Gerry Hall

Dodge Coronet

 

Gerry the Gerbil's '66 Dodge Coronet has a 40 thou overbored 440ci engine, upgraded with forged pistons, steel crank, 6-Pack rods, a Comp Cams' 305 hydraulic cam, Milodon windage tray, 1:6 ratio Crane roller rockers, '906' big valve iron head (with stainless valves), Edelbrock Torker inlet, 750cfm  Mighty Demon carb, Headman headers.

Transmission mods include a 10" B&M Super Holeshot 3500-stall torque convertor and 727 Torqflight with reverse-pattern manual valve body and Gerry modified the manual shifter. It has an 8 3/4" axle with Suregrip and 3.9:1 gears and superstock springs. Gerry recently overhauled the engine "with considerably more than a little help from Dave Billadeau to whom I am eternally grateful," adds Gerry.

Gerry had a year off in 2011 due to a failed engine with a spun bearing. When the engine was dismantelled, he found one journal on the crank totally wiped out. The engine had also been suffering valve bounce and two new valves were required, because of contact with the pistons, causing bent valves.

The engine has been rebuilt by Dave Billadeau, with a mechanical cam replacing the hydralic cam, Edelbrock Victor inlet manifold, ARP mains, Smith Brothers pushrods, and a few other goodies. Gerry: "This time around I felt it would be best to have the motor dynoed, which showed up a leak on the rear mainseal which was duly changed, and we figured something was wrong with the timing. It was, upon checking the timing mark was found to be 12 degress out! This sorted, and with jet changes the final figure was 493 hp which I think will do the trick. With a glassfibre bonnet and glassfibre bumpers, I think I should be back in the 11's -how far remains to be seen!"