Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - Printable Version

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Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

When I purchased this car back in 1989, I don't even remember what wheels were on it, but I believe that they were oem style steel wheels with
older tires that had seen their better days, so two of the very first things that I purchased for the car was a brand new set of four 15 x 7 American
Racing Champ 500 wheels and four new B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires in the P235-60R-15 size. I also installed a set of Chrysler Corporation wheel
center cap emblems that I thought gave the wheels a cool custom look.

[Image: 1966Coronetbeforerestoration-19901.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronetbeforerestoration-19901.jpg]

[Image: 1966CoronetAmericanRacingChamp50-1.jpg]

In 1996, I decided that the tried and true Champ 500 wheels that I had put on the car in 1989 were due for retirement after all of their faithful years of service, so I went shopping and finally decided on the Weld Draglite wheels and Mickey Thompson tires. On the front, I went with a set of 15 x 4 Weld
Draglite wheels wrapped with 26 x 7.5 x 15 eight ply Mickey Thompson Front Runner tires and on the rear I went with 15 x 7 Draglite wheels and
26 x 10.5 x 15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro D.O.T. legal drag radial tires.

[Image: 1966Coronet500atFirebirdInternationalRac...ngline.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500atFirebirdInternationalRac...ngline.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet-GlendaleAZ-Performan-1.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

In 2000 when I did all of the front suspension and brake upgrades, I decided to also go back with a more street friendly set of tires, so off came the
Mickey Thompson race tires front and rear and on went a fresh new set of B.F. Goodrich P185-65R-15 Traction T/A tires on the front and a new set of
B.F. Goodrich P235-60R-15 Radial T/A's on the rear which are still on the car today. Yes, that is a long time for a set of tires to be on a car, but my
Coronet hasn't been driven since 2005, so before it goes back out on the road again, it will get another fresh set of tires in the same size and maybe a
new set of more 60's era looking mag wheels.

Richard

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-WeldDraglitewheel-...efront.jpg]

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-WeldDraglitewheel-...efront.jpg]

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-passengerrearwheel...embly1.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

PART SEVEN - VARIOUS MISC UPGRADES

FUEL SYSTEM

I upgraded the cars original steel 5/16" main fuel line to aluminum 3/8" line from Moroso from the fuel tank up to the mechanical fuel pump.
I installed a new aftermarket factory style fuel tank and new aftermarket 3/8" fuel tank sending unit along with a Fram HPG-1 canister style
fuel filter.

BATTERY RELOCATION

I relocated the battery to the passenger side of the trunk floor using a Mopar Performance relocation kit and made custom positive and negative
battery cables using solid copper cable from a welding supply store. I also made some custom battery hold down straps to meet NHRA guidelines
and an NHRA required and approved electrical system "cut off" switch was installed under the right rear bumper area.

[Image: 1966CoronettrunkrearmountedOptimaba.jpg]

[Image: 1966CoronettrunkrearmountedOptimaba.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet-back-uplightlenzandt-1.jpg]

COOLANT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR

I installed an 80's style Chrysler Mini-Van coolant overflow reservoir bottle and a steel braided coolant overflow line between the radiator and the
reservoir bottle. Notice the yellow cap!

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-late80sDodgeMini-V...opview.jpg]

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-late80sDodgeMini-V...opview.jpg]

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-late80sDodgeMini-V...deview.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

RADIATOR HOSES

I know that I've already mentioned the Cool-Flex radiator hoses, but this is such a fantastic product, I wanted to give you a little more information
and some pictures on this product. The hoses are made out of a seamless ribbed copper tubing and then either chrome plated or powder coated in
various colors. These hoses can be formed into almost any configuration due to their flexible design, so no matter what vehicle and engine
combination that you're working on, these hoses will fill the bill for your needs. They do cost a lot more than the standard rubber radiator hoses that
you're use to buying do, but while you have to keep replacing those rubber hoses as they wear out, these fantastic Cool-Flex hoses will last just about
forever if taken care of! The ones on my Coronet have been in place since the mid 90's and they still look and perform like new! Just a superior product
in every way!

[Image: 1966Coronet500with1969440hi-perform.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500with1969440hi-perform.jpg]

Here's a link to their web site if anyone wants to check them out. It will be the last set of radiator hoses that you will buy for a LONG time!

http://www.coolflex.com/cfm/welcome.cfm

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

TRANSMISSION COOLER

I installed a transmission cooler and had custom steel lines made between the transmission, radiator and cooler, but I'm going to redesign this system
again in the future to be like the system that I did on my sons 1972 Dart Swinger, which uses a "bullet" style cooler and by-passes the lower radiator
tank to help keep both the transmission fluid and the radiator coolant cooler.

