I'm in Watertown, 15-20 minutes) and he had it registered and insured and was willing to drive it to my house, so no cost for towing or shipping. I saw the car at a few local shows before it appearently sold and have never seen it again. Sad, I wish I know then what I know now, and I really did like the green color of the car, it stood out. I just wasn't interested at the time in another car.

[Shotokan1509]

Originally Posted by Jay H 237

I should have added that since you're planning on doing the suspension first you could change that out to 8 cyl 5 lug on a 6 cyl car and still drive it as a 6 until you decide on the motor and tranny. That way you could still enjoy the car and not have it sit. Just don't swap out the motor for a 8 and expect the 6 cyl 4 lug suspension and brakes to hold up to it.


I know what you're talking about with the prices of 69-70 Sportsroofs currently. I'm considering one for my next project.

I'm also kicking myself since I was offered a 69 Sportsroof (non Mach, like what I'm looking for now!) a few years ago. It was a running and driving car that needed floors, quaters and trunk floor work. It had it's original 351w 2v (H code) and 4 spd. The owner had started a restoration on it but giving up when realized the floor and trunk work needed. The battery area was replaced and the engine compartment repainted with the addition of an export brace. I don't believe the motor was totally rebuilt but it was cleaned up and all the upper gaskets replaced along with the entire fuel system being new (lines, tank, fuel pump, carb rebuilt) and the rug, door panels, seats reupolstred, and new dash pad. The whole front end was rebuilt, all new brakes and it had new tires and rims. It had a fresh tune-up and new battery, radiator and hoses. I can't remember but it was either Silver Jade or Gulfstream Aqua (needed repaint though, wearing original paint or close to it) with black interior. He also had other additional new parts not even on the car like repro bumpers, new trunk mat and weatherstripping. He had owned the car for many years and just got it out of storage a year or so before and was beginning a restoration on it before deciding it was too much for him.

You want to know why I'm kicking myself now? He was asking $4500 for it! The car wasn't that far from me in Wolcott (I'm in Watertown, 15-20 minutes) and he had it registered and insured and was willing to drive it to my house, so no cost for towing or shipping. I saw the car at a few local shows before it appearently sold and have never seen it again. Sad, I wish I know then what I know now, and I really did like the green color of the car, it stood out. I just wasn't interested at the time in another car.

Another person in CT looking for a sportsroof, cuts down on my chances. I did see a green sportsroof for sale last year, drivable, but not even close to the condition I would be looking for.