64 Valiant 440 build

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Matto

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Finally, the kickoff to my first build thread! To start with I'm 23yrs old, so please have patients with me if I sound a bit inexperienced. The project underway is my 64 Plymouth valiant v200, which was bought as a roller (no motor/trans) but I can assume was a /6 car. My plan is a coilover front end with stock K member and a big block 440 from a 76 motor home. Of course an 8 3/4 with 3.23 suregrip will ensue. Disassembly is pretty much over with and it's time to start the rebuild.

Unfortunately I made the classic mistake of not taking enough before pics.
:banghead:

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At least you can post pictures! Seriously, nice base ,and nice hardware. Subscribed.
 
You should rename this thread 'The Shoehorn Valiant' that's what your gonna need. Good luck, be careful. :banghead:
 
cool.. keep the pics coming. its actually a lot easier swap then some think.. the headers are the biggest decision..






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Thanks for the support guys. Yea abodyjoe, the headers are gonna be a challenge. I would like to get away without cutting the inner fenders, but if it comes down to it then I guess it might end up going that route.

Today I cleaned up the support areas for the inner fender brace. My brother in law Bryan had the idea to box the lower frame rail, instead of just welding plates to that folded metal on top. It's probably overkill, but it gives me some peace of mind. Just tack welding everything for now until I can borrow a bigger welder from someone.

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Finished the inner braces today. Took a LOT of cutting and fitting to make this magnumforce kit work. My brother and I ended up welding the tubes in first and then trimming the shock tower braces to fit. I believe this kit is designed more for a later Abody, but I'm happy with my results.

Apparently my nephew is awesome and decided to get in on a picture

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It's time for the reinforced K frame pics. I cut all the plates out of a sheet of 1/8th inch steel, including a skid plate for the front and bottom. Some of the welds aren't too pretty, but that was when I was stuck with my weak 110v welder. Now I've got a 220v millermatic.

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Started mock up. I'm using Viking coilovers with 9'' 350lb. springs and large bolt pattern disc brakes from a 74 valiant. I had to trim an ear where the UCA bolts in so it would clear. Also had to trim the lower bump stop bracket and cut out that folded metal above it to clear the springs. To make sure the UCA bump stop was engaging with the shock at full rebound I had to cut it, bend it up, and box it in with 1/8 in. steel. Took a LOT of test fitting but everything looks and works good so far. Ready to set up the steering and brakes soon!

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I am so looking foward to see what route you will go with as far as headers. Friends and I were discussing this and was wondering about some type of tri-Y's maybe ?? I would like to keep the inner fenders too.
I have a 440 and a 64 Dart so what you are doing is right up my alley.About 85 miles from here A guy in Kingman Az builds custom headers so please keep the photos coming !
 
Glad to see I'm not the only crazy big block early A guy out there Darter6. The tri-Y is a good idea, sort of like the Schumacher headers. I was planning on getting a build your own header kit and building them myself. I'm really hoping that ditching the torsion bars will give me some extra room, but getting around the steering box and starter will be a pain.
 
Adding the braces under the inner fender looks a lot cleaner. The reason I put them in the engine bay is because I was toying with the idea of running a motorplate instead of mounts for more header clearance, but I already bought Schumacher conversion mounts a while back.
 
Got the wheels on the ground today! Assembled the steering linkage and my brother let me borrow some wheels so I can have a roller again. Just waiting for my addco sway bar, which has been on back order for the past few weeks and my front end mockup will be complete. I also plan on going with a fast ratio firm feel rebuild for the steering box.

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I also plan on going with a fast ratio firm feel rebuild for the steering box.

Where can you get one of these from? I've been thinking I need to do this to my manual steering gearbox in my 64. I'm hoping for the rack and pinion feel.
 
I stumbled across this yesterday. I think this is the pro-touring stance I'm gonna shoot for.
 

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Where can you get one of these from? I've been thinking I need to do this to my manual steering gearbox in my 64. I'm hoping for the rack and pinion feel.

Go to http://firmfeel.com/ You can my buy a rebuild kit from them with or without a resized worm gear, or you can send your box in and they will rebuild it. Feel free to call them with any questions.
 
Cool thread. 64 valiant owner here.

Looking forward to seeing that BB in your Valiant. I have a mean 360 in mine but have fenderwell headers.

Keep up the great work.
 
It took most of my weekend but with a little helpful ideas from this site, I managed to fab up some frame connectors. Made out of 2x3" .120" wall square tubing. I turned the tube on end and slid it into the existing rear frame rail and drilled plug weld holes along the side. The tube is a bit too thin inside the rail so I welded some 11 gauge plates to the sides to widen it. I also boxed in the top rear frame area to tie it together. I plan on covering that with another plate eventually, when I'm ready to install the roll cage.
 

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Thanks Abodybomber!

The next step will probably be a triangulated 4-link. That RMS Streetlynx kit looks sweet but expensive and I found a universal one made by ridetech for pretty cheap. Any suggestions on a kit would be appreciated!
 
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