EXHAUST SYSTEM

I had a custom 3" exhaust system installed back after I installed my 440 which mated up to my 1969 hp factory cast iron exhaust manifolds that
were gasket matched. A set of hp mufflers were also used. The system dumps with turn downs in front of the rear differential and since my Coronet
sits rather low in the weeds that makes for one heck of a 440 powered shop-vac blower! It's a mild pain in the butt on concrete surfaces, but it was
a REAL pain in the pits at some of the race tracks with dirt and gravel surfaces! I have plans for a much better system in the future that will work
better on the street

Richard

PART EIGHT - VARIOUS FAVORITE PICTURES

Just some pictures from 1989 to current times showing how the cars looks have changed over the years and some of the fun times that I've had with the car.

[Image: 1966Coronet500-19891-1.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500-paintandbodywork--4.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500-paintandbodywork--7.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

[Image: 1966Coronet500-69HP440engineinst-1.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500-afterrestorationi-1.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500andmeatPRPin19931.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500atPRPin1993-instaginglanes.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

[Image: 1966Coronet500atPRPin1993-atstartingline-daytime.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500atPRPin1993-leavingstartin...arview.jpg]

[Image: PhoenixRacewayPark-Sept1993-my66Cor.jpg]

[Image: TeamPRPgroupphotoatBakersfieldCalifin1993-1.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

[Image: My1966DodgeCoronet500-inpitsatBakersfiel...cooter.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500atFirebirdInternationalRac...inpits.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet500-440showingoriginalEdelbro...lbrock.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

[Image: 1966Coronet1994Ram1500towtruck-Fire.jpg]

[Image: 1966Coronet-PerformanceDodgecars-1.jpg]

Thebankerstoy - 1966 Coronet 500 - thebankerstoy - 01-20-13

[Image: 1966Coronet500-Nov20082-1.jpg]

PART NINE - FUTURE PLANS

INTERIOR

The biggest upcoming upgrade for the car will be the second complete interior restoration. This will include TOTALLY stripping out everything in the
interior back to bare sheet metal again and also removing the cars original front windshield that needs to be replaced, which will also allow me to
remove the complete dashboard assembly for restoration. All of the body plugs as well as the window weatherstripping will be replaced and I will
also be restoring the cars original factory power window system.

The color scheme will also be changed from it's current yellow and black, to a factory offered pearl white and black. The only two interior parts that
I haven't made up my mind on which color they will be yet, are the headliner and the inner door sheet metal. They will either both be white, or both
black and I've seen original unmolested cars done both ways, so the jury's still out on that verdict. Examples of other 66 Coronets with similar interior
color combinations that I'm looking to do on my car.

[Image: 1966Coronet500-whiteinterior1.jpg]

The aftermarket RCI seat and Grant steering wheel have already been sold to a member here on the DCR, so those parts will be replaced by the original factory bucket seat assembly and a reproduction factory style steering wheel with a matching n.o.s. horn ring. I'm going for a MUCH more factory look
this time around, so I'm also going to try and cover up the B&M shifter in the factory automatic floor console by using a reproduction 4 speed console
shifter top plate and a reproduction Pistol Grip style 4 speed shifter boot that will work with the B&M's shifters similar shaped handle. The only aftermarket parts that will remain in place will be the AutoMeter Monster tachometer and auxiliary gauges and the B&M shifter knob and handle.

WIRING

I'm also planning on replacing and upgrading all of the cars interior and exterior wiring, as most of it is still original. I will also have a friend of mine
help me upgrade all of the interior lighting to an LED based system like we did on my sons 72 Dart Swinger's dash cluster. Lots of cool ideas coming here,
so I'm looking forward to this project!

WHEELS

I'd like to replace the Weld Draglite wheels with a more 60's era period correct mag wheel, but at this point I have NO idea what that wheel might be,
so once again, the jury's still out on that for awhile.

FUEL SYSTEM

The Coronet hasn't been driven or even started since 2005, so I will be going through the complete fuel system and either cleaning, rebuilding, or
replacing parts as needed. UPDATE - This work is being finished up as of the end of January 2013!

BRAKES - CAMSHAFT - INTAKE MANIFOLD

As already mentioned, I've had problems with my Mopar Performance .284 .484 camshaft and my Edelbrock Torker single plane intake manifold not
supplying enough engine vacuum at idle and lower rpm range to properly operate my power assisted brakes and other vacuum operated systems, so
I will be addressing that problem shortly after I get the car back up and running again. A fairly quick car with crappy brakes is NOT my idea of a fun
ride!

PAINT

Somewhere down the line, I will need to have some of the cars drag racing battle scars touched up on the exterior, but this car has never been, nor
will it ever be a show car, so I look as these battle scars as adding character, so I'll be dealing with more pressing issues first.

LAST WORD FOR NOW

I'll close for now by quoting what Paul Harvey use to say at the end of his stories.

Quote:and now you know the rest of the story.