1961 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
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 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop |
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I purchased this car in early 1993 after seeing it displayed at a local
swapmeet sale. It had been modified quite a bit before I got hold of it.
The car came with disc brakes installed on the front and
a 69 Dodge Charger rear axle. The engine had a Mopar electronic ignition
and chrome valve covers. The interior had been gutted and had power seats
from a later model Ford Galaxy.
I've installed a 4 barrel intake and new Carter Daytona AFB on the engine along with Harmon Sharp roller rockers and Mopar Performance aluminum valve covers. The engine gets great oil pressure and dosen't burn a drop of oil. The original pushbutton auto trans is still working but leaks fluid like a sieve, even when parked. |
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I recently needed new motor mounts for my car and found them at:
JC Auto Restoration Jeff Carter 11303 20th Ave. NE Seattle, Wa. 98125 206-363-5270 fax 206-440-7461 | Jeff has a catalog of a large number of 50's/60's Mopar parts and does restorations of the Electoluminescent gauges in 60-63 Chryslers and 66-67 Dodge Chargers. |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop |
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I've also replaced the stock master cylinder with a dual unit from a 70 Chrysler. I lowered the front 2 inches and added 2 leaves to the rear springs. New gas shocks have been installed all around. The wheels are 15 x 8 PBL modular mags with 225 x 70 front tires and 255 x 70 rears. I've had a new headliner installed and put in new molded carpeting and sound/heat padding myself. I also added a stereo radio and 4 speakers. New retractable seat belts have also been installed. I had to scrounge local junk yards for parts to repair the drivers door window regulator, which works great now. |
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I also found a spare set of parking lights to fix the left front which had
been damaged. I was really worried when I got the car because the rear
taillight lense were quite yellow and I figured I'd never find decent
replacements, but fortunately, while reading an issue of Old Cars Newpaper,
I saw an add advertising reproduction Chrysler lenses by: Robert C. Wynne Bob fixed me up with some excellent repo lenses at a reasonable price, unfortunately he no longer produces them. Darla Montoya has just informed me that 61 Chrysler Lenses are available from Gary at Westcoast Antique 858-457-2182. Now if I could just find the chrome/stainless trim piece across the back I'd be in 7th heaven. |
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Here's some pics of the Dash On 04/21/08 I finally got around to updating the original dash to later model gauges. I ordered a set of Auto Meter American Platinum Series Gauges from Summitracing.com. Roger Mingle went to work and removed to original factory Gauge Cluster and steering column and set about crafting a new dash panel and lengthening the steering column 2". |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop Pushbuttons |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop Gauge Cluster |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop Pushbuttons |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop Dash |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop New Gauge Cluster Installed |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop New Gauge Cluster Installed |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop New Gauge Cluster Installed |
The engine compartment 383ci 4 Barrel
Here's some pics of the Disc Brake install
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Here's some info on the disc brake installation from Steve Knickerbocker
"Looked over your pictures and it appears you are running the 73 and newer B body pin type caliper, small rotor discs. Ought to be simple to find parts when needed. If the urge calls you can easily upgrade the rotor from the 10.87" diameter you have to the 11.75" setup used in HD brake applications. All you need are the rotors, I tell the parts guys 79 Cordoba for these rotors, $29.99 each from Autozone as of last year. Also you'll need the proper caliper adapters. This is the part that the calipers bolt to and in turn bolts to the spindle. They space the caliper farther out from the center of the rotor on the bigger rotor setup. Nice swap and an excellent improvement in braking. M bodies (Diplomat/Gran Fury) and F bodies (Volare/Aspen) use an almost identical setup as yours. The only real major change is the caliper type. They are sliders vice the pin type like yours. You should be able to run those in your friend's 61 as well. The rotor upgrade is the same but remember the adapter has to both match the type of caliper used (pin or slider) and the diameter of the rotor (10.87" or 11.75"). Easy way to tell which diameter rotor you have is to look at the splash shield, if it's bigger than the rotor then is the 10.87" one, if the rotor is bigger than the sheild then you have the 11.75" rotor. I know the 79 B bodies, Cordoba, Magnum, etc run the bigger brakes with slider calipers so you might think about using them. One final note, the big rotors require 15" rims, small rotors can run 14" rims." |
Here's some pics of the Drive Shaft Conversion
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After finding my original Mopar Driveshaft Slipjoint was wearing out, I went to the local driveshaft place Power Drive Inc. to find a solution. They provided me with this driveshaft conversion to solve the problem. I Noticed the conversion was quite similar to the front driveshaft on my 4x4 Blazer.
Handbrake Maintenance
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Here's some pics in the Snow 12/18/05
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop in the Snow 12/18/05 |
Here's some pics at Car Shows It's attended
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop At 03 All Wheels Lake Afton |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop At 02 All Wheels Lake Afton |
 61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop At 02 All Wheels Lake Afton |
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Last Update 07/06/96
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George Carnut McDowell
est. 1996
