1958 Dodge Coronet Lancer Barn Find - Will It Run?

[@middlemnmiddlemn2186]

In 1969 when I was 13 I learned how to drive on my mom's 58 Dodge Coronet. 2 door, white with black and white interior. It turned heads! I was so proud of that car. My dad sold it soon after.

[@lori6577]

F

[@middlemnmiddlemn2186]

@@lori6577 ?

[@craigbowley6783]

Always good to see someone giving new life to an old Mopar 👍

[@paulsheehan8185]

The Coronet, was popular, with CHP and was used in Highway Patrol TV Series, (1955-1959 Broderick Crawford, Dan Mathews 2150).

[@paulsheehan8185]

I miss the Plymouth Division, i had a 1972 Valiant, with all drum brakes, when wet, wouldn't stop for all the beans in Boston.

[@MatyHam86]

Get it running driving and stopping and enjoy it. That thing is surprisingly in good shape after all them years

[@cudafry1967]

That's the plan. Thank you!

[@patrickbrown3135]

That car is beautiful. Sounds like it still needs timing& Idle mixture set @ operating temperature. Glad to see the Marvel's gone, and she's a non- smoker .

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you, and thank you for the input.

[@TheCatOfAges]

That car is in remarkable condition for a mopar... Edit, i saw the trunk and i take that bavk, all of those floors have gotta go. Galvanized steel is often near impossible to weld to normal steel, as it releases harmful gasses thst could kill you. Keep up the good work!

[@cudafry1967]

Agreed! Trunk floor sections are galvanized and need to come out. Passenger floors are not as bad as trunk, and have a few galvanized sheets screwed over the rust areas. Overall, it could be much much worse.

[@michaeladamo1188]

@@cudafry1967 that’s right! The hardest part is finding one

[@mrrusty3330]

WHAT A BEAUTY

[@thomasmcbride582]

I love those years of Mopar like to see it brought back to all its glory keep us posted on work Mopar hell ya

[@cudafry1967]

Will do. Restoring these cars takes tons of cash, we will at least make it safe and roadworthy, and most likely one color.

[@asn413]

in minnesota we call that almost done:D hell of a car! if you need parts hit me up. careful those forward look cars are a bit spooky. They'll get under your skin. ask the man who owns one XD

[@cudafry1967]

I need a windshield. It's got a tiny, well, large hole in it haha!

[@moparedtn]

Those old poly motors were tougher than hell.

[@cudafry1967]

Absolutely. I have a 318 poly in my '64 wagon.

[@craigbowley6783]

Love that 62 dart in the background 👍

[@brianandglendaharkin9457]

👍🏻💯🇦🇺love these old Mopars

[@mdogg1604]

Love the hooded headlights and grille of the '58! Body looks solid on this one; amazing!

[@cudafry1967]

Amazing that the fenders above those headlights are not rusted out. Car came with patch panels for that area, don't think we'll need them.

[@stevenpalmer8977]

Awesome job,what a great car,somthing you and your daughter can look back on👍,hope you keep it in the family : )

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you, that is the plan.

[@boboshop55]

Looks great! Congrats, and enjoy!

[@cudafry1967]

Thanks! Will do!

[@Oscarphone]

Boy howdy, talk about bring back memories. Back in 1967 I bought a beautiful low miles '57 Dodge Lancer two door hardtop like this one. It had a 325 two barrel like this one and right away managed to get a four barrel conversation like yours. Carter WCFB with the off-to-the-side air cleaner. I also added a dual breaker distributor....

[@cudafry1967]

Wow, cool! I need the correct brackets to install my air cleaner, I'll probably just make something up as finding originals has not been successful.

[@clintferguson8328]

funny sounds like Christine moving around the yard, great to see it running and moving around great video.

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you! It's like watching the movie in our front yard.

[@josephaguiar9003]

Awesome video guys can't wait to see what you 😀 do with it love those old wing cars awesome

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you very much! More to come.

[@t-rodzgarage]

What a cool ride. I have always loved the of old cars with black rims and solid white lettered tires.

