Fred and my 1968 Dodge Coronet 500
01-04-2012 | 10:28 AM
#1
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Fred and my 1968 Dodge Coronet 500
I looked around, but this is all ive got up online.
Darn! guess I'll have to take some pics of her in her current, rather run down shape.
I've had my Coronet since I was 18. I'm 36 now ('75).
The car is a 318, has never been dented, has a little rust in the trunk floor, but otherwise the body is sound, I think a little rust may be developing in the rear window seal area.
When I bought the car, I had only worked on VW engines (Had a 64, a 67 baja, and a 71 superbeetle) So my understandign of the 4 cycle, internal combustion engine was sound, but I had no idea the issues I was gonna run into with the coronet.
Over the years, EVERY THING has been changed in this car. (Mechanically, I cant make a car pretty unless she runs right.) The original motor I had in it had the stock 2 barrel in it, and when I put a 4 barrel in her, she blew a piston and rod out of the oil pan in San Diego somewhere (I'm lin Los Angeles)
The next engine I had was a crate motor to replace that one, and that motor got installed in the car, then my brother uncovered the engine one day (hood off)
The engine flooded w water, pushing the oil out of the valves, and into my yard.
Nuts.
That engine was immediately taken out, and to a machine shop, supposedly this shop was or is somehow associated with a huge drag racer. I want to drop a name, but I wont till I get it right. It was bored out a bit, had the heads worked up, not sure what all was done, I know there were hardened valve seats installed, as I had that concept kind of explained to me at that time.
Since then, its been about a year and a half of just getting parts together.
I blew out my original tranny twice, so I bought a street/strip transmission from Bob Mazollini (Website says 904 STREET/STRIP: 904 STREET/STRIP: DEEP PAN, GOOD CLUTCHES, 5.0 LEVER, SHIFT KIT WITH 2.76 LOW GEAR $789. . . but i don't remember paying that for it. . . .. )
I know that came with a hughes stall converter, mild, but enough to let the 318 do what it could and still be streetable. I think the reason I kept blowing up trannys was that I was never really sure how to hook up the kickdown linkage till recently.
I bought a holley carb, not sure which size, its sitting in the car now. . . found an old rather cool holley intake, I'll take pics of all this tonight.
Pulled a manual steering box out of an old dart, and have the flaming river u joint kit for that, waiting to cut the shaft and install. . . before that, the car was just on a power steering box, without any pressure. Used it that way for years.
Back then it had a really REALLY sloppy front end. . . it wandered all over the road, and sounded like it was cracking its knuckles every time you turned her, so I've redone the bearings, and all the tie rod ends, pitman arm, idler arm, etc. Didnt have the gonads to tackle the upper arms. I want tubular arms. they look sweeeet.
New water pump,. alternator on its way now, champion 3 row radiator, needs brake drums (Might cruise to AZ for a sweet junkyard shopping spree for those)
I have a driveshaft that was straightened out by a shop in pasadena that isnt there anymore, they pout fatter u joints on it, and made it nice and correct.
Rear end hasnt so much as been glanced at, I'll probably get to that once I get her wired up.
speaking of wires, I have the typical sloppy terminal junction at firewall, yes Ive found the M.A.D article, and am currently trying to get that resolved.
She sags a little in the rear, I think the springs are tired, they may be due for a re-springing, cooking, whatever it is they do.
She has some nice polished aluminum wheels on her, I want some original wheels. Even if its just hubs on a black rim, I love that old school look.
Anyway, I've owned her for 18 years, like I said, with the exception of the last two. I must have been out of my mind when I traded her for a bathroom rebuild in my house, that I needed WAY more than a project car.
I traded it to my cousin for the job, (NEVER MIX FAMILY W BUSINESS) and he didn't finish, needless to say, I finished the job, and have now come knocking for my car.
I spent my holiday break underneath her, playing with the tie rod ends.
I'm waiting for my inners to come in now, then I'm gonna slap her all together, and see if she fires up for me.
