Ford offered the Ranchero and Chevy’s El Camino in their intermediate class and Chrysler never did. 2 to 1 says the bean counters nixed it.
65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery
- Thread starter 65 Dartman
- Start date
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Ford offered the Ranchero and Chevy’s El Camino in their intermediate class and Chrysler never did. 2 to 1 says the bean counters nixed it.
Got the tailgate side you see from the inside or when it’s lowered in epoxy primer and later cut in with the white
Decided it was time to add the 63 Dart backup lights as I’m going to use the stock backup lights within the taillights as turn signal lights with amber bulbs. I discussed this with SlantSixDan who thought it was a good idea since most people seem to notice the amber lights as turn signals. The 63’s B/U lights are going in the same place where the 63’s had them if ordered.
I let my hole saw walk on me so the driver’s side hole got mangled a bit.
But in the end both sides fit like factory.
Driver’s side:
Passenger side:
i will use stainless steel screws the same size as the original screws. Too bad I couldn’t leave then on; looking Forward to paint and installing them along with a bunch more parts!
Decided it was time to add the 63 Dart backup lights as I’m going to use the stock backup lights within the taillights as turn signal lights with amber bulbs. I discussed this with SlantSixDan who thought it was a good idea since most people seem to notice the amber lights as turn signals. The 63’s B/U lights are going in the same place where the 63’s had them if ordered.
I let my hole saw walk on me so the driver’s side hole got mangled a bit.
But in the end both sides fit like factory.
Driver’s side:
Passenger side:
i will use stainless steel screws the same size as the original screws. Too bad I couldn’t leave then on; looking Forward to paint and installing them along with a bunch more parts!
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Yours will be at that same stage soon enough!
Could be. Could also be why we didn't get the Valiant Ute the Australians got. Dammit all.
Which is surprising as they were never big sellers even when brand new. My youngest son had the Rampage version and a friend had a Scamp
I’m disappointed! I went to mount the nice shiny black horns with the correct cad finish bolts when I realized that the whole area behind the grille gets blacked out. When i originally removed the horns, under the mounting nuts was nice white paint. This tells me that They were installed before the area got painted. The washer was still cad plated under the built-in toothed washer but the rest of it was crappy looking black with so-so coverage. How about you Ulf @65dartcharger since you’ve done that award winning DartCharger - just spray with black paint or get these black phosphate coated?
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I played woodworker this afternoon - got the plywood spare tire cover cut out based on the old one. I decided to not cut out the round access hole (for whatever it was for - sweep the dirt into the well, I dunno) since it’ll be covered in carpet anyway.
I plan on adding a small hydraulic lift to keep it raised as I won’t be using the chain with a hook on it which is missing the hook anyway. The hook was originally used to catch Onto the rain gutter, but since I have no gutter. . . . I’m planning on staining both sides even though one side gets carpet.
I plan on adding a small hydraulic lift to keep it raised as I won’t be using the chain with a hook on it which is missing the hook anyway. The hook was originally used to catch Onto the rain gutter, but since I have no gutter. . . . I’m planning on staining both sides even though one side gets carpet.
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JDMopar
Well-Known Member
Well,I've got to do the same thing for the fold down door in the trunk of my 65 Barracuda. I had no trunk key, and couldn't jimmy the latches from the inside...so out came the hole saw and sawzall. I have had the car for 2 years, and never been in the trunk. It was like digging into King Tuts tomb! LOL. When I got it open, I found a nice set of big block long rams, an Edelbrock DP4B for a 383/400, some fancy schmancy Plymouth hubcaps, 66 Barracuda tail lights, some tools, and assorted other goodies! I hope I can sell a few of those things for enough to run down to Home Depot and get a sheet of 1/2 inch cabinet grade plywood! 
I hope I can sell a few of those things for enough to run down to Home Depot and get a sheet of 1/2 inch cabinet grade plywood!
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I saw your post of what you found and BINGO! JACKPOT! Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! i’m sure you’ll be able to afford a sheet or two or a few hundred of that plywood. Congratulations on your find!
Great work Don! Thos 63 b/u lamps looks great!
So what does this mean, exactly? Are you saying you're going to paint behind the grille black? I sure wouldn't. I think it looks fantastic like it is.