[@cudafry1967]

Agreed, although I miss seeing the white lettered tires that only have the outline of the letters in white. Our wagon came with a set of those, dry rotted, and when we went to replace them could not find those tires.

[@neil6212]

Oil comes up through the rocker shafts, through hollow or reduced OD bolts which are used to mount the rocker shaft stands.

[@mainellcasimiro9866]

nice.....good job bro

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you!

[@friguy4444]

It's an awesome car and barn find! Obviously this man has been working on Mopars for a long time and we can see the fabulous collection of them all around his place. But I can't help trying to tell the screen things as he's starting the car LOL. I keep trying to tell him to just let it run at low idle for a while while the engine gets warm the gaskets get lubed and the valves work in some oil and heat. But it doesn't do much good. LOL. Great video thank you!

[@cudafry1967]

Yes, he has collected many Mopars over the years, and yes we have much to learn, wish we could hear the comments in real time.

[@DependableAutoTruck]

engine oil comes up through the head into rocker shaft and under each rocker arm there is a small hole sprays oil not a lot to the pushrod and valve tip. usually with a stock system you don't see a lot of oil

[@friguy4444]

WOW! I've so far watched only 39 seconds of the video but seeing how far that baby is in the dirt has me wondering all sorts of things about it LOL. AWESOME! ------How is it possible?? No critters living in it? No RUST??? Yet it's sunk into 5 inches of dirt? The under carriage looks excellent! Just WOW! EVERYTHING is there and looks PERFECT for a true barn find!!

[@cudafry1967]

Wow, thank you friguy! We are obsessed with this car and just had to have it.

[@joes3485]

All models of the Imperial had the bubble shaped windshield from '57 thru at least '62 or '63. Chrysler began to share the bubble shaped windshield with more models to get the cost down some. I hope you can find a replacement windshield. Nice to see this one moving under its own power again.

[@cudafry1967]

Guy I bought it from has an old school interchange book, '57 convertible, '58'-'59 convertible/2 & 4 door hardtop. He has a '60 hardtop and the windshield is similar but not the same, side glass looks the same though.

[@BitterDemo]

I just said it was running a bit rich before you went and got the screw Driver and the screen posted about the Mixture. It sounds like there is a bit of a dead spot in the gas flow like air bubbles or dirt.. I raced a 1962 Dodge Coronet at Pikes Peak on July 4, 1962. Pour some Automatic Transmission fluid or pure water like clean distilled water down the Carb while it is running at fast Idle. I have had to do that many times with my Chrysler motors and older Fords. It will clean the Valves.

[@newedition0456]

restore that car man

[@richard7408]

Nice find on a rare car. Well worth fixing.....

[@daviduglem3213]

Friend of mine had a 1955 Red ram lancer in high school. The car ran good but only a two-speed automatic. Still a solid automobile.

[@cudafry1967]

I'm sure, the poly engines are tough and run strong.

[@BitterDemo]

I would also check the Coil. It could have an internal short that is intermittent.

[@BucksSuperStereoWorld]

Is that a 325 semi-hemi? The 2bbl was known as the "Red Ram" and made 245 HP with the Stromberg 1bbl and 8.0:1 compression, or 265 HP with the Stromberg 2bbl carb and the same 8.0:1 compression, or 295 HP with the Carter 2bbl carb with 10.0:1 compression. That's high compression for an engine in 1958 considering the garbage fuel of the era and the fact that the refining process has had 65 years to perfect. Granted, most muscle car engine in later years made higher compression, but that's crazy for a 325 cubic inch (5.3L) V8 to make 10.0:1 compression. They even had options for a single 4bbl carb, two 4bbl carbs, and a Bendix fuel injection on the 5.9L (361 ci) that made 305 HP, 320 HP, and unknown for the fuel injected models.

[@cudafry1967]

It's a 325 poly, whether it is a Red Ram or not I'm not sure exactly. Some info says yes, some no. Iirc, 1958 Dodge is an odd year, of course all the years are probably odd. I know it was the only year for the 383 R engine. Mine was originally a 2 barrel, I added the 4 barrel.