I absolutely LOVE this website. I can't believe how easy it is these days. . . . I remember how we used to be a street network of super shops, and street racers, tuners, show cars, etc, and everybody knew all the right businesses to go to for every little thing, but you were SEVERELY limited if the knowledge wasn't there, or if the part wasn't found. I was lucky enough to have a mentor or two, who knew all the tricks when it came to rebuilds, maintenance, repair, etc. I had drag racing buddies (Ford guys) all through high school, lived in auto shop, and just absolutely love cars.
I drive a Toyota Tacoma during the week, work in the music industry, play bass for fun in the side with a couple rock bands in LA, and am just now ready to really tackle my car, with your help, if I may humbly request it.
Anyway, sorry for the novel, I've been meaning to do this, and now I see I need to post some pics as well. I'll do that directly, looking forward to your comments / CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
Thanks all.
- Fred.
Darn! guess I'll have to take some pics of her in her current, rather run down shape.
I've had my Coronet since I was 18. I'm 36 now ('75).
The car is a 318, has never been dented, has a little rust in the trunk floor, but otherwise the body is sound, I think a little rust may be developing in the rear window seal area.
When I bought the car, I had only worked on VW engines (Had a 64, a 67 baja, and a 71 superbeetle) So my understandign of the 4 cycle, internal combustion engine was sound, but I had no idea the issues I was gonna run into with the coronet.
Over the years, EVERY THING has been changed in this car. (Mechanically, I cant make a car pretty unless she runs right.) The original motor I had in it had the stock 2 barrel in it, and when I put a 4 barrel in her, she blew a piston and rod out of the oil pan in San Diego somewhere (I'm lin Los Angeles)
The next engine I had was a crate motor to replace that one, and that motor got installed in the car, then my brother uncovered the engine one day (hood off)
The engine flooded w water, pushing the oil out of the valves, and into my yard.
Nuts.
That engine was immediately taken out, and to a machine shop, supposedly this shop was or is somehow associated with a huge drag racer. I want to drop a name, but I wont till I get it right. It was bored out a bit, had the heads worked up, not sure what all was done, I know there were hardened valve seats installed, as I had that concept kind of explained to me at that time.
Since then, its been about a year and a half of just getting parts together.
I blew out my original tranny twice, so I bought a street/strip transmission from Bob Mazollini (Website says 904 STREET/STRIP: 904 STREET/STRIP: DEEP PAN, GOOD CLUTCHES, 5.0 LEVER, SHIFT KIT WITH 2.76 LOW GEAR $789. . . but i don't remember paying that for it. . . .. )
I know that came with a hughes stall converter, mild, but enough to let the 318 do what it could and still be streetable. I think the reason I kept blowing up trannys was that I was never really sure how to hook up the kickdown linkage till recently.
I bought a holley carb, not sure which size, its sitting in the car now. . . found an old rather cool holley intake, I'll take pics of all this tonight.
Pulled a manual steering box out of an old dart, and have the flaming river u joint kit for that, waiting to cut the shaft and install. . . before that, the car was just on a power steering box, without any pressure. Used it that way for years.
Back then it had a really REALLY sloppy front end. . . it wandered all over the road, and sounded like it was cracking its knuckles every time you turned her, so I've redone the bearings, and all the tie rod ends, pitman arm, idler arm, etc. Didnt have the gonads to tackle the upper arms. I want tubular arms. they look sweeeet.
New water pump,. alternator on its way now, champion 3 row radiator, needs brake drums (Might cruise to AZ for a sweet junkyard shopping spree for those)
I have a driveshaft that was straightened out by a shop in pasadena that isnt there anymore, they pout fatter u joints on it, and made it nice and correct.
Rear end hasnt so much as been glanced at, I'll probably get to that once I get her wired up.
speaking of wires, I have the typical sloppy terminal junction at firewall, yes Ive found the M.A.D article, and am currently trying to get that resolved.
She sags a little in the rear, I think the springs are tired, they may be due for a re-springing, cooking, whatever it is they do.
She has some nice polished aluminum wheels on her, I want some original wheels. Even if its just hubs on a black rim, I love that old school look.
Anyway, I've owned her for 18 years, like I said, with the exception of the last two. I must have been out of my mind when I traded her for a bathroom rebuild in my house, that I needed WAY more than a project car.
