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66 convertable Coronet project

Posted By: Hemi ragtop

66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 04:42 PM

I have wanted to build a convertable B body with a HIMI since by school teacher brought one home new in 66'. I finally started in 07 when I purchased a nice driving car. It took several years to buy and assemble the engine, K frame, Dana etc. I built sub assmblies while I waited for money for body work etc. By 09 the HEMI was built and dynoed at 635 HP @ 5,900 rpm, (it is 540 c.i.) There were a lot of herdles to overcome but I just brought it home from the interior shop last week. Next the hood (with metal RO/WO 23 hoodscoop), front bumper and etc. will be installed.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 04:47 PM

Sorry, got the pics out of order. The first is with the car at its worst, in the body shop

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 04:52 PM

In searching for a HEMI, I came across a new shortblock, "Mega" block, 4.5" Callies billit crank, Manley H beam rods, Diamond coated pistons etc. It was a lot bigger than I wanted for a street car, (540 c.i.) but why not live a little? With a mild solid roller and stock Mopar aluminum heads it made 600ft. lb. of torque as soon as the dyno load was installed and 635 HP @ 5,900 rpm at peak.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 04:55 PM

With the engine and trans done, and the K frame built, it seemed easiest to install by dropping the body over the drivetrain. I have been told that this is impossible but here are the photos to prove it.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 04:57 PM

After the body drop, it was back home in the basement to re install the windows, regulators and etc.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 04:59 PM

There are some things that you just can't do by yourself. Even though I had the 8-3/4 in and out numerous times by myself, I had to "cry uncle" when it came to installing the Dana. Luckily, a neighbor was out of beer, so an afternoons help cost less than a six pack!

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 05:02 PM

With the doors, fenders and glass in the car, it was time to go to the interior shop. I am fortunate to have a very talented, (and patient) interior shop owner just 5 miles from where I live. Driving the car over was my first experiance with the HEMI, (more on that later)

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 05:05 PM

The interior installer quickly learned that Mopar convertable tops, window adjustments etc. are very different from GM! It took extra time but between me and an assembly manual, we managed

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 05:06 PM

I am very pleased with his work, notice how tight the top is in the corners.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 05:10 PM

There are still some small issues with curtesy lights etc. but I am very pleased. Now to install the hood, front bumper and get the whole car aligned, including setting the cal tracs. I know it wont have any traction but hopefully it will stay straight!

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Posted By: Anonymous

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 05:45 PM

Me likey very nice!
We definitely need more pics than this though.
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:24 PM

Well thank you very much! LOL. I have TOO MANY pictures but here are some more. If you have questions, I have no secrets and will answer.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:27 PM

The picture above is a nice drivable car, with a nice economical engine, watch what happens next....

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:30 PM

Out with economy and in with Horsepower. Honestly, I have only driven it 10 miles or so, but I am beginning to wonder about people who drive "street" cars with 900+ HP. I will say this, they have larger cahunas than I do!

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:36 PM

Of course cramming all of this into the existing space can present a challenge. One is, with a 4.5" stroke, you don't have room for a stock internal pickup. So the drag link goes through the pan ala Ramchargers. What do you do when the link hits the top of the hole on one side, and the bottom of the hole on the other? I didn't know either, but you won't believe the simple solution if I told you!

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:40 PM

With the exception of the paint, interior and help by a buddy with a lift, I did all the work in my basement. The car (unibody bare) came home from paint in March 2011, I rolled it outside to start the engine on October 1,2011.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:44 PM

When I say Rebuilt everything at home, take a look at the work bench that the dash is on! All the instruments are new with the exception of the speedo. I bought it restored. By the way, I like 150 mph vs 120 so it is out of a 67' RT.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:48 PM

Heater boxes are overlooked. I don't know how many times I have ridden in a "restored" car and at road speed with the vents open, trash is coming out into my eyes and all over the new interior! Heater boxes are simple to build and the parts are cheap. Look what I found in mine!

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:50 PM

One of the few jobs that just took "a weekend" to complete.

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Posted By: larry4406

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/05/12 11:56 PM

Very nice. What is the white 'teens car in the background?
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 12:01 AM

I wanted a 66' wood wheel. Some people said they were not available till 68'. My original sales brochure showed one and shure enough, I found one on Ebay cheap cause it had several large cracks in it. So did the original Blue wheel in the car. So I fixed the wood wheel for under $50 bucks and bought ALL of the material from Ace Hardware. Seriously, the epoxy says right on the can, "for steering wheel repair". This is a close up of a typical crack.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 12:04 AM

Next, apply epoxy, wait for it to dry and sand into shape desired. Then again with 400 grit.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 12:07 AM

This picture was taken after HAND painting the woodgrain with two different colors of oil Ace hardware paint, (they sell artists brushes too) and a couple coats of clear.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 12:14 AM

Next is the hood and front bumper. They are ready they were just waiting for the car to come back from the interior shop. Give me time to install them, and some small pieces of trim, and I will get some good finished shots outside in good light. I built the car to drive and enjoy. I didn't set out to build a show winner nor did I have any plans to compete at the Nats etc. I just hope to end up with a fun, relaiable, fast B body convertable that I can be proud of.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 12:49 AM

Quote:

Very nice. What is the white 'teens car in the background?



