1965 Dodge Dart Charger

[slantsixdan]

While mounting the painted plate, in one of the screw holes the paint cracked a little bit!! Question: Was it possible that while mounting painted parts in the interior that paint cracked?

Yes. And got scratched and scraped and sneezed on.

If so, did they leave it that way or did they replace the painted part with a new painted part?

This is Chrysler we're talking about…! Quick and cheap were the watchwords. Unless it was a giant gouge or other seriously ugly damage, the car would get sent out to the dealer, who would sell it and only address the issue if the customer complained. Cars (from just about all makers) at that time came off the assembly line in awful, thrown-together condition compared to today's cars.

 

[65dartcharger]

Yes. And got scratched and scraped and sneezed on.



This is Chrysler we're talking about…! Quick and cheap were the watchwords. Unless it was a giant gouge or other seriously ugly damage, the car would get sent out to the dealer, who would sell it and only address the issue if the customer complained. Cars (from just about all makers) at that time came off the assembly line in awful, thrown-together condition compared to today's cars.

Thanks Dan for our input. I really appriciate it.

Next issue will be the carpet. The new one from Legendary is manufactured by another producer since the last one I bought.

It is right in lenght but needs to be trimmed on each side. However I compared with my brother-in-laws carpet and I need to get the extensions on each side. I'm not sure that I can get the right tejp so I will use duck tape.I have searched for 2 years but not been able to find this special tejp that Chrysler used.

 

[65dartcharger]

The rear carpet seems to have the right measurements. However on the upper area where the rear seat is the trimming is needed.

Question! On Mikaels Dart GT there was hole for the seat belts. BUT, What if the car wasn't ordered with seat belts. Were the seat belt bolts still in place or was that only when the seat belts were mounted? I know for sure that Mikaels Dart GT didn't come with seat belts when it was new!

 

[Mr2.4]

First of let tell you how much I enjoy coming home from work on a daily basis and checking your thread for updates. This is hands down my absolute favorite build on here. Now a thought for you. That carpet tape. Have you tried checking with home carpet installers? I know that sometimes they have you put carpets together in odd places. Keep up the great work!

 

[chryslerfat]

I know that carpet installers use a similar tape for seams. The seat belt bolts were not installed if it came without so no seat belts equals no holes.

 

[slantsixdan]

One trick worth keeping in mind for the small holes for kickplate screws and other small screws: heat up a nail and melt a hole through the carpet for the screw. If you just drill/drive the screw through the carpet, you risk pulling a "run" (straight line of fibre pulled out of the carpet weave).

 

[65dartcharger]

Mr2.4 First of let tell you how much I enjoy coming home from work on a daily basis and checking your thread for updates. This is hands down my absolute favorite build on here. Now a thought for you. That carpet tape. Have you tried checking with home carpet installers? I know that sometimes they have you put carpets together in odd places. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the kind Words Mr2.4. I will check into the home carpet installers.

chryslerfat I know that carpet installers use a similar tape for seams. The seat belt bolts were not installed if it came without so no seat belts equals no holes.

Thanks chryslerfat! I will check into thecarpet installers tape.

slantsixdan One trick worth keeping in mind for the small holes for kickplate screws and other small screws: heat up a nail and melt a hole through the carpet for the screw. If you just drill/drive the screw through the carpet, you risk pulling a "run" (straight line of fibre pulled out of the carpet weave).

Thanks Dan! That was a great trick.Iknow from drilling that it does not work well!!:banghead:

After some thoughts I was thinking of reusing the old insulation. It was probably 1" thick compared to the aftermarket 3/8"! I carefully took the old insulation off and layed it down on the floor. It both got way much quieter and way much more softer. Compare the old insulation to the new one!!! Some guy did a not so good job!

I cut the sides on the rear carpet so now it's time to add the extensions on each side.

I also checked the front carpet and it seems that it's in correct lenght. Yipii!

 

[65dartcharger]

The front carpet is another story. First of all the heel pad has the wrong pattern, the wrong size and is sewn in the wrong place. On the picture you can see how it was placed on the old carpet and how it looks compared to the new one. That's the reason that Legendary has stepped up and offer me a new heel pad in the right size with the right pattern and in the right color. Then I will sew it in place. The heel pad must have been placed with comparison to the bracket for the accelerator pedal. The bracket should be mounted in the upper right corner of the heel pad. Sometimes the heel pad was cut open and sometimes the carpet in front of the heel pad was cut open.

My brother-in-laws carpet from his Dart is a gold mine for me.

I picked up the front carpet and very carefully removed the isolation on the carpet. On the front carpet the isolation is made in two pieces. The quality of this 50 year old isolation isn't the best but it will do to make a copy out of. I just wonder where to find the material!

