shimos
Well-Known Member
Thats exactly what I did recently while mocking up a fit of the dash. It looks real neat and tidy as well. I also have the emergency flasher unit pull knob in the area as well.
1961 Valiant Wagon
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Thats exactly what I did recently while mocking up a fit of the dash. It looks real neat and tidy as well. I also have the emergency flasher unit pull knob in the area as well.
shimos
Well-Known Member
Looks like a pretty solid wagon there John. I am sure I will see it somewhere down the track.
shimos
Well-Known Member
Been onto the Heater and headlights lately. The inside of the wagon heater section wasn't to bad. But I still put 2 NOS Actuators and a NOS motor into it. The 2 speed motor tested perfect. The under the dash fiberglass housing was pretty nice as well. It has a really nice fleck though it. I got the metal parts zinc plated. And I dug out 2 heater hoses that seemed to escaped any damage. With the heater box that goes in the engine bay.. It looks like someone painted it at some stage. Plus they tightened the screws up a little too much on a couple of the holes and cracked it. So I have been taking off the paint to make it go back to the nice looking flecked pattern. Then I will fix the couple of cracked screw holes. It was hard to tell how the metal plate that holds the heater tap in place was finished originally... I think it might have been uncoated steel pressed with a light coat of something to protect it until it was driven out of the dealership. Any hints if anyone knows would be great. But in the meantime I sent it off to the plater to get black zinc plated.
The headlight buckets were caked with 60 year worth of dust.. It took a while to clean them as I wanted that galvanised finished look on then. All the crap came off and its clean but it has left a stain in some parts. I can live with that as they are hidden behind the headlight covers. I found ages ago a set of the Tung-sol headlights (Both high and low beams) as used on the late 50s and early 60 Chrysler cars. I think in my research some Valiant came with Tung-sol and other with General Electric headlights. But they would have been both with the centre dot in the headlight. The light beams are nothing on todays headlights that you can get... But I am trying to go with that look from as if I bought the wagon in November 1960 when the wagon was made.
The headlight buckets were caked with 60 year worth of dust.. It took a while to clean them as I wanted that galvanised finished look on then. All the crap came off and its clean but it has left a stain in some parts. I can live with that as they are hidden behind the headlight covers. I found ages ago a set of the Tung-sol headlights (Both high and low beams) as used on the late 50s and early 60 Chrysler cars. I think in my research some Valiant came with Tung-sol and other with General Electric headlights. But they would have been both with the centre dot in the headlight. The light beams are nothing on todays headlights that you can get... But I am trying to go with that look from as if I bought the wagon in November 1960 when the wagon was made.
Do Not know what intake this is?? Trying to redo the interior. May ride is not original 8 3/4 rear disk front brakes. Don’t know why he painted the bumpers. Are the bumpers Crome or are they stainless steel because of her stainless steel I could clean and buff them right, So if anyone can tell me about intake and the bumpers I really would appreciate it and thank you in advance
I have a under dash A C unit plus the Compressor and hoses I look up Sul front condenser everything to put it in one of your vans size for sale if you know what I want one
The heater looks brand new. Good work!
The bumpers were chromed .
The manifold could be a Clifford 4 barrel or a stock 1 barrel from a aluminum slant 6 modified for that Holly , not likely.
I love the look of that wagon as is .
The manifold could be a Clifford 4 barrel or a stock 1 barrel from a aluminum slant 6 modified for that Holly , not likely.
I love the look of that wagon as is .
Thank you for the info. My 62 is solid no rust no Bondo all good metal I don’t want to drop a V-8 in it I would love to do something with the slant six like a turbo but then I’m lost on where to start and will the engine last at 300 horse is what I would like or is it just wishful thinking, I NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD MY HAND ON THIS BUILD! Already did rear end and the front brakes
I was wondering if you'd share who/what company replated your instrument faceplate. Several plastic replaters here have told me they can re-chrome mine but the engine turning detail will no longer be there. Thanks for the anticipated help.
Steve call here... he plates for a number of the big dash restoration places. Great prices and honest turnaround times. He did all my stuff for the '63.
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Thank you
shimos
Well-Known Member
One of the items that came with the wagon 3rd seat set up was the rear bumper steps. They bolt to the top of the rear bumper guards and sit just outside of where the tailgate lowers to. I found an ok-ish set in 1996 but they had a tear in them. Then a friend found a rotten yellow painted set in 2003. Thats all I had seen until now... Now I have a awesome set for my wagon. Another piece to the puzzle.
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
Those steps are cool, as is the third seat option.
Good to see your progress!
Good to see your progress!
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
Also like your headlights! I had 2 TS bulbs in my wagon, but the other ones were Westinghouse. I could not find any more TS bulbs.
shimos
Well-Known Member
Not that long ago I took some time to remove, clean, reclean and zinc plate the window winder mechanisms. Then after a few weeks I picked them up from the plating shop... checked them over.. re white greased them and they are ready to go back into the doors. The odd one or two people who saw what I did said why are you wasting your time... No one ever sees them... But at least I will know that they are done and if the wagon ever gets sold the buyer can know at ever nook and cranny of the wagon was redone and done well. After all I do tell people this is the practice car to the 1961 Valiant Special Club Coupe that I will be doing up one day.
shimos
Well-Known Member
When I was doing (and still doing) research on the early A-Body Valiants and Lancers (And of course the topic that they weren't A-Bodies till the 1963 model year but I will leave that one alone) I have never been able to find a color photograph of the engine compartment. There is the odd color rendering or illustration....But never a photo. Even Black/White photos of the engine bay in promo and sales stuff is pretty much non existent. But if you look at the Chrysler Master tech training booklets and Chrysler training films there is a fair bit of images. But still only in B/W. And if you look really carefully and zoom in you can see the part numbers paint stamped on some of the parts. This kind of thing really helps make the restoration go to another level. Of course if your doing a muscle car up they're are books and books and information galore of the details. The 69 firebirds I have sitting next to the Valiants I have, there is a wealth of info available.... But it seems that is not the case for the Valiants. Anyways.....Here is a snapshot from one of the training films showing the placement of the 1960 Valiant decal on the aircleaner. The other picture shows two NOS Valiant decals and one reproduction one.
Yours is the true definition of a restoration. A term that has lost all meaning in today's car hobby. I salute you and you're correctly galvanic coated window mechanisms no one will ever see.
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