New member, 1966 Chrysler Newport

[Edison]

Howdy everyone! I just bought this car today.

I'll try and get more pics soon.

1966 Chrysler Newport.

 

[70NPORT]

This one is different...pictures first. Need more info.

 

[polara71]

........where'd you go?

 

[bulldogchesty]

Welcome, welcome. More info please.

 

[commando1]

...pictures first. Need more info.

"Howdy everyone! I just bought this car today. "

Give him time. He's pulling the back seat as we speak first. LOL.

Welcome.

 

[tallhair]

"Howdy everyone! I just bought this car today. "

Give him time. He's pulling the back seat as we speak first. LOL.

Welcome.

That's how we roll in the midwest

-----------------------------------

Welcome Edison .. I'm just across the River

 

[Edison]

Hi sorry, I've been busy since I got home with it.

I'm new to classic Chrysler so bear with me. Don't stone me, but I've been a Honda guy for 6 years. Parked just out of the picture in front of the Newport is my 1991 Civic.

The Newport is 1966, with the 440 Cu In RB engine. I didn't know much about Chrysler big blocks so I've been doing lots of reading the past two days.

The car has 57,900 original miles. The pictures on my phone didn't come out so well so but here are the ones from where I bought it. Can you guys see the pic in my first post? Not sure if it is showing up.

And thanks Tallhair. I'm actually in Granite City, IL but no one knows where that is on forums so I just always say St. Louis (but I do work in STL at least).

So far the only things wrong with it are the speedometer reads about 30 MPH than you are really going, and the gas gauge doesn't work. It wasn't leaking when I bought it, but after driving it around all day I think the brake master cylinder may have a leak. But I can't really tell yet. I have to figure out how to get it open to check first ;) But otherwise it's straight. Brakes stop, idles nice, interior is all there, and the underside is clean as a whistle. I'm really excited. Its a fairly mild example I think but I got tons of stares, rubber necking and second looks while driving around town.

EDIT - after being pointed out by someone else, I wonder if it is possible my car was originally a Canadian car and the speedo is in KPH? I think it might have been a Minnesota car before ending up here in Illinois . . .

 

[polara71]

looks like a clean car, lets see some pictures of that Canadian speedo

 

[KcImperial]

Welcome! Nicer car! The stance is perfect too! That chrome sure dresses up the engine nice. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that 440 sure looks like a 383.

 

[commando1]

Clean engine compartment.

Posted via Topify on Android

 

[AlleyOop2]

Welcome

 

[Stormer]

Welcome...

 

[Edison]

Welcome! Nicer car! The stance is perfect too! That chrome sure dresses up the engine nice. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that 440 sure looks like a 383.

Thanks! Sorry for being a newb. I had compared what was under the hood to pics, and my untrained eyes couldn't tell, plus it has dual exhaust too that made me also think it was the 440, but of course there's been 48 years for someone to add dual exhaust aftermarket. Any distinguishing features that would help differentiate the two for a complete beginner?

The speedometer goes up to 120 but doesn't have a MPH or KPH distinction so it could just be stock USDM and need recalibrated. I dunno.

Just snapped that photo. Ran out to the storage where I will be keeping it and put the cover on it (I don't have a garage and didn't want it sitting under the tree in my drive way).

More randoms.

Sorry for crappy quality, cell phone pics.

 

[Edison]

I just put the VIN through a VIN Decoder and KCImperial you are right, the Decoder came back that it was a 383 car from the factory. All good though. At least I know 100% for parts ordering. Thanks!

 

[1978 NYB]

Welcome......nice car.

 

[KcImperial]

Thanks! Sorry for being a newb. I had compared what was under the hood to pics, and my untrained eyes couldn't tell, plus it has dual exhaust too that made me also think it was the 440, but of course there's been 48 years for someone to add dual exhaust aftermarket. Any distinguishing features that would help differentiate the two for a complete beginner?

Don't sweat it, my eyes were untrained for a long time too.
413/426/440 RB blocks have a machined pad (arrow in pic below) at the front of the intake on the driver's side. This is the quickest/easiest way to spot a 383 vs 440

 

[C Body Bob]

Nice ride!!! Welcome aboard.

 

[tallhair]

And thanks Tallhair. I'm actually in Granite City, IL but no one knows where that is on forums so I just always say St. Louis (but I do work in STL at least).

So far the only things wrong with it are the speedometer reads about 30 MPH than you are really going, and the gas gauge doesn't work. It wasn't leaking when I bought it, but after driving it around all day I think the brake master cylinder may have a leak. But I can't really tell yet. I have to figure out how to get it open to check first ;) But otherwise it's straight. Brakes stop, idles nice, interior is all there, and the underside is clean as a whistle. I'm really excited. Its a fairly mild example I think but I got tons of stares, rubber necking and second looks while driving around town.

EDIT - after being pointed out by someone else, I wonder if it is possible my car was originally a Canadian car and the speedo is in KPH? I think it might have been a Minnesota car before ending up here in Illinois . . .

I know just what you mean .. if it's not STL or Chitown no body's heard of it. I'm over by the base and I know where that place is in the pics.

Someone may have changed the rear gear ratio which would put the speedo off. Is it fast or slow and at what approximate speed are you driving when it's off by 30 mph? It's a percentage of speed when it's off due to having a mis-matched speedo drive gear in the trans to the rear gear ratio. It's not always 30 mph correct.

If it was a 2.76 rear and speedo gear and and someone put a 3.23 or 3.55 gears in it, it would be off significantly but I can't recall at the moment which direction. Hopefully someone has a chart to help figure that out.

There are charts for what color/teeth speedo gear goes to what rear end ratio (depends on rear tire height too). I'll see if I can find one

 

[tallhair]

Most C bodies had 2.76 gears so if someone changed them and that's your problem here's a chart that can help ID the correct trans gear for a given rear and tire height

http://www.mymopar.com/speedometer.htm

and another

http://www.drivinithome.com/mopar-speedo-gear-chart/

Axle ratio

tire diameter	2.4	2.7	2.9	3.2	3.5	3.9	4.1	4.3	4.5
23.7	27	29	32	35	39	43	45
24.1	26	29/28	31	34	39	41/43	45
24.6	26	28	31	34	37	41	43
25.1	25	28	30	33	37	40	42
25.6	25	28	30	33	36	40	42
26.1	25	28	30	33	36	40	41/42	44	45
26.3	24	27	29	32	35	39	41
26.8	24	27	28	32	35	38	40
27.4	24	26	28	31	34	38	39
27.9		26	28	31	33	37	38	41	43
28.5		25	27	29/30	32	35	37
28.9		25	27	29/30	32	35	37
29.2		24	26	29	31	35	36
30.0		24	26	29	31	35	36	38	40

and here's a photo of another

If you need diff trans pinion gear here's a source:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-SPEED...MOUTH-JEEP-727-833-SPEEDO-NP435-/151272390220

 

[detmatt]

Welcome to the site from the Motor City! Very nice sedan, glad you joined us. One of your first upgrades should be replacing that original single reservoir master with a dual especially if you plan on driving it often.