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1966 Coronet 440 field find

My latest acquisition. A DP4B for my replacement 383. I put an ad on kijiji looking for one a few months ago. Two weeks back a fellow responded with this perfect one for $200. Turns out he is a renowned engine builder around these parts. Dave gets a big cudos from me. These are getting harder to find and he was very fair in the price. I met another Mopar man and a talented one at that, along with finding my intake!

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Well, it's out with the old and in with the, not as old. I originally installed an engine from a fellow that "ran". Yes, it ran, and it ran nicely. But it had zero oil pressure when warm. So after all this time I'm finally getting back to it. I got an engine from a fellow that passed away. He was in the process of assembly when he left. I am finishing it up and gonna use it. I am removing a 1966 383 with 516 heads and installing a 1970 HP 383 with 68 906's. All around improvement. This is the 70 Charger engine I was hoping to reunite. You would have thought with a VIN ending in 223344 it would have been likely or possible. Nope. It’s going in the Coronet for now. I also had to replace the steering shaft seal in the power steering box, so this was the perfect time for that.


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A little closer. Had to take a break today to go vote in our national election. Then I came back and continued removing parts off the old engine and installing on the new. I’m thinking I should be installing it tomorrow.

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Yesterday I was toying with the idea of running the intake backwards and having the coil out of sight at the back. I got thinking, probably overthinking, and started to wonder about the upper and lower runners and the longer coil wire. Well I convinced myself it had to be the other way around. It probably doesn’t matter but oh well. Anyway I did a bit more today I stopped because I want all the silicone to be cured before I add oil and spin the pump to check. So this is how it looks for now. That’s a 750 Edelbrock on there. I’m not sure I like the look, but if I don’t, I will run these other covers and the 383 breather. I’ll get it in the car and decide.

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gdrill said:
Yesterday I was toying with the idea of running the intake backwards and having the coil out of sight at the back. I got thinking, probably overthinking, and started to wonder about the upper and lower runners and the longer coil wire. Well I convinced myself it had to be the other way around. It probably doesn’t matter but oh well. Anyway I did a bit more today I stopped because I want all the silicone to be cured before I add oil and spin the pump to check. So this is how it looks for now. That’s a 750 Edelbrock on there. I’m not sure I like the look, but if I don’t, I will run these other covers and the 383 breather. I’ll get it in the car and decide.

View attachment 1169817
View attachment 1169816
Click to expand...
Either combo looks good to me
 
gdrill said:
That is an Edelbrock DP4B. I had one while back and let it go. I found another.
Click to expand...
I just looked at the DP4B I have and I dont think you can mount the manifold backwards because the carb will be angled
toward the rear.
 
I couldn’t do it. :) I’m too obsessive. The Mopar Performance accessories just took too much away from the rest of it. These old school covers are shorter and allow the manifolds to show better. I’m not sure what brand they truly are but they cleaned up nicely. Plus, the 66 air breather is one of the coolest made so it deserves to be displayed! I used allen head bolts one the covers. I am going to go get a few more and use them on the intake and maybe a couple more places.

Slightly more subtle this way.

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Yes it is looking that way! I remember when I was considering putting a 67 grill in the car, I believe you commented on that. I'm glad I didn't do it now! Nothing is really "correct" with the car, but it is pretty cool in my eyes. I think this engine combo looks good and I almost guarantee there will not be another just like it. This 66 is an animal of it's own!
 
That is an old picture, it now has a round snorkel air cleaner on it (correct for '66) like yours. I also have a one-piece upper hose on it now too.
 
The main deed is done! I spun the pump with my 1/2” drill prior to installing it. It runs 550rpm. Obviously load affects it, but the engine had 48 psi oil pressure. That should be plenty.........hopefully!
Now just to hook up all the tidbits. :)
Im gonna convert to electronic ignition but the points are good for now to get it running. I don’t have any more 383 distributors, just 440 ones.

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Agree.

That newer MP stuff looks "too new" to me for the application.
 
Im gonna try something out. Where I work occasionally bolts are difficult to gain access to so we customize them. I figured exhaust bolts fit into the same category. If I can get all these self stoppers to drop in from the top, it will make life way better.

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If you are watching, and you didn’t already know about that idea^^^^^, then I will tell you now. I have never hooked up an exhaust that quickly or easily. I had to snip about 3/16” off the bolt on the driver side towards the firewall. The rest slid right in. That is likely the best mechanical mod I have ever done. It simplifies the task immensely.

Now I'm off to get fuel, beer and a battery!

:thumbsup:
 
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