65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery
Well, bad news #1. the tailgate rear window motor is locked up tighter than a bull’s azz! Tried with an external factory switch and the tailgate key switch and nothing but a little buzz.
More bad news #2 - the window is in the Full down position, making it impossible to get to the fasteners holding the window retaining frame to the arms.
Bad news #3 - to get everything removed from the inside, I made the painful decision to break the window, which I did!
Bad news #4 - see the 2nd paragraph of good news #2
Good news #1 - I have a spare rear window from the original Non-motorized tailgate.
Good news #2 - got the frame with the motor on it, the wiring harness, DODGE letters and 3 pieces of trim out. The wiring harness needs checking and re-wrapping at a minimum. Found that a previous owner of this particular tailgate had been inside at some point as the tailgate tail light wiring had been “Adjusted” so they were non-functional.
Other than the latch assembly parts and torsion bar, the tailgate is ready for sandblasting, several dent repairs, and welding stress cracks in both upper external AND internal corners
One of several dents:
Driver’s side upper
Passenger side upper
I checked with DMT and they don’t carry the wagon’s tailgate upper glass seal. Looks like I’ll need to fabricate it with some bulk catwhisker material.
Well, bad news #1. the tailgate rear window motor is locked up tighter than a bull’s azz! Tried with an external factory switch and the tailgate key switch and nothing but a little buzz.
More bad news #2 - the window is in the Full down position, making it impossible to get to the fasteners holding the window retaining frame to the arms.
Bad news #3 - to get everything removed from the inside, I made the painful decision to break the window, which I did!
Bad news #4 - see the 2nd paragraph of good news #2
Good news #1 - I have a spare rear window from the original Non-motorized tailgate.
Good news #2 - got the frame with the motor on it, the wiring harness, DODGE letters and 3 pieces of trim out. The wiring harness needs checking and re-wrapping at a minimum. Found that a previous owner of this particular tailgate had been inside at some point as the tailgate tail light wiring had been “Adjusted” so they were non-functional.
Other than the latch assembly parts and torsion bar, the tailgate is ready for sandblasting, several dent repairs, and welding stress cracks in both upper external AND internal corners
One of several dents:
Driver’s side upper
Passenger side upper
I checked with DMT and they don’t carry the wagon’s tailgate upper glass seal. Looks like I’ll need to fabricate it with some bulk catwhisker material.