Frame rails

Here are the re-enforcement steel plates cut out to strengthen the 38yr old rails on Rusty. Just some important things to do before we mount the new trunk floor in there.

All about the Numbers... 440

After weeks of not knowing for sure, we pulled that engine out and went directly to the numbers that mark the block. 400663-440-7 A 440, 1975 casting date. I feel so much better now...

Looking back if I was asked if I would do it again... I think I would sit it out, unless there was a 426 hemi under that thing..

A new trailer will be born

With still 3 metal loads to take to the scrapyard, all that sits is the frame. The family will share this purchase. I get the engine, my brother wants the Dana 60, and my dad wants to turn the frame into the foundation of a trailer we can all use. Not bad for $368, including gas I put in the Monster. $123 on the first scrapyard trip. $50 to the landfill. 3 separate metal piles to go...

And more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point we separated what we could take back to the scrapyard. 123$ back from the first load of metal. But then $50 to the landfill. Still positive green back though.

More Destruction!!!!!!!!

Destruction

The MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! part 2

I didn't sleep much that night. I even called to see if I could tow the darn thing home, WAY too much money!
When we got back to the truck stop the Monster was still there. She fired right up though!!! We decided to take back roads home to limit the attention. ( This thing was not suppose to be on the road, yikes!!) About 2 miles away from home I heard a terrible sound and smelt something like rubber. A big pop followed and I thought I blew a tire. I checked the mirror and seen my bumper bouncing toward my dad's car. It missed. I pulled over but noticed the gas tank showing empty. I was so close yet so far away. Dad called me and told me to keep going.
I pulled into the driveway like a king. We made it!!
We pulled the cover off the engine to give her another check and I noticed the air cleaner pan with some disturbing numbers.. 413 265 horsepower. I started to panic. Please tell me this is wrong. We went underneath to read the block, but the starter was in the way.
The next couple weeks were dedicated to getting that thing scrapped. All the time not knowing if someone hoodwinked us on the engine.

The MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! part 1

It is alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good ol Craigslist... It can be great, but because of my human curiosities it can be an addiction. Somewhere in the time when I bought the 383 for Rusty, I always had the other side of my mind, along with my father, to find that 440 to fill the hole. Well thanks to Craiglist I found a running 440 from a 1970 Continental Motorhome. Now that it is sitting in my garage I can sum up the last couple weeks with one word.... whew...

1970 Continental Motorhome running 440 $300 This is the listing that caught my eye. Too good to be true I thought. AND it almost was. So after making contact with the guy I got my dad to drive the 76 mile trip to the Monster. The Monster was not attractive by any means. I just wanted the treasure in the middle... The first thing that was mentioned was how the brakes were not the greatest. Lovely... Soooo, after trying two batteries the thing fired up. It ran for a couple minutes, but without much gas we turned it off. That was the first mistake. Time- roughly 5:00. Once I turned over the money and transfered the title we went back out to the Monster. She wouldn't crank. Battery was dead. Hooked it up to the charger, went to get some gas, came back, checked out a couple Cuda's the guy had sitting out back, tried to start it again, nothing... Time- 6:00. We tried the old battery and she started thankfully, but now we are racing the sun. Did I mention the Monster didn't have any lights AT ALL on it!?
We put some air in the tires and I was off. At this point, 30 seconds into it I was scared to death. I also failed to noticed my dad running after me. Right before I get on the highway I notice my phone blarring. It seems I had my dad's keys in my pocket. Luckily the guy gave him a lift to catch me. Time- roughly 7:00.
The drive home was entertaining for those passing me. People looking at me like I'm crazy. They must have seen the water raining on me from the open roof... I made it about 40 miles before dark. We pulled off in Dexter, about 30 minutes away. Not bad for now, one cop scare, luckily he was busy with someone else... I was still shaking when I got home knowing I had to drive that thing 30 more miles..
to be continued