Looking great Don! The carpet turned out like the factory did it. Re stainless steel mouldings, I think C-body wagons and GM wagons have these mouldings. You might be able to get the cheap from a junkyard.
65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery
- Thread starter 65 Dartman
- Start date
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I was not aware the A Body wagons used carpet in the rear. This was my plan from when I received my wagon. Right or wrong, I like it
My friend stopped by today to finish up some work on the installation of the console. I felt that the refurbished AC vent likely needed to be installed before the console and the driver’s side defroster vent hose would likely also need to be re-routed. And my thoughts were correct. Once the defroster hose was removed, the AC vent box went right into place. The defroster hose was luckily long enough to get rerouted around the vent box.
I wanted to get the console mounted in place so I could see how much carpet was needed under the chrome strip on each side of the console. The passenger side wouldn’t take much - maybe a 2 inch by foot or so strip of carpet. Some of the carpet I had left was still bound so I wanted it at the bottom of the console where it met the the floor carpet to finish it iff. You can barely see the bound area which is the thin black line on the lower front of the console
The driver’s side posed a different challenge as there wasn’t enough bound area in a straight line to finish it. We decided there was a bound area that could go well past the console at the front, that would be suitable alternative. Both sides were glued to the console then the stainless trim added. I set the shifter, front console plate and rear armrest plate temporary in place
I wanted to get the console mounted in place so I could see how much carpet was needed under the chrome strip on each side of the console. The passenger side wouldn’t take much - maybe a 2 inch by foot or so strip of carpet. Some of the carpet I had left was still bound so I wanted it at the bottom of the console where it met the the floor carpet to finish it iff. You can barely see the bound area which is the thin black line on the lower front of the console
The driver’s side posed a different challenge as there wasn’t enough bound area in a straight line to finish it. We decided there was a bound area that could go well past the console at the front, that would be suitable alternative. Both sides were glued to the console then the stainless trim added. I set the shifter, front console plate and rear armrest plate temporary in place
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hi Jerry - yes, that’s correct; I am using 66 Dart/Barracuda seat frames which will be recovered new foam, burlap etc with 66 Barracuda upholstery in the 65 light blue metallic vinyl.
They are not nearly as wide as 65 A Body seats since in 66 Mopar added the coffin console in some models.
The console is the front half from a 66 Charger that I bought from my friend. I’m happy on how it’s turned out.
Don. Truly a CUSTOM all the way through. You have, not only proven skills, but a vision of what the end would be. Yes, I agree, you should be happy with how it turned out. Just plain great. Again, thanks for sharing. Sgrip65
Hey Don, have you seen this one?
No, I have not. Sweet!
Edit: i see it has a “62 Virginia” plate on it that couldn’t have been possible in 62. There were no vanity plates ever offered that early, just 3 letters followed by 3 numbers.
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Looking at the pics, it appears they used the OEM shorter wagon doors rather than the hard work to swap to 2 door sedan doors and B pillars. I had considered going that way but the proportions just don’t look right. It was a lot of work using 2 door sedan parts but in my mind looks right
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Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
That Valiant is one of the Bell Telephone service trucks built years ago.
Might have been Amblewagon that did the conversions.
Here are a couple more.
The blue one uses Lancer doors.
Yours will look much better style wise, IMO.
Might have been Amblewagon that did the conversions.
Here are a couple more.
The blue one uses Lancer doors.
Yours will look much better style wise, IMO.
Obviously others had the same ideas as me with the early wagons to make them panel wagons. I wonder where they are now. I like the blue one with the panel lettering on the side panel. Something like that would break up all the white on mine
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How about a decal on the sides like the blue and silver Valiant? Don Hudson Auto Repair with vintage text style. I think it would look great. You can also add the town and VA.
Hello Don and Ulf. Some lettering, as Ulf suggested, would look great. Of course, I would have to say Custom Home Builder if the Panel were built by me!!! How about a lottery using those who have been following the Panel thread. On the other hand, Don, you have the say as you built this fine machine. Looking forward to going for a ride. Sgrip65
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We installed the lower valance this afternoon and looks like some further adjustment will be needed for both fenders and then the hood. It’s looking more like a 65 Dart in the front with the valance installed.
i counted the number of hood and candy cane clips i need (22). I think I have maybe 10 or 12 good OEM clips; Ulf @65dartcharger or any 65 Dart owners following along, have you found any suitable alternate hood/candy cane mounting clips?
i counted the number of hood and candy cane clips i need (22). I think I have maybe 10 or 12 good OEM clips; Ulf @65dartcharger or any 65 Dart owners following along, have you found any suitable alternate hood/candy cane mounting clips?
