65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery

[65 Dartman]

Looks good! I’m planning route all my wires hidden as well. I’m hoping to not have anything on the firewall.

I wasn’t concerned about hiding wires that you’d see on a stock harness. I just didn’t want any non-stock holes on the firewall and my solution seemed the best for me. I will still have some non-stock wiring - from a pushbutton switch to drop the trans out of OD and lockup and wiring to a couple of pressure switches to activate the OD and lockup - 2 separate functions with separate wiring or each.

I have read how firewall wiring had been successfully hidden inside the frame rails.
I’m sure I’ll see how you do this as I’ve been following your progress from the very beginning

 

[65 Dartman]

Yes please I'm about to do this.

i will add this info to the thread and perhaps others will find it informative as well!

EDIT: For the A Body 12-319 pump/sending unit Holley provides a small harness that plugs into the built in pump harness where the loose wires attach to the user supplied relay.

2nd EDIT: in the instructions it says use a minimum of 12 gauge wire which I thought odd since the pump wiring is 14 gauge. Checked with Holley Tech who said use the same gauge wire as the pump wiring

 

[Garethw]

I wasn’t concerned about hiding wires that you’d see on a stock harness. I just didn’t want any non-stock holes on the firewall and my solution seemed the best for me. I will still have some non-stock wiring - from a pushbutton switch to drop the trans out of OD and lockup and wiring to a couple of pressure switches to activate the OD and lockup - 2 separate functions with separate wiring or each.

I have read how firewall wiring had been successfully hidden inside the frame rails.
I’m sure I’ll see how you do this as I’ve been following yjur progress from the very beginning

Appreciate that! I certainly follow yours. I haven’t decided how I’ll route everything yet but we’ll figure it out. I’ve eliminated most of the holes already, including the bulkhead connector. Keep it going! I like that you are a few steps ahead of me. That way I get to learn from you first

 

[65 Dartman]

Yes I definitely would like to see how you do it; I’ve got that 47 Dodge to do if I live long enough lol

 

[sgrip65]

I wasn’t concerned about hiding wires that you’d see on a stock harness. I just didn’t want any non-stock holes on the firewall and my solution seemed the best for me. I will still have some non-stock wiring - from a pushbutton switch to drop the trans out of OD and lockup and wiring to a couple of pressure switches to activate the OD and lockup - 2 separate functions with separate wiring or each.

I have read how firewall wiring had been successfully hidden inside the frame rails.
I’m sure I’ll see how you do this as I’ve been following yjur progress from the very beginning

Yes I definitely would like to see how you do it; I’ve got that 47 Dodge to do if I live long enough lol

Hey Don....live long enough??? You're far too talented of a Mopar man!!! Good Lord's going to keep you around for a while as many of us learn a great deal picking your brain. Great Build!! Sgrip65

 

[Garethw]

Yes I definitely would like to see how you do it; I’ve got that 47 Dodge to do if I live long enough lol

I’d love to see that one too! I feel you though. I have my wife’s 71 Javelin and then my 66 Belvedere in line after my Valiant.

 

[RustyRatRod]

when I worked at an antique auto resto company that was one of the tricks the trimmer used. My buddy who was under the car was amazed as he had always used a drill which unraveled the carpet threads.

We used a soldering iron on the carpet when we installed it in Vixen. It worked really well.

 

[65dartcharger]

From the pump there's a power wire that goes to a relay and a ground wire directly to the battery ground. From the sending unit one wire goes to the gauge and the last wire to chassis ground. My Dakota Digital module requires a separate ground wire from the sending unit to the module, which when i ran the sending unit wires, i was prepared for that. I shall use the regular ground strap from the hard line and sending unit by soldering my pre-run ground wire to the strap. It should be fine!

I think you did the upgrade Chrysler should have done back in the 60ies. That would have been much better then a ground through the fuel line. Keep up the good work!

 

[65 Dartman]

We used a soldering iron on the carpet when we installed it in Vixen. It worked really well.

if I had had one, i would have used it. Since I didn’t, a big azz #4 philips heated with a mini butane torch sufficed

 

[65 Dartman]

Hey Don....live long enough??? You're far too talented of a Mopar man!!!

