1965 Dodge Coronet 440
Hugh Sdaman wrote:
I found the '65 Coronet at an all Mopar drag race last October. It'd been a dedicated drag car for a few years, rarely seeing street duty until I got it, now it's seeing a lot more street use.
The car was originally a slant six/three speed Coronet 440
and as usual it was a little ol' lady car until the previous owner found it and swapped in the 440/727 combination that resides between the shock towers today, complete with correct k-member for the big V8.
The 440 is nothing special just balanced, blueprinted, with 10:1 flat tops a healthy cam and stock heads (not even 906's or 452's), headers, a Weiand dual plane intake, and a Holley 850 carb.
The tranny is a full race J&W complete with tranny brake that's not used currently, manual reverse pattern valve body, and a 3000rpm stall converter directing all that Mopar torque to the 8 3/4 rear with 3.91 gears churning the Mickey Thompson ET Streets on steel cop wheels
all to the tune of 12.70 et's.
The body is in excellent condition with very minimal rust, the worst is in the passenger floor board as I discovered last week when I pulled the carpet. Looks like I'm going to have to replace a little of it.
It looks great with the American Racing Torque Thrust wheels on front and the steelies in back, but I also have a set of Torque Thrusts for the back with street tires mounted on them.
I've got a ton of ideas for the car, so far about all I've is clean up
what I started with and re-engineer as necessary.
My short term goals for the car are lower et's via better heads and new carpet and belts and lots more cleaning and detailing!
UPDATE:
I just recieved my new carpet and seat belts, so I've got my work
cut out for me this weekend!
I went to the test and tune session at the local drags last weekend. For my first time drag racing this car I didn't do too bad, but I've got tire and exhaust tuning and practice to do to get back to the 12.70's. I'm not far away though, the previous owner ran it with open
exhaust at the track, so next trip we're taking off the pipes, some less restrictive exhaust is in the works, probably at least 3" up from the 2.5" that's on it currently. I'd like to get it running the number with the exhaust so I can run the Midnight Drags at the local strip on Saturday nights, all heads up with no clocks usually, legal street racing!
Thanks, Hugh!
From a little ol' lady car to big block tire shredder! That always strikes fear in the bow tie and blue oval fans. :-)
It sure looks like a fun Dodge to cruise around in.
Gary H.
Page created March 23, 2000; updated April 9, 2000.
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