Building the kids 440

[Cooter]

Just a few beginner pics of my boy's 440 for his baby. A 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II 2Dr Hd Top, 4-speed, Dana 60 car...(No, the Dana didn't come in it factory).He's only 17 Y/O and REALLY wants to cruise this thing to High School and I remember how it felt to cruise my own "Hot Rod" to school, so I figure this thing should be up and running in about 4 months, even if it's got the 'ol Flat Black, standby paint job on it...He wants to paint it up like an old Super Stock clone they woulda done back in the day..He's already got the B/Stock decals for the C pillar...All His croney buddies seem to give him a hard time about his "Hoopty" car..I fore warned him about the street racing thing and we've had "The Talk" already...The FIRST time I hear of Street Racing, it goes up on EBay...Not too many kids in HS today even have access to these cars, and I figure I wouldn't be doin' my job of passin' on the Hobby unless I let him at it so here goes...He did do "OK" in the Dart this summer and that car is ALOT more powerful than this one will be, but it's an Automatic which he says is "Boring"..That's my boy...

[charge69]

  i was already in the Marine Corps in 1966 when the Belvedere came out new!  Actually, I went in the Corps in Feb. '66 and had already seen them around here and am sure it is a nice ride. Ought to be a great project and a fun car to drive , especially to school with all those "ricers" out there now. Congrats on having someone to pass the hobby along to and good luck.

[skip68]

I hope he knows what a cool dad he has.   Just to be a kid and drive a car like that to school would be cool as hell...

[68coronetGLwannabe]

 

I hope he knows what a cool dad he has.   Just to be a kid and drive a car like that to school would be cool as hell...

[dkn1997]

I know it's not as cool... but what about building a 360 for it with a line lock?  this way it won't be that fast and he can still do monster smokey burnouts! 

I had a 68 charger in HS and although a 440 would have been nice, I would have likely killed myself in it lol

[Cooter]

I know it's not as cool... but what about building a 360 for it with a line lock?  this way it won't be that fast and he can still do monster smokey burnouts!  

I had a 68 charger in HS and although a 440 would have been nice, I would have likely killed myself in it lol

I tried, but the kid wouldn't hear of it stating "If the distributor is in the back, I don't need it..I'll just stick to driving your Dart..." He's already a little bent cause we measured the pistons in this "HP" engine @ .140 in the hole and it's killin' his power...

[Belgium R/T -68]

You are really a great father Good luck with the build.

Per

[TUFCAT]

I'm sure it will be a strong running 440 based on your knowledge. 

[b5blue]

Hey I'm certain if HIS blood, sweat, tears and money end up in/on this car....he will be fine. Your a good Dad! 

[dkn1997]

I know it's not as cool... but what about building a 360 for it with a line lock?  this way it won't be that fast and he can still do monster smokey burnouts!  

I had a 68 charger in HS and although a 440 would have been nice, I would have likely killed myself in it lol

I tried, but the kid wouldn't hear of it stating "If the distributor is in the back, I don't need it..I'll just stick to driving your Dart..." He's already a little bent cause we measured the pistons in this "HP" engine @ .140 in the hole and it's killin' his power...

Damn kids! Lol      sounds like he outsmarted u.  A dads low compression is a sons foundation for ablower motor!

[Cooter]

He stated he wanted the engine to have that "Old skool" look to it, so I stated he better get himslef a Torker intake, 750 Holley DP, and some Moroso valve covers...Here's what he came up with...
This one is nothing to write home about, but don't tell him that! HA! It's basically a 1972 440 HP engine, with stock cast pistons only a re-ring job as I told him you want all that go fast stuff, get a better job and some more seat time under your belt first...
It's got the above mentioned parts, along with a Comp. .480 Lift, 280 Duration (231 @.050) single pattern camshaft for a little sound.
Also, I installed a High Vol. Oil pump, new rods and mains, new Cam bearings, ported "516" heads with 2.08 /1.74 Valves and the stock "HP", single with a flat damper springs. Should be a real good set up in front of a 4 gear and a Dana 60 with 3.54 Sure Grip.

[skip68]

Sounds like it will be reliable.  Should run pretty good.