The memory is still in great shape, the body no!

 

[65 Dartman]

I decided to spruce up the AC vent box this afternoon. Got it disassembled and the exterior cleaned and painted flat black.

Some of the insulation inside was not in good shape

So I scraped it out as best as possible and used some self adhesive foil backed insulation.

The vents and two pieces separating the middle vent from the outers had a great deal of pitting. Steel wool didn’t even make a dent in them. So i dug out some 320 and went to town on the vents and other 2 pieces. Finally Had to go with 80 on the 2 connecting pieces. The vents didn’t turn out too bad after sanding and finishing up with steel wool. There was no way I was going to be able to do anything with the actual louvers

The pieces separating the outer vents are supposed to be chrome plated - not gonna happen - maybe later. so I elected to paint them flat black to match the housing.

After assembling everything I decided those black pieces looked out of place

So I pulled them off and shot them with some “chrome” paint

After reinstalling them they look much better in silver than in black. Shiny chrome plating would have been ideal, but one has to do what one has to do!

Not a bad afternoon’s work!

 

[sgrip65]

Hi Don. I still have mine to do and install....this Winter's project. I think it would be hard to find an NOS or one that has been redone regarding the chrome. You are moving along well. Nice work. sgrip65

 

[65 Dartman]

Good morning my friend! This is what you are missing. The rubber grommet that the fuel pipe go throught. I put it in a padded envelope and shipped today
View attachment 1715805774

Good afternoon Ulf! Got it in the mail this afternoon.

I’ll get my friend to help with the tank and filler tube on Monday. Pics to follow!

 

[65dartcharger]

Good afternoon Ulf! Got it in the mail this afternoon.

View attachment 1715809474
I’ll get my friend to help with the tank and filler tube on Monday. Pics to follow!

Morning Don! Good news to see that it showed up in short time. Hope it will work out great with the assembly. It's a little tricky with the overfill pipe inside the quarter panel. I really like the factory look you have achieved with the routing of the engine wiring harness. Excellent work.

 

[65dartcharger]

I decided to spruce up the AC vent box this afternoon. Got it disassembled and the exterior cleaned and painted flat black.

View attachment 1715808691

Some of the insulation inside was not in good shapeView attachment 1715808696

So I scraped it out as best as possible and used some self adhesive foil backed insulation.

View attachment 1715808697

The vents and two pieces separating the middle vent from the outers had a great deal of pitting. Steel wool didn’t even make a dent in them. So i dug out some 320 and went to town on the vents and other 2 pieces. Finally Had to go with 80 on the 2 connecting pieces. The vents didn’t turn out too bad after sanding and finishing up with steel wool. There was no way I was going to be able to do anything with the actual louvers
View attachment 1715808699

The pieces separating the outer vents are supposed to be chrome plated - not gonna happen - maybe later. so I elected to paint them flat black to match the housing.

View attachment 1715808695

After assembling everything I decided those black pieces looked out of place

View attachment 1715808702

So I pulled them off and shot them with some “chrome” paint

View attachment 1715808703

After reinstalling them they look much better in silver than in black. Shiny chrome plating would have been ideal, but one has to do what one has to do!

View attachment 1715808718

Not a bad afternoon’s work!

Great work, silver look better then black even if black looked a little newer.

 

[65 Dartman]

Hope it will work out great with the assembly. It's a little tricky with the overfill pipe inside the quarter panel.

When the tank and filler pipe was removed, there was no vent pipe. Looking in the FSM it appeared they used a hose and routed it through the floor seal. I would like to use a hard pipe rather than a hose so I’ll see what transpires.

 

[sgrip65]

Don. Do you have a hard pipe? If any part of a sedan or HT FILLER tube would help, I can send one to you N.C. I know that I have asked you about that before, just thought I would offer. Least ways, I could send the vent tube for your use. Great all the way around on your project. Again, thanks for posting. Sgrip65

 

[65 Dartman]

Hi Jerry - The wagon uses a wagon-only filler tube which I have. I was seriously thinking about relocating a filler tube way back when but in the end, decided not to. I have a hard line vent tube from some other car I parted out that I’ll see if I can use. I’ll know more tomorrow! Thanks for the offer.

