When Ken Payne Jr. picked up his ’65 Dodge Coronet 440 as a rolling chassis, the goal was simple. He wanted a project that he could build with his sons. They were looking for something they could enjoy at the drag strip and take out for fun on the street. The car didn’t need to be a showpiece. It needed to run strong and bring the family together.

American Racing TorqThrust “D” wheels up front and black steelies in back give this ’65 a vintage look that is in contrast to its modern fuel-injected HEMI. (Photo by Caecey Killian)

Changing Course

The plan was to drop in a Chrysler big block. Ken had a 383 lined up, but once the cost of building it for serious horsepower became clear, the idea lost steam. After looking at parts prices and machine work estimates, he realized it would cost close to $30,000  just to get the engine where it needed to be. That didn’t make sense for this budget-minded build.

After some research, the 383 was sold off. In its place, Ken went with a Gen 3 HEMI. It made more sense from a power-per-dollar perspective and offered more room to grow in the long run. The engine is built around a pre-Eagle 5.7-liter block from the early 2000s. Inside, it runs Wiseco pistons with a 9.5:1 compression ratio and Molnar power adder rods. A forged 6.1-liter crankshaft brings extra durability without changing the stroke. Up top, the cylinder heads came from a later Eagle engine, which brings improved airflow and better combustion chamber design. A 6.1-liter intake manifold was chosen to round out the top end.

To spec the camshaft, Ken contacted Hughes Engines out of Illinois. Once the parts were collected, he turned to Maschmeier Performance in Oak Grove, Missouri, to handle the machine work and assemble the long block. After final assembly, the car was tuned by Flying Ryan Performance. On House of Boost’s dyno, the naturally aspirated combo put down 428 horsepower. It’s a strong number for the current setup, but there is more on the table.

Manual Motivation

The Coronet runs a manual transmission, adding to the engagement and keeping things fun at the track. Originally equipped with mechanical clutch linkage, the system was converted to a hydraulic setup for smoother engagement. The car currently uses an A833 overdrive transmission, which has proven solid. Still, Ken has plans to move to a Tremec six-speed T56 Magnum built by Tick Performance. The T56 will provide more gear ratio flexibility and a stronger platform once the boost gets turned up.

Ken is planning to install an F1A ProCharger once the car has a few more miles under its belt. The power goal is 900 horsepower to the wheels. With the right tire and suspension setup, he expects the car to run mid-9-second passes at around 145  miles per hour.

Built In The Driveway

More important than the parts list is who worked on the car. This wasn’t a checkbook build. Both of Ken’s sons were heavily involved in the process. They helped install the windshield, rebuilt the front suspension, and converted the factory drum brakes to modern discs. This was the kind of build where everyone got their hands dirty.

His youngest son, Jake, played a big part in the early phases of the project. He helped with the first engine install, completed the hydraulic clutch conversion, and even tracked down the Gen 3 HEMI donor car. His oldest son, Nate, recently had the chance to bring his sons to the track and watch the Coronet make some runs during a Street Car Takeover event.

(Photo by Caecey Killian)

Both of Ken’s sons have families of their own now, so garage time is harder to come by. Still, the memories from this project are already in place. Once the car is fully dialed in, Ken plans to let both of his boys take it down the track. He wants to see if they can outdrive him and lay down faster passes than their old man.

Not Your Average Coronet

This build hits a sweet spot. It keeps the classic lines of a sixties Mopar while making smart choices to keep things drivable and fast. The engine combination was chosen with boost in mind. The transmission and clutch upgrades keep it user-friendly. And most of all, the car is meant to be used. It is not a trailer queen or a car built to collect dust in a garage.

The factory Super Stock hood and race Hemi single-headlight grille treatment give this Coronet a purposeful look. (Photo by Caecey Killian)

Ken is still fine-tuning things, but the vision is clear. This Coronet is a family-built street car with the bones to be a serious track machine. With a ProCharger waiting in the wings and a six-speed swap coming soon, the build is far from finished.

But even now, with just over 400 horsepower to the tires and some road time under its belt, the car is already doing exactly what it was built to do. It has brought a family together, created memories, and set the stage for the next generation to get behind the wheel.