1963 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible for the Wife

Jim Kueneman · Feb 28, 2020

@Fredsgarage if you could get these measurements off your '64 that would be great...

Here is the mystery, why is the LH support rocked in too far (the fender fits perfectly if it is where I show it) The spacing for the radiator mounting holes is perfect so how can this all be....

See how the support on the left is event with the outer edge of the frame rail and the lower radiator support while the left one is pushed inwards. If it were flush with the outer edge of the frame rail the fender would mount exactly where is needs to be for a nice fit at the back of it.

These measurements should help me figure out if one of the panels is the wrong one or what is not welded in correctly.

Jim Kueneman · Feb 28, 2020

Ever have those days you get a lot MORE done than you planned? They don't happen often! Got the valance blasted, straightened, cleaned and epoxied. Same with the trunk. Another hidden surprise. I have not idea how those dents could have been created.... Jolly Green Giant teeth marks? I then shot on 2 coat of high build and that was going to be my day... but it was only 2pm! So I started blocking and ended up getting both sides blocked and another 2 coats of high build ready for blocking tomorrow.... If I can get out of bed...... Thanks @63DropTop this valance was in MUCH better shape than mine.

Jim Kueneman · Feb 28, 2020

You block till you see everything is a dull gray or you hit metal than stop fast you need more high build.

Stephen Hotz · Feb 28, 2020

Looking good Jim!

F21 · Feb 29, 2020

I love this build

Jim Kueneman · Feb 29, 2020

Knock on wood but day 2 of bliss..... Round 4 Done! She is very very very straight. Just had a couple of places to build up. Tomorrow shoot high build in the areas that I added glaze, sand and shoot the next to final coats of epoxy to make a strong base for the color. This time I got serious about building up the body lines straight. She is likely straighter than the day she left the factory right now

Working hard on the truck and valance tomorrow to, we should be able to get them almost to the same state with some luck.

Secret tool..... Threaded rod wrapped with 180 grit to get the tight curve in the body line perfect.

Jim Kueneman · Feb 29, 2020

The hood is a good candidate for a hood scoop... it is bad but fixable with a little work....

Stephen Hotz · Feb 29, 2020

Jim Kueneman said:
The hood is a good candidate for a hood scoop... it is bad but fixable with a little work....

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You have to ask the boss on that one. :thumbsup:

Jim Kueneman · Mar 1, 2020

What a crummy day. Storm moving in tomorrow so today its cool, cloudy and typical high desert winds before the storm.... Spent some time on the Dart but after 2 good days I only put in 3 hours this morning.. It is getting very close.... The hood is clearly a mess but its ready for high build and see where we are. The trunk is ready for high build as well after a few touch ups spots with epoxy. Cleaned up and put her back in the garage. If you not feeling like your wasting sand paper your not changing it enough. I use 2-3 pieces on each block per panel. The poor Coronet will never feel clean again!

Jim Kueneman · Mar 7, 2020

Well did not get to go to the big Mopar show in Phoenix so I worked on the Dart.....

Sprayed on a reduced coat of SPI epoxy to seal the places I sanded through and the glaze. Went to town to get a hair cut and lunch with the wife and youngest while we tracked the oldest make a 5 hour trip to Flagstaff by stalking her on Where's My iPhone. How did my parents live without that feature......

Barry said I could spray high build 4 hours after the thinned epoxy if it was out in the sun and over 70. So then I spray a lot of cups of high build. The trunk and valance need more work but the rest of it this should be the final blocking of high build. Moving to 320 grit. Then 2 coats of epoxy and 500 grit to finish it out.

5 hours later high build time....

Jim Kueneman · Mar 7, 2020

Look what came in the mail this week..... Dutra Dual from Mark at Aussiespeed.

Jim Kueneman · Mar 8, 2020

Man another raining day in the desert...... Working in the garage for a few hours till I got bored. This is the time where you must take your time and if you get tired/rushed you get to do things all over again......

Should be self explanatory. Just sand easy, change the paper often and don't sand through. Fill what you have to to make it perfect.

Jim Kueneman · Mar 8, 2020

Must more fine sanding and filling the low spots to make perfect lines.

