Coronet

[Secret Chimp]

For those of you who don't browse the chat thread, I've bought a 1967 Dodge Coronet Deluxe station wagon.









Not even 103,000 miles, smooth-running 318 (seriously, you could balance a wine glass on the air cleaner), Torqueflite still shifts smooth. Already upgraded to electronic ignition (though I think it still has the ballast resistor, I might get a different coil to get a full 12 volts to the engine).

Everything bodywise on the car is original aside from the carpet and the front left fender. Everything works aside from the rear window (motor just needs new wires to the switch). Steering box probably needs a rebuild but I was expecting that. Some body trim still needs to be sourced so most of it just isn't installed right now (honestly I think it looks pretty good without the door/fender strips, I might Chip Foose it and just fill the holes and only fix the body color window trim). Oh and it has manual brakes! That need to be bled or have the drums adjusted out a little. That was a surprising first stop.

The previous owner just had a very nice dual exhaust system put in from the manifolds on back. Big-ass pipes with half-hidden turn-downs ahead of the rear bumpers. I got a horribly short video of it but it sounds pretty nice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL9jQCjs-TY

The previous owner also turned down the front torsion bar adjusters and installed 2 inch blocks on the rear axle to get the current ride height, and I like how it looks. The ride can be a little crashy over big bumps but it looks like it has the original shocks (I'm going to buy KYBs for around $100 all the way around). The wheels are 15s from a Dodge truck with the original Coronet caps.

The P.O. is an assistant service manager at an Audi chain here and did stuff right - the front right fender is from a higher-trim Coronet that he had color-matched and de-trimmed, a small tear in the front seat was patched and matched to the point of being invisible from five feet, even the lowering blocks are aluminum extrusions instead of blocks of iron.

The transmission drips a little and one of the valve covers or something eventually makes a small pool of oil in between the front left runners on the intake manifold but that's about all that's "wrong" with the drivetrain. Oh and the gas gauge doesn't work.

So if you haven't heard - waggin.

[S204STi]

I think this has usurped the WRX as coolest waggen on the forum.  I'm happy for you.

[mzziaz]

I'm jealous. Price?

[2o6]

Awesomesauce!

[Secret Chimp]

I'm jealous. Price?

$3750

[Eye of the Tiger]

Deluxe!

[Secret Chimp]

I need to drive to Dick's and have a Deluxe in my Deluxe.

[heelntoe]

Congrats, Chimp! It looks awesome!

[Morris Minor]

I think this has usurped the WRX as coolest waggen on the forum.  I'm happy for you.

Most definitely, Chimp is the Champ.

Congratulations, this is awesome.

[Speed_Racer]

Sounds beast! Looks great and has tons of presence.

Gonna take it to car shows?

[Secret Chimp]

Sounds beast! Looks great and has tons of presence.

Gonna take it to car shows?

Eh probably not, I'd rather talk to folks who walk up in parking lots or whatever vs stand around all day with people poking at it.

[Secret Chimp]

This is what the car looks like with the side trim:



Yea/nay?

[68_427]

Nay

[3.0L V6]

Yea/nay?

Yea.

Awesome wagon! The 318/Torqueflite combo will run forever. It sounds beautiful.

Two thumbs wayyy up!

[Secret Chimp]

So... according to the guy at the bank this thing is actually worth closer to $7000.
Another site has this breakout from worst to best:
4dr Wagon                    675     2350     4900      7050     10125

I think I got a steeeeeeal and I didn't haggle with the guy at all (couldn't think of a reason to honestly)

[Secret Chimp]

I just found this PDF:
http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/beep/PUMP_IT_DOWN-re-v1.4.pdf

I can reduce some of the whirly-wheel power steering non-feel just by making a new power steering pump shim out of a washer.

I am going to have fun with this thing.

[hotrodalex]

Nice!

As for side trim, yea if you tint the windows, nay if you don't.

And that's exactly what my dad is looking for his next car. Too bad there's no deals like that around here.

[cawimmer430]

Nice car. Congrats! 



This is my dream Coronet by the way, except I want it in a light green or solid yellow color or brown. 

[S204STi]

I kinda prefer it sans trim, personally.

[68_427]

I prefer is sans trim and without tint, unless you go with a classic blue-ish tint.  Or red-ish.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Unfortunately, it's almost perfect as-is, so you have no work to do.

[The Pirate]

AWESOME!!!

[Cookie Monster]

I vote this to be the coolest car on the 'SPIN.

[The Pirate]

I vote this to be the coolest car on the 'SPIN.

We have some pretty awesome cars here, we should compile a nomination/poll.

[Cookie Monster]

We have some pretty awesome cars here, we should compile a nomination/poll.

You're the mod, get to work.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You're the mod, get to work.

I'd make the poll, but it would only have two choices.

[Secret Chimp]

Wagon is at my house. The brakes really feel like they're either backed too far off the drums or need to be bled or both... they stop strongly but absolutely nothing happens for the first few inches of pedal travel.

But daaaaang is this thing a cruiser. I've only driven it home from the east side of the lake so far, but I could've driven to Canada without stopping if I felt like it.

I too like sans-trim. I think I'll fill the trim holes with carpenter's nails with the heads painted to match or something easily reversible.

[280Z Turbo]

Disc brake swap

[the Teuton]

I'd make the poll, but it would only have two choices.

[Rupert]

Yes! Looks great without trim, IMO.