Meet Max the '71 Coronet

[Rennkafer]

Managed to get some time without rain today so I snagged the seats and carpet out of the car. Floor looks pretty decent, though there's some scale on the drivers side front. Similar to what I found in the trunk, so I might have a few pinholes to fix. Still super dirty, it was getting dark so vacuuming it up will have to wait. Overall though, it's not bad for a 52yr old car that didn't live its life in the desert.
I also found the original trunk/glovebox key, and the remains of the broadcast sheet, the key was under the carpet and broadcast sheet under the front seat springs.

 

[Rennkafer]

Almost forgot, I'd pulled the rear seat out of the Challenger donor, and yesterday I decided to clean it up to see how it looked. May try to adapt it to the Coronet (though it's slightly narrower).

Before/After Cleaning... has one small hole in the perforated leather, but I believe there's a large enough piece on the bent passenger front seat that an upholstery shop could fix that.

 

[collins76]

Oh the wiring is being marked and treated very gently as I remove it. That's one of the biggest reasons to buy a complete car, those harnesses are NOT cheap. I'm also keeping all the nuts/bolts/clips/boots/etc from everything removed. Even if I don't use them on the Coronet, other projects might use them.
Of course, this is why I have bins of this sort of stuff after 40+ years of doing car stuff here...

Hello. This is ok. I do this too. I also have several trash cans. I never know when I might need something or what I might find there.

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO from Pa

 

[Manfred]

Great project, There is a 75 4 door at my local wrecking yard that is pretty complete and priced right ( scrap is low). I'm tempted. I think the 71-78 B body 4 doors are just great looking cars. 73 Satellite ex-state patrol was my first car, everything totally worn out, forced me into becoming a mechanic

 

[Rennkafer]

73 Satellite ex-state patrol was my first car, everything totally worn out, forced me into becoming a mechanic

Ya, that was sort of the case with my first Coronet, at least the suspension was pretty tired. First mechanical job I ever did on my own was replacing the lifters on the 400.

Current one is the same (at about the same mileage as the first one), suspension is pretty deceased. That's getting some significant upgrades though (still sticking with leafs/torsions).

 

[Rennkafer]

Latest News... I drove it! First time under its own power in a couple decades from what I can tell. It's still not really happy, but I haven't replaced any of the ignition wear items or checked the timing. Transmission works fine, no odd noises but the exhaust is full of holes so I'll reserve final judgement on the noises until that gets replaced. On that, I got the exhaust pulled from under the wrecked Challenger. Turns out it's 2.25", so I'm going to use the X-pipe and mufflers on the Coronet. Also got some better photos of it since it was out from where I had it parked working on it.

Only drove it about a half mile or so, but that will go up as dry days occur (rarely in WA this time of year). I'm supposed to be getting exhaust put on it between Xmas and New Years, and have a State Patrol VIN inspection on Jan 4th (in WA you have to do this to retitle the car if a yard had it). Been a huge pain to get the inspection appointment, due to our SP being understaffed so they closed several local inspection stations.

 

[torredcuda]

Nothing wrong with a four door, I have this Satellite Custom I`ll get back to someday after my road runner is done unless I sell it before then.

 

[It’s just me]

Ok progress over the last week or so has been spotty, as it's shifted to the usual October-June rainy season here in the Pacific NorthWet, but I have gotten a few things accomplished. New fuel tank was prepped, evap tank in the rear fenderwell was removed, cleaned up, painted and all new hoses, fuel tank and evap tank installed. Rear brakes readjusted (I like them up tight when bleeding a new system), stock wheels are back on for now, and car is back on the ground. Got the electrical pieces back in the engine bay and hooked up that I'd taken out to paint, got the oil changed, and refitted the air cleaner. All that's left before the first real run of the engine (I fired it back when I first got it very briefly) is some vacuum lines I'm going to replace, and replacing the fusible link with an inline fuse since it's in rough shape.

pics as always...

Engine bay as bought and current
View attachment 1541854View attachment 1541856
New fuel tank and evap tank with new lines in place...
View attachment 1541859View attachment 1541858
Car back on the ground on the oem wheels for now. Have to go through the front end and have an alignment done before I put on the nicer wheels with new tires.
View attachment 1541860

Looking good. Where did you get that new Evap tank from?

 

[Rennkafer]

Looking good. Where did you get that new Evap tank from?

That's the original evap tank, cleaned and painted. Same paint as the fuel tank, which is new.

 

[Rennkafer]

Nothing wrong with a four door, I have this Satellite Custom I`ll get back to someday after my road runner is done unless I sell it before then.

Oh, you should definitely finish that Satellite!

 

[Rennkafer]

So let's see... since the last update I've fit the Corbeau seats (only one installed currently), removed the rear bumper to get the tail light housings out and replace the sockets. The left side were all non-functional due to rusty sockets, replacing both sides while I'm in there. Cleaned the back side of the bumper, rust converted and painted it. Figured out what sockets I needed and got them here. Blasted the housings and bumper brackets and repainted them, and painted the outside edges of the lenses. Just have to wire in the new sockets and install them in the housings, then it can all go back together. For anyone doing this on this vintage B-Body the 1157 bulb sockets (Tail/Stop/Turn) are Standard Motor Products HP4040, and the single wire 1156 (Reverse) sockets are NAPA 787112. The HP4040's can be had on RockAuto for less than $2 ea, the NAPA were ~$6 ea. Also cleaned and waxed the body behind the bumper and buffed/waxed the rear valance. The latter probably hasn't been cleaned since Nov. 1970 when the car was built.

Pics as always...

 

[Rennkafer]

Almost forgot, since I had the buffer out I did the front valance as well... no front plate on "classic" licensed cars in WA state, so I had to clean up the grunge behind the plate bracket.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year FBBO!

 

[Rennkafer]

Had a chance to get more work done on the tail lights. Replaced the sockets (superglued in so if I need to replace later, I can). Everything protected with shrink tube, and then wrapped with TESA tape (the cloth stuff, similar looking to OEM). All bulbs are now LED. I got to use my power probe for the first time for this, super handy tool, I think it will see a lot of use.

 

[ckessel]

An "illuminating" day then?

 

[multimopes]

An "illuminating" day then?

Or seeing the Light!, LOL!

 

[ckessel]

Good thing the electrical system isn't from the Prince of Darkness.

 

[Rennkafer]

Good thing the electrical system isn't from the Prince of Darkness.

Oh I have plenty of experience there... 4 years of my decade doing restorations professionally involved Mr. Lucas, and I currently also own a '71 Mini.

 

[Rennkafer]

Happy Day! Max has had his State Patrol VIN inspection and passed easily. Probably the most pleasant interaction I've ever had with WSP. Inspector wants a photo of the car to put on their "cool cars we've inspected" wall.

Now I have a title/license/insurance on the car and I can put some miles on it in the US instead of having to go to Mexico.

 

[Rennkafer]

Max made it to his first car show today! I live about 25 miles from Griot's Garage headquarters in Tacoma, WA, and they do a show every first Saturday. Since it wasn't raining for a change and not sub-freezing I decided to see how the trip would go. We made the trip there and back ok, it's not running perfect yet (stumbling on light throttle cruise a fair bit) but including a small side trip on the way home it made the 60-65 mile round trip without me walking or needing AAA assistance. I'll call it a win.