New '63 Dart Owner

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Jim Kueneman

Jim Kueneman

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Hi, new project arrived home last night. The wife bought it for me to restore for her. Time to learn about early A-Bodies! 1963 Dart 270 Ragtop with a 170 /6

00y0y_6BT4isjCoLI_1200x900.jpg


Questions:
  1. What color would the /6 have been painted
  2. Was there factory A/C on this first year body style?
  3. Was there standard transmissions and if so what did the dash look like where the pushbuttons are?
  4. Would a '63 have a fender tag? I see 2 holes for one but it does not look like there has ever been a screw in it and I can't see any indication in the paint there was one.
I'll stop there for now.
Thanks,
 
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Jim Kueneman said:
Hi, new project arrived home last night. The wife bought it for me to restore for her. Time to learn about early A-Bodies! 1963 Dart 290 Ragtop with a 170 /6

View attachment 1715371091

Questions:
  1. What color would the /6 have been painted
  2. Was there factory A/C on this first year body style?
  3. Was there standard transmissions and if so what did the dash look like where the pushbuttons are?
I'll stop there for now.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Nice! Study up here. Lots of good info. The 1970 Hamtramck Registry Library Page (1960 - 1964)
 
Jim Kueneman said:
Hi, new project arrived home last night. The wife bought it for me to restore for her. Time to learn about early A-Bodies! 1963 Dart 290 Ragtop with a 170 /6

View attachment 1715371091

Questions:
  1. What color would the /6 have been painted
  2. Was there factory A/C on this first year body style?
  3. Was there standard transmissions and if so what did the dash look like where the pushbuttons are?
  4. Would a '63 have a fender tag? I see 2 holes for one but it does not look like there has ever been a screw in it and I can't see any indication in the paint there was one.
I'll stop there for now.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
That looks like a great start. Good luck with the build.
 
Jim Kueneman said:
Hi, new project arrived home last night. The wife bought it for me to restore for her. Time to learn about early A-Bodies! 1963 Dart 290 Ragtop with a 170 /6
Click to expand...

That'll be a Dart 270, which was the high trim level (Dart 170 was the low level, and Dart GT was the premium level). Note the "170" and "270" trim levels don't imply anything about what engine any given car was built with. All '63 Darts had the 170 Slant-6 as standard equipment, 225 Slant-6 as an option.

Tune-up parts and technique suggestions in this post, including valve adjustment. Carburetor operation and repair manuals and links to training movies and carb repair/modification threads are posted here for free download. Do the Fuel line mod, and look at doing the HEI upgrade . Reputable parts suppliers listed here. Also see this thread (yes, you have to log in to see it, which means you need an account—which is free).

What color would the /6 have been painted
Click to expand...

Red. "Chrysler red" as sold by Mopar Performance is not a good match, but "International-Harvester Red" as sold by Martin-Senour paints (NAPA, last time I looked) is. See here.

Was there factory A/C on this first year body style?
Click to expand...

No. A/C was a dealer-installed option, and it wasn't supposed to be installed on cars with the 170 (225, yes).

Was there standard transmissions and if so what did the dash look like where the pushbuttons are?
Click to expand...

Yes, 3-on-the-tree. The dashboard looked the same except the left cover plate had no pushbutton holes.

Would a '63 have a fender tag?
Click to expand...

Yes, on the left inner fender.
 
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slantsixdan said:
That'll be a Dart 270, which was the high trim level (Dart 170 was the low level, and Dart GT was the premium level). Note the "170" and "270" trim levels don't imply anything about what engine any given car was built with. All '63 Darts had the 170 Slant-6 as standard equipment, 225 Slant-6 as an option.

Tune-up parts and technique suggestions in this post, including valve adjustment. Carburetor operation and repair manuals and links to training movies and carb repair/modification threads are posted here for free download. Do the Fuel line mod, and look at doing the HEI upgrade . Reputable parts suppliers listed here. Also see this thread (yes, you have to log in to see it, which means you need an account—which is free).



Red. "Chrysler red" as sold by Mopar Performance is not a good match, but "International-Harvester Red" as sold by Martin-Senour paints (NAPA, last time I looked) is. See here.



No. A/C was a dealer-installed option, and it wasn't supposed to be installed on cars with the 170 (225, yes). So since I see a light coating of Turquoise I am going to start out thinking this is not the original engine. Time to look at some numbers on the block.



Yes, 3-on-the-tree. The dashboard looked the same except the left cover plate had no pushbutton holes.



