1970 Coronet advice 318-440

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Uncle Paully

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I am acquiring a 70 Coronet 440 2 door with 318 all original car. I also have the opportunity of acquiring a 66 Chrysler Imperial 4 door with 440 all original car from the same owner. My question is, is the imperial a good donor car for a 440, transmission, and rear end swap into the Coronet.
Thanks in advance!
 
The engine and transmission will work. Likely the Imperial’s rear end will be too wide. Check the gears in the rear end; it might be a Sure Grip. I’ve had a 2.76 Sure Grip so you never know. And wrlcome to the forum
 
65 Dartman said:
The engine and transmission will work. Likely the Imperial’s rear end will be too wide. Check the gears in the rear end; it might be a Sure Grip. I’ve had a 2.76 Sure Grip so you never know. And wrlcome to the forum
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Thanks, I am picking up the Coronet this saturday, not sure if i want to do a 440 swap or just wake up the 318, but don't want to miss the opportunity for a 440. I will post some pictures to the forum once i get her home,
 
If you have the storage space, I would part the Imp as there are lots of people who look for parts from these barges
 
Hard for me to put value on, any thoughts on value of untouched running when parked 440/727. It is a relatives car so the facts are true. Car has not been started in a few years not sure how many.
 
Family? That is tough to deal with. I would let them put a price on it. See if it’s something you can live with.
 
70 Coronet or Superbee is my favorite B body. I’ve wanted one forever. But it may not happen.
 
Man, I remember the time when folks thought the 70 Coronet was ugliest of em all...I suppose that's why they are cool now. The 70 Sattelite..thats a cool looking car...:)
 
Uncle Paully said:
I am acquiring a 70 Coronet 440 2 door with 318 all original car. I also have the opportunity of acquiring a 66 Chrysler Imperial 4 door with 440 all original car from the same owner. My question is, is the imperial a good donor car for a 440, transmission, and rear end swap into the Coronet.
Thanks in advance!
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Welcome! I love the '70 Coronets! One of my favorite Mopars !!! Love the front ends. You'll have to decide what you want from the car. My sister had a '70 4 door Coronet with a 318 and it was a tire fryer. A cheap 440/727 is never a bad thing... You'll have to decide your intended use :)
 
Dartswinger70 said:
Man, I remember the time when folks thought the 70 Coronet was ugliest of em all...I suppose that's why they are cool now. The 70 Sattelite..thats a cool looking car...:)
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Not me. In 1980 I owned a auto parts store in Tampa Fl. I had a kid come by selling a 70 383 4 speed B-5 blue white interior. I really wanted that car. But he want $1200.00 for it. I said man there is no way I’m spending that much. Yeah I regret that decision.
 
SGBARRACUDA said:
Not me. In 1980 I owned a auto parts store in Tampa Fl. I had a kid come by selling a 70 383 4 speed B-5 blue white interior. I really wanted that car. But he want $1200.00 for it. I said man there is no way I’m spending that much. Yeah I regret that decision.
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I bought a 69 Coronet 500 in 1988 for $200 had to tow it home, bought my H code swinger in 1993, one had to go. B Body had frame rail rot in the left rear trunk area, inches from where the shackle bolted in. That influenced my decision to let it go, however now I wish Id kept it and fixed the frame rot. I was 19 when I bought it, not much welding skills back then..I agree now the 70 looks as good as any, and i wouldnt shy away from one mow(the 70)
 
Uncle Paully said:
I am acquiring a 70 Coronet 440 2 door with 318 all original car. I also have the opportunity of acquiring a 66 Chrysler Imperial 4 door with 440 all original car from the same owner. My question is, is the imperial a good donor car for a 440, transmission, and rear end swap into the Coronet.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
The 440 and 727 from the '66 Imperial will be good for a swap, but I'm not so sure about the rear end- besides being about 2" wider than the Coronet, didn't the '66 fullsizes still have the tapered axles? And didn't the Imps of that vintage use the oddball 5x5 bolt pattern? I could be (and probably am) mistaken on the exact years, but worth researching it a bit further.
Besides, chances are good that the Coronet already has an 8 3/4 in it, so maybe just compare rear gears if they're both 8 3/4 and use the most appropriate ones for your use.
 
I'm pretty sure tapered axles ended in either 64 or '5
 
Professor Fate said:
The 440 and 727 from the '66 Imperial will be good for a swap, but I'm not so sure about the rear end- besides being about 2" wider than the Coronet, didn't the '66 fullsizes still have the tapered axles? And didn't the Imps of that vintage use the oddball 5x5 bolt pattern? I could be (and probably am) mistaken on the exact years, but worth researching it a bit further.
Besides, chances are good that the Coronet already has an 8 3/4 in it, so maybe just compare rear gears if they're both 8 3/4 and use the most appropriate ones for your use.
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With that 318 I think its the lighter duty rear the one with the bolt on cover, is it the 8 1/4?
 
Your '70 318 B-body *should*(you never know) have the '741'-series 8-3/4. If the C-body rear is an 8-3/4" (which it should be) you can at least use the center section. It will *probably* be an open diff with freeway gears, but should be the beefier 742 version. The housing is too wide and the spring perches are in the wrong location for your B, but as was said the C-body guys will snatch that stuff up. The large-pinion cases are getting expensive.


Uncle Paully said:
Thanks, I am picking up the Coronet this saturday, not sure if i want to do a 440 swap or just wake up the 318, but don't want to miss the opportunity for a 440. I will post some pictures to the forum once i get her home,
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I know people love their 318s here, but in a B-body...do the 440 swap. With a stock 440 you have 470ish ft/lbs right out of the gate...
 
beanhead said:
Your '70 318 B-body *should*(you never know) have the '741'-series 8-3/4. If the C-body rear is an 8-3/4" (which it should be) you can at least use the center section. It will *probably* be an open diff with freeway gears, but should be the beefier 742 version. The housing is too wide and the spring perches are in the wrong location for your B, but as was said the C-body guys will snatch that stuff up. The large-pinion cases are getting expensive.



I know people love their 318s here, but in a B-body...do the 440 swap. With a stock 440 you have 470ish ft/lbs right out of the gate...
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thanks for all the feedback, wasn't expecting so much info. I will see what happens and at least post some pictures of the Coronet once i get her home!!!!
 
On the coronet, check the frame rails under the trunk where the leaf spring shackles bolt in...especially if its a rust belt car.:)
 
All I can say is congrats if you get it , it is 1 of the coolest mopars ever
 
Don't destroy another C body! Sell it whole to someone that will do something good with it. Find a 440 someplace else! To many people have destroyed nice C Bodies for the powertrain.
 
lemondana said:
Don't destroy another C body! Sell it whole to someone that will do something good with it. Find a 440 someplace else! To many people have destroyed nice C Bodies for the powertrain.
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As time goes on I can appreciate a nice mid 60s imperial 2 door coupe...4 door too! :)
 
I love 70 Coronets. I have been looking for a 500 I can afford for a few years now. I would do a 440 six pack. How about some pictures
 
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