I was going to send the latches to Eric for zinc playing but with the way this one turned out, don’t think it will be necessary. Now the 3 mounting screws, they will need to be done!
65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery
- Thread starter 65 Dartman
- Start date
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And the passenger door latch after a bath in Evaporust and freeing up one of the inner pieces that rotate when the outside handle button is depressed or inside handle is is rotated. Greased everything with white lithium spray grease so it’s now working as it should just like the driver’s side latch. Other than each side and all inside parts being a mirror image, they are constructed the same. Looking forward to beginning reassembly!
More progress - The passenger side B pillar is in and welded in place. The original right rear door skin is also tack welded in place after numerous fitting, trimming and aligning with the OEM quarter panel and B pillar body lines. Will finish the welding today or tomorrow as well as get some help (the wife) to get the passenger side rear window out.
Don. So you have recruited your wife as a right hand help. Me too....my wife was a great help on our Darts. Your project is looking great. It will be fun to follow along. sgrip65
Jerry - my wife was recruited as another set of hands at least 30 years ago. She has stripped paint using chemical stripper, lent an extra hand when needed, helped work on upholstery, etc!
The new front quarter panel (AKA the right rear door skin) is welded in place and pretty much all the welds ground down. Still some additional work to do where the door handle used to be, but that’ll be no big deal. Then time to start doing the work to add additional pinchweld to meet up with the rear side window pinchweld. No it’s not the same picture from Post 303!
Just a bit more progress - my trusty helper put her size 8’s against the bottom of the passenger side rear glass to push and with me on the outside with my trusty glass sticks, we were able to remove the glass in one piece. I did soak over the course of several weeks the weatherstrip with soapy water from a squirt bottle. The weatherstrip was pretty pliable so that helped as well. Haven’t decide what to do with the glass and weatherstrip as they won’t be used on this build.
Looking great Don! Are gonna keep the chrome ornaments on lower part of the C-pillar post?
nope! With the one piece side panel you’ll never see the C pillar. When I removed that trim, the driver’s side came out no problem; where the C pillar was all rusted on the passenger side, the stud holding the trim was gone as well.
Ops, it has some rust issues!!
Hi Don. Your S.D. will surely be one of a kind. How is the dash for the S.D. coming along....any further advances on that component of your build? I need to post my completion work on my thread. Hope all is well. sgrip65
Yep! One of the reasons I decide to do this conversion. I suppose it might have been easier to do a Ute but the idea of something Chrysler never did or I’ve seen elsewhere intrigued me and it would be a challenge, no doubt about it!
Hi Jerry - I’ve been thinking about the dash and need to finish it up - sandblasting, paint, etc. Was thinking about redoing part of it to add the power window switches and power door lock switch although it would probably be easier to add some kind of console in front of the buddy seat (which will never be used as a buddy seat!)
Worst case on a car is rust! But the feeling after doing it all is great. Then it's just funny stuff.
IDK about funny stuff but the fun stuff is assembling everything with new or rebuilt rust-free parts and hardware with the correct factory finish on everything. I’m hoping for paint either before but most likely after we return from our month long trip next year. Then the fun stuff can take place over the fall, winter and early spring with the goal to get to Carlisle in July or the Nats in August 2021!
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Can't wait to see it done! You will be proud of yourself and all your skilld.
Next year right?
i edited my post to say hopefully done in 2021!
Well, see you in Carlisle 2021 then!
I will be adding the power door lock system I bought off of eBay - thanks Trailbeast for the idea!. The kit has 4 door lock solenoids (will only need 2), a pair of remote control key fobs and the transmitter. The transmitter has an antenna to receive the lock/unlock signal from outside the car via the key fob. I’ll discuss the antenna later
And the wiring for it.
I’m not sure why it wasn’t wrapped with the non-stick wiring harness tape like the power window harness I bought. Yes, adding power windows as well - thank 66Dvert for the idea!
So, I’ll spend some time wrapping it as needed with the non-stick wiring harness tape. The wiring that’s for rear doors I’ll just bury within the harness.
This kit contains a provision to add an inside door lock switch so I’ve got one ordered that appears to match the window switches in the power window wiring kit which are console or dash mounted.
Since the remote transmitter has an antenna to receive an external signal,
it appears that I’ll need to install it under the left side of the dash (due to wiring length constraints) and drill a small hole in the top of the dash to stick the top of the antenna through to receive the external signal. Just the tip needs to protrude. For anyone following this thread, please let me know your thoughts or perhaps another location might be better?
All these small projects tend to take time to sort out, but then again that’s half the fun!
And the wiring for it.
I’m not sure why it wasn’t wrapped with the non-stick wiring harness tape like the power window harness I bought. Yes, adding power windows as well - thank 66Dvert for the idea!
So, I’ll spend some time wrapping it as needed with the non-stick wiring harness tape. The wiring that’s for rear doors I’ll just bury within the harness.
This kit contains a provision to add an inside door lock switch so I’ve got one ordered that appears to match the window switches in the power window wiring kit which are console or dash mounted.
Since the remote transmitter has an antenna to receive an external signal,
All these small projects tend to take time to sort out, but then again that’s half the fun!
Love all your ideas Don! Go for it!
I inadvertently posted a small update about my 47''s progress here which I have since moved to my 47 Dodge build and deleted it here. Thanks @toolmanmike for the way to do it.
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Small update - my Mopar buddy, my wife and I Got the project out of the garage and turned around to back it in to give me more room on the passenger side to complete the same conversion as the driver’s side.
Kind of reminds me of my remote trunk release on my Swinger. It is a very handy accessory! You are doing a kick azz job here!
So where is it now?
Backed into my garage.
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