Chads Yellow Polara thread, New dual exhaust, wheels on!Yee!

[Chad]

Good news for you guys! I have a 2 hour drive I’m making now for a surprise purchase for the car. You guys will really dig the deal! When I get back about 9:30 PST I’ll post a couple pics here. Big news for tomorrow as well. The next 24 hours are going to be very transformative for the C body.
I was thinking of naming the car Vitamin C, suits it with the yellow paint job

 

[Chad]

Little hint

 

[Chad]

Very excited.
17x8 5x4.5 w/ 4.5 inch backspacing and a 0 offset front 225/45/17 95% tread
18x8 5x4.5 w 4.5 inch backspacing et 0 rear 255/40/18 95% tread
American Racing AR135 Torqlite forged
I got the best deal ever, just had to drive deep out to the Peninsula to get them. Install tomorrow after exhaust is done!

 

[cantflip]

Very excited.
17x8 5x4.5 w/ 4.5 inch backspacing and a 0 offset front 225/45/17 95% tread
18x8 5x4.5 w 4.5 inch backspacing et 0 rear 255/40/18 95% tread
American Racing AR135 Torqlite forged
I got the best deal ever, just had to drive deep out to the Peninsula to get them. Install tomorrow after exhaust is done!
View attachment 200662 View attachment 200663

Don't get me wrong, she's your car and all... I won't get too crazy on originality, but I prefer most of our cars when they maintain a stock appearance. FWIW, if the wheels make you happy, go for it... but please keep the originals with the car so you or the next owner can change her back easily.

Other than wheel covers, there really weren't too many factory wheels available for our cars... with 15x7 generally being the biggest available (as the 80's approached). The wheel thing is too subjective for everyone to love the same thing... these are the Road Wheels most of us seem to associate with the name,

but it was also used on other styles. They also look great with white stripe tires like the ones you have.

Guesstimating what you've got invested so far, I'd say you're going to be cruising in style on a very nice (small) investment. Use her as much as you can and try to appreciate her for what she is... she won't change into a musclecar, no matter how hard you try. But she will always be a big sweet cruiser, so long as you don't get too radical in your changes.

 

[polara71]

 

[Chad]

Thank you! Not sure exactly what (head slam against wall) means, but if everything I did, resulted in heads slammed into wall, then I am 1000% stoked and into it!!!

Don't get me wrong, she's your car and all... I won't get too crazy on originality, but I prefer most of our cars when they maintain a stock appearance. FWIW, if the wheels make you happy, go for it... but please keep the originals with the car so you or the next owner can change her back easily.

Other than wheel covers, there really weren't too many factory wheels available for our cars... with 15x7 generally being the biggest available (as the 80's approached). The wheel thing is too subjective for everyone to love the same thing... these are the Road Wheels most of us seem to associate with the name,
View attachment 200664 but it was also used on other styles. They also look great with white stripe tires like the ones you have.

Guesstimating what you've got invested so far, I'd say you're going to be cruising in style on a very nice (small) investment. Use her as much as you can and try to appreciate her for what she is... she won't change into a musclecar, no matter how hard you try. But she will always be a big sweet cruiser, so long as you don't get too radical in your changes.

I appreciate your honesty. Thank you for being honest and brave. To be honest myself I am still only invested in the car under 3k cash wise. I fo have lots of personal time and such invested, but it’s stil a low buck build. If I had endless budget and time to make this car my own I wouldn’t have bought be torqlites, I would have waited for a more C body approved type wheel. At $500 though, complete with tires, exact right size and offset, I couldn’t pass on an opportunity for a an upgrade/ versus cost such as this one to get through.
I’m still excited, and photos of the car together will be up tomorrow evening. I love all the input! The negative is positive! I am learning! Car will have a busy day tomorrow. Best wishes and thanks everyone!

 

[cantflip]

Thank you! Not sure exactly what (head slam against wall) means, but if everything I did, resulted in heads slammed into wall, then I am 1000% stoked and into it!!!


I appreciate your honesty. Thank you for being honest and brave. To be honest myself I am still only invested in the car under 3k cash wise. I fo have lots of personal time and such invested, but it’s stil a low buck build. If I had endless budget and time to make this car my own I wouldn’t have bought be torqlites, I would have waited for a more C body approved type wheel. At $500 though, complete with tires, exact right size and offset, I couldn’t pass on an opportunity for a an upgrade/ versus cost such as this one to get through.
I’m still excited, and photos of the car together will be up tomorrow evening. I love all the input! The negative is positive! I am learning! Car will have a busy day tomorrow. Best wishes and thanks everyone!

I'm liking your attitude. Don't ever get butt hurt over differing opinions in here. Many of us will be outraged by cutting the car up to do something silly, but bolt on stuff is easy to reverse.

I'm not sure how to interpret that particular head bang, but he is one of the more (most) passionate Polara guys around... Now if you had a 71 convertible...

 

[polara71]

You know exactly what that means Jeff

 

[cantflip]

I have my suspicions... I learned sometime ago not to second guess you.