[@terrencelalonde7783]

Christine is back

[@paulsheehan8185]

That Coronet in Canada, would have been called Crusader or Regent, just a rebadged Plymouth Plaza or Savoy, and not a U.S Dodge.

[@cudafry1967]

I think the Canadian Dodges were just Plymouths with a Dodge front end.

[@paulsheehan8185]

@@cudafry1967 Yes they were. also in Mexico, (dodge Kingsway).

[@paulsheehan5010]

@@paulsheehan8185 the flat head six, was bigger on Canadian Dodge/Plymouths, (3.6L vs 3.8L).

[@chrisplace3024]

I see Vermont plates that where i live.

[@troyandog8749]

I can't believe the front wheels turned when you pulled it out of the mud.

[@cudafry1967]

There were steel belts sticking out of that tire!

[@chuckhaynes6458]

The performance versions of the "Poly" MoPars were vastly underrated. Too bad it's not a D-500. Did you get all the trim with it?

[@cudafry1967]

Got all the trim with it and the two Coronet emblems

[@rockubtzer]

Nice Stationwagon, Super nice Barracuda! The new Dodge, she has fins I think you should name her Dora or maybe he should be Sir Lancer Lot. Veronica is good too, Veronica Lake was a blonde bombshell pin-up Girl, fitting because of the Dagmar bumper blinker pods.

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you! The kid names the cars.

[@21jojijo]

Give her a good dose of Berryman's B12, and let her drink. Give her the good stuff and bring her back around - get some of that smoke to disappear as them rings get seated again. Nice ride - definitely a good project car for you or someone.

[@adamantvermont]

Wow Vermont tags. Cars don't last long up there. As a former Vermont-a-hawk I know.

[@cudafry1967]

Found a Virginia registration in it from 1971

[@dsloop3907]

Coldwarmotors would love that car.

[@cudafry1967]

I would hope so, he did an incredible 'splice' on that Fury. Beautiful car, he is extremely talented.

[@jerrybattagliasgarage]

Awesome find! Check out the 1955 Chevy Bel Air I found in a Long Island garage sitting since 1978! 😁

[@cudafry1967]

I've watched your videos Jerry. Subscribed!

[@anonymousinc6330]

Wow. Vermont car, sitting that long, and it totally looks saveable. NICE FIND! Restoration project?

[@cudafry1967]

Yes! Well, semi-restoration

[@anonymousinc6330]

@@cudafry1967 Is this one the 1-bbl or 2-bbl? And do you plan to keep it stock or upgrade it?

[@paulsheehan5010]

In the sixties to 1972 in Austrailia, the Dodge Phoenix, was a Plymouth in North America.

[@BitterDemo]

You get that car running and back up in shape and it will be ten times more comfortable driving that your other cars. Your hot sitting on the Floor in a Mopar. I wish we were friends and could enjoy chatting and comparing. I think your Coil as well as your fuel supply is your problem. If I am wrong. Please tell me the problem. I have worked on cars all my life.

[@erickort1987]

like to see with a nice paint job

[@marshallgibson8872]

Pretty sure I picked up the same push button shifter at a barn sale recently. Took forever to find out what it was for. This particular one was only used for 1957 and 1958

[@cudafry1967]

Start is not with the key, you have to push the neutral button to start with the key on.

[@Carrilleptbreak]

@ 40:30 mark... Mosquito control at it's best!

[@MrCplcranky]

Check out Cold war motors he restored a similar car. Nice car you have there.

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you. I am very grateful.

[@scottmeeker9971]

Just needs a bit of a tidy.

[@atledavidsen4837]

Thank you for sharing with us. ;-) Love it. I do believe I heard some misfireing at idle when cold several times (around 46 and 50 some minutes)? Bad plug or plugwire? Really nice late 50's mopar giving vibes to "Christine". The internet says it's her sister (1958 Plymouth Fury). Best from Norway.

