31 Ford Model A Coupe 31 Ford Model A Coupe
1961 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
- - Back - -

  Home   >   I own   >   1961 Chrysler


my61chrysler.com

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
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.

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

Mopar Parts Sources

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

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.


61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Expenses
61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

Hub & Gloria Harness
Garage Tour

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

w/my 02 PT Cruiser

08 Gold Monkey &
Kooweetoo Tour
Wichita, Kansas


61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

w/my 02 PT Cruiser

08 Gold Monkey &
Kooweetoo Tour
Wichita State University

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.

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
Gauge Cluster Removal

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Gauge Cluster Removal

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Gauge Cluster Removal

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Gauge Cluster Components

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Dash w/Cluster Removed

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Dash w/Cluster Removed

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Dash w/Cluster Removed

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Dash w/Cluster Removed

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Dash Gauge Cluster Hood Mod

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
New Gauge Cluster Panel

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
New Gauge Cluster Panel

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
New Gauge Cluster Panel

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Steering Column Mod

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Steering Column Mod

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Steering Column Mod

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Steering Column Mod

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

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/383 4barrel V8

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/383 4barrel V8

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/383 4barrel V8

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/383 4barrel V8

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/383 4barrel V8

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/383 4barrel V8

Here's some pics of the Disc Brake install

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/70 Chrysler Dual Mastercylinder

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/70 Chrysler Mastercylinder & Proportioning Valve

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Front view of left front spindle

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
View of left front disk & Caliper

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Rear view of left front spindle

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Rear view of left front caliper/spindle

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Front view of right front spindle
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

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.


61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
new drive shaft u-joint conversion

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
new drive shaft u-joint conversion

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
new drive shaft u-joint conversion

61 Chrysler Windowr 2dr Hardtop
new drive shaft u-joint conversion

Handbrake Maintenance


61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Handbrake Maintenance

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Handbrake Maintenance

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
Handbrake Maintenance

Here's some pics in the Snow 12/18/05

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
in the Snow 12/18/05

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
in the Snow 12/18/05

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
in the Snow 12/18/05

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
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 Southwind
Corvette Show

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 03 Southwind
Corvette Show

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 03 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 03 All Wheels
Lake Afton

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

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 02 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/Carnut & Mopar Lottie

At 02 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
w/Carnut & Mopar Lottie

At 02 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop
& Mopar Lottie

At 02 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 03 KKOA
Stray Kat 500

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 02 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 01 All Wheels
Lake Afton

61 Chrysler Windsor 2dr Hardtop

At 01 All Wheels
Lake Afton

my61chrysler.com
Last Update 07/06/96 Hits:


40 Ford Tudor Sedan 40 Ford Tudor Sedan I Own - I Have Owned - Fun At Home - Big Thrill - Friends Cars
Home - Links - Events - Store - Vendors - Forum - Specs - Pics
George Carnut McDowell
carnut@carnut.com
est. 1996