Need help understanding what was done to my '63 Valiant convertible
- Thread starter JohnnyD
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What bolt pattern is the disc brakes currently on your 63. How about the rear ebd?
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
I couldn't get the tape measure right up against it because of the center cap on the wheels, but from my eye it looked like 4.5" x 5. Rear end has the same bolt pattern. Though it does still have the 7 1/4" rear end. Didn't think that was possible. I'll take the center caps off tomorrow and confirm.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
OK I confirmed the bolt pattern on the wheels is 5 x 4.5". The center caps are completely frozen on. I tried prying them off and that didn't work. Not sure what to do about it but I'll figure it out later. Won't get to work very much on it this week as I have a BBQ to plan. But hopefully Ill get some stuff done next week!
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
Ah, ok. Ill get the wheel off and check that.
Some later 7 1/4 rears had the 4.5 inch bolt pattern - I think. May be wrong about that. Are you sure it's not an 8 1/4 rear?
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
It looked like a 7 1/4" from pictures I've seen, but maybe yall can confirm. Sorry for the angle of the photo. The gas tank is still in it.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
That's what I was referring to. Looks like a 7 1/4" to me.
Am I correct in thinking that some of these later 7 1/4 rears had a 4.5 inch bolt pattern? I'm thinking that's what the disc brake cars got.
cudamark
Well-Known Member
Yes, all the '73-6 disc brake cars came with either the 7 1/4 or 8 1/4. Both have 10" brakes with the 4 1/2 " bolt pattern.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
Seems like maybe motor, brakes, suspension came from one donor car?
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
I'm curious about this: would he have had to cut down the rear end of it came from a 73-6 donor car? I find it unlikely a rear from a later a-body would just drop in, but what about an F,M, or J?
Later A-Bodies do just bolt in and work fine. Anything else is more work.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
Oh ok thats interesting. I thought the A-Bodies after '66 were wider. Or is that just the engine compartment?
They are wider, the rear end is the same. I've had 73 up 7 1/4 and 8 1/4 rears in a 64 Barracuda, no problems.
JohnnyD
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that info! This will prove helpful if I happen to break the two 7 1/4" rears I have. I don't think I will as this is not a high horsepower application. But you never know!
cudamark
Well-Known Member
Doesn't take much to break a spider and/or side gear. /6's did it all the time after the gears got a bit of wear.
The original 7 1/4 rear in my 65 Barracuda, Commando 273 and 4-speed lasted 90,000 miles. The junkyard replacement I got for it lasted maybe 25,000 miles. Then I switched to an 8 3/4 rear.
I have an A body 8 3/4 rear to put in my 63 Valiant slant six if the 7 1/4 in it now ever breaks. So far it hasn't.
130,000 miles on a 73 Dart 7 1/4 rear behind a 318. But it is a sure grip rear. No stupid driving that I know of.
You’re heading in the right direction. A few other things that you may want to check on….
The V8 gas pedal assembly is cable operated, the slant 6 is linkage operated. Check to see what kind of butchery was done in that area.
The radiator opening for a 63 is 19”, a V8 car uses a 22” radiator. Except of course for the 64 model year, when there was a unique 19” radiator for the V8 cars. Very hard to find, but I would check what’s going on in the radiator dept.
The trans crossmember can be modified to accept dual exhaust, and I would be using the crossmember from the 65 and modifying that.
What did they do to the engine harness to run the V8? There may be more butchery afoot there.
All in all, with that 65 parts car, you have just about everything you need to make this swap, and a bunch of extra parts at hand to get it done. Little things like brackets and even bolts will come in super handy when the cars are side by side and you’re in the middle of the job.
The V8 gas pedal assembly is cable operated, the slant 6 is linkage operated. Check to see what kind of butchery was done in that area.
The radiator opening for a 63 is 19”, a V8 car uses a 22” radiator. Except of course for the 64 model year, when there was a unique 19” radiator for the V8 cars. Very hard to find, but I would check what’s going on in the radiator dept.
The trans crossmember can be modified to accept dual exhaust, and I would be using the crossmember from the 65 and modifying that.
What did they do to the engine harness to run the V8? There may be more butchery afoot there.
All in all, with that 65 parts car, you have just about everything you need to make this swap, and a bunch of extra parts at hand to get it done. Little things like brackets and even bolts will come in super handy when the cars are side by side and you’re in the middle of the job.
cudamark
Well-Known Member
No need to modify the wiring harness. The 6cyl harness just has 3 wires LONGER than necessary. Just tape the excess back onto the main loom. Use the '65 radiator if it's good. I'd probably install a 3 row core, but, that may not be necessary depending on engine build, weather, and performance use. The '63 6cyl radiator could be used too by adding a 3 row core and moving hose connections. A good radiator shop (if you can find one these days) should be able to do that.
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