The 63 Dart is a single year for a lot of trim items, we found this out after purchase...
1963 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible for the Wife
- Thread starter Jim Kueneman
- Start date
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66Dvert
Working on my custom car parts again!
looks like you are going full tilt boogie on the convertible. dang, now I have to work harder to keep up with my parts making.
If your not in a hurry getting the car back together. I'd like to get one side of those convertible top hold downs to make a casting from so I can reproduce a part. I have used mustang one before but really don't like the look. (plus I didn't have an original to copy.) I can send it back and a pair of reproductions if possible.
BTW got one set of these pieces tested out and checking fit for the top inner piece.
if these fit well then that'll be one part done. WHEW. Also I finally got a web free glove box (not the correct shape but it's web free). So now I can refine it. top is curved where it should be straight.
Thanks, I am buying the '64 harnesses for the V8 and convert it to work for the '63 and /6. Had to do that with a few harnesses for the '72 Duster. Only issue is the dash harness is backordered. Need to get it on order, I wonder if they only make it when someone orders them.
I take lots of photos, but I do need a reminder once and a while, yea I need new vents they are toast....
Awesome, I need those part for sure. Mine just crumbled. It took me a week to figure out what those damn things where! Sure I can send them. I believe they are both broken. I think there should be 2 rivets holding them but the upper 1/4 of both seem to be missing. At the very least you can maybe use clay or something to mold the missing piece of it. PM me with where to send them.
I won't be ready to install them till after the first of the year at the very very earliest.
While the family was watching Stranger Things I was in the great room stripping down the dash with them.
That shifter is interesting....
Trim off.
One the felt dust cover is off all but the N buttons just pull straight up. It is not that hard figuring out how to put them back in since they are numbered. The N is a different connection and you CAN BREAK IT. I removed the two nuts at the bottom and pulled the mechanism from the housing. Once you do that you can see how it comes out.
This is the backup light switching the yoke is rotated when the R is pressed and that tab between the yoke moves and closes the switch
All the goodies ready for bead blasting and polishing. The mechanism and housing are held with shoulder bolts that should have rubber bushing but you can see they are cracked and dried out. The rubber gasket between the above is hard as a rock. I need to find a rubber sheet and cut some new shapes out.
The buttons are translucent plastic so the bulb will glow through them and too the Letter on the button. Nice touch.
The "dome" litght in a convertible under the dash. Where the clips go too.
Third clip position.
Glove box hinges. They don't looks like they will be as confusing as the Duster for sure.
That shifter is interesting....
Trim off.
One the felt dust cover is off all but the N buttons just pull straight up. It is not that hard figuring out how to put them back in since they are numbered. The N is a different connection and you CAN BREAK IT. I removed the two nuts at the bottom and pulled the mechanism from the housing. Once you do that you can see how it comes out.
This is the backup light switching the yoke is rotated when the R is pressed and that tab between the yoke moves and closes the switch
All the goodies ready for bead blasting and polishing. The mechanism and housing are held with shoulder bolts that should have rubber bushing but you can see they are cracked and dried out. The rubber gasket between the above is hard as a rock. I need to find a rubber sheet and cut some new shapes out.
The buttons are translucent plastic so the bulb will glow through them and too the Letter on the button. Nice touch.
The "dome" litght in a convertible under the dash. Where the clips go too.
Third clip position.
Glove box hinges. They don't looks like they will be as confusing as the Duster for sure.
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Dash is striped and ready to go the the paint store to get the two different shades of turquoise matched. The top of the dash is much darker than the common color on the dash/doors/rear panels. They did hack the dash to put that Jenson POS radio in but it will be covered by the original trim. I found a '64 radio on eBay that I bought. The face plate is a little different but no one will notice.
End trim is cute. You rotate is 90 degrees to get the "T" tab to release.
Tomorrow night strip down the cluster and get the speedo off to Dick's in Tempe. He did my other 2 Mopars and they work flawlessly..
Now we need to decide if we send the trim pieces out to get plastic chromed to look nice. Since this is a rag top the view of the dash will be extremely good and I think I need to spend the extra $$ there....
Anyone have dash plastic rechromed and have a recommendation?
End trim is cute. You rotate is 90 degrees to get the "T" tab to release.
Tomorrow night strip down the cluster and get the speedo off to Dick's in Tempe. He did my other 2 Mopars and they work flawlessly..
Now we need to decide if we send the trim pieces out to get plastic chromed to look nice. Since this is a rag top the view of the dash will be extremely good and I think I need to spend the extra $$ there....
Anyone have dash plastic rechromed and have a recommendation?
It looks like the edges are chrome and then the center of the trim is painted argent grey, does that seem correct to '63 experts?
watermelon
New Member
lots of pics....nice...following
watermelon
watermelon
Day 2, the wife is sore from yesterday 
..... Pulled apart the rest of the nose and the bumpers. All the chrome I want re-chromed is in a box ready to go. I found a new heater control housing from a member here (thanks Lee).
