Cody's Corner of Random Rehabbing & Shenanigans


 
Jon Tofte said:
Sure beats getting them up on the bed of my pickup truck, and then your stuff is out of the wind, elements, and prying eyes!
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Funny story the summer of 2023 my brother sent me a pic of a guy hauling a grill in the back of a truck, with something along the lines of "he beat you to this one." Fast forward to last summer, when I met up with Bruce & Mark that I finally put it together. It was actually Bruce's truck with a grill in the back. It wasn't until I saw the Vikings sticker when we met, that I put it all together!
 
Spent the day fighting off bees and culling over the herd… 4 broke down and useless parts taken to the scrap pile. I got a chance to put a good look at this gold I picked up last week. It’s incredible.
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Even inside

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Cookbox bolt area is rock solid.

And cleaned up the control panel for the platinum that looked awful. I’d say it’s an 8/10. Likely will be going on my personal SS platinum (whenever that day comes).

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As most of you know at the start of September, I lost my dad. The man that took a HS F up, and turned me around, taught me a trade, let me run and then become a partner in his business.

Since 1987, our family has had a 1962 Dodge Polara 500. In 1993 he completed a two year restoration project on this car. It was shown, raced and universally loved by anyone who laid eyes upon it. In 2021 my mom was diagnosed with cancer. His focus went directly to her care, and being a grandpa for his 4 grandkids. Time slipped away and the car just sat in the garage. Mom passed away December 14th. He took it really hard.

This spring he decided he was going to get some work done on it. All new brake systems, from the booster all the way to the 4 wheel discs. New QA1 suspension, front and rear coil overs. Swapped out the 4.56 gears for a more drivable 3.55. The Polara was going to get resurrected.

He got the call from the shop in late August that all the parts were in, and they would be ready for it by Labor Day.

On September 1st, on Labor Day I went and got it loaded up for him on the trailer, and the following day he delivered his baby to the shop. Thursday morning I got the heartbreaking phone call from my brother that he was no longer with us.

Well yesterday my brother and I took my son down to pick it up with mom and dad’s ashes in tow. And here it is. Unfortunately, we won’t get to drive it yet this fall, but planning to do some car meets and shows in the spring.

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I cried like a baby when I heard the rumble of the bored out 440 crack at start up. And I smiled ear to ear when I slammed it thru the gears of the 727 torqeflite tranny via its push button transmission.

I know my mom and dad were smiling down when they saw the three of us enjoying the car we all loved and are deeply connected to.
 
Wow, didn't know your dad was a gear head. Cool car, cool story. That 440 is a "beast". Many in my circle preferred it over the Elephant (hemi), which was much more difficult to work on and way more temperamental. Especially living with the dual point distributor and such.
Hopefully the first ride next year brings the joy of it all back for you
 
Oh, I was raised at car shows and drag strips. It’s a 1968 440 super commando. We recently found the motors specs written down. Cam valves etc. its fastest 1/4 it ran a 12.001, with (70lbs lighter) me riding shotgun. Car scaled out at 3800lbs. So it’s a bit of a tank but when that 4bbl opens up she screams!
 
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Cody Bratton said:
As most of you know at the start of September, I lost my dad. The man that took a HS F up, and turned me around, taught me a trade, let me run and then become a partner in his business.

Since 1987, our family has had a 1962 Dodge Polara 500. In 1993 he completed a two year restoration project on this car. It was shown, raced and universally loved by anyone who laid eyes upon it. In 2021 my mom was diagnosed with cancer. His focus went directly to her care, and being a grandpa for his 4 grandkids. Time slipped away and the car just sat in the garage. Mom passed away December 14th. He took it really hard.

This spring he decided he was going to get some work done on it. All new brake systems, from the booster all the way to the 4 wheel discs. New QA1 suspension, front and rear coil overs. Swapped out the 4.56 gears for a more drivable 3.55. The Polara was going to get resurrected.

He got the call from the shop in late August that all the parts were in, and they would be ready for it by Labor Day.

On September 1st, on Labor Day I went and got it loaded up for him on the trailer, and the following day he delivered his baby to the shop. Thursday morning I got the heartbreaking phone call from my brother that he was no longer with us.

Well yesterday my brother and I took my son down to pick it up with mom and dad’s ashes in tow. And here it is. Unfortunately, we won’t get to drive it yet this fall, but planning to do some car meets and shows in the spring.

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I cried like a baby when I heard the rumble of the bored out 440 crack at start up. And I smiled ear to ear when I slammed it thru the gears of the 727 torqeflite tranny via its push button transmission.

I know my mom and dad were smiling down when they saw the three of us enjoying the car we all loved and are deeply connected to.
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That car is really beautiful. Your father had great vision. It's a gift from heaven.
 
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