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My First Mopar

Keep the patina?


  • Total voters
    20

Willaz

Member
Local time
5:55 PM
Joined
May 25, 2021
Messages
5
Reaction score
16
Location
Prescott Arizona
Hello from Prescott AZ,

I recently rescued a 1963 Polara 500 from a backyard where it sat since 1993 (the year I was born, lol).

The previous owner passed away a year ago, and the car has been disassembled since the mid-nineties. I'm in the process of cleaning out his garage and taking inventory of the (huge) parts stash he collected over the years. It's apparent he invested a lot of time and money into a project he unfortunately never saw completed.

Having a lifelong background in automotive and equipment service work (at the ripe age of 28, lol) and several years as a Toyota dealership technician, I will be reassembling/restoring the car into a ratty weekend cruiser myself. This is my first classic muscle car, and even with the aid of some old service manuals, I am finding myself overwhelmed with questions and parts identification.

The car was originally a 361/auto. The PO had a 440 built with 906 heads from Herb McCandless Performance along with other goodies. He also collected the parts for an A-883 4 speed swap. I intend to finish the 440 swap with a 727 auto transmission.

Glad to join the community, I'll be posting in the appropriate form looking for help with suspension parts ID and assembly next.
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Beautiful! I'd stick with the orig. color combo which is great!
 
Welcome from Alabama, the work lies ahead, but you have a clean slate. Make it yours. Your likes and dislikes will change along your Mopar journey. My only recommendation is don't butcher it.
 
Welcome from Georgia.
 
Welcome from the country of Texas!! :D And well, I'm a stick guy :)
 
Hello and Welcome from Connecticut! Glad to have you here, nice car I like the color combination. If it were mine I would say put the 440 and 4 speed in BUT keep original paint or patina and make it kind of like a "barn find" Super Stock tribute car
 
Welcome from Indiana. Nice looking early B. A service manual and parts manual are a great aid to help you piece that puzzle back together, that’s what I used on my 65. Had some friends that used to winter in Prescott Valley. Prescott is a neat town, is The Palace still open? How about the Reatta Pass Steakhouse?
 
Welcome from Ct. If you keep the patina seal it. After you get the car running and driving the way you can rethink the patina if it hasn't grown on you. I not a patina guy I got a Dodge that may end that way.
 
What a pile! I’ll take $300 to haul it off for you. ;).

Nice score! I’m in the valley. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Reconsider the 727 if you have the 4-speed parts. They’re a lot of fun on the street!
 
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