'68 Coronet 440 to R/T Clone

[Toxic Orange 493]

Installed the cluster, bezels and dash pad for hopefully the last time. Also test fit the top dash pad one last time before I sent it off to Just Dashes.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Well I guess that answers my question about repo dash pads... I have a pretty decent set for my car but they are 55 years ago, I've been looking at the new pads... I get to save money & have pads that actually fit...

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Time for another update since it has been about 9 months.

I sent the dash pad out to Just Dashes in May 2022. It was about 6-7 weeks for them to get it completed and sent back. While the price is expensive, I am very happy with their work.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Next up was rebuilding the transmission. Before I starting taking it apart, I was trying to figure out what it was from because it had the large 5.125" front bearing retainer. So I thought it might be an overdrive transmission, but after "running" it through the gears by hand, I determined it is a 23 spline '70 or earlier unit with the 2.66 first gear ratio. I decided to rebuild it and use it for a while until I swap it out for a 5 speed in the future.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Once I opened up the transmission, I was surprised by how relatively clean it was inside. I have no idea how long this one has been sitting or even where it was sitting. So I was expecting it to really need a lot replaced inside. From Brewers, I got both new bearings, all the seals, tailshaft bushing, new 3-4 shift lever, the correct 4.807" front bearing retainer and I am sure other things I am forgetting.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Started with sandblasting the case and then scrubbing it very thoroughly inside and out many times to make sure all of the grit was gone. Then it got a fresh coat of New Cast Iron Gray paint. All of the gears, main shaft, counter shaft and anything else being reused was cleaned for reassembly.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Prep for the cluster gear assembly.



And here it is ready to go into the case.


And then reinstalled along with the new front bearing and input shaft.



After this picture was taken, I removed the input shaft again. I initially made the mistake of thinking the front bearing was ok. Got a new front bearing, cleaned all of the input shaft up and then reinstalled.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Reverse gear installed.




Then reassembled the side cover with the new 3-4 shift lever. The original 3-4 shift lever nut on the outside of the case was so rusted it just twisted the threads right off the lever when I tried to remove it.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

New tailshaft bushing installed.



Then the mainshaft with all of the gears installed and back into the tailshaft housing.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

The most difficult part of rebuilding the transmission proved to be trying to get the mainshaft / tailhousing back together with the main case without knocking the roller bearings out of the input shaft. I didn't get any pictures of it, but I set the bellhousing with the side that bolts to the engine down on a couple 4"x4" boards. Then I set the main case of the transmission down into the bellshousing so it was vertical with the rear of the main housing pointing into the air. This way I could set the mainshaft/tailhousing straight down into the main case. I did that atleast 6-8 time before I was confident that all the bearings were still in the input shaft, the gasket was aligned properly and the tailhousing slide all the way into the main case. I was quite happy when it was all back together.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Next up was finishing the engine. My uncle worked in a machine shop building engines for over 40 years. This 440 was one of the last engine he built before retirement. It is a '74 block that is now stroked to a 493 using a Scat Crankshafts rotating assembly. Its has a forged crank, forged pistons and H beam rods.

 

[4speed68rt]

You are going all out on that '68. It's going to be a new car when you finally get it on the road. Thanks for sharing all the good stuff. When are you going to have it ready to show us?

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

You are going all out on that '68. It's going to be a new car when you finally get it on the road. Thanks for sharing all the good stuff. When are you going to have it ready to show us?

I am trying my best to have it completed so I can at least drive it once this summer. I still have A LOT to do, but I that is my goal.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Looking good.. Detail question... Do you have the little R/T medallion for the dash between the Speedo & Tach? It's a nice R/T only detail that your dash deserves.... I was gonna provide a link but it's no longer listed.... Many years ago I provided Mike Ross my original medallion as an example & he reproduced them... They are/were beautiful... Might be worth contacting him to see if he has any left....

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

I ordered the TTI headers in early 2022 and it was almost a 3 month wait for them. But that worked out because I got them just as I was finishing the assembly of the engine.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Looking good.. Detail question... Do you have the little R/T medallion for the dash between the Speedo & Tach? It's a nice R/T only detail that your dash deserves.... I was gonna provide a link but it's no longer listed.... Many years ago I provided Mike Ross my original medallion as an example & he reproduced them... They are/were beautiful... Might be worth contacting him to see if he has any left....

I do not have one yet, but I will reach out to him and see if he does have any more. Thanks for the info on them.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

BTW If I didn't mention it... Your car is looking AWESOME!!

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

Unfortunately at times I am not good at getting pictures. So when my uncle helped me bolt the rest of the engine together, I didn't get pictures of all the work we did. The cam is a custom grind hydraulic roller from Bullet Cams. The heads are the 88CC version of the Edelbrock RPMs. The intake is the Edelbrock Victor single plane that is setup for multiport injection.

 

[Toxic Orange 493]

BTW If I didn't mention it... Your car is looking AWESOME!!

Thank you! I appreciate it. I am doing the best that I can. It will not be perfect, but I hope that it will be a really nice driver.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Thank you! I appreciate it. I am doing the best that I can. It will not be perfect, but I hope that it will be a really nice driver.

All any sane person shoots for is a really nice driver, those intentionally chasing something more aren't exactly sane.... But when done an awful lot of nice drivers do show really well...