1965 Coronet AWB Build

[skicker]

Had a decent day of weather here...

Pushed the car out in the sun to clean-up a little inside...

Hooked up everything for the clutch pivot and the clutch rod...

 

[Sander65]

Looking awesome man! Been following your progress for awhile. Inspirational! Taking notes for my 65. Can't wait to see more!

 

[skicker]

Thx...

I got the headers back and got them installed...

I like the finish...

It's Eastwood High Temp Matte Silver...

Found 3/8" fine thread nuts with a huge shoulder on the back and 5/8" head to fasten them on with...

Once the headers were on the front chassis bars and shocks were installed...

Steering column is also installed...

 

[skicker]

I picked up a new radiator as the other one I liked so much tested more like a fountain...

Got it installed along with the radiator hoses...

The fuel lines from the chassis bar to the carbs are also installed along with the fuel filters...

 

[skicker]

Not a big deal but I also managed to get the right hand kick panel installed...

I'm re-routing the tach cable when I finish the throttle pedal bracket...

This left me an open grommet to run the temp gauge through once the dash is installed...

Left hand side kick panel will go in once some more wiring is finished...

 

[VANDAN]

sk, You Are a Machine !!! I'm wishin' I had half Your Effort on tap !!!

 

[skicker]

Thx...Its been too long and I just want it done...

Not much has happened here lately...

The guy who painted my car got his hand hurt...

I've been spending time helping assemble his car...

Deal was to have them both done by Memorial Day weekend so neither should be a problem...

I finished sorting out the new throttle pedal bracket...

Clipped the cable in place and everything works smoothly...

Got it painted and installed along with the alternator...

I drilled for the new tach cable location and installed the grommet and cable...

The alternator doesn't look like it lines up in the pics but it is dead on...

 

[skicker]

I got the new alternator belt installed after the first one I bought was too short...

Finished up 90% of the wiring...

The other 10% is the line lock and the field wire for the alternator which I can do later...

Headlights...tail lights...dome lights and gauge light wiring all works now...

Minus the drivers side high beam which took it upon itself to work for 5 minutes and then blow out...

Ignition is finished...and the starter works from the key as it should...

Got the aluminum in the dash installed and the gauges hooked up...

Put the balance of the fuel lines on from the gas tank to the fuel pump...

Fired right up first try and had it running for about 15 minutes...

Okay...2nd try as the 50CC pump gaskets in the 660's were dry and hard...

Sounds just like I hoped it would...

Leaked a very small amount of oil out of the valve covers like I figured it would...

Tried to take a video but only got my finger covering the camera...

Kind of sums up my whole week...

Need to chase a few more Demons out of it and then let it run a little longer...

I must have been busy since I didn't take any new pictures...

 

[skicker]

Had it running for a little while today...

Holding about 75#'s of oil pressure...

Probably should have let it warm up a little more...

 

[skicker]

There has been some progress but since work picked up things aren't going as fast as usual on the car...

I ordered a driveshaft and have it here to install...

In case anyone's curious it ended up 32 3/4" long...

I sent the car out and had it lettered...

Finally decided on a name for it too...

 

[Black_Sheep]

Awesome lettering job and the name is perfect…

 

[skicker]

Thx guys...

Still trying to complete a few things...

The list I had of 50 some odd items is down to about 10...

Since I have had to fabricate everything for this I don't know why I thought the 65 A 990 seats and factory SS seat brackets would work...

They would be fine for Rico Abreu...

I'm short and I can't drive it where it ends up...

I've made templates to move it back and also up a little...just need to start fabricating them up...

I put the front yoke on the driveshaft and just set it up in the rear yoke...

One quick glance and I am going to have to modify a few things as the pinion needs more angle...

Moving on to a few things I thought would be easier I needed to find a way to mount the air cleaners or velocity stacks on the 660 carbs...

They sell a bracket but at $60.00 each that isn't going to happen...

Some flat stock and a 1/4-20 coupler along with some cutting...welding and grinding and all is good...

All of the front brake hardware and lines are completed...

Waiting on a new rear brake hose for the rear end and I can then bleed the brakes...

I did pick up the tags and put insurance on it so when it is ready I can take it around the block without any grief...

 

[skicker]

Among the things I was able to finish...

I got the shifter boot and trim ring installed...

Battery hold down and battery disconnect switch are finished...

The front drag link and steering arms are painted and installed...

Hurst line lock is wired up...

Steering wheel is tight along with installing the center cap...

I put 4 new headlights in it as they were all a different shade of old...

New bracket for the throttle return spring is fabricated and installed...

All grease and zirk fittings are greased in the driveshaft and the entire front end...

Fabbed up the exhaust and installed it...all 18" worth...

Just need to keep at it...the clock is ticking on being done May 24th...

 

[skicker]

more pics...

Last one is of the new front seats...

 

[skicker]

Today it made its first movement under its own power in nearly 20 years...

Granted I only pulled it out of the garage...turned it around and put it back in...

Kinda sketchy moving it around with the seat on a couple 4x6's...

Driveshaft was installed and I modified the rear spring perches to help the ride height and the pinion angle...

Brakes are all finished and bled...

It has tags and insurance...

Just might take it to Mason Dixon on Sunday if everything goes right...

I'll trailering it as I'm not about to try a 140 mile round trip for its maiden voyage...

And I did purchase a pair of good earplugs...

Pretty happy with the journey from when it started till now...

Not sure I'm up for another project just yet...

 

[skicker]

Took the AWB car to Hagerstown for the Mopar show...

Outside of put putting around the neighborhood it is the first time it was out...

At 140 mile round trip I decided to trailer it...

Seemed like a good reaction to it...

Going to take it up to Jennerstown Pa. tomorrow...

 

[VANDAN]

Looks Great sk, and Congrats on getting it out this year !!!

 

[skicker]

So I took it up to Jennerstown Pa. on Friday night for a benefit car show...

Ran into Jim Kramer there with his 65 Hemi AWB Car...

Place was packed...

Sun was hot and so was all the blacktop...

Took it to breakfast Saturday morning and back home...

Thought I felt a small vibration coming back...checks all the lugs and the U joints...nothing wrong...

Drove it to a show Saturday evening and it returned on the rollback...

To make a long story short I now need to find a pair of 67 Econoline van stock front hubs...

I had added 1" front wheel spacers to use the the Ansen center caps since they were too shallow to clear the hub dust caps...

The spacers I used were just flat aluminum that bolt on and then you bolt the wheel to them...

Seems the van hubs have a small knurl on the end of the wheel studs that protrudes through the brake drums...

That small knurl is what tightened against the wheel spacers and never really clamped the spacer to the drum and the hub...

Those studs started to clearance themselves in the spacers which made the studs back out of the hub and loosened the 5 inner lug nuts on the spacers...

Vibration got worse and while turning it around tried to break the spacer off of the hub...

Nothing that matters received any damage...wheels are fine...

I need a pair of hubs and a new set of drums and shoes and I'm good...

Live and learn...all the hard way...

 

[67MPRFAN]

I'm glad all the hard work paid off for you,
And you were able to enjoy it for a brief minute. Look at it this way it gives you something to tinker with in your spare time

 

[VANDAN]

Break-In miles are an important part of the Build. You'll get it worked out, and have an "Awesome Ride" to Enjoy !!!