[@cudafry1967]

Our pleasure, and thank you. Some kind of misfire developed later. I'll check the plugs/wires, and hopefully figure it out. Would love to visit Norway, someday.

[@stevenpalmer8977]

Probably lifters

[@paulsheehan8185]

U.S Dodges, were bigger and more luxurious, than Plymouths.

[@darronlemell224]

Looks like christine

[@newedition0456]

very close

[@charlesmiles9115]

😊👍👍

[@darwinfoster7420]

It oils through the shafts and not through the pushrods . It wont throw oil all over just sort of seeps to rockers .

[@cudafry1967]

Thank you for the info.

[@jpalberthoward9]

The tires and wheels give it an early NASCAR attitude, (Fireball Roberts, Junior Johnson) or maybe a moonshiner. Does it have some kind of race cam? I know the patina thing is a fad right now, but this car has beautiful lines. It really ought to be all one color, even if it's just primer.

[@cudafry1967]

Stock 325 poly, I just upgraded to the 4 barrel, which was an option. The owner before the guy I bought it from, so well over 30 years ago, began the 'restoration.' Destroyed the paint on the car in my opinion. Plan is to sand it down, see what we have left of the original paint, guessing not much, and if it is bad, try to match the original colors. Not going to do a 100 point perfect paint job. Then get the trim back on it.

[@terrygillam2700]

Need to do a smoke test & gas tank evaluation for varnish in the tank 🤔

[@cudafry1967]

Pulled the tank, full of rust, literally piles of it. Going to buy a new one and sending unit.

[@allenschmitz9644]

Better stock up on 'carbon tax credits' from the big boys.

[@adamantvermont]

What motor 383?

[@cudafry1967]

325 Poly!

[@craigbowley6783]

If it might oil itself through the pushrods

[@asn413]

It might be through cam rotatation. it was in the "other" poly engine. my dad and a neighbor finally found that out after a long night of guessing. XD

[@prawnstar9213]

Oh I hope someone saves it! Cornets are rare

[@daviddamico4288]

If you look on line you might find some trim … maybe you should look where you got it and see if any of the trims is there….

[@cudafry1967]

All the trim was in the trunk. I went over that at the end of the video, I have the Lancer emblems too!

[@garystaab7835]

Hey, love the video. Glad to see it being saved. Where did it come from? I see a nice old wagon (red) 55 or 56 in the background of one of the shots. I need wagon parts for my 55 New Yorker wagon. HELP??? Does he sell to others?

[@cudafry1967]

He got the out of Vermont 30+ years ago. I found a Virginia registration from 1970 behind the back seat. Iirc, that red wagon is as-is, no windows, no trim, nothing. He does sell other stuff, just has to be in person, no internet, mail, etc. Old school guy. I have not seen a '55 New Yorker there, or any other year, but I will look around next time.

[@errorsofmodernism7331]

Who is the Karen that keeps making obnoxious comments? Very nice car. I love the sound of those

[@cudafry1967]

My daughter, and she loves this car!

[@neverknowit11]

It misses under load. It is hard starting for a V8. Other than that it sounds okay. Sometimes the wear in the distributor may cause the timing to change.

[@cudafry1967]

That is my understanding, at least now it is, going to replace plugs/wires/etc and if that doesn't do the trick, replace the distributor.

[@rolandhallock9060]

needs the timing set

[@cudafry1967]

Problem is, the timing marks, or what is left of them, not very visible. Need to dig into more, clean up the marks, verify TDC, add some timing tape, etc. Iirc, the initial timing is 6 degrees before tdc.

[@williamdeegan7840]

Was there any frame damage ? It looks like it was really sitting on the ground. Good luck with her.

[@cudafry1967]

No frame damage. Seeing it sunk into the ground made me worried it would tear in two when pulling it out, it was a relief when it came out in one piece. Still amazed it is in good shape.

