New Member, New Polara

[Stev]

So tranny guy sent me an update. According to him, C body units should have the 4 gear planetary set, and Blue only had the 3. It's the original and was rebuilt at some point. So it seems that grandpa took it to a mechanic on the same level as whatever circus did the bodywork, and they most likely stole the original 4 gear planetary set out of it and grandpa was none the wiser.

Cool.

 

[3175375]

View attachment 695899

So tranny guy sent me an update. According to him, C body units should have the 4 gear planetary set, and Blue only had the 3. It's the original and was rebuilt at some point. So it seems that grandpa took it to a mechanic on the same level as whatever circus did the bodywork, and they most likely stole the original 4 gear planetary set out of it and grandpa was none the wiser.

Cool.

Glad you are making it right!

 

[Stev]

Glad you are making it right!

Ow my money.

 

[cbarge]

View attachment 695899

So tranny guy sent me an update. According to him, C body units should have the 4 gear planetary set, and Blue only had the 3. It's the original and was rebuilt at some point. So it seems that grandpa took it to a mechanic on the same level as whatever circus did the bodywork, and they most likely stole the original 4 gear planetary set out of it and grandpa was none the wiser.

Cool.

If my memory serves me correctly, only RV units and Hemi's got 4 planetary gears.
Not uncommon trans shops upgrade a 727 with the 4 gear planetaries

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I was under the impression that 4 planetary gears were definitely NOT in the picture for C bodies in 66 - maybe in 67 or 8? I know that 4 speed C bodies in 65 and 66 got the 10.5" clutch and that got switched to the bigger one in 67 or 8.

My trans guy upgraded the 727 in my 66 T&C to a 4 planetary setup. Original trans had the 3 planetary setup.

 

[Stev]

If my memory serves me correctly, only RV units and Hemi's got 4 planetary gears.
Not uncommon trans shops upgrade a 727 with the 4 gear planetaries

I was under the impression that 4 planetary gears were definitely NOT in the picture for C bodies in 66 - maybe in 67 or 8? I know that 4 speed C bodies in 65 and 66 got the 10.5" clutch and that got switched to the bigger one in 67 or 8.

My trans guy upgraded the 727 in my 66 T&C to a 4 planetary setup. Original trans had the 3 planetary setup.

Well dude seems to think they got them. He's a charger/challenger kind of guy so maybe the later cars got them when they beefed up the internals in 68, 24 spline input shaft etc.? It would line up with them merging the Imperial into the C body and Imperial always got the ritzy stuff. Don't know, not a tranny guy.

Whatever, it's apart, why not beef it up. Don't feel like opening any of this junk up ever again, even if i dump an RB stroker in there or something.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Well dude seems to think they got them. He's a charger/challenger kind of guy so maybe the later cars got them when they beefed up the internals, 24 spline input shaft etc.? Don't know, not a tranny guy.

Whatever, it's apart, why not beef it up. Don't feel like opening any of this junk up ever again, even if i dump an RB stroker in there or something.

Yup, why not beef it up? Makes total sense to me.

Yes, my 4 speed is only 18 spline. Don't know what the T&C has - but it hasn't skipped a beat in 15 years...

 

[Stev]

Getting there.

 

[Stev]

More busywork

 

[Stev]

Just gotta zap the drip panel in and do the radiused panel under the light, and the tail is done.

After that, just gotta do two more floor patches and it's off to the bodyshop. We's gettin there.

 

[3175375]

View attachment 697582

Just gotta zap the drip panel in and do the radiused panel under the light, and the tail is done.

After that, just gotta do two more floor patches and it's off to the bodyshop. We's gettin there.

Looking good! Exciting!

 

[Stev]

It's a crime, but it's in.

You know that time when you screw up, and every fix makes it worse, but you're totally comitted? Yeah that was the drip panel. I went to trim the tail flange to match the depth of the stock one at 1-1/16", but I guess my rear Fascia panel was at a steeper angle, and when i went to fit the drip panel it turned out if i'd just left it alone it would've been exactly correct. Ended up having to bridge about 1/2" of gap with weld for the entire 58" width of the panel. Boy that sucked.

Worth noting I cut the floor out on christmas day last year. Might be exactly a year of work to the day if i can wrap up the last of it here.

 

[cuda hunter]

It has been enjoyable riding along with you on your metal body path. Thanks for taking us with you.

 

[Stev]

It has been enjoyable riding along with you on your metal body path. Thanks for taking us with you.

Hey I still got body and paint, a motor to build and handling goals to achieve.

Money yet to burn yet!



YouTube

I just hope it sounds like this, when it's all said and done.

 

[3175375]

View attachment 698588

It's a crime, but it's in.

