65 DART WAGON 2 DOOR CONVERSION

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hemi446

hemi446

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Ellicott City MD
Several people suggested I start a build tread so here I go. Let me first say I'm not a body man so if anyone has info that may help please speak up can take it. I bought this car out of CA about ten years ago it was a slant 6 with 3 on the tree. After the transmission stopped working so well I decided to go with a 340 and a 4 speed.
After finding a new stroker crank at Carlisle it changed to a 375 with 10.5 compression and a Hughes hydraulic cam 1.6 Ratio roller rockers Hughes prepped Edelbrock heads with 2.05 intake valves and 1.6 exhaust valves, six pack intake and Dougs headers. I rebuilt an 833 transmission and install 8 3/4 with 3.55 gears.
I also decided to add four wheel power disc brakes, power steering, and A/C just to make it comfortable to cruise in.
The 2 door conversion started after seeing a 62 four door Dart to a two door conversion that was just great it looked like the factory built it and if any one has tried to find a two 62 Dart it almost impossible anymore.
I lost most of my pictures of the floors being replaced when I had a computer that died on me but here are the completed floors
I started on the conversion on the passenger side I cut out the B-pillar and pulled the door from the donor car and stripped it done so I could hang it by myself. I got the door hung and basic adjustments done so it lines up with the fender and the rocker.
Next is cut the section off the donor car and start fitting it in place.

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Here's some pictures of the engine so far I still have some wiring and plumbing to do before it is ready to run

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The only thing id like more than my '64 2dr post, would be a 2dr wagon!

Hey, what would be the chance of having some spare rear wheel arches or full quarters? I've been wanting to put wagon quarters on my 2dr for a long time!
 
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Sorry I don't have any wagon quarter panels. Just a 63 Valiant parts car I'm using to do the conversion.
 
vntned said:
The only thing id like more than my '64 2dr post, would be a 2dr wagon!

Hey, what would be the chance of having some spare rear wheel arches or full quarters? I've been wanting to put wagon quarters on my 2dr for a long time!
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Find a pair of junk Valiant or 64-65 Barracuda fenders and make your wheel arches by cutting the fenders up. Use the right fender to make the left wheel arch, and the left fender to make the right one. Then you just build new wheel houses. I did it 30 some years ago to a Valiant race car a buddy and I built.
 
I just spent 4 hours in garage this morning drilling out spot welds and trimming the inner panel for it's first test fit. I was surprised to find the 2 door B-pillar had been brazed to the rocker panel on the donor car. It didn't show signs of being in an accident but it is what it is. I need to work around the brass that all. I'll post pictures once it get closer to fitting.
 
I definitely have the best wife in the world, today is our 34 wedding anniversary so we went out to dinner last night and took our youngest daughter with us she was happy with that. So today after going to the gym this morning and getting home around 9:30 and cleaning the stuff off the roof I got out in the garage around noon and started trimming and fitting the piece from the parts car. After 4-5 hours I got the part fitted and tack welded in. Trying to make sure the body lines all lined up and the door latched without any problems. I did see that the door itself is bent some and I'll have to figure out what needs to be straighten so it fits the rocker panel a little better. My only concern right now is that the back of the top of the inner panel is about an 1/8" closer together than it is by the B-pillar but before I weld it in I may have to open it up a little.

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looking very cool , nice work . there is a pic of you motor from the side , and i see a different bracket set up . what ant who's kit . i like the three two's as well . i'm doing a 64 barracuda and going with the 340 factory set up with a 4spd . your headers are who's as well ? will they work with the stock z bar linkage ?
 
The A/C & alternator brackets come from Bouchillon Performance they also supplied the short compressor. One thing I did do was drill and tap the hole for the heater hose to a 5/8" heater hose and I used a fitting from the head of a 2.0 Neon it looks stock and is easy to order from the dealer. The headers are Dougs but I'm not sure if they will work with a Z bar or not I used a hydraulic release bearing those header are hard to deal with they don't fit with the factory power steering box coupler you need a u-joint to help clear the bottom of the header. That was all that was around at the time the TTI headers may work better I don't know. Pm me if you have any other questions.
 
ya , juice clutch release set up , who's unit ? thanks on the a/c bracket info . did a vintage air set up on a duster wuth a 340 . a bit different then yours from bouchillon . coolant i used was duracool 12a . better then r134 or r12 , cost and cooling wise .

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It's a older Keisler unit be since there no longer around I'm using a American Powertrain kit in my 67 Barracuda with the Hemi in there and 2" headers there is no room for linkage of any kind
 
nice project. before you weld your panel make sure the car is on it's suspension. don't leave it hanging as things will change when you set it down.
 
Thanks for the info. The rear is supported and the front is supported under the frame rails. The car has been sitting in the same place for about 8 years and that's how it was when I welded in box tubing for the frame connectors that run from inside the rear frame to the torsion bar cross member
 
Here pictures after I started welding the outer skin on now it's time to finish the inner panel it's a little tight in the back were the window track goes.

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hemi446 said:
I definitely have the best wife in the world, today is our 34 wedding anniversary so we went out to dinner last night and took our youngest daughter with us she was happy with that. So today after going to the gym this morning and getting home around 9:30 and cleaning the stuff off the roof I got out in the garage around noon and started trimming and fitting the piece from the parts car. After 4-5 hours I got the part fitted and tack welded in. Trying to make sure the body lines all lined up and the door latched without any problems. I did see that the door itself is bent some and I'll have to figure out what needs to be straighten so it fits the rocker panel a little better. My only concern right now is that the back of the top of the inner panel is about an 1/8" closer together than it is by the B-pillar but before I weld it in I may have to open it up a little.

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In regards to relocating the B pillar from the Hard top? What other structural issues did you have with the body & frame ?
 
I welded in 2x2 box tubing from the torsion bar crossmember back to the rear frame.
I cut the end of the rear frame were the front spring hanger mounts and installed the box tubing into the frame about 6".
This keeps the whole car stiff so cutting the B-pillar out doesn't cause any worries about the car sagging in the middle and since the floor had already been replaced everything is good.
 
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