First pile of parts that need blasting. I am fried from the last 2 cars and blasting.... I am almost ready to spend the money to have someone else do it.... or spend the $1000 for a air drier (which I really need for painting anyway).....
Man that was a HUGE metal headlight shield in this beast!
Rear shields looked similar to the other 2 Mopars.
The bumpers were WAY WAY lighter than I anticipated. There is a a bit of metal straightening
needed in the valance panel....
Good grief more undercoating to remove.....
I would have guessed it was hit in this side as the fender/hood/valance/crossbrace where from a different car (Teal in color, it was clear this car was Ivory after removing parts that have never been removed... no fender tag remember). I don't see any evidence of an accident. Not sure why those parts were replaced.
Out come the lights so we can take the rings to the metal shop to see how straight they can get them, apparently they are rare items.
I am thinking of adding a missile launcher in these cavities...
Need to see if these are reproduced. Ours are not bad but if your doing it, do it right.
..... Pulled apart the rest of the nose and the bumpers. All the chrome I want re-chromed is in a box ready to go. I found a new heater control housing from a member here (thanks Lee).First pile of parts that need blasting. I am fried from the last 2 cars and blasting.... I am almost ready to spend the money to have someone else do it.... or spend the $1000 for a air drier (which I really need for painting anyway).....
Man that was a HUGE metal headlight shield in this beast!
Rear shields looked similar to the other 2 Mopars.
The bumpers were WAY WAY lighter than I anticipated. There is a a bit of metal straightening
needed in the valance panel....
Good grief more undercoating to remove.....
I would have guessed it was hit in this side as the fender/hood/valance/crossbrace where from a different car (Teal in color, it was clear this car was Ivory after removing parts that have never been removed... no fender tag remember). I don't see any evidence of an accident. Not sure why those parts were replaced.
Out come the lights so we can take the rings to the metal shop to see how straight they can get them, apparently they are rare items.
I am thinking of adding a missile launcher in these cavities...
Need to see if these are reproduced. Ours are not bad but if your doing it, do it right.
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Old school grounds!
The bolts below this were metric head for crying out loud. Took the radiator out before I realized it...
No question these are installed upside down. Why would you want water to fill the horn? GOTTA get an OEM pulley. I hate those aftermarket turned yellow chromate ones on the alternator....
Wife is sticking with it on day 2..
Rear bumper off.
What is the square brace under the plate for? Those dents will be a bugger to get straight...
Stripped.
The bolts below this were metric head for crying out loud. Took the radiator out before I realized it...
No question these are installed upside down. Why would you want water to fill the horn? GOTTA get an OEM pulley. I hate those aftermarket turned yellow chromate ones on the alternator....
Wife is sticking with it on day 2..
Rear bumper off.
What is the square brace under the plate for? Those dents will be a bugger to get straight...
Stripped.
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You guys are amazing! I'm most impressed, we had a week into ours to get to your position. Definitely not your first
Not by a long shot after the Coronet and Duster! The power train would be out in 2 hours but we need it to be mobile still.
66Dvert
Working on my custom car parts again!
on those pieces are they flexible plastic or rubber with a plastic core? Also do they have locators that go in those 2 holes on the headlight bucket? how are they attachedDay 2, the wife is sore from yesterday
View attachment 1715377341
Man that was a HUGE metal headlight shield in this beast!
View attachment 1715377348
Need to see if these are reproduced. Ours are not bad but if your doing it, do it right.
View attachment 1715377349 View attachment 1715377350
They likely use to be soft-ish. There is a shape on that lip and the "weatherstrip" has that profile to follow. The 2 holes are 2 plastic push pins to hold it in. I am a bit shocked of the amount of plastic on this car.
66Dvert
Working on my custom car parts again!
ok I'd like some pictures of that part in detail if you could. Showing the mounting location and profile. I have a couple of them on the shelf (they are not perfect) and it's(along with many other parts) in my "Also Too Do" list but was unsure of "how many were on the fender to what it was made of" same for the end pieces on the dash. I'm redoing mine with semi-rigid plastic in a color to match my dash pads.
I really gotta find a guy down here near Webster Florida that has a 63 so I can double check some of my parts on @##$@%# I know Curtis has a 64 I've got the 66's ;eft in the garage and my 65 was almost a duplicate of my 66 on theses parts. hmmmmm
Ok busy Saturday..... Started by stripping the panels....
I need one of these plastic guides for the other side...
Happy helper...
Boy those rear quarter windows are always a puzzle until you get the first one out....
Here is what it looks like for the LH side.... now for the right side in the correct order!
Roll the window down and remove the 2 bolts holding the glass
These are the glass bolts
Remove the regulator bolts
Now the in/out adjuster lock nut..
Now the lower bolt on the front track.
I need one of these plastic guides for the other side...
Happy helper...
Boy those rear quarter windows are always a puzzle until you get the first one out....
