Joined: Sat Nov 27 2010, 12:16AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 135
Well, how time flies and how things change ... when I bought member "Cols" 66 Windsor on 20March2011 I posted that I wasn't planning to rush in (honored that) but that I also was not planning a complete rebuild ... epic fail on that one.
After much consideration of what I had and what I wanted I talked with my extremely creative and talented car builder friend Paul, struck a deal and delivered the car to him with an approx start date this past spring.
As I stated before this car is in amazing shape for an Alberta car, with the exception of the typical rock sandbasting/rust behind the rear bumper, inline with the rear tires, there was only one very small spot of rust in the passenger rear wheelwell and nothing else.
My dilemma was that I could not see myself enjoying the car as much if I just restored it to original condition so I decided on a restomod ... to me restomod means to restore mostly to original condition while modifying to what "could" have been for the age.
I am not doing anything that would be too difficult to undo in the future if our beloved C's eventually get the respect they so deserve.
Since Col had already dismantled most of the car, I did decide on a frame off restoration.
A lot of work has been completed so I will start posting updates with pictures and my musings along the way.
Joined: Sat Nov 27 2010, 12:16AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 135
The build ....
- frame off since it was most of the way there - engine ... rebuilt 440 out of a 73 NYer - rebuilt torqueflite out of same 73 NYer - front disc brake conversion from same 73 NYer, sourced power disc booster from BigMoparJeff and had it rebuilt by Booster Dewey
- paint .... 1969 Dodge Orange (Charger, Dart, Corornet, Polara, Monaco), flat black hood with 69-70 Coronet hood scoops - black vinyl roof, custom ordered from SMS Auto Fabrics with A-Pillar extensions, sent them a template to ensure proper fit. - interior ... black with orange seat piping and orange on lower dash metal - wheels and rims .... to be determined - exhaust ... the debate is on headers/no headers - Firm Feel Stage 1 already completed on original power steering box
Joined: Sun Jan 31 2010, 03:36PM
Location: Dublin, PA
Posts: 414
Hi Gary,
Those pictures are flashing me back to 1985 when I had my '66 New Yorker torn down for it's first restoration. Much of that looks very familiar, except your car isn't full of dents and rust holes like mine was. That is a really solid car!
Looking forward to more pics as your project progresses. !thumb
Jeff
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Sun Sep 02 2012, 09:16PM ]</span>
Joined: Sat Nov 27 2010, 12:16AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 135
bigmoparjeff wrote ... Hi Gary,
Those pictures are flashing me back to 1985 when I had my '66 New Yorker torn down for it's first restoration. Much of that looks very familiar, except your car isn't full of dents and rust holes like mine was. That is a really solid car!
Looking forward to more pics as your project progresses. !thumb
Jeff
Thanks Jeff, I guess I have to quit harping on how incredible shape she is in, but this is Alberta!! The process is pretty exciting.... stay tuned!
Joined: Sat Nov 27 2010, 12:16AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 135
The engine dilemma ..
The original engine had been completely tore down ...
and it looked great, no ring ridge at all and even some hone marks left. If I was to rebuild it I wanted to do it right, maybe even stroke it, so I decided this would be a good place to save some money for now, spend more on the rest of the car as it's much easier to swap engines later on. I watched local adds and eventually found a 73 NYer that was listed as having a rebuilt 440 and torqueflite, plus of course power disc brakes.
I went to look at the car expecting a wild story about the rebuild but was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a plausible story ... rebuilt 10 or so years ago (means 15+) by the original owner but then hardly driven when it was passed on to the grand daughter and her young family .... maybe 15-20k miles, then bought by this gentleman who is their neighbor.
The engine was, gasp, Ford blue??, so it had at least been out of the car at one point, started good but running super rich and thermoquad was leaking. The tranny also showed signs of a potential rebuild, or at least had been out of the car. The price was right so I took it home ...
When I got home I pulled out the pressure washer and started spraying off the mouse turd and pine needles, the paint under the oil came off to expose bare metal. As I looked around the engine compartment I was pleasantly surprised to find an engine rebuilders tag bolted on the back of the drivers side head... just a "factory style" rebuild but rebuilt none the less.
showing a bore of 0.020 and crank mains and throws of 0.010, unfortunately the company no longer appears to be in business so I cannot yet fully decipher the codes. The serial number and bore/crank numbers are engraved on the crank as well ...
I was a little concerned about all of the oil on the engine, but when I got it onto my hoist I could see it was coming from the oil pan gasket and the valve cover gaskets, in fact when I put a socket on them to tighten they were basically finger tight as no one had ever retorqued them after the rebuild.
I decided to do a mild freshening up with matching Edelbrock Performer Intake, Performer 750 Carb, Performer Timing Chain Set, Performer Plus Camshaft/Lifter Kit, Valve Springs, Retainers, Push Rods, a mild Saturday Night Special Torque Converter and had the original heads decked to ensure a good gasket seal. The engine is painted body color without the clear...
The front end on the 73 NYer comes off nicely in one basic piece making the engine removal a breeze ....
it then donated its front end for wall art, Paul painted it up, hooked up the horn, low/hi beams and flashers to a battery and switch and hung it high up on his shop wall with pride.
Joined: Sat Nov 27 2010, 12:16AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 135
Rear End, Sub-frame and suspension
The rear end was cleaned up with new bearings/seals and brakes, didn't touch the gears for now, will leave original 2.76's in place and see how she drives, if not enough torque off the line can always change to some 3.23 later.
... love the studded ground grips ...
Subframe was repainted and all suspension and brake components were sandblasted and rebuilt
- the rotors spec'd out good before and after turning
Then the motor and tranny were installed in the sub-frame
Since this tranny and engine came from the factory together we left the massive weight on the end of the output shaft ... ???? This last picture was taken from the mezzanine and makes it look like a desk top model.
The rust hole was cut out and welded last week as well as four frame holes from an old trailer hitch were welded up. Next step is to remove all of the old seam sealer, refloat and then on to the body.
Hope you've enjoyed so far .... Gary <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Mon Sep 03 2012, 06:07PM ]</span>