Progress on my 61 Chrysler build

[robndi43]

Well, another piece to the puzzle arrived yesterday via UPS.
Sourced this out of New Hampshire to replace the broken one that was on my car.
Hard to find a 61 without it being broken in a corner.
62's are a dime a dozen. Will fit, but doesn't have the word CHRYSLER in the grille.

 

[robndi43]

You had better check the fit on those pedals too. A Road Runner of any year is a B Body, quite smaller and different from a Chrysler, as well as a C Body (which your car technically is not.) I would grab the pedals from those '62s as quick as possible if they are still available. I don't know if that RR tunnel will fit either. Might have to do some fabricating.

Ah, another AMC man! My Son and I built a '73 Gremlin X using a 401 from a '77 Wagoneer. You are very right about those external dimensions, but squeezing the "high deck" 401 into a place where only a 304 had fit was fun!!! (Car was originally a 258.)

View attachment 324887 View attachment 324888

The tunnel from the Road Runner will probably take some fabrication work, but at least I have the hole for the shifter to come up through the floorboard. I think we can make it work after I figure out where it needs to locate. My friend, that's a pretty good fabricator, can work his magic with it.
The two 62's with the pedal assemblies have the right tunnel if I have to source one instead.

 

[Snotty]

If you noticed, I don't have the Spirit quad headlight Factory front end on my car.
It has the front clip from a one year, one model only, 78 Concord AMX. I like round headlights.

I did notice!

 

[Snotty]

The two 62's with the pedal assemblies have the right tunnel if I have to source one instead.
View attachment 325109

They will be different, with a very small hole. Those only used a 3-speeds. You would be better off, now that I think about it, going with this one if it will fit.

 

[robndi43]

I did notice!

Took some time sourcing all the parts. Had to drill out the spotwelds holding the quad headlight buckets in. Then weld new round brackets in their place.
Sourced the roll pan from a Gremlin a two hour drive away.
Bottom was rusty, so I drilled out the spot welds, took the top piece that comes up either side of the grille, and welded to my spirit bottom front roll pan.
Painted clear set of turn park lights in the grille green. Look pretty cool at night.
I have a set of headlights with green halos to go on it when I get the time .

 

[robndi43]

They will be different, with a very small hole. Those only used a 3-speeds. You would be better off, now that I think about it, going with this one if it will fit.

Great minds think alike. I know what you mean. That was my thoughts exactly. I looked at those a year ago and thought that hole was too small and way off center for my needs.
I learned to drive on a 61 Chrysler Newport, back years ago. That my parents owned.
It was a Newport with the 361 3 speed stick. Tried hard to find that car. Looks like it was abandoned in a lot in Richmond VA after the owner died. Was told the city hauled it off after a while. crushed me to find that out.
That car was stripped of any option. No AC, power steering, power brakes, rubber floor instead of carpet, radio delete plate, etc.
The one thing it did have was power and lots of it for it's day. That car would fly and I'm lucky to still be alive as I streched it's wings many times!

 

[Snotty]

I owned a '62 New Yorker for some time in the '90s. There was a '62 Newport, 361, 3-speed, in a junkyard that I visited often. I took a number of items off of it, but that's how I know about the tunnel, plate, etc. That one still had the pedals too!

I found a '63 Newport, same set-up, that I wanted to drop a 400 and 4-speed into. Unfortunately, my Daughter didn't agree so there went that project!

 

[robndi43]

Another piece of the puzzle arrived today
Stainless steel, shorty, hugger headers!

Hope they work as nice as they look!

 

[Snotty]

You will have some trouble on the driver's side of the motor with the power steering. (I am making an assumptions that your car has it.)

WHAT... is a 373???

 

[robndi43]

You will have some trouble on the driver's side of the motor with the power steering. (I am making an assumptions that your car has it.)

WHAT... is a 373???

Looked back. Can't figure out where I said 373.

 

[robndi43]

Finally got the motor and tranny out of the Chrysler.

 

[robndi43]

Now the subframe comes out, then dissasembled. Taking it to a chemical stripper to degrease and derust it. Then dipped in Ecoat to keep it from rusting inside and out again.

 

[robndi43]

Off to a friends heated garage for body work and paint!

FINALLY!!

 

[robndi43]

My six pack air cleaner lid for my 413 Golden Lion motor is coming along quite nicely. Not finished yet and still needs lettered and cleared.

 

[robndi43]

Mock up of the lettering, done in the same red as the valve cover decal.
This is a computer rendering of the lettering. I asked for more space between the words and other picture is the modification.
Letter spacing will be better when painted.

 

[65sporty]

Looking good

 

[robndi43]

Six pack air cleaner lid is now finished!
Had this idea about two years ago. Awesome to see it come to life!

 

[robndi43]

Subframe is out. Taking it to be dipped to get rid of grease and rust.
Then ecoated to keep it from rusting inside the frame again.

 

[SGT FURY]

Hello, I have 6 bolt valve covers and would be interested in your 4 bolt ones.?
There was a pic of on Forward look of a 61 Chrysler with a sky hi roof on it. I was looking for it but could not find it.. I did look pretty cool. But there was something that didn't fit right on it.
If you don't wind up getting that 61 ply,I would be interested?

 

[robndi43]

Hello, I have 6 bolt valve covers and would be interested in your 4 bolt ones.?
There was a pic of on Forward look of a 61 Chrysler with a sky hi roof on it. I was looking for it but could not find it.. I did look pretty cool. But there was something that didn't fit right on it.
If you don't wind up getting that 61 ply,I would be interested?

Hello.
Thanks, but I bought a set of valve covers. i had mine for sale on the forum, but no bites. Just trying to recoup what I had in them.

Have decided not to do the roof swap. Fits great in the front, but 3" too narrow in the back. More than my meager resoures and talent can overcome.
I'll find ou tg how much h ed wants for the whole car if you are really interested.
It's in WV