Here is what it looks like for the LH side.... now for the right side in the correct order!
Roll the window down and remove the 2 bolts holding the glass
These are the glass bolts
Remove the regulator bolts
Now the in/out adjuster lock nut..
Now the lower bolt on the front track.
Now you should be able to slide the front track up through the window slit..
I rolls and is pinched by these 4 roller. You need to slide it up and out of these rollers.
It is out and now I can pull it forward..
Push the bottom to the back so you can get the top out then pull it out the hole.
Ta-da. Easy
Now there is a rear track, here is the top nut and cool washer...
The bottom bolt is inside the body....
See that lone arm? There is a track welded in the cavity that this roller slides on. Mine was all gummed up and getting it slide out of that track was a chore. Out comes the regulator..
Now you can maneuver the bottom of the back track out and rotate it out the hole...
This is just a stop but for completeness taking it out to bead blast..
I rolls and is pinched by these 4 roller. You need to slide it up and out of these rollers.
It is out and now I can pull it forward..
Push the bottom to the back so you can get the top out then pull it out the hole.
Ta-da. Easy
Now there is a rear track, here is the top nut and cool washer...
The bottom bolt is inside the body....
See that lone arm? There is a track welded in the cavity that this roller slides on. Mine was all gummed up and getting it slide out of that track was a chore. Out comes the regulator..
Now you can maneuver the bottom of the back track out and rotate it out the hole...
This is just a stop but for completeness taking it out to bead blast..
The stop is out.
Here is the rear top bolt with the cool washer and nut.
The short bolts with larger washer go in the tracks.
The rear tail light has these special screws so you can't over tighten them and crack the lens. I need 2 more anyone have two I could buy?
The convertible top is pinched under the trim/clamp metal then the well vinyl. Need Baca to make me a new well cover to match the interior I will have him make for us....
Here is the clamping rail and the chrome trim goes over it.
Well these damn early A-Bodys are narrow!!!! I needed to modify my tools!
Offset block for the narrow K-Frame and spacers for the "rotisserie" bar....
Up she goes.....
Leaning tower of Power is free at last!
Here is the rear top bolt with the cool washer and nut.
The short bolts with larger washer go in the tracks.
The rear tail light has these special screws so you can't over tighten them and crack the lens. I need 2 more anyone have two I could buy?
The convertible top is pinched under the trim/clamp metal then the well vinyl. Need Baca to make me a new well cover to match the interior I will have him make for us....
Here is the clamping rail and the chrome trim goes over it.
Well these damn early A-Bodys are narrow!!!! I needed to modify my tools!
Offset block for the narrow K-Frame and spacers for the "rotisserie" bar....
Up she goes.....
Leaning tower of Power is free at last!
Just some reference photos for the leaning tower of power assembly.........
She is now in the driveway on jack stands. Tomorrow we will remove the rear axle and the fuel tank and put her on the engine stand rotisserie ready for some work!
I have found the Holy Grail! This was stuck behind the RH front fender! Now we know where it is!
I have found the Holy Grail! This was stuck behind the RH front fender! Now we know where it is!
Would you guys thing less of me if I took a whole pile of parts to get sandblasted instead of me sweating in the driveway
Red's '72 Dart
Well-Known Member
Nope, not at all!
I would love to have a place to do that to my '72 four door!
Love your work, and attaction to detail!
I would love to have a place to do that to my '72 four door!
Love your work, and attaction to detail!
Lots of hot greasy work today that does not show up as a lot of visible progress but the front suspension is stripped and bagged, the rear axel is out and the springs are ready for blasting. The /6 is coming apart...
A broken sharp screwdriver is all you need to get the dried-out bushing out.
Looks like maybe a virgin block! No oversized piston stamping.
Now that is what you call WAY down in the bore!
Head looks good, no burnt valves.
Ready for cleaning and blasting
Native Arizona cars are the only way to go...
Sending these to Vacuum Orna-Metal for restoration and replating in the morning..
Restoration | Vacuum Orna-Metal
A broken sharp screwdriver is all you need to get the dried-out bushing out.
Looks like maybe a virgin block! No oversized piston stamping.
Now that is what you call WAY down in the bore!
Head looks good, no burnt valves.
Ready for cleaning and blasting
Native Arizona cars are the only way to go...
Sending these to Vacuum Orna-Metal for restoration and replating in the morning..
Restoration | Vacuum Orna-Metal
Mmmmm, hope Frank at Vacuum Orna-Metal can fix this....
Removing the trim from the seats.
Seems like there should be covers on these. Wonder how un-obtanium they are?
Removing the tracks to restore.... $hit one of them is broken.....
Removing the trim from the seats.
Seems like there should be covers on these. Wonder how un-obtanium they are?
Removing the tracks to restore.... $hit one of them is broken.....
Chrome trim on the convertible seat back.
Here is the reason we have the Dart. I bought these extra parts for the Duster by mistake so I had to use them somewhere....
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