1966 Coronet Project

[Dartn440]

After building a bunch of A bodies I made a trade on a truck I was going to build for 2 1966 Coronets. Took all the parts that were stuffed in the titled car today and will start the show.

I just bought a big parts lot and 2 additional 66 parts cars….I think I can build at least 1 good one.

Bucket seat console car was originally light blue with white interior. Car will be anything but original when I am done.

 

[71RRHI]

Good to see another Coronet saved.

 

[Dartn440]

Took the console apart and ready to get it in a bit better shape. Taking apart an almost 60 year old piece of plastic was a bit nerve wracking.

Step one. Polish the stainless. The console box was locked anyone have any ideas where to replacements or unlock?

 

[ckessel]

I like your thinking. Make a nice one out of two. BTW, love your avatar.

 

[Dave6T4]

You have a mix of '66 and '67 sheetmetal, there. Bright blue metallic stuff looks to be '67. Headlight pots in front fenders are different than '66. Form on rear deck lid is different, too. Center section on '66 deck lid is depressed, while it is raised on '67. Nice to see another Coronet getting saved. Have fun! I have a 1967 Coronet R/T.

 

[Dartn440]

You have a mix of '66 and '67 sheetmetal, there. Bright blue metallic stuff looks to be '67. Headlight pots in front fenders are different than '66. Form on rear deck lid is different, too. Center section on '66 deck lid is depressed, while it is raised on '67. Nice to see another Coronet getting saved. Have fun! I have a 1967 Coronet R/T.

You are correct, the parts car has the right sheet metal. The bright blue stuff is 67 for sure, but I wasn’t going to say no to free sheet metal. Needs front floor pans and rear glass. The windows won’t budge on the car. Came with full front end rebuild parts, a disc brake conversion, and a new fuel tank and sender.

 

[Dartn440]

I like your thinking. Make a nice one out of two. BTW, love your avatar.

Thanks, that’s the wifey. We are done making a family after 9 kids. I retired from the Army after 34 years and work part time now to fund my hobbies and pay for food…lol

 

[Dartn440]

Well today I nearly completed the console. Have the back metal piece to sand blast and paint and two repairs to plastic to make. Tore the thing down completely. Driver quality for sure but I’m happy.

 

[Dartn440]

Got a remote mirror done. Not sure I can save the stainless trim or the center rim. Might need to go another route on those.

Any idea on replacement bulbs? Couldn’t read numbers after the extraction process…lol

 

[Dave6T4]

Well today I nearly completed the console. Have the back metal piece to sand blast and paint and two repairs to plastic to make. Tore the thing down completely. Driver quality for sure but I’m happy.

View attachment 1799657

View attachment 1799658

View attachment 1799659

View attachment 1799660

View attachment 1799661

Console appears to be 1967 or newer, because it is one piece. The 1966 consoles were two piece, with the rear segment being a bolt-on unit. This allowed the base console to be also be used in Chargers, by bolting on the long rear console piece.

 

[Dartn440]

Unfortunately that’s the only one I have, the other car has a base in it. I’ll check it out and see if it is a 2 piece next time I get to the shop.

 

[ckessel]

If you have your owners manual, there will be a listing of bulb numbers and positions. Top one may be a 1004, lower a 67. LED replacements available. I replaced my interior and exterior bulbs with LED's. What a difference!
You can repair the plastic on the console. Use something along the line of Duramix or 3M material. You'll need a double barrel gun for it. It will actually chemically weld the plastic unlike JB Weld and other epoxies that just sit there without bonding. Since this stuff is pricey, especially after you've bought the gun and you may not need it again after the initial repairs, maybe see if a friend/contact at a body shop has this or similar material.
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Company-3...sprefix=duramix+plastic+repair,aps,416&sr=8-5

 

[Dave6T4]

The '67 console will work just fine, if you are not building numbers matching. It is a small detail that most spectators would never notice.

 

[Don Frelier]

I don't think the woodgrain console top plate would be for a 66 either.

But if you like it that's cool

 

[Dartn440]

Decisions decisions. Police wheels and these caps I got in the load of parts I bought or these wheels? Need new centers and restoring. Have one rim that I need to get a tire off to validate it is the same size as the 3rd rim in the stack. Two are wider than the other.

 

[Dartn440]

Yeah…my luck the rims don’t match. 3 are 6” wide and I is 5 1/2. I’ll have to scavenge the next time I pick up some parts

 

[440 4 speed]

If you get some scrap ABS, you can cut up some thin pieces and put them into a glass jar with MEK, finger nail polish remover or acetone it will discover and make a nice glue.
Shape a piece of ABS to the inside console top. I used a heat gun.
Clamp the reinforcement to the housing with the glue underneath, it creates a great bond. I used masking tape on the topside to cover the crack. It does have a grain.
Wait for things to set up.
Used SEM plastic prep, then sprayed it.
I believe most of those cracks were caused by someone kneeling on it to talk to people in the front seat buckets.
Yours could be done so nicely.

 

[440 4 speed]

Going to try to send pictures of the one for our car.