[rphelps]

This will probably be right out of left field, but I'm thinking of writing a very short story where a man and his daughter's boyfriend bond while putting a rebuilt engine into the dad's old General Lee wannabe. They do this because they're planning to give it to her for her birthday (why would a girl want this car? That's a different story). Don't know much about the process of installing engines and kind of need help with the blow-by-blow so it doesn't sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about (which, of course, I don't). Doesn't have to be extraordinarily detailed but kind of an overview, if that's possible. Hope this isn't too oddball of a request. Any help is very much appreciated.

[BigBlockBabe]

Sweet! When you get done I wanna read it. I'd LOVE a car like that! Love for my dad and my boyfriend to bond over a car too, how cool!

I also wrote a story involving a Vitamin C orange Charger, but uh, the stories I write are of a "risque" subject and can't be posted on here.

[helrazr3]

well hey there rphelps
i think the best person here to answer your question is halloween king, he has a way with words. hang out for a while and he'll show up.
i dont think your request is to oddball i just don't know how to put it.

[matty]

BBBAbe you have a boyfriend Well that does it for me.... slash slash slash

[Halloweenking]

Whoooa there matty, just because she said she'd love for her boyfriend and dad to do that doesn't mean she has one. So before you start slashing, start askin. By the way if you do decide to comit suicide, doit right. I hate those people that "try" to comit suicide, its just another failure in there life, I say if your weak enough to do it, do it right so I can at least respect you for acomplishing something in your life.

Annnnnnnnnyway. rphelp, why don't you just read through the engine section and use some of the stuff mention throughout the few pages of posts. I'm sure there are at least one post about helping to rebuild an entire engine, if not I'll start one, just let me know if you can't find one.

By the way, lots of girls would love to have that ride. I had a simular exsperience with my woman like the story your writing except it was a '68 fastback mustang...

HK

[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Halloweenking ]</p>

[rphelps]

OK, well, I actually had done a search and also looked through quite a few threads there but didn't really see any kind of step-by-step guideline for a standard engine drop. I had thought about exploring the process of the characters doing an entire rebuild but that's probably farther than I wanted to go in this project. I may end up trying to find a Chrysler engine swap manual or something. If somebody wants to start a thread over there, that would be cool. Appreciate y'all's help.

[WoodsEdge]

Why don't you just jump in and get your hands dirty. Then you could write about something you know!!
Jack

[rphelps]

Aw, heh heh! Good advice, Jack. Only thing is, the R stands for Rosanne and it's my hubbie who is the one who actually likes to dig in and fix 'em up. He actually has several TransAms in various states of repair/disrepair but knows little about Mopars. And I don't want to ruin my manicure, y'know. I have been bending his ear about a lot of this. He finds it terribly amusing. He's got a pretty good general knowledge.

[Halloweenking]

Well just because your female doesn't mean you can't know alot about the process. Anyway, if your husband knows about T/A's and is rebuilding them ask him, restoration and engine rebuilding is essentially the same, the only difference is make of the car and tech stuff like torque values and location of parts(
I.E. distributer etc etc). Its mostly the same. Mess up your manicure, slap your husband upside the head and tell him to help. Wouldn't be the first time I've heard of husband abuse If you still need it let me know and I'll start a thread in the engine forum for you.

HK

[1meancuda]

So this isn't about your daughter is it??? If I wasn't married I would ask to meet her!!

[38 special]

I may not fully understand the plot here but the story isn't about the details of building an engine, it's about building a relationship, right? I took a course once in writing for children and teenagers. You may want the engine building to coincide with the bonding process. If you add too much detailed engine work your going to bore the readers unless they're gearheads like us. My 2 centavos. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[stereodud]

Im 16 i would be mutch more interested in a story if it gave detail about engine stuff, I would care-nothing for the relationship stuff. The engine stuff is interesting

[BigBlockBabe]

Well, if you want some MoPar only tech info, head over to <a href="http://www.moparchat.com" target="_blank">MoParChat.com</a>. They have a really good message board over there. Should be able to find such things as what engines these cars were optioned with (most likely a 383 or 440).

Why don't you go to the library and look for old issues of Hot Rod or MoPar Muscle. Usually these mags have very basic tech articles giving you the step by step for things...like an engine swap.

[1meancuda]

The 69 Chargers came with 225's, 318's, 383's, 426 Hemi's, or 440's.

[rphelps]

First off, my daughter is 7, so that's a nowhere fast situation there, 1meancuda And yeah, the engine will be a 383 V8. The father doesn't want his child running crazy/wild in a 426 Hemi.

Thanks for the link, BigBlockBabe, I'll be sure to check that out. And this story ain't exactly Disney.

As for my husband and checking out the work he's done, I'll do that this weekend. Maybe tape some of the conversation so I won't forget.

And as to the collection of reference material, I always go all out when I do research. That way I have plenty of material to fall back on, but no, my audience doesn't want to be overloaded with it. Yes, the restoration is a metaphor for the growing bond between the 2. Awwww. You guys are incredibly helpful!