LOL, that is my 70 Chevelle top 25 Chevelle Nats trophy. It took me a long time, but I got sick of being "just another nice Chevelle". For instance. In 89', I took a 66' that I had built to the Super Chevy Bristol show. I had found a ZL 1 all aluminum engine in pieces and built it with a 67' Corvette tri power. I JUST KNEW I had something different. The judges spent maybie 10 minutes on the car and walked away. I overheard one asking, "wonder why that idiot painted his engine silver"? There was a Winters foundry snowflake the size of a half dollar on the front of the block! It took awhile, but I got tired of being one of 70,000. According to the Chrysler records that I have, there were only 6 HEMI Coronet convertables built in 66'. I have never seen one, even at the "year of the Coronet" at the Nats. this car is for me. I built it my way. Hope everyone likes it. If not, tough, I LOVE it!
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 12:58 AM

Quote:

Very nice. What is the white 'teens car in the background?




Larry, sorry, I thought you ment the pic in the background in my basement. The "teens" car in the interior shop with my coronet is a 1913? American Motors touring car. It is owned by Corkey Coker's dad. Harold.
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/06/12 05:16 PM

WOW, she turned out amazing! I am also building a '66 Coronet Vert but she won't be sporting a Hemi like yours.

I'm going to keep an eye on this one

~Mike
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/07/12 12:22 AM

Thanks Mike, I appreciate that. Acording to the info that I have, there were only 2,600 or so built. so either way, you are restoring/saving a rare Mopar!
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 01:38 AM

I finally got the hood, front bumper and etc. installed. It is almost done. I have to get it aligned, fix a dead short in the rear courtesy lamps, and start driving it on short trips to break everything in.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 01:42 AM

2

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 01:45 AM

3

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 01:47 AM

4

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 01:48 AM

5

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 01:50 AM

6

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Posted By: NV69B7RR

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 02:05 AM

That car is stunning! Incredible job!!!
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 11:35 AM

Thank you very much. It makes all the time spent in my basement locked up like a hermit, worth while to hear people say that.
Posted By: 2fast4yourBrain

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/24/12 03:20 PM

Insane!

Prolly the best '66 in existence! WOW! Best color combo!

Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/25/12 01:52 AM

Thank you very much. It makes all the work worthwhile to hear comments like that! I did the best I could working in my basement and with the help of good friends who could paint and a great interior man. I tried to pick a car that had not been done by everyone, (I like to be a little different). Mike @ BE&A has an awfully nice 4 door on this site. He no doubt had a far more difficult build. He did the car 100% original. That means he had to find the one year only parts etc. I had it easy, if I liked it, I built it that way. I shure appreciate the kind comments though, thanks again!
Posted By: 1_WILD_RT

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/26/12 07:19 AM

Very Very Nice!!! Great color combo, the man that stretched your top did a great job, I'm sure it's a fun one to drive.... Pretty sad the car show judge couldn't recognize a legend... He shouldn't have any trouble this time..

We have a member here with an original 66 Hemi Belvedere Vert in Mauve Poly.. Stunning car, have you seen it?
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 02/27/12 12:02 PM

No I haven't seen the member's car. I would love to though. Are there any pics on the site that I could access? Acording to my Chrysler engine manual, there were only 6 hemi convertables built. I have seen a dark Blue and a Silver car but that is it. Thanks for the comments on my project, it helps make all the work worthwhile!
Posted By: 2fast4yourBrain

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/20/12 05:48 AM

Got any more pics? Of higher resolution?

Profile shots?

Gotta be one of my all-time favorite Mopars I have ever seen on Moparts! Don't know why, but this sucker just speaks to me. If I had the $$$, I'd make an offer you couldn't refuse only b/c it exactly how I'd want a '66 Coronet!
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/20/12 11:53 AM

Thank you very much! Sorry that the photos are not larger, or higher resolution, I am just not as computer literate as some of the guys on here. Saturday I took it out for a shake down pass. Just finished getting the front end aligned etc. Nothing fell off! LOL. Actually, it is a blast to drive. I used Firm Feel products in the suspension and it corners flat. The HEMI is everything and MORE than I expected, the power just is phenominal. Here are some photos from Saturday. PS thanks for the offer, but I couldn't part with it. I have wanted a HEMI vert since I was 12. Now in my 50's, how could I put a price on three years of work that didn't allow vacations, evenings and weekends with family and friends?