[@CR7659]

frames on these typically rot from the rear leaf spring hanger forward in that C-channel area and ahead of the axle where it's boxed. I had one that spilt under the middle of the car after some hard abuse trying to move it, too. The only one I had that wasn't too bad was a '58 Coronet Spring Special convertible, I bought it and sold it with a foot of snow around it and didn't know it wasn't too bad until the snow was gone and we picked it up. It still had some nickel size holes in the seam ahead of the axle. On the other hand, same yard I took a '57 DeSoto rear bumper and all I had to cut was the top of the frame to get it and the rear of the frame off the car.

[@cudafry1967]

Convertible would be nice, one that wasn't rotted away even better! I also heard the frames are not that strong when it comes to putting a floor jack under it, the advice I received was to always put a block of wood between to spread the load out. I've been all under it, and this frame appears to be solid.

[@BitterDemo]

I wonder if people ever look at these comments. I am the only one commenting it looks.

[@richardashcraft7200]

Is it a flood car ?? It looks kinda waterlogged to me

[@cudafry1967]

If you consider sunk in the mud a flood! It's in good shape, considering.

[@fieldcars3301]

@@cudafry1967 those were bad years for mopars known to leak everywhere. So floors and side trim inside never survived. These looked so good - even gm was nervous which sparked the fin era

[@paulsheehan8185]

Funny how you love Chrysler Corp. cars, and but you don't drive a Ram.

[@cudafry1967]

True, can't afford a Ram! I bought the pick-up I have now from the local used car lot the same day my prior daily driver died, just needed something. At least it allows me to pull a trailer and pick up my Mopars.

[@timothybright7064]

Where is the Junkyard I want to restore something Old? And I'm not talking about Women!

[@docdetroit146]

Poor ol Vt car. Its like new for new england

[@cudafry1967]

This is true, so true.

[@BitterDemo]

I would bet money against your Fuel Pump or supply.

[@jasonsaeli75]

Sorry viewer's we were going to get this car running and driving but we spend all our money at the car wash washing it off lmao

[@cudafry1967]

Washing it makes it faster.

[@BitterDemo]

Sounds like a weak Fuel Pump. Needs a new Diaphragm. I had a 1957 Plymouth that was the same way. We tried everything and my friend was a Mechanic for Yellow Cab and they had all Mopars. He rebuilt the Fuel Pump and it ran great. But we are now in an erea of all Electric and I find they pump to much gas.I am not trying to b a know it all, But at 83 years I have owned several shops, Truck Stops and nave built cars all my life and am still building them. I am planning to drive my 1952 Studebaker Pickup 6, to Missouri towing my 1901 Oldsmobile. From California.

[@cudafry1967]

It might be a weak pump. I have a new one, just didn't put it on, wanted to see what it would take to get it to run, surprisingly little. We will go back and address the mechanicals again. As I stated at the end, I put used front brake lines on it to see if the brakes would work as is, but we will go through them thoroughly. Thank you for the input, any feedback is appreciated.

[@glenbo2464]

Christines fraternal sister ! lol

[@BitterDemo]

I went to Home Depot and bought a Pressure washer with the soap dispenser Cheaper than going to a you wash wand car wash three times and i wash my house, motor home and all of y classic and antique cars with it as well as wash my house double garage and my 6 sar shop. Man using one of his typy washers is throwing money down the drain if you do everything. I spent $18.00 doing my 2006 Buick Lucerne and that was when I went hunting. Harbor freight is cheaper but you get what you pay for.

[@cudafry1967]

True. I have exterior hot water spigots but it was just too cold to get the hose out and have freezing water all over.

[@mrpurcountry]

Definitely not running on all 8 cylinders maybe a plug wire has gotten switched around or a stuck valve. Well it's running pull one plug wire off the distributor one at a time until you find the ones not running.

[@tonybruno7917]

Nice 58 she's got a little hiccup

[@cudafry1967]

Agreed. Need to dig into it more.

[@danieltaylor7401]

Yom

[@BitterDemo]

I enjoy your show because you do not act like most so theatrical, Let your wife / Partner be seen so we don't loose track of your show wondering why she is never on screen. If it was not for our women, most of us would never be known for anything.

[@cudafry1967]

I appreciate your comment, cannot agree more.