 

[commando1]

if everything I did, resulted in heads slammed into wall, then I am 1000% stoked and into it!!!

 

[LocuMob]

Polara71 put this up because to him, those wheels are a big NOOOOOOOO! from a mile away. But that's because he's a purist, and thinks the cars should be stock, close to stock with year or era correct items, he will put the head banging guy or hit the Disagree red X. But that's how he rolls. He's a good dude, one of the best, and he loves these cars more than most people can imagine.

I have similar wheels to put on my Dart, they look more at home on an A/B/E body than a car like yours. Even though I have the same wheels, I agree with Polara71 that these are wrong.

Like can't flip said, it's your car, do what you want, wheels can always be swapped easily. Just hang onto the wheels you're taking off, in case you ever sell the car, maybe the next owner wants the stock wheels and not the aftermarket ones.

Nice job with the car so far.

 

[Chad]

I 1000% understand the purist route. My big thing was one of the white wall tires with the Chevrolet wire caps was separated, and the caps were Chevrolet.
I was looking for a replacement wheel or
cap that would fit the c body better, have good rubber, not be Chevrolet, and fill out the wheel wells better. To find those wheels and tires for $500 I think is a steal. They are the exact right fitment and even came with the appropriate lug nuts. They have new tires, are balanced, and I can literally bolt them right up. Not the look I would be after ideally as well, but within the budget and will straighten up the few issues I just mentioned. They are better suited for an A,B, or E body car, but at $500 for a complete set I am happy to have them.

I just dropped the car off at the exhaust shop, my exhaust shop is called “Beyond Repair” which is funny. The dual exhaust will be done about noon. After I drop a couple friends at the airport I’ll pick the car up and get the wheels bolted on. Looks like it needs manifold gaskets, but I’m very excited to get the exhaust and wheels done. Lots of exciting posts today!!! Thanks for the support, as well as the honest criticism! How am I supposed to learn the Mopar ways without honesty?! I think the wheels will look alright, but again not exactly the look I was after, as you can read in my earlier posts. At $500 I think that was a crazy good deal, too good to pass up, and with all the big ticket items coming together at once, the budget had to be considered.
Enjoy your weekend gentleman and happy motoring.
ALSO! Could Polara 71 and you other guys load a photo of your cars here in the thread for me? Thanks

 

[Chad]

Big update. Car now has true dual 2 1/4 and some 2 1/2 true dual exhaust. No h or x pipe (true dual) with a pair of turbo glass pack mufflers I bought used from the exhaust shop who did the work. I just had the regular pipe pointed down at a 30 degree angle at back. On my 81 Chev lowrider pickup I had the same type of exit and really liked it. The driveway sweepers. Also for the C body I wanted to keep it classy and basically run the factory routing just mirrored on the opposite side, no big chrome tips or anything crazy. You could call this a “purist” type Choice. I like the way the car sounds. Still has the nasty leak at the manifold. While on the rack I looked and the very back bottom corner of the manifold is not even there. Easy fix though, even if I break a bolt I have everything I need to back bolts out and replace them. Also I am going to remove (prob need to cut) the downpipe flange bolts out and replace them with new donuts and bolts.




The car has definitely regained some power with several less exhaust leaks now and the better flow. I can imagine it’ll be right on point once I seal up the last big leak....
As well as install this.....

Friday I bought the Holley 4160 rebuild kit and tore the carburetor down to the core. I rebuilt it completely except for the electrical choke. I cleaned the mani up best I could, rebuilt the carb, and it’ll be ready to go on Monday.
I’ll do exhaust mani and downpipe gaskets at the same time. Afterward the car should really be where I hoped it would when I purchased.
The wheels and tires were bolted on today. The one thing I didn’t like is the front wheel poke. They seem to be way more backspaced than I originally thought. They don’t rub, but they need another 2-3” (that’s what she said lol) spacer installed, and the rear could use a couple inches as well.
The car has a tramline tendency now at low speeds on highly rutted roads, but I’m sure that’s due to the narrower nature of the track width and the wider tires. But... cruising, going fast, freeway speeds.... the car has way better handling characteristics and also way less vibration, almost none, in the entire car compared to before. The Chev caps that were on the car were crazy heavy, like 4 times heavier than you’d think, and a couple of them had major loose internals flopping around. That was the noise at the LF and the vibration and odd things I was getting during speed, braking, steering, as well as a rubbing sound associated with speed.
Anyway. The wheels really made the car. Looks. Drivability, braking, handling, etc.
The exhaust really gave the car some spunk and sound. Getting close!

What kind of spacers can I run on the car that won’t deatroy the suspension or hubs? How much spacer can the car tolerate without major drawbacks?
Hope you gentleman enjoy where the car is going.
Car show tomorrow morning. I’ll take pics of my car in motion as well as other c bodies and interesting whips I think you folks will like. Take care!!!!

 

[Chad]

Looky here.....

