Helping My Parents Drive My Grandfather's Car
Posted by Draymond_Purple@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 15 comments
Hi All!
This is my late Grandfather's (and now my Mother's) 1967 Dodge El Coronet - TL;DR I need some advice to make it safe for my parents to enjoy.
The car is a local legend, and a mainstay in my family's history. Folks around town would communicate with my grandfather by leaving notes on the car, my wife and I were introduced in it at our wedding, it's even been on the football field for one of college football's most famous moments. Upon my grandfather's passing, ownership went to my mother.
It's important to my mother (and the whole family) to keep the car going and keep driving it - and to his credit my father does drive it, but he really shouldn't.
They're both in their upper 70's, and this vehicle has no power steering, no power brakes, and it's all steel. It might be the longest and heaviest 2 door vehicle ever made lol. Stopping distance is measured in counties.
I'm handy, mechanically inclined, and looking to take on some modernization projects with my parents both as a "let's do this together in his memory" and also so that I don't fret about them driving an old car in modern traffic.
My intuition is to start with:
1) Power Steering
2) Power Brakes
3) Suspension modernization
Not looking to update the motor (for now) as the mechanic who's worked on it for several decades said it would be a crime to get rid of the Slant 6 that's in it (it's not a 440 despite the badge lol).
Looking for advice and confirmation from y'all on whether I'm on the right track in terms of where to start?
I've looked into Power Steering already - looks like these newer electric power steering would be a great option.
Any insights on where to start/how to think about updating the brakes? What about the suspension? I think suspension probably would have the biggest overall improvement in driveability but also sounds like the biggest hurdle to tackle.
Am I on the right track? Any guidance on some level of DIY updates to those three areas? We could just pay someone to do these things but would really like to find solutions we can be confident in that we also can at least reasonably attempt on our own.
Thank you all for your advice!
Smokey_Katt@reddit
There are bolt-in disc brake kits that use maybe Aspen/Volare rotors or something, or find an old cop car. You can leave the rear drums or get cop car parts .
Power brakes are pretty easy to retrofit. Factory mopar for decades should bolt in, or aftermarket.
Suspension is fine with new shocks and bushings and such. It’s going to be boaty because of its size.
oldwatchlover@reddit
I’m not a Mopar expert, but…
I strongly encourage you to focus on upgrade kits specific to this car.
The way you mentioned “electronic power steering” makes me fear you intend to cobble generic components together. Totally possible but way more engineering than you should need to do.
I’ve got to think MP Brakes or Wilwood probably has a bolt in front power disc setup for that car.
Enthusiast forums should be able to point you to the easiest, best power steering solution (likely using mopar parts from the ‘70s)
Draymond_Purple@reddit (OP)
Yeah that's part of the insight I've gained from the other comments so a general thank you to all of you - you're exactly right, what you're suspecting is what I assumed was the only option (cobbling things together). That there's plenty of options specifically for this body and also that Power Steering in general is not that big of a safety upgrade have been super helpful insights
AntiqueChild@reddit
I'm not sure about the suspension upgrades but I'm pretty certain those cars were available with power steering and power brakes and probably front disc brakes to go with the power brakes. And I bet the mounting holes are there or at least marked where to drill mounting holes.
You might find those parts in a wrecking yard if you have any around that have older cars. It's also possible the same parts were on other Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth models. I bet there are Mopar forums around that would know what would fit that car.
Obnoxious_Gamer@reddit
All that stuff bolted to the same holes, correct. Only reason you'd need to drill new holes is for the support brackets for the brake booster, and those were self-tappers from the factory. Only other difference is that conversion necessitates a new proportioning valve in place of the original distro block and maybe some different lines.
DicemonkeyDrunk@reddit
Cutting up your grandfather’s classic car is an interesting choice.
Draymond_Purple@reddit (OP)
Hoping to not make major changes, only a few hidden things to make it safer and keep it going!
The alternative is that it sits and falls into disrepair, which seems like a worse fate to me. Hoping to thread a needle of keeping it driveable without changing the core of its essence.
DicemonkeyDrunk@reddit
Those are not minor changes..there’s going to be a lot of cutting , grinding , welding etc …for what will not be significant safety improvements. I just can’t see point in cutting up a perfectly functional car ..just rebuild the stock stuff.
Obnoxious_Gamer@reddit
...most of what OP wants is going to be bolt-on, used parts from other chryslers. Almost all of it, actually. Not sure what you're smoking.
Draymond_Purple@reddit (OP)
They're unpowered drum brakes and no power steering, how is updating those not significant safety improvements?
VWtdi2001@reddit
Don't listen to the clown saying that you are cutting it up. You can do a lot to make it safe without cutting anything. I have a 60 chevy and I have put in power 4 wheel disk brakes because manual drums take a lot of leg and fade quickly in modern traffic. I also put power steering on it because 7 or 8 turns lock to lock just sucks. It's now 2.5 turns lock to lock and can be done with 1 finger. Everything is straight bolt on and I saved the parts just in case the next owner decides he wants garage art instead of a driver. Done right the changes you are talking about will increase the value as well as the usability of your car. It's not ever going to be a museum piece so make it safe and fun to drive.
Obnoxious_Gamer@reddit
It's a B body. You can buy either new disc/power brake setups online, or get a used set from someone parting out another B. As for power steering - manual steering really isn't an issue above 2mph. If anything it's safer than the single-finger power steering these could have come with.
As for suspension, get front and rear sway bars and subframe connectors - sway bars were an option on chryslers until 1975 and this being a base model car with a 225 almost certainly doesn't have them. This will be the biggest upgrade you do for the handling, by far.
The suspension is probably fine, as long as it's in decent shape. Almost guarantee you need LCA pin bushings, since those go out every two to four milliseconds or whenever you look away, whichever comes first. It's not complicated to rebuild and if you have all the parts you can do it in an afternoon.
Draymond_Purple@reddit (OP)
Heck yeah, thank you for this - exactly the kind of insight I was hoping for. Good stuff, thank you!!!
Obnoxious_Gamer@reddit
Sure. If you want a more in-depth overview of suspension stuff, Jamie @ Dead Dodge Garage on YouTube has a bunch of videos in A body suspension - it's not exactly the same as B body stuff but it's pretty close. I suppose if you wanted a more modern-feeling power steering setup, you could contact Redhead Steering Gear and see if they have a stock-style pump that has a more modern assist curve than the factory "yes, all of it."
IrlArizonaBoi@reddit
I'm not a huge classic car guy but does it haves disc brakes?