Aussie VC 67 Dodge ute

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Martythetrimmer

Martythetrimmer

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I must be mad but here we go again. A while ago I sold my 1993 Ford Falcon wagon and started to use my wifes old Sedan when she bought a later model car. Same model as the wagon but it was in great condition and the wagon was getting ratty looking. I didn't realise how much I relied on the space in that wagon. So I bought this 1967 Dodge ute as my daily driver / parts getter while I build my 1962 Plymouth Valiant. Build tread Aussie 62 Valiant. To start with this will get a basic go over to make road worthy. A few small rust repairs, duel curcuit disc brakes, new interior and mag wheels, but I know I will get carried away! Once the other car is finished the ute will get a going over, new paint (anything but green) rack and pinion steering, and maybe a V8!

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Bruce and I picked up the Dodge today, we had a tow truck powered by a 408 small block Chrysler!

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Close inspection found a few small rust spots but nothing that wasn't expected.
Typical Chrysler steering, it goes where it wants, not where you want. That will soon be fixed using the recoed steering Bruce removed to fit his rack and pinion.
I still plan to fit a rack to the ute once the 62 is finished.
Overall it's an unmolested example, most things look to be there from factory!

This ute was sitting in shed with numerious other project cars including a R/T Coronet a Hemi Charger convertable and many more. Even a new Viper engine in a create! His Viper has done 5,000miles but he thought he better have a spare!
The engine alone would cost what a Viper costs in the US, the car itself way more!
 
it been 9 months since I up dated this thread....so the work so far.....replace all the steering with what came out of my mates S series Valiant (1962) when we put in the rack and pinion, it had all been rebiult 5,000k's ago....fitted the reinforced and rebushed lower control arms that were going on my S series, rebushed and new ball jointed upper control arms etc.....converted to CM Valiant disc's with slotted rotors.....rebushed the leaf springs and fitted new shocks all around.....new duel diaphram booster and new master cyl...rebiult the diff, changed to late stud pattern and fitted new wheel cyl's and drums....rebiult the carby, starts within seconds even after sitting for weeks!!

Started the custom interior.....being a Dodge it doesn't have a crash pad so I started by making a fibreglass base that was moulded fron the dash....this should be padded and covered next week so will post pics when done...I've just finished the door panels, along way from stock up basic compared to whats going in my S....2005 BA Ford Falcon bucket purchased to fit when covered and arse heaters fitted!!

fibreglass arm rests, pockets, and panels were extended to go to the top of the door...way too much work but it's what I do!

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Nice! I am an El Camino/Ranchero fan,and ex owner. Like,the "utes", as well. Nice ,solid find. Subscribed,would like to own one.
 
the diff shop removed the original studs, welded the holes up, machined the faces then redrilled to the late pattern and restuded, around $200 AU per side
 
Martythetrimmer said:
the diff shop removed the original studs, welded the holes up, machined the faces then redrilled to the late pattern and restuded, around $200 AU per side
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, was just curious which method you used.

Might have to look at something like that for my VG wagon. Sick of having two stud patterns.
 
onto mounting the new seats....they're from a 2005 Aussie Ford Falcon...electric hight adjusters and retro fitted arse heaters!

test fit before final mounting on reinforcement plates with fitted nuts under floor

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before and after recover...sideplates need to be refitted

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as I still welding in the cab I have to be content with just haveing a look on the shed floor! flash lighting has washed out the colour

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Fun thread. Love your ute! tmm
 
Very cool, I also wished they had sold those in the U.S.
C
 
While this console was built for my 1967 VC Dodge it will fit any early A body.....so here's how I build a $3,800 console!

these are my mounting brackets set to centre of the car...I use 3mm MDF mounted to the side of the braket to make a faulse wall for the carpet to go up and under the console when installed

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next I construct the main pocket/armrest....I use 140mm wide 19mm pine for the uprights & 3mm MDF for the sides

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base board marked out and main uprights to show the hights of the different sections

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the sides are cut from two layers of 3mm MDF each side so they can be formed to the shape of the base board

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a ring is made to fit inside the console as a tray for sunglasses, phones etc. every components must be made allowing for the multipul layers of vinyl the covers each section...
@ 1mm or more it mounts up, there are 8 layers in the rear compartment to allow for!

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once the top has rounded corners routed and a base plate screwed for underneath it can be temporarily sat in place

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the sides are to be fibre glassed to give some more shape....I Hot glue a piece of 6mm x 12mm MDF to the side and fill in with 12mm polyurethane sheeting, again Hot glued in place
it is then cut with a hack saw blade to make a bevel to the sides...it is then sanded to shape...the product is very soft so sands easily

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once hardened it is cut to size and sanded

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filled with builders bog and sanded smooth....this needs to be good enough to paint as any marks will show through the vinyl

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armrest lid from underneath

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marking out the cardboard form for the "MOPAR" logo on the front pocket

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the main pocket with one side removed to show the lighting

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the finished console.....21 individual pieces to cover it

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inside the front pocket

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inside the rear pocket/armrest

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many days went into constuction, then more than a day to cover it, and every measurement had to be to the milimetre, ...so that's how we get to $3,800!

with this and the pockets on the doors I have quadrupled the storage in my ute!
 
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