MrMopar goes Topless

[MrMoparCHP]

Headlights, will do the bezels after I get the lights adjusted.

Under hood is essentially done and ready to start electrical testing.

The electrical testing for the most part went smooth..
1. Taillight socket was assembled incorrectly.
2. Fender top indicator needed the ground cleaned.
3. Console courtesy light swapped wired in my rebuilt harness.
4. Original console lighter needed cleaning and breaker reset (took a while to find that one).
5. Fuel sender not plugged in.
6. Park light bulb not put in correctly.
7. High beams/Super Light wire not plugged into relay, oops.
8. Dash lights, ended up bypassing the dimmer.

Taking the switch panel off was a task, even though I opened up the dash frame there is little room to get to the plugs.

For the most part that is up to date.


Alan

 

[Samplingman]

Beautiful work Alan! I really hope you will drive this across country for the Carlisle show next year.

 

[carlover]

After inspecting the top system and realizing it was not a major leak I chose to just power through it and put the top down. New cylinders and hoses were ordered.

Here are some pictures to get a better idea to the overall condition of the car and just how cool of a car this is.
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The Spring Special trim (missing its DODGE lettering), also note the grill is polished with no paint.
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Hard to see in this picture but the fender extension is banged up
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Well not much to say here, the other side is just as bad, no buffing this out.
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Both the visor brackets and the mirror mount are heavily pitted.
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The wheel covers along with the 500 trim are polished, will need to be cleaned up and painted.
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Throughout the car it is showing its age but overall it is a solid car.


Alan

It's a beautiful car! The only small change I would make if it were mine would be to remove the chrome header surround at the front edge of the hood and fender caps. I prefer the stock body color front end. But I realize Dodge made these an option because it made the car look more like it had a loop front bumper, which were very popular then.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

It's a beautiful car! The only small change I would make if it were mine would be to remove the chrome header surround at the front edge of the hood and fender caps. I prefer the stock body color front end. But I realize Dodge made these an option because it made the car look more like it had a loop front bumper, which were very popular then.

Already gone, wasn't original to this car and I don't like it.


Alan

 

[69monaco]

Nice Alan , great job ": i see you bought some redlines for it........in the rear i put some 7 or 8 inch steelies with 4 inch backspace on mine because the small axle they used in 69....it fill up the gap a little between tire and fender and still looks original!

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Nice Alan , great job ": i see you bought some redlines for it........in the rear i put some 7 or 8 inch steelies with 4 inch backspace on mine because the small axle....it fill up the gap a little between tire and fender and still looks original!

Although never available on the Polara and the only size I could find is one size smaller than I wanted, I do like the way they look on the car.

The wheel covers are just stuck in the tires to see how they look.

Alan

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The last time I ran the engine was two years ago, finally got to where I could fire it up again.

My friend played with it for a little but heard a rattle that he thought was coming from the transmission and felt it might need more fluid to the converter. We couldn't put it in gear and get the pumps moving as I hadn't adjusted the parking brake and the brakes are not blead yet.

During the week I get the parking brake adjusted and started in on the brakes. He comes again and we run it some more, in gear, fwd/rev/low... I hear the rattle but feel it is more up front and don't hear it under the car. We swap position and he listens from the side and under and agrees.

Last night I pull the valve covers. Rockers all look good, good oil coverage. Check rods, not good. The wiggle spin in place trick exposed a bent one so they were all removed for a more detailed inspection...

Alan

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The car is getting closer to completion, for the most part under the hood is done after fixing the bent push rod.

After getting the brakes bled the car was taken off the dollies for the first time after the restoration.
With a loan of a steering wheel from Trev the car was capable of being driven.



Initially the steering was rock hard, almost worse than manual steering, after pulling into the garage the reservoir was topped off.
Another test drive was done getting in more turning in both directions. Once again it needed topped off, anther test drive and it was all good.

This time the car was parked outside so I could get a good look at it in daylight and not in the garage, threw a couple wheel covers on for the pictures.

Alan

 

[75LandYacht]

The car is getting closer to completion, for the most part under the hood is done after fixing the bent push rod.
View attachment 619881

After getting the brakes bled the car was taken off the dollies for the first time after the restoration.
With a loan of a steering wheel from Trev the car was capable of being driven.



Initially the steering was rock hard, almost worse than manual steering, after pulling into the garage the reservoir was topped off.
Another test drive was done getting in more turning in both directions. Once again it needed topped off, anther test drive and it was all good.

This time the car was parked outside so I could get a good look at it in daylight and not in the garage, threw a couple wheel covers on for the pictures.
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Alan

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Beautiful work Alan.. excited for you. Many happy miles to ya..

 

[polara71]

You Badtard!

 

[Samplingman]

Love it!

 

[CBODY67]

A fantastic job of getting from where it was when you bought it to where it now is! Another great car saved to live a long life!

Congrats on a job well done,
CBODY67

 

[71Polara383]

Looking really good!

 

[Mr C]

That car is SICK!!!! Well done , sir!

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The body shop is done with it, all touch ups done and it is polished out. Got the windshield installed today. If it is not raining after work I’ll try and get some pictures.

Alan

 

[Fury Pursuit]

Sweet!!!

 

[MrMoparCHP]

A little after getting the windshield installed I took the car for a drive. Still needs an alignment but it drove nice,

Alan

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Now that the windshield is in I could do the interior surround.

The a-pillar trim were in bad shape, I had some not so good sedan trim that was good where I needed it so they were cut down.

The visors and header trim were installed

Still waiting on my steering wheel I got a reproduction Camaro one and modified the center cap.

Alan

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Even though I am still working on the power windows I threw the interior all in to make the car presentable for a local show.

Alan

 

[saforwardlook]

Even though I am still working on the power windows I threw the interior all in to make the car presentable for a local show.
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Alan

Unless your Monaco came with that dashpad, could you tell us where you got the correct one with the stitching going across the top? Last time I looked ABC Moparts did not make that version, so I am guessing that Just dashes might have done yours? If so, they are doing much better than what I have seen in the past. Beautiful Monaco!