Here’s a few more pics of panel wagons that popped up on fb yesterday. The last pic is the post of the guy who had the black one.
I'll check for you. I know I have some extra clips. Is there any red or blue that can be copied some where else on the car from either decal?
Really cool pictures yall! Don. you're makin great progress. I fully expect you to pick me up for a ride. lol
Got the hood insulation panel installed today
No, the hood clips are not NOS but refurbished by my refinish guy Eric Manuel.
Next on tge list was fit my Y Pipe from Waldrons. The Sniper EFI manual states the Oxygen sensor should be installed where it can take an average of at least all the cylinders on one bank if a V8. The 273 Y Pipe provides the perfect place where the pipe from the passenger side merges with the driver’s side. So that’s where the hole for the sensor get drilled
I decided to to not use the adapter setup provided by Holley. Instead i had ordered a steel plug from Earls that is welded in place. After the plug fit tightly into the hole, it got welded in place, with the welds smoothed out as needed.
Not shown but done, soldered the Dakota Digital fuel sending unit ground wire to the factory ground strap that is installed between the sending unit pipe and fuel line to the front. Little stuff takes time but needs to be done. Slow and steady is the watchword!
No, the hood clips are not NOS but refurbished by my refinish guy Eric Manuel.
Next on tge list was fit my Y Pipe from Waldrons. The Sniper EFI manual states the Oxygen sensor should be installed where it can take an average of at least all the cylinders on one bank if a V8. The 273 Y Pipe provides the perfect place where the pipe from the passenger side merges with the driver’s side. So that’s where the hole for the sensor get drilled
I decided to to not use the adapter setup provided by Holley. Instead i had ordered a steel plug from Earls that is welded in place. After the plug fit tightly into the hole, it got welded in place, with the welds smoothed out as needed.
Not shown but done, soldered the Dakota Digital fuel sending unit ground wire to the factory ground strap that is installed between the sending unit pipe and fuel line to the front. Little stuff takes time but needs to be done. Slow and steady is the watchword!
Hey @65 Dartman ....Don... stumbled across this on the web.. "58 Mercury Commuter" I noticed the door length and position of the B pillar gives that look you're after with the build. Very cool.
Thanks for posting that pic! I knew Ford snd Chevy had them big 2 door wagons; I didn’t know Mercury had one as well since they were upscale to the Ford
When I first saw the pic, it reminded me of those Oldsmobiles from the era. The fins! Thanks for posting the pic....some cool looking cars from back in the day. Sgrip65
I have decided to change directions on the automatic transmission shifter from the Winter’s floor shift to a column shift.
The more I looked at the floor shifter - the less I liked it! It is currently just sitting in the console not secured nor is the rear mounted cable installed through the carpet or floor.
Instead i decided to use a column shift steering column from an early 80’s J Body that I was going to use in my 47. My existing wiring will still interface with the ignition switch on the column.
So it’s not just a column shift steering column but includes the tilt function as well.
That black can at the top is an adapter I found on eBay to adapt several different Grant steering wheels to the 79-82 J Body tilt column. I haven’t decided what I am going to do about the turn signal multifunction arm as the wipers are controlled by the stock A Body wiper switch on the dash.
I should be able to interface the shifting arm at the bottom of the column to the transmission with a 66-only frame to transmission rod and appropriate levers.
I will need to paint the red part of the column to match my blue interior but that shouldn’t be a problem.
The more I looked at the floor shifter - the less I liked it! It is currently just sitting in the console not secured nor is the rear mounted cable installed through the carpet or floor.
Instead i decided to use a column shift steering column from an early 80’s J Body that I was going to use in my 47. My existing wiring will still interface with the ignition switch on the column.
So it’s not just a column shift steering column but includes the tilt function as well.
That black can at the top is an adapter I found on eBay to adapt several different Grant steering wheels to the 79-82 J Body tilt column. I haven’t decided what I am going to do about the turn signal multifunction arm as the wipers are controlled by the stock A Body wiper switch on the dash.
I should be able to interface the shifting arm at the bottom of the column to the transmission with a 66-only frame to transmission rod and appropriate levers.
I will need to paint the red part of the column to match my blue interior but that shouldn’t be a problem.
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