As you can see in the pictures the isolation does not cover any mounting holes for the seat tracks. That made it easier for the assembly line workers to mount the seats and speed up the work.

 

[65dartcharger]

Today was the interior day!

I started out with the front armrests. I bought repopped ones due to not finding any NOS ones for the last 10 years! They look very good but is not like the factory ones. Once they were on the armrest base they looks like new. Wow!

Next was the door panels. They are also repop from Legendary with very nice and correct quality. However the cut-outs for the door panel clips are still in Place. I took the smalest screw driver I could find and put ot in the stamping to try to bend up the stamped area. My biggest fear was to make a hole in the door panel.:banghead: With alot of timeit didn't take that long to have the door panel ready and then installing NOS clips. Now it looks like new.

Tomorrows work will be to make the rear arm rest bases done. The repop ones does not have a hole for the ash tray! That will be an issue I guess! As you can see there is a clips from the base which goes to hold the ash tray in place.

 

[kmccabe56]

Dan! What ever I decide to do I will shoot some great pictures of the decals as they must be pretty rare.

Re the error of omission......I can't see it! I know I wear glasses but I didn't thought that I saw that bad!! :glasses7:

On the C-pillar post beside the aluminium bracket there should be some kind of isolation. The closest I got was a used old foam mat we use to have when we go camping! Now they fit perfect.

The upper stop for the rear quarter glass was an easy task. I used a rubber hose and cut small rings. Then I bended them over the edge and know they will do the job for years to come.

On the inside of the door there should be a water protection shield to keep the door panels from getting wet. On the early A-bodies that was simply plastic. On the front doors they used a yellowish contact adhesive to keep the plastic shield in place. The contact adhesive was applayed with a brush. The only plastic I found that was close was from the a building supply store. They had it on the isolation they bought!!

As you can see on the front and rear lower corner they used black paper tejp to hold the plastic shield in place. That will be the next question where to find 2" wide black paper tejp!!

I think the tape you're looking for will be quite similar to what is used on hockey sticks. Or you might try and industrial supply shop and ask them for "tear tape" - that is a think cloth backed tape that seems to be impregnated with a tar-like material with the adhesive on the back side. Some electrical tapes might be like that as well. Your biggest problem will be to get it in a roll 2" wide.

As a last resort just use masking tape 2" wide and spray it flat black.

 

[kmccabe56]

Yes. And got scratched and scraped and sneezed on.



This is Chrysler we're talking about…! Quick and cheap were the watchwords. Unless it was a giant gouge or other seriously ugly damage, the car would get sent out to the dealer, who would sell it and only address the issue if the customer complained. Cars (from just about all makers) at that time came off the assembly line in awful, thrown-together condition compared to today's cars.

Agree completely. When my Mother's '66 V200 arrived, the right roof pillar trim plate was installed with a 1" gap between it and the headliner.

 

[kmccabe56]

Ulf: Haven't paid attention to whether or not you have the rear parcel shelf installed yet, but today I came across a very interesting Mopar Parts Information Bulletin, number 521, dated March 26, 1965 that discusses the "Shelf Trim Panel". All service replacements required "Paint as required" i.e. to match the replaced panel. It also says "Hardboard screen side up", part numnber 1304 AT6. It also lists a "One piece Vinyl Laminate" panel part number 1317 AT6.

I recall the '66 V200 have a smooth surface on the passenger compartment side, and don't recall what the underside finish was.

 

[65dartcharger]

Ulf: Haven't paid attention to whether or not you have the rear parcel shelf installed yet, but today I came across a very interesting Mopar Parts Information Bulletin, number 521, dated March 26, 1965 that discusses the "Shelf Trim Panel". All service replacements required "Paint as required" i.e. to match the replaced panel. It also says "Hardboard screen side up", part numnber 1304 AT6. It also lists a "One piece Vinyl Laminate" panel part number 1317 AT6.

I recall the '66 V200 have a smooth surface on the passenger compartment side, and don't recall what the underside finish was.

Thanks Kevin! Do you have the possibility to scan it in the computer so I can read it in the thread? That would be sweet!:glasses7:

 

[65dartcharger]

The rear armrest pad looked like a walk in a park. Make a hole and mount the ash tray!

