Replacing 66 coronet trunk floor with a 68-70 floor and gas tank

[AJReigart]

I need to replace the trunk floor in a 66 coronet I'm rebuilding. I'm contemplating replacing the trunk floor and gas tank with 68-70 parts. I don't see a need for a 66 spare tire wheel well (for my build) and I like the later 68-70 B body fuel tank profile.

From the research I've done, their is very little to no difference between the 66-67 and the 68-70 frame rails (dimensions). The primary differences between the two b body generations being tank fill location and tank straps.

Any thoughts or considerations?

 

[dsd1967]

I'm thinking the same thing because I want to mini tub my 67 and the narrower 68-70 tank will still allow me to get the exhaust out the back. It's all doable...the tank straps will be the most difficult to get mounted because there is a reinforced slot in the rear cross member, and the J bolts need a place to mount in the cross member at the front of the trunk. If you get a 69 rear cross member, you could piece it in on the 66 - 67 car....it would allow for the fuel fill to go through the bumper too.

 

[AJReigart]

I'm thinking the same thing because I want to mini tub my 67 and the narrower 68-70 tank will still allow me to get the exhaust out the back. It's all doable...the tank straps will be the most difficult to get mounted because there is a reinforced slot in the rear cross member, and the J bolts need a place to mount in the cross member at the front of the trunk. If you get a 69 rear cross member, you could piece it in on the 66 - 67 car....it would allow for the fuel fill to go through the bumper too.

Thank-you. I'm evaluating doing same - you can see how they evolved the B body over the years.

 

[2quick]

What I did on my Mini tubed 66 Satellite. Made my own .40 sheet metal and a bead roller.

 

[AJReigart]

What I did on my Mini tubed 66 Satellite. Made my own .40 sheet metal and a bead roller.

View attachment 400056 View attachment 400057 View attachment 400058 View attachment 400059 View attachment 400060 View attachment 400063 View attachment 400064 View attachment 400065 View attachment 400066

That is some fine metal beating! Is the tank a stock build or did you fab?

 

[2quick]

I actually took a 20 Gallon RCI Tank and cut two inches of the top, Moved the vent and return fittings, and added a fill tube. The main reason I did this is I want to run 3" tail pipes out the back. This set up looks trick and allows plenty of room with moved leaf springs and wheel tubs.

 

[AJReigart]

I'm in awe of your fabrication ability! Most excellent!

I'm probably a year or two behind where you are ...... ;-)

Looks like your tank is 20" wide; sitting in the 33.75" clear between rear frame rails = 13.75 /2 = 6.875" clear per side for the exhaust. This compares to 4.75" assuming I go with a 'same but different' 68-70 charger/coronet gas tank.

Your approach is hitting on the design elements we (and probably many other 66-67 B body owners) have addressed - HP, tires, wheels, mini-tubs, suspension, exhaust, gas tanks .....

 

[2quick]

I'm in awe of your fabrication ability! Most excellent!

I'm probably a year or two behind where you are ...... ;-)

Looks like your tank is 20" wide; sitting in the 33.75" clear between rear frame rails = 13.75 /2 = 6.875" clear per side for the exhaust. This compares to 4.75" assuming I go with a 'same but different' 68-70 charger/coronet gas tank.

Your approach is hitting on the design elements we (and probably many other 66-67 B body owners) have addressed - HP, tires, wheels, mini-tubs, suspension, exhaust, gas tanks .....

Thank you and yes I think the 66-67 design with the spare tire well and gas tank arrangement left something to be desired for anything other than a factory restored car. Mine originally being a 318 Poly allows me to do what I WANT to the car without worrying about it. The real issue with my setup is that it's only a 16 gallon tank now so I'll be making a lot of stops for fuel.

 

[AJReigart]

2Quick, Al here again. What's your plan with your fill neck? Are you going to move the factory filler forward on the quarter panel?

 

[2quick]

So far I rotated the fill tube from 90 deg down to more like 45 deg pointing toward the wheel tub. I will probably cut down my current tank fill tube a couple inches and add a 45 to bring the inlet under the roll bar tube. The rest I'm not really sure of. I did buy a 2" fuel hose that i was going to try and work something with but haven't got that far. But at the end of the day I want to use the factory fill opening in the quarter and somehow get the fuel into the tank thru the inside of the trunk instead of underneath it.

 

[AJReigart]

Remember I'm in the planning mode ...... I'll more than likely be looking at either a rear fill or, if I go the side fill, debating the flip top cap (aka GTX, Challenger or Charger) or even relocating Coronet door.

Us Car Tools is restoring a 67 Dart (Jeff's). I attached a few pics from there website that might be of interest to you.