Jim Kueneman · Mar 8, 2020

More fine detail work

Jim Kueneman · Mar 8, 2020

Claim the rear quarter DONE!

69superbee · Mar 11, 2020

Thanks for the Detailed Pictures Jim. it is helping me to identify some things and to pay more attention to detail on my project.

63DropTop · Mar 12, 2020

Jim Kueneman said:
Look what came in the mail this week..... Dutra Dual from Mark at Aussiespeed.

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The valance looks great! Glad to hear/see it worked out for you. Looks like we will be in quarantine soon so i may get some quality time on my Dart if the weather cooperates!

Jim Kueneman · Mar 12, 2020

63DropTop said:
The valance looks great! Glad to hear/see it worked out for you. Looks like we will be in quarantine soon so i may get some quality time on my Dart if the weather cooperates!

way less work than mine. Got the 64 trim today. Beautiful condition. Have it polished and it will look great

Jim Kueneman · Mar 12, 2020

Found the song I am going to play on the first drive in the Dart!

Jim Kueneman · Mar 13, 2020

Man what a wet winter... almost a full week of storms... They are breaking up and only spotty showers today so I dug in... cool and windy so it is a great day to sand and have mother nature remove the dust...

I blocked the RH side and took the chance on the sun and UV to set the SPI epoxy and keep the metal above 65F... when the sun was out the metal was above 70, when the clouds rolled it it dropped to 62... I thinned it 1:1:1 so it will dry very fast it has already kicked in and it dry to the touch.

Also fixed a few low spots on the hood and shot that with a sealer coat of thinned epoxy ready for high build tomorrow...

The LH side I shot with epoxy last Sunday so it got 2 coats of high build and ready for the 320 grit money blocking! I was not use to this cold weather and got it on a little heavy for as slow as it was drying to day.... a few little runs to sand out....

Was getting depressed about the trunk once I started blocking the lid..... It oil canned and I thought it was warped beyond recovery..... but I noticed that all the goop that bonds it to the bracing has broken loose so there is no support for it..... Have my questions in to the experts on the SPI forum to fix it the right way....

Also got the Motobase from Chad for the entire job. Dark Turquoise for the exterior and the white for the stripes. The light turquoise is for the interior..... It says early 60's to the max...

Jim Kueneman · Mar 13, 2020

63DropTop said:
The valance looks great! Glad to hear/see it worked out for you. Looks like we will be in quarantine soon so i may get some quality time on my Dart if the weather cooperates!

Did you get exposed to the virus?

63DropTop · Mar 13, 2020

Jim Kueneman said:
Did you get exposed to the virus?

Not that I'm aware of. Governor of state just cancelled all schools until April 6th and no large gatherings. Businesses are limiting visitors and many are starting to work from home where permitted/possible.

Jim Kueneman · Mar 14, 2020

Blocked out the LH side with 320 grit and it is straight. Mixed up some high build 2k and blasted the hood and RH side with several coats. Went back and put 2 coats of thinned epoxy primer over the blocked side. It just need a 400 blocking in a few weeks and that side is ready to paint!

Blocked the hood at the end of the day. Looks much better, just one spot that needs work..

Jim Kueneman · Mar 14, 2020

Before the epoxy....

Jim Kueneman · Mar 21, 2020

Went dual sport "riding" last Sunday so nothing got done on the car...

Started by cleaning and bonding the trunk lid to the supports with the correct 3M goop 04274. Almost everyone had come loose. Then weighted it so that is would be exactly like the factory bonds. Next I shrunk the hood so it would not oil can. I had a lot of help from the guys on the SPI forum and I bought a video from a master metalworker....

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Took me a few hours but when I was done the oil canning was gone and I sanded off 75% of the filler I had. it is definitely and art and a "feel" to know where and how hard to bang.... I am not there yet but I am starting to get it... While the epoxy was inducing and drying for the second coat I blocked the RH side. There are a couple of problem spots so I will put it on the jack stands too along the door and get it straight...

Plan on adding goop to the hood tomorrow as well before getting it flat. If the rear was dried out enough to come loose the front can't be far behind.