St. Louis newbie

[Tom66-500]

It has black interior. Your car is absolutely gorgeous! And I really dig the full manual automatic. My car isn't in the best of shape at the moment which upsets me since when I quit driving it and parked it in my dad's shop about 15 years ago, it was in very good shape. Dad didn't help keep it tip top, that's for sure. But hey, he's my pop and I love him anyway. Here's a few more pics I took last weekend.820282038204

[Robb]

Do you still have the original motor? I had no idea they were still using the 361 stock in '66. It must be a "poly" motor?

Welcome to the DCR Tom!

Like you, I also own a 1966 Coronet 500 2 door hardtop that I've owned since 1989 and am looking forward to seeing the car turn 50 years old this coming summer! It came from the factory equipped with a 361 big block and Torqueflite automatic transmission, but has had a custom built 440 and custom built full manual shifted automatic in it since I installed them back in 1990/1991 and there have been many other modifications done over the years as well.

Your 66 is very cool indeed! It was difficult for me to see from your pictures, but does your car have a white interior? We'd all love to see more pictures and hear more details about your car!

Richard

[thebankerstoy]

Hello Tom,

Thank you very much and I'm positive that you'll have your very cool 66 road again sooner than you might think, as it's a very special car to you and that will give you the desire to get the needed work done! It looks as if all of the hard to find exterior trim and sheet metal parts are in place and in good condition on your car so that's very encouraging, as very few exterior trim and exterior body sheet metal parts are being offered by aftermarket parts suppliers for our 1966 and 1967 Coronets. Mechanical parts and interior parts are a lot easier to purchase, as most of those parts are available either used or new, so if you need help finding parts for your car, please let us know and we can give you referrals to sources that sell those kinds of parts ok? There are several of us here on the DCR that REALLY love the 1966 and 1967 Coronets that will do their very best to help you!

Hello Robb,

The 1966 model year was the last year that the 361 big block V8 "B" engine was used (in cars) and it was not a "Poly" cylinder head equipped engine like the 318 was in 1966. The 361 used the same style cylinder heads that the 383 used in 1966 and can also run any of the "B" and "RB" big block wedge style cylinder heads that have been used over the years. In 1966 you could order a Coronet with a couple of different Slant Six engines, a 318 "Poly" engine, a 361 or 383 "B" engine, or for the first time, a 426 Hemi engine. In 1967 the 318 "Poly" engine was dropped and replaced with the new 318 "LA" small block engine and the 361 "B" big block engine was also dropped and replaced with the 383 "B" engine and for the first time, the 440 "RB" big block engine was available along with the 426 Hemi engine.

I do still have the original "numbers matching" 361 short block and complete 727 automatic transmission for my car, as well as the original 2.76 center section that came on my car that has been replaced with a 3.91 Sure Grip unit in the cars original 8.75 rear differential that is still in place. My cars original hood is also safely stored away along with most all of the other original parts that have been changed over the years since 1989. The only parts that I do not have are the cars original wheels and wheel covers, the original cylinder heads, intake manifold, carb, distributor and exhaust manifolds for the 361 engine and the lower rocker moldings that were used on the 1966 500 models which I removed and sold back in 1990 when the car was repainted from it's original Light Green Metallic to a very non factory Bright Yellow and Black.

Richard

This picture was taken back in 1989 and shows the car in it's original factory sprayed color. The donor 1967 Coronet steel hood and aftermarket 1967 fiberglass WO Hemi hood scoop are in place and so are the then brand new American Racing Champ 500 wheels and B.F.G. Radial T/A tires. The 67 hood and scoop have been repainted but are still both in place currently, but the Champ 500 wheels were replaced with Weld Draglite wheels back around 2005 or so.

[Tom66-500]

Thanks for the encouragement Richard. I do have most of everything for the car so I am very lucky. Just needs some tlc is all. I bought this car when I was 13 from my dad and have been in love with it ever since. I read the full story on your car and it was an awesome read that I thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed. And trust me, you all will be hearing a lot of questions coming from this guy! I can't wait to share my story as you did and I hope it's half as interesting as yours!

[thebankerstoy]

Thank you very much Tom and I'm glad that you enjoyed the threrad on my Coronet! I truly appreciate you taking the time to read it! I am not

I've been through MANY good times with my Coronet, so it was a lot of fun sharing some of those times with my friends here on the DCR. Those who know me well here kid me all the time that I'm never at a loss for words and that if a question can be answered in one short sentence I'll take at least two or three paragraphs to answer that same question!

I will absolutely look forward to reading about your Coronets history! I already think that it's extremely cool that you purchased the car from your Dad! Can't wait to hear as Paul Harvey said, "the rest of the story"! Every single car that has survived for this long has LOTS of stories to tell and every story deserves to be shared with friends!

Richard

[roadworthy]

Welcome from another St. Louis member Beer

[Tom66-500]

Sweet! I was hoping someone on here would be from St. Louis.

[roadworthy]

Sweet! I was hoping someone on here would be from St. Louis.

unfortunately, we won't be able to do much parts trading or tech support since the cars are about as different as can be, but I'll let you know if I come across anything that might be of interest to you on craigslist 8205]

[Tom66-500]

Sounds good and I'll do the same! Your car is beautiful by the way! Maybe our paths will cross one of these days.

[Racer Brown]

You two guys very far from St. Louis? I think they have a Mopar show at the track there or did.