1972 Polara 4 door sedan

[Triple Pickle]

Cleaned up underneath and ready to undercoat.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Just a light coat of rubberized undercoating. I’ll clean and paint the frame later.
I have mixed feelings about undercoating,, does it hold moisture and cause rust or protect the metal from rusting? I don’t know, so I go with a thin coat. Sorry for the poor quality pics, but this thing ain’t on no lift and I’m fat!

 

[Triple Pickle]

Well, well, well. If it isn’t the consequences of my own hoarding!

 

[Triple Pickle]

While I wait for the machine shop to finish my engine, I’m checking out the brakes,bearings and such.
When I got this car, I noticed the driver side front dust cap missing from the rotor. The bearings are shot because of that. The pads,rotors and calipers are good, as are the ball joints .
I think that if a person is thinking of taking one of these 50ish year old cars that haven’t been gone through in a long time and make a driver out of it, they would benefit from following this thread from beginning to end.
They will see the bare minimum of what they are about to face.
Figure on rebuilding the drivetrain and brake systems. Pray there isn’t any electrical gremlins or that the fuel system isn’t totally filled with gunk.
Anyway, here’s pics of 2 hours of cleaning one wheel well and sorting out the bad stuff.

 

[BLIMP]

Sure seems like a solid ride...the floors and that wheelwell are exceptional!

 

[71Polara383]

Just a light coat of rubberized undercoating. I’ll clean and paint the frame later.
I have mixed feelings about undercoating,, does it hold moisture and cause rust or protect the metal from rusting? I don’t know, so I go with a thin coat. Sorry for the poor quality pics, but this thing ain’t on no lift and I’m fat!

View attachment 270249

View attachment 270250

I would have used POR15 or a similar product and then undercoat on top of that. Still looks good though. Food for thought.

 

[Triple Pickle]

I would have used POR15 or a similar product and then undercoat on top of that. Still looks good though. Food for thought.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Won’t be long now. I like it when things start going back together. I have to do a project like this in sections. If I were to try to tackle the whole thing at once I’d probably get discouraged and give up. I gotta see results sooner rather than later! I think I can have a totally refurbished drivetrain installed and running by summer. Then on to the interior.

 

[71Polara383]

Spray some Kroil on it and sit back! Itll be running by this evening

 

[Triple Pickle]

Spray some Kroil on it and sit back! Itll be running by this evening

I tried that. Even Kroil couldn’t fix this mess!

 

[1978 NYB]

Wow! That undercarriage looks brand new!

 

[Triple Pickle]

Crank and pistons in, Courtesy of my local machine shop. I’ve got the engine home where I’ll do the rest.
Pistons are .005 in the hole, old guy at the machine shop said it should run good but it’ll be hard on gas! He’s doing the heads now. (Small valve J)

 

[Triple Pickle]

Heck with it, I’m going the cheap and easy way 355 SBC!

 

[Triple Pickle]

Just kidding about the Chevy.
I’m taking my time and enjoying putting the rest of the engine together. I clean and lightly paint the parts individually, test fit brackets and pulleys ,,then, remove the black parts and paint the engine assembly with a final coat of Chrysler blue.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Cam selection. Might be a tad too big for the weight of the car but, I’m putting a 3.23 gear in it later so hopefully it’ll be ok.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Little by little,,,

 

[BLIMP]

It's going back together rather quickly, won't be long now

 

[65sporty]

I think the cam will be ok. You may need a small stall converter, but I would try it first

 

[Triple Pickle]

I think the cam will be ok. You may need a small stall converter, but I would try it first

Thanks for your vote of confidence! I’m running a factory “high stall”.

 

[Triple Pickle]

Waiting for heads to be done.