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383Scampman

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I've been toying with the idea of an early a-body with an altered wheelbase . As a project, I'm thinking it can be done in a garage . I am more inclined to just move the rear axle up and leave the front alone . This is to be a street driven ride . Looking for inputs . thanks in advance , Tom
 
Easy enough to do if you back half it... you can put the rear axle centerline pretty much wherever you want. I did mine in my garage with a kit from S&W. (but kept stock wheelbase)
Toughest part will be modification of the quarter panels if you did a back half.
If you want to just move the stock springs forward, I'll let someone else guide you with that!
 
thanks Gary . I'm kinda weird . I was thinking of a street FX sorta thing .Just to blow peoples minds . Another thought I had was a lightweight 4 door with a turbo /6 or a 4.7L jeep with about 6lbs of boost from a ProCharger . Weird s**t like that . Comments please !
 
Here's one that was done by a guy that I know.
Bill Reasonable 66 Dart.jpg
 
thanks for the pic Jim . that's what I was thinkin'. Maybe not moving the front wheels up. Or a more door kinda funny car vibe . N ot sure about that .
 
Steve Magnanti from the magazine world did a bunch of altered w/b cars . He was or still is doing them as a side business or hobby.
He would cut the floor and wheel well section out then move it forward and weld back in then fill in the gap in the trunk and quarters.

Here is Dick Landy's altered Dart ...

$(KGrHqF,!qkF!9gDgZcHBQSqmjHvzw~~60_58.jpg


$(KGrHqJ,!jQFBKE1DGBnBQSqnvq4o!~~60_58.jpg
 
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I have spoken to Stevie Mags . What he has said is that a really skilled fabricator is needed to keep everything square and straight . There are two street A/FX cares in New England . Both are B-bodies and they are awesome . High end cars with Hilborn's through the hood . I'm kinda thinkin' a Dart like the one Jim posted . With a different power train ?????. I also like street gassers . One of these that I can't get out of my head is a '37 Chevy coupe with a 302 GMC 6 cyl., hydromatic in G/Gas . Had a cartoon on the door with the title "The Giant Killer". It had an aluminum head with a homemade intake 2x4's. Ran mid 11's . I'm getting old so I'd better get moving . '' Keep those cards and letters coming in ."
 
In looking at my '65, I'd think the front end would be easier to move out. Move the Kframe bosses or just weld in new buts inside the frame, and extend the steering column. The rear has a lot of structure on it, so keeping it all square would be a trial. Lots of measuring and re-measuring as you go because you don't have the table to anchor it all to before you cut...
 
Exactly Moper . that would be my biggest concern . I'm just thinking here , but, something like your car , altered, with a 4.0L jeep , boosted , on the street . Wild !
 
Thanks Jim . I like Gen I Hemi's but I fear building one would kill my budget . I like the Job Rated trucks from '39-46 , cut down with a modern drive train . Not a rat rod , though . Thinkin' they would take well with a Jeep 4.0L with overdrive auto , maybe a stroker with a Pro-Charger. Could be a budget build .
 
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