I started out with measuring the area and did a copy of it in paper.Then I took a pen and did the markings in the top surface. The foam was very hard. I had to go into the kitchen when Gunilla was out with the dog to get a super sharp knife to start making small sticks into the foam until I had gone all around. After repeating that procedure for 8-10 times it had start to loosen. Next step was to get out that marked area. It showed up that att two small areas was the foam all the way through. That meant that I had to carefully bend up that area. The resulted in a knife in my hand!:banghead:

Once when I was a little kid and was working in my grandpas shop he told me that what ever you do, never point a blade on the knife towards you. So I did!!:banghead:

Well, at the end I got up that marked area and next step will be to drill holes in the corner and start to drill out the metal that goes inside the armrest pad. This will be way more time consuming then I thought!

 

[slantsixdan]

I understand why you're doing what you're doing, but I can't resist saying: Whoever takes a notion to smoke in my car will find out that not all the health damage of smoking comes from the cigarettes themselves.

 

[kmccabe56]

Thanks Kevin! Do you have the possibility to scan it in the computer so I can read it in the thread? That would be sweet!:glasses7:

I'm sure I can scan it, but the file size will be too big to post. Can I email it to you?

 

[RuloGTX]

i understand why you're doing what you're doing, but i can't resist saying: Whoever takes a notion to smoke in my car will find out that not all the health damage of smoking comes from the cigarettes themselves.

like!!!!

 

[gadodge]

I'm still reading all the post on this thread.... It is some great looking work your putting into this little 65... I'm subscribing..

 

[65dartcharger]

I understand why you're doing what you're doing, but I can't resist saying: Whoever takes a notion to smoke in my car will find out that not all the health damage of smoking comes from the cigarettes themselves.

Dan! You gave a good laugh this morning! Thanks buddy!

I'm sure I can scan it, but the file size will be too big to post. Can I email it to you?

Kevin! You can email me the drawings at; [email protected]

 

[65dartcharger]

June 17,2010 I started working with the doors. This first picture was posted on page 1. It showes how the tape was added both to stretch the plastic shield towards the door but also holding the plastic towards the door around the holes on the inside. My guess is that it was applayed for keeping the plastic from making noice.

The usd 7,50 black paper roll was the only one I could find on this side of the pond. It even had the right dimension. With shipping and all, usd 43!!!:banghead: Life is good!

So adding the tape was no big deal. I did it hopefully the way the assembly line staff applayed it.

After that the fun part began with adding the front door panel. I was very pleased with the result. Now it's time to bring out the nos handles for the door and the window mecanism.

The rear plastic shield is mounted with both grey cement and tape. I added the cement before adding the tape. Then the fun moment starts with mounting the rear panel.

When I closed the door I was able to get a picture of how it turned out. Now it's Miller time!

 

[66340SEDAN]

June 17,2010 I started working with the doors. This first picture was posted on page 1. It showes how the tape was added both to stretch the plastic shield towards the door but also holding the plastic towards the door around the holes on the inside. My guess is that it was applayed for keeping the plastic from making noice.

The usd 7,50 black paper roll was the only one I could find on this side of the pond. It even had the right dimension. With shipping and all, usd 43!!!:banghead: Life is good!

So adding the tape was no big deal. I did it hopefully the way the assembly line staff applayed it.

After that the fun part began with adding the front door panel. I was very pleased with the result. Now it's time to bring out the nos handles for the door and the window mecanism.

The rear plastic shield is mounted with both grey cement and tape. I added the cement before adding the tape. Then the fun moment starts with mounting the rear panel.

When I closed the door I was able to get a picture of how it turned out. Now it's Miller time!

Looks nice with the carpet on the door panel, pretty fancy for an a-body :glasses7:

 

[65 Dartman]

Looks nice with the carpet on the door panel, pretty fancy for an a-body :glasses7:

Standard for a Dart GT; pretty upscale compared to the Plymouth A Body.

 

[robjkc]

The door panels look great Ulf! Are you planning on adding the white reflector strip to the front door stainless trim?

By the way, what type of tape did you use to secure the plastic?

 

[65dartcharger]

The door panels look great Ulf! Are you planning on adding the white reflector strip to the front door stainless trim?

By the way, what type of tape did you use to secure the plastic?

Yepp, as soon as I can locate the right size on the reflector stripe! But I'm not sure if it was added on both the door and the rear panel?

The tape is black paper tape. Very hard to find. The shop that sold it used it for modern interiors. I didn't know that Chrysler was into modern interiors back then! Lol

 

[robjkc]

Yepp, as soon as I can locate the right size on the reflector stripe! But I'm not sure if it was added on both the door and the rear panel?

The tape is black paper tape. Very hard to find. The shop that sold it used it for modern interiors. I didn't know that Chrysler was into modern interiors back then! Lol

I'm pretty sure it was only on the door (at least for my 64). I will let you know the width and send pics if you need. Thanks for the tape info...I won't tell anyone it's not NOS