Hello from Western NY, family 64 Polara restoration.

Hello, My name is Matt. I registered here to read other builds, and selflessly search for any answers I may need as well as possibly source some parts.

I will cut to the chase. Long story short, I have two 65 coronets, and a 64 polara project cars. All very restorable projects I had acquired with my father. We had a budget set aside to restore the 65 2door post car(my dads) first and were in the metal work stage when he passed away this last christmas Eve. Before he passed he requested that I put his car back in storage and use the remaining budget to instead finish the 64 polara with my oldest son who had staked his claim to it when he was only 4. Now 12 years old this is his first real project and he is excited to get started. And we did. It will be a long process of course, as he has zero experience and mine is above average, but still limited. I have the budget, 90% of the steel sourced and on hand, the fab/metal repair ability, and a great paint/body guy already on board.

So this is our goal. After much debate we have agreed on a single tone dark blue, which according to an old OEM paint chip catalog my dad had is an original color.



Details of our project. Purchase price 800$ in 2004. The car is a 64 polara, last registered in 92. After an intravenous fuel setup, new plugs and oil change the Poly 318 started and ran quite well and even drove through the push button transmission into the garage. It will retain its original motor and transmission, and I have a 8 3/4 out of a 65 to swap in to get rid of the tapered axle/drum setup. In all honesty I am 31 years old and even though my dad was a mopar nut his whole life, I always liked them but never got involved with one of my own. So my knowledge is very limited.

Progress pics.










Since the last pic, we have removed front and rear glass and the channels are really nice. The driver floor pan needs replaced, and trunk floor pan has some pin holes so that will be replaced. The major repair needed is the cowl (as is all of them around here.)

If anyone know's were one might locate a complete southern/western cowl I would really like to replace the entire thing. I have a right and left patch on hand, but would really like to get under the cowl itself since I want to do a color change.

And, hopefully it wont incite a riot but the rest of my stable includes

12 Jeep liberty Wife's DD Family wagon
04 2500HD silverado DD
98 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (335awhp@24psi)
79 Dodge Ramcharger 40k original mile survivor 360/4brl from California.

Thanks for looking!

Matt

Great story and a great way to spend time bonding with your son (love the color you chose). Very sorry to here about your fathers passing and I hope all goes well on your build. I currently have a 65 Coronet and will try to help with your questions as will a lot of very knowledgeable people on this site.

nice rides

welcome to FBBO

aboard Matt!

Nice rides!

Thanks guys! Super excited. I've always wanted a 330/440 64 post but I couldn't say no to the hardtop when it was so clean for only 800 bucks. I figure this one should be a couple year project and that will set us up to finish my dad's car with my youngest boy afterward. I'm on the fence about doing the 3rd 65 hardtop after that but that is a long ways down the road and it's sitting inside until then. Who knows what the future will hold. I know my tastes changed alot after I got out on my own so who knows what my boys will be interested in when they are older.

Welcome Matt and thanks for the pics. Looks like a fun project.

Welcome from WNY to WNY................................................ is it snowing :snow_plow_oz::snow plow: :angryfire:

Welcome from the CNY Mopar club as well.
Looking forward to seeing you at our show Matt.
www.cnymopar.com

Welcome aboard Matt from Bethanny NY
Nice cars...
Thanks for joining the Forum!

very nice car. i have a 64 polara as well with a poly 318 only mine is a four door beater

hi and welcome to the site hope both you and your son enjoy the site and keep us updated on your build :headbang:

welcome to FBBO keep us posted on your progress

I am off the next 3 days after a long 4 day week. I plan to get as much accomplished as possible since I have no other plans which is rare. I really hope to have the motor/trans out and maybe even start getting the cowl cut out.

Welcome from MI. Sorry about your loss. Great looking cars. Really like the dark blue. I've always liked dark blue cars and am contemplating changing my 65 Coronet 500 to a dark blue sometime down the road. It's a rootbeer metallic brown not, but I like it also. Anyway great project, you and your son should have a great time with it.

Well, I got the seats out after the glass. And vacuumed the mummified mouse carcasses out. Turns out the floors are worse than I anticipated but Id planned to replace the front pans anyway so the mid pans arent a big deal at this point. the sides and seat brackets under the pans are mint still so im excited to get started with the pans I already have while awaiting the new mid pans. I also discovered and removed most of the rear seat from the glove box thanks to the mice.







I have more pictures to add but my phone is not cooperating at this time. Ill try later.

- - - Updated - - -

If any one reading this in the future has any factual answer, I have to know. Is the 64 polara and 65 coronet cowl panel the same? The listing where I purchased my panels said it fits both. But I want to be sure. If that is the case, I may be in luck in my search for a cowl repair as I have a complete 65 coronet that has a rust free cowl. I have seen both answers but no definitive. The patch panel I have looks to be the same. But I want to be sure before I canabalize this car.

thanks for updating us on your build !:headbang: