1963 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible for the Wife

[Jim Kueneman]

Hit the trunk lip, let it dry for an hour then rolled it back with a hammer and dolly and duck bill pliers. Just like new with all the cancer gone and epoxy primed. Last forever.

When dry fitting the front end parts I found that the RH axel had spun a bearing sometime in the past. My new early A Body buddy in Southern Az sent me a new one.

Need to DA these tomorrow and shoot them with epoxy.

 

[Princess Valiant]

Dang, that's so awesome to be spraying primer outside in February. All I have is snow outside so there is none of that here, but it would be nice.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Dang, that's so awesome to be spraying primer outside in February. All I have is snow outside so there is none of that here, but it would be nice.

A beautiful weekend. It will be just getting nicer and nicer now here.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

We got the LH side shaped. Only 5 or 6 more sandings with finer and finer grit with glaze.

This time I bought the disposable sheets and a box of 50 spreaders. So much nicer not needing to clean the spreader every time...

The boss is dusty!

Round one done time to touch up the low spots.

Final sanding and cleaning...

 

[Jim Kueneman]

It looks good in the photos but far from good enough.... The shape is there but there is a lot of work to do.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Not a single comment on the /6 facebook page. I think this is cute. Maybe I need to ask the professional...... @billccm. Air cleaner decal for the dual 1 barrel carburetors.

 

[billccm]

Not a single comment on the /6 facebook page. I think this is cute. Maybe I need to ask the professional...... @billccm. Air cleaner decal for the dual 1 barrel carburetors.

View attachment 1715471783

Looks too Pep Boys. What was used on the super six air cleaner?

 

[RustyRatRod]

How well do those engine stands hold the car? How far up can you turn it?

 

[Jim Kueneman]

How well do those engine stands hold the car? How far up can you turn it?

Second car (Duster was first) Work great, about 45 degrees.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Looks too Pep Boys. What was used on the super six air cleaner?

Charger 225. This is modeled exactly after the "SIX PACK" decal on the six packs.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Second car (Duster was first) Work great, about 45 degrees.

That's pretty good angle for engine stands! You can get to the whole under side for sure! It's lookin really good, Jim!

 

[Jim Kueneman]

That's pretty good angle for engine stands! You can get to the whole under side for sure! It's lookin really good, Jim!

Beats laying on your back getting a face full of crap.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Presidents day sanding and filler... Other sides is.... sort of done. I found a nasty oil canning spot in the door that I would have regretted not fixing. It would pop in and stay.... I had to shrink the metal and remove some of the filler. There are other low spots on the door but I figured since I have to epoxy over the bare metal before I can fill what I fixed I can deal with those other simple spots later too.... I forgot I bought this tool back with the Coronet but hated it then since I was learning to do bodywork at that point. Now that I understand this first step is not perfection it is getting the shape correct it made much faster work today even with me working alone.

 

[F21]

I wish I would’ve saw the engine stand idea instead I was laying on my back for hours it sucked

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Well I almost cut 2 fingers off trying to open the '64 jack I bought from a guy parting out a Valiant..... Clearly I can't be trusted with knifes anymore.... Hard to type with 8 fingers so I will not be commenting much here.... Today sucked. I hate being inside but I had to and made a mess in the garage.....

Blocked SPI epoxy with 150 to see where the low spots were.

Glaze this time. Sands much easier.

Here is one of the Mopar gotta have blocks. This radius fits many panels on Mopars.

Another gotta have block to work the tight curves.

Ah much better....

 

[Jim Kueneman]

On this round the goal is to minimize the number of burn throughs, if you see metal then stop and add more glaze it is too low still.

This door was worse than I though, another coat of filler and sanding with 80 then glaze for the fine shaping.

Tired of making a mess. Ready for another shot of epoxy, a couple of glazing fixes then high build and some really fine blocking.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Much nicer day though a bit cold... needed to open up the garage and blow the heat from the house into it for the next 12 hours to make sure the SPI epoxy primer sets. It needs 65F and it was only 51F but after firing up a heater and blowing house air into the garage for 30 minutes it's up to 61F. Glad I insulated the garage when we built the house.

Just more glaze and blocking. I really like that air flat board, it makes quick work of getting this 90% solution. Next weekend we can shoot high build and really start blocking for the money finish!

Cool day but no rain! Time to start on this side today....

 

[Jim Kueneman]

And the "final" coat of epoxy. From here on out the plan is to never burn through to metal again....

Warming the garage!

 

[Jim Kueneman]

A little walk around. There are still some places that suck but the high build should get them.

 

[63DropTop]

Looking good!

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Looking good!

Alway forget how much damn much work it is though.....

 

[Fredsgarage]

Jim, (Cuz),

Thanks for directing me back to this great Forum FABO and off my steady diet of Facebook Junk Food.
I am all over this build and as soon as I find room and time I am going to follow in your footsteps with my disassembled 64 Vert!
Party On CUZ!

James

 

[Fredsgarage]

BTW LOVE the Engine stands rotisserie!

 

[Jim Kueneman]

BTW LOVE the Engine stands rotisserie!

Is your car close by that you can take some measurements for me. I need to figure out this radiator support thing.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Whoop! One more day of work to get through then 3 days of gorgeous weather and the family will be busy so I should be able to get a lot done!