[Brass]

 

[greenpigs]

So how about the brakes on the car? Even with a low CR its still going to have some balls just not so big.

I think my kids would be getting a 70 Fury with a 318 for a first car, your way more trusting than I am.

[elacruze]

I'm thinking you should get a really good set of shoes for the front wheels, and 2 or 3 sets of take-offs for the rear...

[Cooter]

We have converted the front over to disc brakes and added 11 X 2 1/2" rear C-Body brakes to the Dana 60...
He's a good kid and I'd rather have him driving this thing and having to trust him than gettin' some chick pregnant, or doing drugs, shootin' up is High School, etc.

[elacruze]

I can hardly imagine owning a car like that in high school. He'll really owe you one on that.
Got a drag strip nearby where he can get it out of his system?

[skip68]

I think it depends on how and where a kid grows up more than the age.  I was raised on a ranch with 2.5 miles of dirt road to get to a main road.  I knew how to drive at 12 and had a 63 falcon to play with.  Most city kids don't get to learn that young and how to slide a car.  I have video of our son at 10 yr old driving our Charger. Mom and sister in the back seat and dad in the passenger seat.  He did a burn out and loved it.  I kept it in first and was nervous a bit but I felt it was safe.  Most kids I grew up with knew how to drive way before they hit the streets.  I think any kid that spends alot of time around cars is more responsible when they are old enough to drive.  In the end a kid is going to be a kid no matter what they drive and I'm betting Cooter's kid has a good idea how to drive.  I remember in high school guys having camaro's and stuff and they worked on them all the time and would race them on weekends at the track.  They took care of the cars because they built them.  I'm sure he'll be fine. 

[Cooter]

Oh yeah, he's already talking bout subframe connectors and such, and we do have a local track he wants to "See what it'll do"...He's already involved with cars as I made him repair is own 1989 Mercury Cougar 3.8 Head gaskets..Then, the engine started knocking..He knows what's what..in fact, he is where I was in High School shop class, being that he already knows more than the other kids just there taking up space rather than trying to learn something...He gets the "Anybody BUT CHRIS can answer this question"..When the teacher asks a question..He is also a 17 Y/O kid, and I know all to well this..However, I also know that if I don't TEACH him respect for HP and Torque, he WILL find out by calling me one night from the hospital as he probably borrows one of his buddies cars and ends up in trouble..He drove my 750 HP Dart all last year to the cruise nights as I couldn't drive both cars at one time..He did really well...He was even shy about romping on it when I told him to...He did fine though and was very surprized at how different cars handle so differently...I have also told him that he is gonna be the most hated kid at his school because I'm allowing him to be something other parents wouldn't DARE..He will be the ONLY ONE in the parking lot not texting while driving, in an antique car, has over 375 HP on tap, doesn't leave out the parking lot sideways (I will know, I have "Friends" that will be watching at all times with Cell phone video in hand for proof)....He wants to learn to drive a 4 gear like his idol Mr. Ronnie Sox...He was young when Ronnie Passed, but he knows now through myself and TV interviews, that he was a legend with the Chrysler 4 -speed..He has also been with me at the track when the stick cars pull to the line and sees how people kinda get up, go down to the fence, and stare when they leave the line...

[skip68]

Yep, he'll be just fine.  :2thumbsup:

[TUFCAT]

Keep us posted on the build progress, especially the body work/paint stage.

I'd love to see it finished.    I think 1966-67 B-body's are cool.

In fact, I'd like to own a pair!

#1 car - would be stock looking, and #2 car - would be the drag race version!    

[Cooter]

[dkn1997]

can you just imagine how it would feel the first day you are cruisin that thing into the HS parking lot?  I get goosebumps thinking how cool that would be.  I felt that way when I drove my charger to school the first time and it was a total shitbox.  I can't imagine how good it would have been if it was as nice as this car will be!   

[Cooter]

PAINT!

He picked a kind of Dark Blue Met. Pearl..It's Dark Purple/Blue, yet in direct sunlight, it's Bright Royal blue...
Here's the engine bay..Sprayed this today..Sorry bout the cell phone pic.

[TUFCAT]

Looks good to me!