 

[cantflip]

Chad

She's a nice car... but now that they are on... I really don't love the cheap wheels. I now understand that one of the "new" WSW tires had separated... so you needed something. Your car will be more fun to drive with stock tires and wheels. @polara71 wins again...

Good call on the "tramline effect", you made the rear track wider than the front and it's trying to steer the car on road imperfections. I've dealt with literally hundreds of cars with spacers, and in my professional opinion they all suck. The only ones that I allowed to leave my bay are the ones that have a fully machined raised hub (to better locate and support the wheel) and long enough studs, nuts and/or bolts to fully engage and properly attach the wheel. I've seen too many problems caused by poor wheel and tire choices... I'd say look for something with a better fit and skip the butchery to make these work.

BTW, the few customers who I did fit spacers for, did not save $$... just silly wheels they insisted on keeping. Many, many more I never took the wheels off, because I told them up front that I refused to put them back on... until I was convinced they would be safe.

Did the body side moldings come with her? I see where they left the attaching studs on the 1/4 in this picture. If not, you may want to find a set eventually.

I have already expressed my opinions on your carburetor. I am not at all offended that you have your own ideas, but hold onto the take off's... you may want to put them back on someday. My bigger advice is to not fall into the trap of trying to convince yourself that you've made an improvement that "only" requires special instructions to work better. Many folks get so caught up in the belief that something is better , and therefore the "improvement" is working and just needs "___". The blank being tuning, more parts or special driving instructions/technique. Most of us HAVE to make our own mistakes to really learn something, I certainly operate that way... just try not to convince yourself that something is working better than it really is.

OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE... when playing with the carburetor swap... if the throttle valve linkage to the transmission is not connected or adjusted right... the transmission will run low pressure and the clutches/bands won't properly engage and get damaged very quickly. It's a painful lesson, if you chose to learn it by experience.

 

[cantflip]

BTW.. there are a bunch of old guys who would love to see you make her right. You're doing the stuff they did when these were used cars... and repeating some of the mistakes too.

 

[Duncan]

Nice - but it really needs either some chrome trim on the sides or whitewall tires for my taste. Nothing there at the moment helps to highlight the lines of the car or give it the extra depth/dimension it deserves, imho.

 

[Chad]

BTW.. there are a bunch of old guys who would love to see you make her right. You're doing the stuff they did when these were used cars... and repeating some of the mistakes too.

Again, thanks for all the feedback. I really do appreciate it. I really do understand where you’re coming from. Especially with the c bodies, there is this level of class and expectation that should be upheld. Not to say an A,B, or E body is any different, but the C bodies original purpose, design, and setup leaves these cars with a very small line for correctness with change. Mostly I’m experimenting, and of course I plan to keep everything that came on the car. The car does drive tons better than it did with those 1986 MY WSW’s and the caps that had movement in them and were heavy as Thor’s hammer.
My plan is to enjoy the car for the summer, figure out where the balance is between original and modified to my liking, and just fiddle until I think the car is at the ideal point for me.
As far as the wheels. They can stay on for now, until I find a better set. Maybe I’ll score a trade for these.
And the trim.... the old gal who sold me the car said there was all the trim in the back corner of the garage, so I grabbed it. There was a lot of trim, but only one piece for this car, RR quarter. Good news is the lady is super cool, has another 72 Polara coupe, and I’m going back up there to look for it and snag anything I need off the other Polara. I already ordered a set of clips from Auveco. It def needs the trim it looks awful. I haven’t even waxed or vacuumed the car yet. Remember it’s only been running a few days, and I have many customers cars to work on as well.
Might run up there today actually!
Could you guys drop some photos or at least one of your cars in here?
Thanks

 

[Chad]

This is my feeling on project build threads. I am a member of several other forums and it’s really important to understand the politics and really the climate of online automotive threads.
We are all very different. Different ages, different backgrounds, different locations with varying cultures, and a big one especially is different financially. Some guys have the time and money to really perform high level modifications to their cars, and we all wish we had that ability. It’s important to know that anything put online, especially if you are changing a car that was originally the same as the other peoples cars here, is going to be heavily criticized and critiqued.
I would never suggest anyone who had a hard time with constructive criticism or negative feedback ever actively participate in a car mod type thread. We are mostly responsible adults, but trolls do exist, and I myself even will heavily critique something posted that is modified or changed. We all have c bodies, so we all have passion for c bodies, which inflicts emotion, and that emotion is going to show up.
The reason I’m writing all this out is simply because I want your guys honest critical feedback. I have ZERO c body experience and this is only my second Mopar. I wouldn’t post this stuff unless I was capable of handling you guys getting out your pitchforks and educating me.
I have actually already had improvements on the car that never would’ve happened because of feedback here.
I’m going to utilize all the info you guys put here, and without doing something I seriously do not want, any and all criticisms are appreciated.
So please.... feel free to keep me on the right path. The cars next home I’m sure will appreciate it. I really want a duster in the future, or maybe another 66 charger, so I plan to put this car to good use while building it up, then sending it to a good home.

 

[Chad]

My die cast roadrunner