Well,I've got to do the same thing for the fold down door in the trunk of my 65 Barracuda. I had no trunk key, and couldn't jimmy the latches from the inside...so out came the hole saw and sawzall. I have had the car for 2 years, and never been in the trunk. It was like digging into King Tuts tomb! LOL. When I got it open, I found a nice set of big block long rams, an Edelbrock DP4B for a 383/400, some fancy schmancy Plymouth hubcaps, 66 Barracuda tail lights, some tools, and assorted other goodies! I hope I can sell a few of those things for enough to run down to Home Depot and get a sheet of 1/2 inch cabinet grade plywood!
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Oh can I have the long rams? lol
I understand that nice white shiny paint does look great; however, behind the grille and headlight buckets gets painted black unless it is a black or a really dark color car.
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I did not want Chinese-made 1004 minature light bulbs. I finally found some that state Made in the USA and ordered the GE 1004 bulbs. These are for the 64-66 Barracuda courtesy lights I installed in the rear inside panel. Got my helper (the wifey) to touch the red power and yellow wire terminals to a battery so I could make sure everything works and take a couple of pictures. Before we even started, she asked “is this going to shock me?” “No, not even!” And the end result was both lights work as they should. I will check all the wiring Before installing as everything is all custom made. I still need to get some #6 x 3/4 or 1 inch stainless screws to secure the bezel and lens to the housing and this part of the assembly will be finished.
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I don’t think I’ve mentioned the strip of white down the rear panels on the inside. I decided awhile back that all the blue on the inside needed to be broken up somehow. The wagon has these “access” panels along the rear sides. These “access” panels actually access nothing! There are some oval body plugs behind the panel but there’s nothing to access! I decided to paint the “access” panels body color white to break up the blue. I might continue the white to the door jamb as it looks sort of incomplete in my mind.
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Well, Forget my bad news #1! It was suggested to try and put power directly to the motor bypassing the internal harness. Doing this the motor raises and lowers the arms as it should. So something is amiss either within the harness or the window limiter. I can make another harness if need be; I might even have a spare limiter in storage.
EDIT: The window limiter from this tailgate was the culprit. Luckily I have a spare from a 63 harness.
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I hated to do this but if i wanted my horns to work, they needed a good ground. So i removed the nice shiny white paint down to bare metal where the bolt with the toothed washer goes through the core support.
And installed the horns (previously tested). I painted the bolts black to blend in with the black I’ll be painting the core support. Right now they stick out like a sore thumb against the white (but not for long lol!) I have masked the radiator opening and all the various holes on the core support in prep for the flat black paint.
And I (and anyone who looks closely) can still see the cad plated bolt through the horn bracket
And installed the horns (previously tested). I painted the bolts black to blend in with the black I’ll be painting the core support. Right now they stick out like a sore thumb against the white (but not for long lol!) I have masked the radiator opening and all the various holes on the core support in prep for the flat black paint.
And I (and anyone who looks closely) can still see the cad plated bolt through the horn bracket
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Looking great Don! Small things count!
Thanks my friend! No show judging as I’m building it to suit me but do want some things to be correct, like the cad plated threads securing the horns
It sure looks good. I saw you grinded of some paint for ground purpose, that's why the horns have the built in teeth washer to get a good ground when you tighten the bolts.
I really looking forward to see it completed.
What kind of radiator will you add?
I actually have a choice of 3 round top radiators - a 2 core I bought from another member that looks good but unknown condition BUT came with that elusive factory shroud. And a pair that I had a local radiator shop make each into a 3 core for me awhile ago, even before I owned the wagon (they were for another 65 Dart and a 65 Barracuda both long gone). I will use one of the 3 core radiators with the shroud from the 2 core radiator. Neither of the 3 core radiators has ever had fluid run though them except when he tested them after installing the tanks. They might or might not be correct for the wagon, but that’s OK
Looks like I can move forward with the engine aspect of this build. I will be using a 66 true Commando engine that is standard bore with its forged crank and other internals. I had to send the crank out to get the converter pocket opened to accept the A500 converter. Got the call today (finally) that it’s ready Including hot tanked (i guess that’s what cleaning means) and journals checked and polished. It checked standard on the mains and rods - yay! I’ll pick it up this coming week. Assembly will start soon!
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