Ah, my 1966 Chrysler New Yorker. Powered by a 440ci V8, a TorqueFlite 727, and an 8 3/4 Sure Grip rear, it kinda hauls. Kindof. Ok, not really. But it will someday.



Update 1.11.10!

Well, it runs and drives. It needs tuning. It needs power steering. It needs a sway bar. But it runs and drives. [and sounds pretty decent doing it, if I do say so myself] And here's the proof!



end update

Well, it ran for a little while. Then it ground up a cam lobe and lifter. Then we cleaned it up, put in another cam and lifter set, and...it ground up a cam lobe and lifter. A different one. So it did actually run. It still runs, but it makes some yucky noises. Once we have the new Jaquetapus HQ setup in Montgomery, I guess I'll tear into it again, and turn it into the fire breathing stroker motor it should have been in the first place. Then EFI. Then boost. I need one of those liquid cooled wallets Anthony Fury talks about. Here's what it looked like when it ran:







Update 05.4.09!

[does a little dance] The engine's back in! [With much thanks to Joe and Sarah] This stupid project is finally moving once again. Hopefully it'll be driving this month! Here's what happened:











Update 02.25.08!

Here's the plan: [this week]
Intake's off at Shaunthony's getting EFI'd
MegaSquirt's in the mail, gonna get assembled in the week or two to come
Decisions on NYer v1.0 have to be made: turbo or n/a
I'm thinkin turbo if I can afford the welder and all the parts. It's definitely gonna be EFI'd. It's getting the Magnum serpentine conversion from Superior Design Concepts. It's hopefully gonna have A/C. It already has '73 C body front discs. It's probably gonna have '78 Monte front discs in the rear. It's probably gonna get a new set of springs, once I figure out what spring rate I want. [I want to be able to carry 6 people and gear without rear end sag. And maybe a trailer.] So the v1.0 combo will look like this:
440ci RB Big Block
7.8:1 compression ratio
Mild Comp Cam
452 heads rebuilt by aerohead
Edelbrock Performer RPM EFI'd by Shaunthony's
Edelbrock throttle body elbow
Chevy 70mm throttle body off of a junk motor
Fuel rails custom made by Shaunthony's
83lb injectors
Mopar Performance electronic ignition conversion kit
Magnum serpentine conversion [with A/C] from Superior Design Concepts
440source aluminum water pump and housing
MegaSquirt v2.2 PCB3.0
Walbro GSL392 fuel pump [x2]
TBD boost ref'd fuel pressure regulator
Homemade log exhaust manifolds
Borg-Warner s400 turbo [size still undecided]
TBD blow off valve and wastegate
Big air to water intercooler up front
Summit aluminum radiator
Some fancy electric fan getup
Some monster exhaust with a dump [probably a 5" downpipe if possible]
Stock torque converter
Stockish TorqueFlite 727 with a shift kit
8 3/4 rearend with a 3.23 SureGrip in a 489 carrier
Some big el cheapo Mastercraft tires
Stock suspension with beefy springs
Sumped stock gas tank
Stock looking interior with a few choice gauges in the ashtray
An eventual goal of approximately 800rwhp

I think it's the recipe for fun. Time to get to work.

[end update]




Update 10.27.07!

Got some more work done on the New Yorker today. Put tires on it last week. They look pretty beefy now.



The current drivetrain plan is to reassemble the stock motor with the 7.8:1 compression. Gonna keep the compression low, gonna put my set of rebuilt 452 heads on it, got a mild cam for it, a Performer RPM intake, Performer carb, and a set of cheapo Hedman shorty headers. Got the front disc conversion done. Got the new front shocks in it. Gotta order some parts from 440source and we'll be in business! I'm thinking about making a custom gauge cluster out of the factory ashtray, so it can be hidden from view. That way nobody can look in and see the oil pressure, water temp, voltmeter, wideband, fuel pressure, and...[dun dun dunnn] boost gauges. That's right folks, there's a reason I'm leaving the low compression ratio, and it has something to do with some muffler bearings. That's all you get for now. Once I blow up the junker stuff, it's time to place a call to 440source for a 400 based 470ci stroker assembly. Then some 440source "Stealth" heads...they look factory, but are made of aluminum and flow like Edelbrocks. Then we can paint up the whole motor in factory turquoise and here we come four digit horsepower numbers! Stay tuned.

end update

Update 8.26.07!

