65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery
Right from the gitgo when I bought the wagon, I decided I wanted a 66 Barracuda dash since it had the the oil pressure gauge and the option of a tach. That evolved into having Dakota Digital do a digital dash conversion on it after I had the dash, glove box trim end trim chrome plated and painted.
I cut out the radio and ash tray area and fabricated a panel to hold the lighter receptacle (to use as a phone charger) and for the tailgate power window switch as I knew I was adding that option. The panel looked a little bare so i had a couple of idiot lights - DOOR AJAR and FASTEN SEAT BELTS laying around I could use. My wife asked if the seats were going to be heated (she really liked them in this Jeep we had)! No, but there are kits to add it. So to complete the panel, the heated seat controls would be added.
After sandblasting the exterior and inside of the dash, it got a coat of white paint on the inside and primer on the outside. I needed to do some body work on the panel that replaced the radio and ashtray area where all the auxiliary stuff was going.
I will be using an A500 so I will need an On/Off Switch to control the OD. I found and ordered a custom Overdrive On/Off pushbutton switch from Billet Automotive Switches in Australia. It takes a 28mm hole (just about an inch and between a 1/16 th and an 1/8th). I screwed up and didn’t check my hole saw and drilled an 1 & 1/4 -way to big. So after repairing my screw up, the 1 inch hole saw (25.4mm), then got it close with a grinding stone in my drill taking it out to 28.1 mm. The OD bezel is about the same size and the lights and wiper bezels so a good spot was right under the lights and wipers. Just waiting on my switch now.
Got the top of the dash painted dark blue and the front painted light blue metallic that matches the upper door jambs. Time to start the assembly!
Some of the switches
headlight dimmer sensor from Dakota Digital
Heated seat swith
Lower dash in light blue
View attachment 1715552757
More lower dash
Right from the gitgo when I bought the wagon, I decided I wanted a 66 Barracuda dash since it had the the oil pressure gauge and the option of a tach. That evolved into having Dakota Digital do a digital dash conversion on it after I had the dash, glove box trim end trim chrome plated and painted.
I cut out the radio and ash tray area and fabricated a panel to hold the lighter receptacle (to use as a phone charger) and for the tailgate power window switch as I knew I was adding that option. The panel looked a little bare so i had a couple of idiot lights - DOOR AJAR and FASTEN SEAT BELTS laying around I could use. My wife asked if the seats were going to be heated (she really liked them in this Jeep we had)! No, but there are kits to add it. So to complete the panel, the heated seat controls would be added.
After sandblasting the exterior and inside of the dash, it got a coat of white paint on the inside and primer on the outside. I needed to do some body work on the panel that replaced the radio and ashtray area where all the auxiliary stuff was going.
I will be using an A500 so I will need an On/Off Switch to control the OD. I found and ordered a custom Overdrive On/Off pushbutton switch from Billet Automotive Switches in Australia. It takes a 28mm hole (just about an inch and between a 1/16 th and an 1/8th). I screwed up and didn’t check my hole saw and drilled an 1 & 1/4 -way to big. So after repairing my screw up, the 1 inch hole saw (25.4mm), then got it close with a grinding stone in my drill taking it out to 28.1 mm. The OD bezel is about the same size and the lights and wiper bezels so a good spot was right under the lights and wipers. Just waiting on my switch now.
Got the top of the dash painted dark blue and the front painted light blue metallic that matches the upper door jambs. Time to start the assembly!
Some of the switches
headlight dimmer sensor from Dakota Digital
Heated seat swith
Lower dash in light blue
View attachment 1715552757
More lower dash