I traded it to my cousin for the job, (NEVER MIX FAMILY W BUSINESS) and he didn't finish, needless to say, I finished the job, and have now come knocking for my car.
I spent my holiday break underneath her, playing with the tie rod ends.
I'm waiting for my inners to come in now, then I'm gonna slap her all together, and see if she fires up for me.
I absolutely LOVE this website. I can't believe how easy it is these days. . . . I remember how we used to be a street network of super shops, and street racers, tuners, show cars, etc, and everybody knew all the right businesses to go to for every little thing, but you were SEVERELY limited if the knowledge wasn't there, or if the part wasn't found. I was lucky enough to have a mentor or two, who knew all the tricks when it came to rebuilds, maintenance, repair, etc. I had drag racing buddies (Ford guys) all through high school, lived in auto shop, and just absolutely love cars.
I drive a Toyota Tacoma during the week, work in the music industry, play bass for fun in the side with a couple rock bands in LA, and am just now ready to really tackle my car, with your help, if I may humbly request it.
Anyway, sorry for the novel, I've been meaning to do this, and now I see I need to post some pics as well. I'll do that directly, looking forward to your comments / CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
Thanks all.
- Fred.
Last edited by fmontez1; 01-04-2012 at 11:40 AM.
01-04-2012 | 02:50 PM
#6
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 63
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Yep, like I said thats what I believe it was back then.
I still cant get the linkage to be close to a 1/1 ratio with the throttle. . . doesnt seem to move the kickdown lever on the trans enough.
Doesn't look like the rod was ever bent or anything, so I'll definitely be hooking that up before running that new tranny.
By the way, the new tranny has NEVER been run at all.
I still cant get the linkage to be close to a 1/1 ratio with the throttle. . . doesnt seem to move the kickdown lever on the trans enough.
Doesn't look like the rod was ever bent or anything, so I'll definitely be hooking that up before running that new tranny.
By the way, the new tranny has NEVER been run at all.
01-04-2012 | 02:54 PM
#7
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 181
From: Houston, Texas
Yep, like I said thats what I believe it was back then.
I still cant get the linkage to be close to a 1/1 ratio with the throttle. . . doesnt seem to move the kickdown lever on the trans enough.
Doesn't look like the rod was ever bent or anything, so I'll definitely be hooking that up before running that new tranny.
By the way, the new tranny has NEVER been run at all.
I still cant get the linkage to be close to a 1/1 ratio with the throttle. . . doesnt seem to move the kickdown lever on the trans enough.
Doesn't look like the rod was ever bent or anything, so I'll definitely be hooking that up before running that new tranny.
By the way, the new tranny has NEVER been run at all.
http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPEtkdc.asp
01-04-2012 | 11:24 PM
#10
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Joined: Dec 2011
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If I were going to spend $130 on a part right now, it would have to be a windshield or something like that. . . the linkage is kind of goofy, but it's all there. I may as well figure it out in case I have to work on any in the future, IMO.
01-05-2012 | 09:24 AM
#12
Thread Starter
Mopar Fan
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 63
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damn, a reverse manual valve body sounds like fun. It was an option when I bought the modified trans, but I wanted it to operate more or less like a regular car.
So with a reverse manual valve body, I wouldn't need a kickdown at all or what ?
and wouldn't the car shift differently ? would there still be a 3 speed automatic so someone can just put it in "D" and go?
Is there some good reading on the subject you can point me to ?
Thanks.. . .
So with a reverse manual valve body, I wouldn't need a kickdown at all or what ?
and wouldn't the car shift differently ? would there still be a 3 speed automatic so someone can just put it in "D" and go?
Is there some good reading on the subject you can point me to ?
Thanks.. . .
01-05-2012 | 09:26 AM
#13
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 63
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this is whats got me thinking. . .
We KNOW The Cable Kit Will Work For You & Want You To Understand Why & How It Works So PLEASE CLICK Below To View The Complete Install Instructions, & See Why The TorqueFlite Kickdown Cable Kit Is Truly The ONLY Cable Kit On The Market That Already Figures Out & Gives You ALL The Travels & Ratios, So Your Not Stuck Trying To Figure It Out And Burn Up Your Transmission In The Process! From Perfect Install, Mounting, & Adjustment. To Getting The EXACT Throttle Pressure At Your TorqueFlite, Proper Shift Points, & The FULL LIFE OF YOUR TRANSMISSION!