 

[mygasser]

I decided to spruce up the AC vent box this afternoon. Got it disassembled and the exterior cleaned and painted flat black.

View attachment 1715808691

Some of the insulation inside was not in good shapeView attachment 1715808696

So I scraped it out as best as possible and used some self adhesive foil backed insulation.

View attachment 1715808697

The vents and two pieces separating the middle vent from the outers had a great deal of pitting. Steel wool didn’t even make a dent in them. So i dug out some 320 and went to town on the vents and other 2 pieces. Finally Had to go with 80 on the 2 connecting pieces. The vents didn’t turn out too bad after sanding and finishing up with steel wool. There was no way I was going to be able to do anything with the actual louvers
View attachment 1715808699

The pieces separating the outer vents are supposed to be chrome plated - not gonna happen - maybe later. so I elected to paint them flat black to match the housing.

View attachment 1715808695

After assembling everything I decided those black pieces looked out of place

View attachment 1715808702

So I pulled them off and shot them with some “chrome” paint

View attachment 1715808703

After reinstalling them they look much better in silver than in black. Shiny chrome plating would have been ideal, but one has to do what one has to do!

View attachment 1715808718

Not a bad afternoon’s work!

had you tried the self adhesive aluminum tape that's used on house and business a/c dusting to seal the joins. i had a roll from a mate that worked in that industry and as long as you get it on without wrinkles it polishes up just like an ally casting. almost chrome and better than most chrome aerosols.
neil.

 

[65 Dartman]

Thanks for the tip! It’s easy enough to remove them so might stop by Lowes and pivk a roll up and give it a try

 

[mygasser]

the smoother the surface you apply it to the better 'look' you end up with. i've made a couple of 'chrome' alternators in the past using it and they looked great.
neil.

 

[65 Dartman]

• So my buddy came over this morning and got the gas tank and filler tube dropped. I realized that there was no vent tube so I stole one from another filler tube I had. I knew the tube didn’t have the right bends in it to pass through the seal Ulf sent me. I don’t know what an original vent looked like but Ulf told me to have fun getting it into the quarter panel. I Figured if I “adjusted” it, i could make it fit. So i was able to connect it to the vent fitting on the filler tube with an original hose and clamps, get it in through the inside oanel, through the seal Ulf sent me

And get it through the floor seal. It’s not correct but will work and vent fumes out side and not in the car.

Had to finish routing the fuel pump power and nain ground wire to the front. Of course that necessitated removing the plywood floor and metal cover over the the axle area.

Got that all done so I told ny buddy he could give me a hand with the carpet covering the rear floor from the seat back to where the floor meets the tailgate area. When I initially ordered my carpet from Stock Interiors i couldn’t order any extra because they wanted to make sure they had enough materials for other orders (Covid-19 excuse!). A friendly customer service rep at Stock Interiors suggested I order in the same color the material for a street rod with a flat floor, which they could do since it was a separate order - so I did, which worked out great. There was more than enough material to cover the rear wall to wall and wheelwell to wheelwell. We took our time Cutting and fitting the carpet. I think the results speak for themselves. Included was enough binding for all the edges which is not installed. however, if I can find some suitable chrome/stainless trim, I might try to add it to secure the carpet to the plywood floor

 

[Garethw]

Does the vent tube end right here or is it going through the floor? I will eventually need to redo my filler tube also, mostly because I’m relocating the gas cap higher a few inches.

 

[65 Dartman]

Does the vent tube end right here or is it going through the floor? I will eventually need to redo my filler tube also, mostly because I’m relocating the gas cap higher a few inches.

View attachment 1715810619

The vent tube is supposed to go through the floor seal and i couldn’t get it to stay where it ended up. I will need to get some same size vent tubing, add a rubber connector and route it to the other side to the actual hole in the floor seal.

 

[Garethw]

Gotcha. Sounds like a plan.