1966 Coronet 440 field find

[moparnation74]

Thanx guys. Yes, the lines bug the heck out of me. It's not a show car by any means, but the gaps don't have to be off by a mile! And yes every little bit makes a huge difference. The grill is my biggest pleasure yet!

The grille is perfect, I Agree!

 

[gdrill]

I borrowed a friend's engine run stand. I got most of it ready today. One roadblock was a busted stud in the driver side head at the back. Had to drill and tap it out before I could install the headers. I just have to round up a distributor now. I am going to test both this 383 and a 440 I have. If they are both good, I don't know what I'll run in the car! This is a '66 383 that I picked up for $350. It is supposed to be a runner. The 1968 440 I got for $300 and it is supposed to run as well. Both are 4bbl engines, but not HP. Which ever engine I use, I have a couple new cams to choose from and a set of worked heads to throw on. One cam is a NOS purple road runner cam and the other is a comp cams 258 or something like that.

 

[gdrill]

Well the 383 runs fine. I had to change the oil pump to a known working one. Maybe I didn't have to, but I started it and it had no pressure. Even after I built a priming tool and primed it. But with the replacement pump, it's got 20psi +/- at idle. I'm going to get the compression numbers and then rig up the 440 on the stand. Heres the video of it running.

 

[gdrill]

I got some custom paint mixed up for my engine. I painted the engine I originally was going to use with some authentic Mopar Turquoise I got long ago. It came out darker than I expected, but it looks good and it is Mopar paint! However, today when I went to get a paint made I chose something slightly different. I think it is closer to what it should be. I also think it will change once it is in the engine bay and appear a little darker. It's amazing how the camera changes the color, but the engine stamping is how it really looks. Anyway, I like it. If anybody thinks it is close enough for them and wants to use it, I can send you the mix recipe.

Oh and a buddy talked me out of the cam swap for now. He said drive it and see how the engine really is. Then do what it needs this winter.........makes sense!

 

[gdrill]

 

[gdrill]

I've been digging through my hoard / collection of parts to assemble the front of the engine. I got it rigged up but it's backwards! My alt is using 2 pulleys and the power steering 3? Oh well, the belts line up perfect so that's what it'll be for now. I don't have a fan blade on because the rad has dual electric mounted on it. We'll see......

 

[gdrill]

Yee haw! I had a little helper this morning and installed the engine / trans / k-member into the car.

 

[westie47]

Looking really good! Did you paint the engine compartment, jambs and trunk right in your shop?

 

[gdrill]

Thank you. Yes, I got some paint put into spray bombs and did all the inners myself. When it comes to the exterior base / clear, I just may try it myself too.

 

[westie47]

I didn't know that was possible. It looks pretty good in the pics. Is it the same process? Base coat then clear coat?

 

[gdrill]

No, this is just single stage. I may even do the exterior single.

I found the air breather that's been tucked away for a few years.....

 

[watermelon]

engine bay is very nice. great work.

 

[Brandy]

What is a spray bomb?

 

[5.7 hemi]

Can of spray paint.

 

[Brandy]

How did u get someone to put your color in them?

 

[gdrill]

Most places now have these machines. They can put any color you pick or create in. But they aren't cheap. Around $20/can here.

 

[gdrill]

Thanx for the likes all!
It's funny how things just happen. I get bags of rags in bulk and they are mostly cut up tee shirts. I've seen some pretty cool ones before, even Mopar ones. I used to save the cool ones and hang them up. Anyway, I was looking at my engine bay and decided it needed a blow with air to dissipate the accumulated dust. Would you believe the rag I pulled out of the bag to cover the carb was this? And I threw it on this way naturally. Of course I made it better for the pic. I am keeping this one around!

On a thread related note, it's nice that the /6 wiring is almost perfect for a big block conversion. It literally only needs a little adjustment to match up!

 

[moparnation74]

Looking great.....Like the engine color choice as well...Sets off the valve covers nicely...

 

[gdrill]

Thank you. I have grown to like it a lot!
Today I figured I should get my console mounts installed. I'm not 100% sure, but I now believe that 1966 consoles are unique in more than one way. The one that I knew of was the back part was a separate piece vs the 67 and later which it is all one big console. Then today when I went to install the mounts I found out that the mounting structure is different as well. I bought these mounts long ago and they came with an extra section that had been cut off another. I wasn't aware at the time, but it is because the 66 console has a lower front mounting tab. So I cut and fabbed it to match. Then I super cleaned the console and dug out the SEM landau black plastic paint. Now just a long slow process of multiple light coats!

 

[gdrill]

And it's all purdy now!