Re: IML: retrofitting Auto-Pilot into a '66 Imperial

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

The Auto Pilot in '66 was much the same as the years previous, with, of course, the exception of the design and style of the control panel/knob. There is a nylon gear built into the control knob on '65 and '66 (maybe '64) that is absent in the earlier styles and that frequently disintegrates and must be replaced. Wiring in cars those days wasn't as "integrated" as it has been for the last 2 decades, so the harness for the Auto Pilot is quite self contained. You can probably get all the wiring necessary right along with the assembly from the donar car.

The differences that you will find under the hood would be primarily due to changes over the years in the throttle linkage. I don't know about '64, but '65 and '66 Imperials had a throttle cable rather than the previously used rods. Earlier Auto Pilot units connected to the "throttle rods" down in front of the firewall. The later ones would have to be connected differently. Still, I would think (but not positive)that adaptations could be made to fit the older units. 

Standing the units side by side there is a major difference in the outer springing, but I don't think that this difference precludes interchangability. Mounting the unit under the hood should not present any issues as long as all of the brackets are saved from the donar car.

I bought the complete assembly out of a '66 to install in my '65. Although I never did the job, I studied it closely at the time and believed that it would all go together. I solved the problem with the nylon gear by making a replacement out of brass. I was enrolled in a night class in a machine shop at the time so that job was a snap.

In the 1980's a friend and I bought all the parts and installed an Auto Pilot in his '60 Crown. As I recall some of the stuff I needed came from later cars, but it was all pretty straight forward.

The same company made Speed Control units for other cars in the late '50s and through the '60s as well. Some of the components from they may be interchangable.

Paul

In an email dated Tue, 9 11 2004 1:12:11 pm GMT, "Neal Herman" <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>The mechanic where I take my cars discovered a '65 Imperial with Auto-Pilot
>in a police impound lot. ?Unfortunately, the car died of an engine fire,
>and everything under the hood is toast. ?No one claimed the car, so he
>bought it for parts and has taken off much of what's useable for various
>projects. ?I'm getting a better power antenna than mine from it. ?The
>interior was in okay shape, and it has the Auto-Pilot dash pieces that
>could go into my car, which doesn't have the option.
>
>The questions: ?Is the Auto-Pilot unit the same in all Mopars, i.e. if I'm
>able to locate one out of an early-mid '60s Chrysler or Dodge (or Plymouth
>- yeah, right!), would it be the same as one in an Imperial? ?Is it hard to
>retrofit? ?I'm guessing I'd need a different wiring harness, right? ?Any
>other thoughts?
>
>Neal Herman
>1959 Imperial Crown 4-door Southampton
>1966 Imperial Crown 4-door
>et al.
>
>
>
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