1966 Valiant Signet Convertible Resto

smokn440 said
wow,,,that seems like a bargain,,,to get everything,,,,I just scored a brand new washer bottle and pump kit from those guys,,,atlas parts,,,,everything i buy new is just sitting off to the side,,,waiting till i restore it,,,I figured the hardest thing to find would be the chrome strip for the windshield,,,mine is bad,,,,I even have a perfect grill sitting on the shelf,,,firewall gasket set,,complete nut and bolt resto kit,,,and I had a 65 signet that was a bucket seat,,floor console auto,,,,so I parted the car on e-bay,,,kept the 65 motor,,trans,,,buckets and steering column to put in the 66,,,and I have an edelbrock 2x4 intake for the 65,,,,gonna make a nice sleeper,,,,thanks for the info,,,Aloha,,Joe

I notice your mention of the windshield chrome strip for your Dart. I am assuming that you're referring to the 'Lock Ring' installed to hold the glass windshield in as the 'Lock Ring' in installed after the gasket & glass are installed in place. The 'Lock Ring' is then placed into the groove which will expand to hold the "Lock Ring' thereby holding the gasket tight (?) against the glass & windshield frame holding everything in place for all time. I have found it difficult to find the OEM 'Lock Ring' unless you happen across a NOS in someones stock. (I found one & paid Mitchell Motor Parts (GA) nearly $130 for their NOS item. I have found, so far, that knowone is reproducing the OEM type or style..which has a distinct 'Ribbed' appearance to it, but also which does not hold up well to time & the elements. More frequently, I've found on eBay references to using a Chevy Truck similar 'Lock Ring' but which has a solid chromed appearance. It also is also made under more modern manufact. specs & looks very nice in place of the OEM ribbed design. I think, unless you're a 'Purist' & want OEM only appearance..the Chevy ring should make a nice replacement. I would also suggest, that you look into a butyl rubber (tube sealant) (frequently used at tire centers to seal & make 'air tight', 2nd & 3rd generation tire installations on cars with chrome plated Aluminum rims..frequently will corrode on inside edge of rims which causes leaking rims & leads to troublesome frequent flat tires. Once this butyl rubber is installed around the OEM bead of the rim, it seems to fill the corroded voids in the rims & seals the tire to the rim OK) you may have to check with several tire centers for this kind of sealant in a tube. It can be easily removed to reinstall new tires with more butly rubber being added the same as before...the option is buying new rims ($500.00+/- each - Ouch!)|
Now back to your windshield installation. By using this butyl rubber around the gasket to windshield frame, & then windshield glass to gasket, you will at least greatly improve your desired SEAL between gasket & frame, & Glass to gasket before installing your chrome 'Lock Ring' for fit & looks. I hope you get this message before making your installation...it will help. Good luck, BILL
-Columbus,OH [email protected]
Aside: I drive a '63 Dodge Dart GT convertible & I'm searching for a new windshield gasket for my Convert..which I understand is different than those used on the convertble. I've bought a regular gasket, & I'm about to test this on my car to see if a gasket for a sedan will work in place of those for a convertible ? If you know the whereabouts of a Donor convertible Dart car, must be for '63 thru '66 I also need p/n 2424116 & 117 which is the L&R rear outer corner chrome plated potmetal trim corners which connect at the rear outer corners of the convert topwell stainless & joins the top of rear fender stainless to the topwell stainless where they join at the rear outer corners of the topwell. Mopar calls "Cover" (sort of a 3way union) Best of luck. BB