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/20/12 11:57 AM

Here is another shot

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/20/12 11:59 AM

The hood kind of breaks up the "sleeper" theme.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/20/12 12:01 PM

I appologize to the purists, the interior color is not correct. But, NEITHER IS THE CAR! LOL

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/20/12 12:06 PM

Still my personal favorite about the car. 540 cubic inches and torque that pegged 600+ from the second the dyno started the pull and all the way through.

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Posted By: 2fast4yourBrain

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/21/12 05:08 PM

Correct, be dammed! That is THE best '66 period!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/22/12 04:54 AM

Absolutely stunning!
You definitely give the rest of the guys who are doing their own projects at home the mojo to keep going and not give up. These projects take serious commitment in order to see it through to the end and now you can add yourself to the list of people who have done just that. WELL DONE!
Posted By: gregsrt

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/22/12 05:41 AM

Awesome car. I love red int on black. Is the interior a bright red? In the pic it almost looks like a terracotta. Very nice indeed. My wife saw this pic and told me I need to make the interior red on my black 66.
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/22/12 11:17 AM

Thanks. You are so right. The hardest part of a "build it at home"
project is figuring out how to do things when there is no one there to help. My advise is to buy an assembly manual before you even take the car apart. Also be SHURE that you want a finished car bad enough to give up almost everything else that you want to do for several years! A friend of mine told me when I started, "always accomplish SOMETHING on the car every week". Never walk away discouraged and just let it sit, never quit. Of course this was not my first build and I knew that. Still, the builds get harder as I get "more mature" LOL!

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/22/12 11:23 AM

Quote:

Awesome car. I love red int on black. Is the interior a bright red? In the pic it almost looks like a terracotta. Very nice indeed. My wife saw this pic and told me I need to make the interior red on my black 66.


The interior is Corvette, (gasp!) Torch Red. I looked at Red interiors and chose the shade that I wanted and Legendary built it for me for 10% upcharge. By the way, I don't know about the other interior/top manufacturers, but I am VERY pleased with the Lengendary parts.
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 03/22/12 11:37 AM

Quote:

Absolutely stunning!
You definitely give the rest of the guys who are doing their own projects at home the mojo to keep going and not give up. These projects take serious commitment in order to see it through to the end and now you can add yourself to the list of people who have done just that. WELL DONE!


Thanks! That is a high complement indeed and I appreciate it. Still, I could not have built a car to this level without some very talented friends who worked HARD on the paint etc. True, I did ALL the assembly at home in my basement but without experts in the areas I could NOT do, such as paint, I would have ended up with a very different car. One piece of advise for the home builder, do ALL you can do yourself, anything that you have to farm out will cost four times what you estimate!
Posted By: AMXDuster

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/24/12 09:35 PM

Agree with everything said about this car, looks great, congrats on finishing the project! I'm working on a '66 hardtop, considering the factory red interior, but I don't blame you for not liking that OEM shade of red, its more like a dark red/maroon color. Thanks for the pics, well done!

Arvid Svendsen
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 11:16 AM

I was suprised to see my post "reapear". I am not shure how that happened, but since it did, here are some updates. I entered the car in the "Grand Run" in the spring and got a lot of advice to finish the chrome trim. I had it, just had not had time to refinish the wheelwell trim etc. and get it installed for the show. So over the summer, I got it done and entered the Fall "Grand Run". I was awarded with a second "Top 25". Considering the competition, I am very pleased. Here are a few update photos.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 11:23 AM

another shot

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 11:29 AM

Atlantic Coast Plating did a great job on the air breather and valve covers.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 11:34 AM

I think the chrome helped.

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Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 11:37 AM

The car has been a pure pleasure. Now that the show season is done, it is a BALL to drive!

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Posted By: NV69B7RR

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 03:16 PM

Your car is absoloutly stunning! Great job, you od awesome work!
Posted By: UCUDANT

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/26/12 10:20 PM

Quote:

The car has been a pure pleasure. Now that the show season is done, it is a BALL to drive!




I'll bet it is.... that car is sweet
Posted By: AMXDuster

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/27/12 09:16 PM

Trim looks great on the car, especially helpful on a black car. Again, WOW, great job!

Arvid Svendsen
Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/28/12 12:29 AM

Nice...
Posted By: Hemi ragtop

Re: 66 convertable Coronet project - 09/28/12 12:39 AM

Thanks for the comments everyone. I was hesitant to drill the trim holes when the car had won a top 25 without the trim! I had found the trim, (not a cheap or easy proposition on a 66') but had not had the time to refinish it. The wheelwell trim is stainless and it took several weeks of every evening to straighten, sand and polish it. I do think it helped the car though. Again, thanks for all the nice comments, it makes it all worth while.

Lynn
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