You know that time when you screw up, and every fix makes it worse, but you're totally comitted? Yeah that was the drip panel. I went to trim the tail flange to match the depth of the stock one at 1-1/16", but I guess my rear Fascia panel was at a steeper angle, and when i went to fit the drip panel it turned out if i'd just left it alone it would've been exactly correct. Ended up having to bridge about 1/2" of gap with weld for the entire 58" width of the panel. Boy that sucked.

Worth noting I cut the floor out on christmas day last year. Might be exactly a year of work to the day if i can wrap up the last of it here.

You’ve done a noble thing by making this repair, warts and all. To me, that’s the human condition.

In some ways, it is reminding me of the addition/remodel that we are funding to our home.

The wall of the west side of the house was discovered to be not square (vertically by about an inch from floor to ceiling). The contractor made kind of a butch plate/expansion joint to minimize any possible noticeability.

Or the Budweiser can found underneath the siding that was improperly installed…

As you have done, we made it right and we’re able to laugh about this.

 

[Stev]

You’ve done a noble thing by making this repair, warts and all. To me, that’s the human condition.

In some ways, it is reminding me of the addition/remodel that we are funding to our home.

The wall of the west side of the house was discovered to be not square (vertically by about an inch from floor to ceiling). The contractor made kind of a butch plate/expansion joint to minimize any possible noticeability.

Or the Budweiser can found underneath the siding that was improperly installed…

As you have done, we made it right and we’re able to laugh about this.

I figure the Jags can win Pebble Beach. Big Blue will win in it's mere presence. And a blaze of tire smoke and glory, of course.

 

[HOTTODDY6757]

Howdy.

My grandfather's going into a home now, which means the mantle of the old family '66 Polara is now passed on to me.


View attachment 339165

View attachment 339163

View attachment 339162

I keep my Jaguar in concourse shape, and I built my '48 F3 from the ground up, but i've never touched a mopar before, and I'd like to get the lowdown on these cars.

It's in fairly good shape. It's got the 383 B motor and a torqueflite of some description. The motor was rebuilt in 2003, but that's the extent of what i know about it. It's been decently cared for but never really babied.

I'll be going up to the estate pretty soon to inspect the car for roadworthyness and will hopefully be able to simply drive it home. What are the common failiure points or things to look out for on these things? (equivalent to the notorious teapot holleys on a '55 thunderbird, for example). It's a road trip from Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver island down to Vancouver itself, a run of about 500 kilometers through very isolated forest road, so the threshold for acceptable failure is rather low.

I know they're semi monocoques with structural framelets that are welded to the sheet metal as well as a front subframe for the IFS, so i'm concerned about the floor/body being structurally unsound if it's rusted out, and what the "trailer it home" rust threshold might be. As well as what any other goto areas of concern might be for a quasi 'mystery' car like this.

It was always the family car growing up, so it's never been under any prolonged period of disuse or neglect until my grandfather's health started to go, so there shouldn't be any truly wild surprises but it's always best to make sure.

And if the floor hypothetically is rusted out quite badly, are there sheet metal repros for C bodies or am i on my own? I know there's big full patch panels for the usual suspects like GTO's or whatever, but it's harder luck with dad cars.


The other thing i'd like to know of is typical quality of life modifications. I'm very respectful with my old junk, but I'd like to convert it to a dual master cylinder and maybe some mild performance junk like some long/mid-tubes and that sort of reversable low buck stuff. Any reccomendations for that sort of thing would be appreciated as well

Thanks.

Hi, I am a new member too. I bought a 1966 Dodge Polara a couple months ago. 51,000 miles survivor. NOT restored. I have owned many Mopars. My first was my father in laws 1966 Monaco. I replaced the blow 383 ci engine he blew when the heater core leaked all the coolant out. My only experience with problem is behind rear tires rust & the block where all the wires go through the firewall get wet & corrode. I have talked to several Dodge owners at cruise ins. The problems they had were same as mine with electrical. The transmission is a minor problem with my Monaco. It blew many years after I took over ownership. Best advice? Give your Polara wagon a good going over like any new purchase. Fluids & maintenance. I wonder if our Dodges have same paint code. I have a dual master cylinder power brake conversion I bought from Summit. Future is installing dual exhaust & Intake & carb to 4 barrel. Still looking for a good quality AM FM Radio to fit in dash. I see that radio option was available in 1966. Have fun. I would love to have found a wagon like yours. Get classic car insurance. Hagerty is insuring all my classic cars.

 

[Stev]

Best advice? Give your Polara wagon a good going over like any new purchase. Fluids & maintenance.

I feel you may have missed a few things. I indeed gave it a good going over.

Nice sedan, didn't know there was a factory baby blue.

 

[mopar preferred]

I feel you may have missed a few things. I indeed gave it a good going over.

Nice sedan, didn't know there was a factory baby blue.

Yes, friends had one that color brand new.