Project Valvo - A Tale of Domestic Ambition
Not long ago, I purchased a pretty nice '68 Plymouth Valiant Signet. I recieved it with a smooth running 225 c.i. Slant 6 with a 904 trans. The combo is great for a dd but I can't seem to leave anything alone. And yes, this is a gold Plymouth with a blue interior. The PO was a huge Rams fan so there ya go. I plan to rewrap the interior and leave the paint as is. The car is in great shape, but needs a repair to the passenger floor pan. Someone did a shotty repair with sheetmetal and some tek screws. The underside looks like a porcupine. But surprisingly the rest of the car is very solid. I have already installed a Volvo 960 radiator and a 100 amp Bosch alternator (that I am still wiring). Efan is next. The transmission decided to spring a leak at the shift shaft seal right after I got it so I need to fix that so I can drive it until the new driveline is ready to go in.
Speaking of a new driveline, I picked this car up this weekend. I have been staring at it sitting at a service station for well over a year with the Nivomats sagging. After inquiring, I found that after the timing belt broke on it, the owner abandoned it despite several attempts to have them come pick it up. The station sold the car to me for the labor the customer owed them.
It's a real shame since this car is in such good shape and has less than 115K miles on it.
I began thinking of how much of the 960 I could possibly use in the Valiant. Even briefly considering a re-body to utilize the entire undercarriage in the Valiant. But alas, I came to realize I want to drive this car and not just stare at it in pieces in the garage for who knows how long. I have decided to keep the swap very simple and use the B6304 with the attached AW30 trans. I am looking to build a reliable daily driver and do not intend to race it, launch it, drift it, autcross it, rally it or anything other than commute and enjoy it. I plan to use a Volvo 745/945 rear diff converted to leaf mounts to give me disc brakes and a speed sensor. And with any luck and good G80 locker.
The engine will be repaired out of the vehicle and I hope to find the pistons in good shape after I pull the head to keep time and cost down. My biggest challenge with the swap will be the oil pan/k-member clearance. I hope to use the steering rack and parts of the crossmember from a 240 or the 960 to help mount the rack and provide a good point to mount the engine. Extensive rework on the Plymouth k-member may be the only way to get this part done. Other than that, I Need to figure out how to convert to disc brakes on the front, and hopefully with parts from the 960 or a 240. Cold a/c will be a must, it will be lowered and tinted with a clear film. Outward appearance will be mostly stock except for ride height and wheels that I still need to figure out depending on what bolt pattern I keep.
Not long ago, I purchased a pretty nice '68 Plymouth Valiant Signet. I recieved it with a smooth running 225 c.i. Slant 6 with a 904 trans. The combo is great for a dd but I can't seem to leave anything alone. And yes, this is a gold Plymouth with a blue interior. The PO was a huge Rams fan so there ya go. I plan to rewrap the interior and leave the paint as is. The car is in great shape, but needs a repair to the passenger floor pan. Someone did a shotty repair with sheetmetal and some tek screws. The underside looks like a porcupine. But surprisingly the rest of the car is very solid. I have already installed a Volvo 960 radiator and a 100 amp Bosch alternator (that I am still wiring). Efan is next. The transmission decided to spring a leak at the shift shaft seal right after I got it so I need to fix that so I can drive it until the new driveline is ready to go in.
Speaking of a new driveline, I picked this car up this weekend. I have been staring at it sitting at a service station for well over a year with the Nivomats sagging. After inquiring, I found that after the timing belt broke on it, the owner abandoned it despite several attempts to have them come pick it up. The station sold the car to me for the labor the customer owed them.
It's a real shame since this car is in such good shape and has less than 115K miles on it.
I began thinking of how much of the 960 I could possibly use in the Valiant. Even briefly considering a re-body to utilize the entire undercarriage in the Valiant. But alas, I came to realize I want to drive this car and not just stare at it in pieces in the garage for who knows how long. I have decided to keep the swap very simple and use the B6304 with the attached AW30 trans. I am looking to build a reliable daily driver and do not intend to race it, launch it, drift it, autcross it, rally it or anything other than commute and enjoy it. I plan to use a Volvo 745/945 rear diff converted to leaf mounts to give me disc brakes and a speed sensor. And with any luck and good G80 locker.
The engine will be repaired out of the vehicle and I hope to find the pistons in good shape after I pull the head to keep time and cost down. My biggest challenge with the swap will be the oil pan/k-member clearance. I hope to use the steering rack and parts of the crossmember from a 240 or the 960 to help mount the rack and provide a good point to mount the engine. Extensive rework on the Plymouth k-member may be the only way to get this part done. Other than that, I Need to figure out how to convert to disc brakes on the front, and hopefully with parts from the 960 or a 240. Cold a/c will be a must, it will be lowered and tinted with a clear film. Outward appearance will be mostly stock except for ride height and wheels that I still need to figure out depending on what bolt pattern I keep.