Matt's '68 Coronet 500

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Matt
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Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

Now that the 'Cuda build is finished(for now) , and the racing season's over, I'm planning to keep a bit of momentum going and get some of my other cars running, driving, reliable, and useable. Also I really do need to generally reduce the amount of stuff I have lying round in pieces, as it's taking up too much time just keeping track of everything...

So,

As some of you know I have a '68 Coronet with a 500ci stroker in it.
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I bought the car on Ebay from Washington State in 2005 . It's a very solid Coronet 500, originally 383 Console Auto. Blue bucket interior, QQ1 blue exterior. After buying it I did the usual stuff - brakes, balljoints - and then fitted a 500ci stroker. I drag raced it at the Nats a couple of times in 'Stock Appearing', with a best of 12.58 with cast manifolds and street tyres. I think around 2013 was the last time I had the car out properly and used it.
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So other stuff happened like a house move and then a house rebuild, and the car sat in a covered trailer for a few years.

I put it up for sale a couple of years ago but didn't get much serious interest. After several years' storage in the trailer the engine compartment and boot interior had suffered from the winter damp
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Last edited by Matt on Mon Nov 25, 19 6:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Matt
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

Also the engine had had a rear main seal leak ever since it was built, so I thought it was time to pull the engine out and freshen up the engine compartment and boot.

May 2018
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a few extra holes to be welded up - marked in yellow
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Last edited by Matt on Mon Nov 25, 19 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Matt
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

I sent the engine up to John Sleath in July 2018 to have the rear main seal leak fixed, a new carb fitted, and timing and fuelling adjusted on the dyno.
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Matt
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

And shortly after that I got distracted by the 'Cuda, and not much happened.

So a couple of weeks ago I dug out the engine from the corner of my 'work' workshop in Wembley where it's been for the past 16 months, degreased it, and sanded it down ready for paint.
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And today back from the paintshop
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ScottyDave
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by ScottyDave »

Ooooo I like the look of that :thumbright:
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Pete
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Pete »

Loving your work as ever!

:thumbright: :thumbright: :thumbright:
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Matt
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

Engine compartment now with a fresh coat of paint. Am really having to resist the temptation to paint the rest of the car...

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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Pete »

Do the whole car!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

...then sell it... ;)
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Matt
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

Must stick to the plan....

Get car reassembled....

Can always paint afterwards......
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Blue
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Blue »

Looking good. The rest of it looks fine, but a tidy engine bay is a must!
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by SJH »

I do like that, looks mean
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by DaveB »

Get it painted Matt,dont be slack :lol: leave the rust for the chevy truck brigade :lol:
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Pete
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Pete »

DaveB wrote: Tue Nov 26, 19 8:53 pm Get it painted Matt,dont be slack :lol: leave the rust for the chevy truck brigade :lol:
:thumbright: :thumbright: :thumbright:
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MattH
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by MattH »

Another great thread in the making :read2:

More inspiration for us all.
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Matt
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Re: Matt's '68 Coronet 500

Post by Matt »

Bit more progress last couple of weeks

Found a convenient corner to leave the car up in the air for a while.
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I replaced parts of the front floor pans many years ago. The relevant edges are seam-welded from the inside, but I never finished the underside, what with the transmission being in the way and all.
Here's how it looked at the start
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I've since cleaned all the rust etc back to bare metal, and removed any factory underseal near the joins. Next I'll seam seal the edges and give it a quick coat of satin black.



Some progress on fitting the engine up .




Exhaust manifolds were sandblasted then painted with VHT flameproof paint, Starting to come together now.
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I spent about half a day degreasing and getting all the crud out of the K-Member insides. Now back from the painters, along with the stone shield.
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And as of about 8pm tonight, off the engine stand and on the trolley. Next step, fit the transmission.
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