Yes, on the left inner fender.
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Thanks, a bit too much Whiskey or a keyboard slip on the 270 :). Thanks for the info. Bummed someone took the fender tag, oh well. After driving it I agree the 170 should NEVER had and A/C option! Did any of these generation Darts have 4 on the floor?
 
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I do know by 62 the floorshift left and a col 3 on the tree was the deal,but far as I know a three speed manual, could be had in floor shift for 60 and 61only,. It had a noodle shifter, My 62 its three speed has no provision for a shifter! Slantsixdan is the go to guy for slant info.
 
Jim Kueneman said:
Did any of these generation Darts have 4 on the floor?
Click to expand...

Available in '64 and '65 with Slant-6 or V8 engine; '66 with V8 only. Conversion requires the transmission, bellhousing, shifter with bezel and boot (Hurst in '64-'65, Inland in '66), and floor pan section to cut/weld in. An overdrive version of the 4-speed was offered with the Slant-6 in '75-'80; it's not a difficult swap if you get all the right pieces, which is harder than ever these days.

Sounds like the car presently has a pushbutton automatic. Those are cool/fun and work well; unless your wife is absolutely rabid to shift gears, there are probably better places to spend upgrade money.
 
slantsixdan said:
Available in '64 and '65 with Slant-6 or V8 engine; '66 with V8 only. Conversion requires the transmission, bellhousing, shifter with bezel and boot (Hurst in '64-'65, Inland in '66), and floor pan section to cut/weld in. An overdrive version of the 4-speed was offered with the Slant-6 in '75-'80; it's not a difficult swap if you get all the right pieces, which is harder than ever these days.

Sounds like the car presently has a pushbutton automatic. Those are cool/fun and work well; unless your wife is absolutely rabid to shift gears, there are probably better places to spend upgrade money.
Click to expand...

I/she talked herself out of a 4 speed Demon to restore for this. She whats a hot rod so this may become a 390 stroker with a 4 speed some day. Just accumulating the data right now :)
 
FYI, a clean and fully-functional V8 swap is harder in a '63 A-body than in a '64-'66 model. When you go to install one of those screwy bent engines with half its cylinders on the wrong side (and two too many of them), it'll want to hit the firewall of a '63. Changes were made to the '64s specifically to accommodate the new LA V8 engine. V8 swaps into '63s have been successfully done, but be prepared to have to re-engineer the windshield wipers and other stuff.

You might want to consider building a hot Slant-6. The 225's a torque monster; the 170 can be made into a high-RPM screamer. See here for leads and links, and here for some racing history on the subject.
 
slantsixdan said:
FYI, a clean and fully-functional V8 swap is harder in a '63 A-body than in a '64-'66 model. When you go to install one of those screwy bent engines with half its cylinders on the wrong side (and two too many of them), it'll want to hit the firewall of a '63. Changes were made to the '64s specifically to accommodate the new LA V8 engine. V8 swaps into '63s have been successfully done, but be prepared to have to re-engineer the windshield wipers and other stuff.

You might want to consider building a hot Slant-6. The 225's a torque monster; the 170 can be made into a high-RPM screamer. See here for leads and links, and here for some racing history on the subject.
Click to expand...

With a name like slantsixdan I am sure I am to get a biased opinion! :) Yes I know about the firewall and the 273 LH exhaust. I just replaced half the firewall in my daughters 72 Duster to accept a '73 and up factory AC system so I am not afraid of a little metal work.
 
Learning already. The water pump bypass hose is about 2.5" long, I think she has had a 225 transplant!
 
Jim Kueneman said:
Hi, new project arrived home last night. The wife bought it for me to restore for her. Time to learn about early A-Bodies! 1963 Dart 270 Ragtop with a 170 /6

View attachment 1715371091

Questions:
  1. What color would the /6 have been painted
  2. Was there factory A/C on this first year body style?
  3. Was there standard transmissions and if so what did the dash look like where the pushbuttons are?
  4. Would a '63 have a fender tag? I see 2 holes for one but it does not look like there has ever been a screw in it and I can't see any indication in the paint there was one.
I'll stop there for now.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
1965 was the first year for factory a/c. There are aftermarket options through Vintage Air and other vendors.
 
Congrats to your wife, good taste in cars! Here an old lady with a 1963 Dart 270 ragtop too :) ...can only speak for myself but after the original 225 in mine got super sixed and rebuilt with a better cam (thanks Dan!) it has all the go I need.
 
My 65 Barracuda fender tag was on the right fenderwell ......looking from the rear. Some sites say it could be on either side?
 
Very nice car! Congrats I am following also! If it's as nice as your other two we are in for a treat!
 
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