The Road Runner was the getaway...
The Road Runner was the getaway car for Barry and his bride Cathy on their wedding day. Notice the original Rallye rims painted to match the body color.
As with all in-house projects, the hardest part was the bodywork. Brothers Barry and Todd worked together to straighten the F-Body back to better-than-factory condition. In fact, nearly everything external is factory original except for an aftermarket hoodscoop. The side window louvers, trunk wing, and wheel flares are all '76 equipment. Barry drove the Plymouth into the nearby Maaco paint shop to be recoated in the original Spit Fire Orange hue. Once cured, the Runner received new side striping and badging. Phil Mos Upholstery in Palm River, Florida, restored the factory bucket seats to the original black-and-gray vinyl and cloth wrapping. A Grant GT wheel replaced the factory steering wheel, and a Pioneer stereo and speakers replaced the wornout sound system.
The latest lung between the fenders was built by the brothers and their pal, Bud. The warmed-over LA small-block was bored and clearanced to accept a 4-inch crankshaft, pushing the cubes up to 408 inches. Eagle 6.123-inch connecting rods press the Diamond 9.8:1 compression slugs up and down, while the Comp Cams Extreme Energy .510-inch lift hydraulic camshaft directs the Comp-made valves when to open and close. The factory-cast heads were ported, polished, and fitted with 2.02 valves and double springs. A Torker II intake is topped by an 850-cfm Demon, while the spark is ignited by a Mopar chrome box ignition with a yellow Super Coil and a high-performance Mopar distributor. Large Hooker headers plumb the gases through 211/42-inch aluminum galvanized tubes and Hooker Aero mufflers. the 831/44 is fed all this power via the aforementioned gearbox, and stout Moser axles replaced the factory sticks to turn the BFGoodrich T/As that are wrapped around the 15-inch aluminum Eagle Alloys. KYB shocks help smooth out the ride, while the Road Runner glides on factory torsion bars and heavy-duty Mopar leaf springs. A 100hp-shot of nitrous was plumbed into the small-block to give the stroked 408 the motivation to sprint down the 1,320-foot track in 12.6 seconds at 110 mph.
Barry's older brother Todd...
Barry's older brother Todd was the first to bring the orange Road Runner into the Butler home. Within two years, Todd sold the F-Body to his younger sibling, and that, as they say, is where it all started.
Fast Facts: '76 Plymouth Volare Road Runner
Barry Butler • Brandon, FL
Mopar Power
Engine: A 408 ci based on a LA small-block, bored and cleared to fit a 4-inch Comp crank. New Eagle 6.123 connecting rods, Diamond 9.8:1 compression pistons, and a Comp Cams hydraulic .510-lift camshaft provide the power. Factory cast heads have been ported, polished, and fitted with Comp Cams stainless valves, double springs, MP rockers, and topped with a Torker II intake and a Demon 850-cfm carburetor. Hooker headers plumb into 211/42-inch galvanized tubes via Hooker Aero mufflers.
Transmission: An A500 overdrive automatic with a SMR 2,800-stall torque converter and a B&M ratchet shifter was rebuilt by Tom, a close friend.
Rearend: A Chrysler 8 3/4 replaced the original rear now filled with 3.91 gears and a limited-slip differential. Moser axles replaced the originals.
Horsepower & Performance: Barry didn't give us any hard horsepower numbers, but an added boost of 100 hp from a nitrous kit launched the little F-Body down the quarter-mile at 110 mph to click off a 12.6-second pass.
Reduced to an added trim and...
Reduced to an added trim and performance package on the existing F-Body Volare, the Road Runner was a shadow of its once-proud Hemi-powered, four-speed self. Barry has done his part by adding an aftermarket hoodscoop, wheels, tires, and dual exhaust.
Sure Grip
Suspension: Factory torsion bars up front with heavy-duty Mopar Performance leaf springs in back give the Plymouth some added stiffness, while KYB shocks smooth out the ride.
Brakes: Power disc brakes up front and 9-inch drums in back are enough to bring the F-Body to halt.
Wheels: Up front, 15-inch aluminum Eagle alloys sizing up at 7-inches wide and 10 inches in back.
Rubber: The lightweight rims are wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/As, P215/65R15 and P275/50R15, front and back, respectively.
High Impact
Body: The Butler boys, Barry and Todd, labored on the body for a span of 22 years. Though it was never in an accident, a thirty-year-old car has a way of accruing lots of door dings, rock chips, and scratches over its lifetime. Barry retained the original tail wing, wheel opening flares, and quarter window louver covers. Only an aftermarket fiberglass hoodscoop was added before the paint was shot.
Paint: Once the bodywork was completed, the Road Runner was wheeled into the Brandon, Florida, Maaco where it was repainted in the original Spitfire Orange paint. striping was added by hand once the paint cured to the sides and tail valance.
Interior: Barry had Phil Mos Upholstery in Palm River, Florida, recover the seats in the original black-and-gray vinyl and cloth seat covers. New black carpet was added; a Grant GT wheel replaced the cracking original; and a Pioneer head unit and speakers took the place of the aging factory sound system. A small blackened tachometer rests on the dash pad, and the B&M shifter with its small red nitrous switch reveals that the Road Runner packs far more than most would expect from a mid-'70s coupe.