Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Finally made it home with the Charger. It originally had the 361 but we're going with a date coded 383 4 barrel. Mild cam and better exhaust. She wants it as a daily driver.
My personal project. Wife's 66 Charger.
- Thread starter Redcreekauto
- Start date
shorty64
Well-Known Member
Cool beans! Hope she enjoys the new ride!
mr. b
Well-Known Member
cool hope she enjoys it
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Other then the typical door dings this car is super clean. Interior is badly dried out and needs all new upholstery. Absolutely no rust through on this car. Floor pan is as good as new and even shiny under the carpet padding. I peeled away some undercoating and its perfect. No rust in quarters and fenders either. We're both very pleased with the little amount of body work it will take to restore this car. Hopefully have it completed by labor day weekend if all goes well. She wants it by July. That remains to be seen unless they can clone me several times over.
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Trailered the donor car over this morning. It suffered a cabin fire which completely gutted it but flames never reached the engine compartment. Engine turns over fine by hand and rags are stuffed down in the intake. Full tear down and rebuild if all checks out well. 383 w/torque flight transmission.
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Well tomorrow hopefully I will remove the drive train from the donor and get ready to tear the engine down. With luck it will hopefully be a good engine to rebuild. I pulled the valve covers and the tops of the heads are super clean with no rust or gunk buildup.
shorty64
Well-Known Member
don't forget that you also have some very nice extra parts there; ie front fenders, hood, front bumper, and all the headlight/grille/elec motor stuff much in demand for the 66 & 67s!
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Yes I will be removing everything possible to store. Once my wife's car is complete I will be selling off the extra parts.
Jeremiah
Well-Known Member
While these cars make excellent drivers I would recommend installing some sound deadening material on the floors and rear wheel wells. Having the rear wheel tubs exposed to the cabin makes this model tend to have a little road noise. I think our longest run in a '66 Charger was 15-16 hours and we felt like a million bucks when we reached our destination. Have fun!
gibber
Well-Known Member
Great project, best of luck with the resto. If you need EL gauge work, I'm glad to help!
Mark
Mark
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Trying to locate a 66 complete instrument panel for it still. As soon as I do I will have you work your magic on it Mark.
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
I pressure washed both cars today in preparation for engine removal from the donor car tomorrow. We will be using the full running gear from the donor as well as the nicer grill, rear bumper, and some other items on hers. She is really starting to push me to get it at least self mobile while we do the body work. Hers had been heavily undercoated and some peeled off under the rear wheel wells and showed nice shiny pale yellow paint. She wants it white but not to bright. And I have to duplicate the spray on vinyl top. I am having no luck finding out how the did this originally. Any ideas in this department would help!
A383Wing
Well-Known Member
looks like you have 67 vinyl top trim on a 66 car...minus the 2 front pieces at the top of the A-pillar...a better picture of the rear trim would help here.
66's had vinyl tops added on at dealer or aftermarket...they were never a "factory" option...in 67 the vinyl tops were added to the option list by Chrysler.
Tops were completely different between the 2 years
66's had vinyl tops added on at dealer or aftermarket...they were never a "factory" option...in 67 the vinyl tops were added to the option list by Chrysler.
Tops were completely different between the 2 years
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Found out some surprises today. I never took the time to confirm the engine was in fact a 383. It isn't. Casting date of 4/71 Casting number 3614230. 400 HP, It does have a forged crankshaft. 3462346 casting on the cylinder heads. Now the big question is do we stroke the engine or just bump up the compression and add a bit more cam to it? I have yet to pull the pan or heads. I don't know if this is a unmolested motor and does it have the thicker webbing? Tomorrow we will find out.
View attachment IMAG3045.jpg
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
It is a spray on type of textured top. I don't know if we will keep it yet. Wife has yet to make that call.
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
I need a better photo of the rear but here is what I have right now.
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
Redcreekauto
Well-Known Member
I have to remove the rear window and windshield to do some very minor repairs. Notice the crack at the rear window.
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