We made progress! Engine's out and getting repainted and whatnot! And I'ma fix that annoying leaky trans seal! Woohoo!







Update 7.24.07!

Ok, progress is being made. I've got my brake parts, the paint's drying on them right now! Got '73 front discs, gonna put '78 Monte Carlo calipers on the rear. Got a really mild Comp cam for it. [the largest cam for a stock converter] Got a fuel pump and some valvesprings on the way. Got an electronic ignition kit. Got cop wheels for it. Almost done. Hopefully it'll be back on the road soon. '516 heads going back on.

As far as future plans go, the RB543 from 440source.com is still in the works. I'm thinkin Indy 440EZ heads for it now. Makes more power. A big cam too. Really big solid roller. Here's the specs:

3500-6300 rpm
283/291adv
252/263@.050"
.660/.660"lift
108deg lobe sep

"Super strong low end torque. Best with 10.5:1 comp and single plane intake. 3500 stall in 440"

My dynosim figures say big torque with this setup on an 10.5:1 RB543 with Indy 440EZ heads.
600hp@5000rpm 675lbft@4000rpm Check out this dynosim.

http://jaquetapusracing.com/nyer/543ezsolid.jpg

If that kinda bottom end torque won't move a C barge, nothing will! Should put my junker in the mid 11's assuming I can get it to hook. If it doesn't hook, that just might be more fun! Lookit all that torque! 550lbft from 1500rpm to redline?! Rolling burnouts from like 40 anyone?

That's all folks!


Ok, update 4.13.07:

Allrighty, not a whole lot has changed here. Some stuff has tho. A new floorpan was found on eBay a few months ago, and is almost installed. New exhaust is sitting in my bedroom, also awaiting install. It now will consist of Hedman shorty headers, Summit 2 1/2" cutouts, Summit X pipe, 2 1/2" Flowmaster Original 40's, and either some "scavenging turndowns" or tailpipes of some sort. [haven't decided yet] The 440 is staying a 440 for now, because funds aren't vast enough to afford the 543 build I want. So the current plan is to keep the .040" over 440 with the low [very very low] compression that's in there. It's keeping the 516 heads it had, but with new valve stem seals. [no more blue clouds on startup or decel!] It is getting a new Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and mechanical secondary Performer 750 carb. New mechanical fuel pump, new water pump, new alternator, new mini starter, new fancy motor mounts, electronic ignition conversion, and maybe a new factory HP cam. That one's iffy...gotta talk to Comp Cams' tech line to see if that motor will even run with compression that low. As far as suspension, it's getting a PST front end rebuild, and KYB Gas-A-Just shocks. Looking into a fancy front sway bar too. A front disc brake conversion is happening too, with factory '73 C body stuff. Rears are getting rebuilt while I'm here too. New U joints, 15" cop car wheels and some big tires. Most of these parts are lying around my house [mostly in my room] awaiting installation. I'll post some pictures when I can.

[end update]

Old stuff:







So the New Yorker's in the garage this winter for some renovations. It's gettin more motor, more trans, and more suspension. We're this far as of 11.28.06, with slow progress.




Lots and lots of room for cam swaps here. No need for all that pesky motor pulling. I'm going to anyway though, because it needs motor mounts and I want to paint it.




And now for the gruesome. I uncovered this tonight, thinking I could patch the floorpan because it felt soft. Wow. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me.




Ok, wow. My compression ratio after the last guy's rebuild is now 7.84:1! Upon further review, the budget doesn't allow for a bottom end at the moment. Solution? Throw a top end at it. Edelbrock carb, intake, heads [hopefully heads...] and call it a day. That still puts me in the neighborhood of 475hp and 525ftlbs...that ought do for the moment, considering we were talkin less than 350hp in it's old state. So far, this winter's projects look to include front disc conversion, driver's floorpan, motor freshening, manual valvebody in the trans, gate shifter, 2.5" x pipe exhaust, and some cop car wheels. Gonna trade the dart's front seats for those wheels. Not much progress has been made since 11.28.06, it's now 1.18.07. I'll get to work eventually.