We KNOW The Cable Kit Will Work For You & Want You To Understand Why & How It Works So PLEASE CLICK Below To View The Complete Install Instructions, & See Why The TorqueFlite Kickdown Cable Kit Is Truly The ONLY Cable Kit On The Market That Already Figures Out & Gives You ALL The Travels & Ratios, So Your Not Stuck Trying To Figure It Out And Burn Up Your Transmission In The Process! From Perfect Install, Mounting, & Adjustment. To Getting The EXACT Throttle Pressure At Your TorqueFlite, Proper Shift Points, & The FULL LIFE OF YOUR TRANSMISSION!
01-05-2012 | 01:14 PM
#14
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 181
From: Houston, Texas
this is whats got me thinking. . .
We KNOW The Cable Kit Will Work For You & Want You To Understand Why & How It Works So PLEASE CLICK Below To View The Complete Install Instructions, & See Why The TorqueFlite Kickdown Cable Kit Is Truly The ONLY Cable Kit On The Market That Already Figures Out & Gives You ALL The Travels & Ratios, So Your Not Stuck Trying To Figure It Out And Burn Up Your Transmission In The Process! From Perfect Install, Mounting, & Adjustment. To Getting The EXACT Throttle Pressure At Your TorqueFlite, Proper Shift Points, & The FULL LIFE OF YOUR TRANSMISSION!
We KNOW The Cable Kit Will Work For You & Want You To Understand Why & How It Works So PLEASE CLICK Below To View The Complete Install Instructions, & See Why The TorqueFlite Kickdown Cable Kit Is Truly The ONLY Cable Kit On The Market That Already Figures Out & Gives You ALL The Travels & Ratios, So Your Not Stuck Trying To Figure It Out And Burn Up Your Transmission In The Process! From Perfect Install, Mounting, & Adjustment. To Getting The EXACT Throttle Pressure At Your TorqueFlite, Proper Shift Points, & The FULL LIFE OF YOUR TRANSMISSION!
01-05-2012 | 02:41 PM
#15
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 18
From: Lynnhood, Wa
damn, a reverse manual valve body sounds like fun. It was an option when I bought the modified trans, but I wanted it to operate more or less like a regular car.
So with a reverse manual valve body, I wouldn't need a kickdown at all or what ?
and wouldn't the car shift differently ? would there still be a 3 speed automatic so someone can just put it in "D" and go?
Is there some good reading on the subject you can point me to ?
Thanks.. . .
So with a reverse manual valve body, I wouldn't need a kickdown at all or what ?
and wouldn't the car shift differently ? would there still be a 3 speed automatic so someone can just put it in "D" and go?
Is there some good reading on the subject you can point me to ?
Thanks.. . .
Nope, You'd have to shift yourself. But YOU get to shift whenever you want.
01-05-2012 | 03:26 PM
#17
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 18
From: Lynnhood, Wa
Not really.. All you have to say is just shift it, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
I will never run kick down linkage on any car, ever. RMVB is the only way to go, makes everything simple, you decide what you want to do as far as shift points. And its simple enough as just buying a valvebody
01-08-2012 | 05:48 AM
#19
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,520
Likes: 117
From: DeLeon Springs, Florida
Welcome to the forum... You are getting a very good story going!! Keep it up and sooner or later it will all be worked out.... Take a lot of pictures when making changes.. Down the road you will be glad you did!!!! While on here be sure to check out the Mopar of the Month contest....
01-17-2012 | 10:35 AM
#21
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Yep! that's what I'm learning. . . .I really love and enjoy the support, planning on getting her on the road by March, with a few upgrades, and a new carpet, possibly new seats too.
I really, truly appreciate all this info, I wish I had this 18 years ago when I was a dumb kid with no idea of what I was doing. . . lol
I really, truly appreciate all this info, I wish I had this 18 years ago when I was a dumb kid with no idea of what I was doing. . . lol
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