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Forward Look Local Regions -> New England Region	Message format

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-03-20 12:01 AM (#595774)
Subject: Introduction

Regular

Posts: 75

Hello, everyone.

I'm in the middle of buying a 1955 Coronet, and decided it might be a smart idea to join the forum to get some connections for parts and help when I need it.

The car is a little rough, but it's about 99% complete and certainly enough to get a nice driver out of it in a few years.

I live in Athol, Ma.

I would like to start with a few questions:

1. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good trim shop? It seems most of them have gone out of business.

2. Does anyone belong to the WPC Club here? I'd like to join the club and New England Chapter. Are there any meets planned (assuming we're allowed out of our houses again)?

3. What should I be ready for in terms of any difficulties with this car that are common problems?

Looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Charlie Larkin

mstrug

Posted 2020-03-20 4:44 PM (#595797 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth)

Hi Charlie: I don't live up there, but welcome to the group. Great bunch of guys here. If you need parts, shop around and ask us if you are getting ripped, some snakes out there. Post some pictures when you can, we like them all. Marc in Newark.

ronbo97

Posted 2020-03-20 7:53 PM (#595807 - in reply to #595797)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Location: Connecticut

Job one is to get a factory shop manual and parts book. You can find them on ebay. Get originals. The repros are crap.

Familiarize yourself with the 6V positive ground system. The wiring harness is probably frayed beyond what is safe.

Look at MyMopar.com for excellent reference material. Here's a link to their reference section.

What body style is your Coronet ?

Ron

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-03-22 10:05 AM (#595860 - in reply to #595807)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Posts: 75

Hi, Ron.

It's a 4-door. V8/stick-OD, so it should be a nice cruiser. The car is almost complete. In fact, the only missing part I could find is the air cleaner housing.

Charlie Larkin

Edited by Charlie8575 2020-03-22 10:07 AM

56D500boy

Posted 2020-03-22 11:38 AM (#595866 - in reply to #595860)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Posts: 10192
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Location: Lower Mainland BC

Charlie8575 - 2020-03-22 7:05 AM The car is almost complete. In fact, the only missing part I could find is the air cleaner housing.
Charlie Larkin

Charlie: Assuming that your Coronet V8 has a 2 bbl carb, you are looking for an oil-bath air cleaner that looks like this (ribs up top, and "D" clamp handle stick out the side/bottom, near the choke housing):

You could try French Lake Auto Parts in Minnesota http://www.frenchlakeautoparts.com/index.htm
or
John at Big M in California: http://www.bigmauto.com/

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-03-25 9:21 AM (#595993 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: Re: Introduction

Regular

Posts: 75

Thanks for the tips.

I am working on a bit of a budget, so I'm trying to plan. What can I expect to pay for one of these on average? I've been guessing $30-50 plus probably another $20 for shipping.

Once the car is in my garage, my very first goal is to get it running again, which shouldn't be too tough, as the seller says it will run with a battery, so I can at least do some kind of evaluation of the engine, and go from there.

Charlie Larkin

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-10-17 11:08 AM (#604557 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: RE: Introduction

Regular

Posts: 75

Well, this is it when it finally arrived home last month. Yes, it is a real black/white/pink car. Trying to figure out the first step aside from getting four tires that hold air so I can roll it around. The next step is getting a garage stall cleared so I have someplace to work. For this winter, however, a tent-garage may have to suffice.

Charlie Larkin

(Home at last.jpg)

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Home at last.jpg (159KB - 408 downloads)

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-10-17 11:11 AM (#604558 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: RE: Introduction

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Posts: 75

Vestiges of the original Heather Rose.

(Drivers door inside.jpg)

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Drivers door inside.jpg (110KB - 392 downloads)

58coupe

Posted 2020-10-17 12:11 PM (#604560 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Posts: 1748
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Location: Alaska

Welcome. Great to see another forward look car being saved. Your biggest problem will be rust repair as finding repair panels will be next to impossible. If you have a welder and some skill, you can save a bunch of money by DIY. Mechanical parts will be easier to find.

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-10-17 1:55 PM (#604561 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: Re: Introduction

Regular

Posts: 75

It actually came with replacement rockers and floor-boards, and I've located a fabricator in New Hampshire that can make most of whatever else I need. I, personally, am not a very good welder, in fact, I'm horrible, but that's where friends (and a few pros) come in. My main abilities are dis-assembly, re-assembly and finding stuff. One way, or another, my goal is to make this a solid, driveable, good-looking car again.

Charlie Larkin

56D500boy

Posted 2020-10-17 4:36 PM (#604564 - in reply to #604561)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Location: Lower Mainland BC

.
Charlie: Good to hear that you are making progress.

Not sure if your car has one but if it does, can you post a photo of the cowl data tag. I am trying to confirm 55 Dodge trim codes.

Your looks like a 429, unless it is green and then it would be 439 or 440

compared to this:

REFERENCE THREAD:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/get-attachment.asp?action=...

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-10-19 10:45 AM (#604622 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Posts: 75

If I can find it, I'll be happy to share the tag. About where on the cowl would it generally be located? I'll try to snap a picture today?

As to making progress.....well, at least I'm finding information and possible parts sources, so I suppose that's progress in a broad sense. I want to have it on tires that hold air by week's end.

Charlie Larkin

Edited by Charlie8575 2020-10-19 10:47 AM

56D500boy

Posted 2020-10-19 12:52 PM (#604632 - in reply to #604622)
Subject: Re: Introduction

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Posts: 10192
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Location: Lower Mainland BC

Charlie8575 - 2020-10-19 7:45 AM
If I can find it, I'll be happy to share the tag. About where on the cowl would it generally be located? I'll try to snap a picture today?

If it is a Detroit-built Dodge, the cowl data tag should be on the passenger side of the car, on the firewall, near the fender, visible with the hood open. Like this one that frwl (Igor) just posted today:

If it is a Los Angeles-built car, the data tag will look slightly different and will be on the driver's side of the car, on the firewall, near the fender, visible with the hood up.

Your VIN should be on the driver's door A-pillar, visible when you open the door. VIN info (to determine where your car was built):

Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-19 1:32 PM

(1955And1956DodgeVINcodes.jpg)

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1955And1956DodgeVINcodes.jpg (138KB - 397 downloads)

Charlie8575

Posted 2020-10-19 8:31 PM (#604656 - in reply to #595774)
Subject: Re: Introduction

Regular

Posts: 75

Mine is a Detroit-built car based on this information. I'll go look in the morning, and I will be happy to supply a photo to you if the tag is present.

Charlie Larkin

56D500boy

Posted 2020-10-19 8:34 PM (#604657 - in reply to #604656)
Subject: Re: Introduction

Exner Expert 10K+

Posts: 10192
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Location: Lower Mainland BC

Charlie8575 - 2020-10-19 5:31 PM
Mine is a Detroit-built car based on this information. I'll go look in the morning, and I will be happy to supply a photo to you if the tag is present.

That would be great.

I've private mailed you here with info about restoring your 55 Dodge door panels.

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