My 65 Valiant Vert Resto

-
Got the final piece formed and roughed in. I need to coax the floor up now to match the new panel. But I need to drop the transmission first.

547EF9BE-DE7C-4A12-9997-B63BA429A12A.jpeg


5FE4B76F-585A-42A4-89EC-E0D406D9301A.jpeg


3ECDBFB4-B7FD-4A12-B261-905991CFD8B5.jpeg
 
Any updates?
Thanks for checking in! It’s been super slow through the holiday. Now I’m getting ready to get back at it! I’ve been working on the upper cowl section. Hopefully I can finish up the welding repairs on that tomorrow. Hope to post some fresh pics soon.
 
Finally getting ready to make some progress. But first. After trying a couple times to fix my old compressor, I gave up and bought this new one. Got it wired up and running.

C79FE641-7CAB-4970-B0E6-AB4868868D72.jpeg
 
A little progress on the upper cowl repairs. Got most of it done now. One little section left then I’ll sand blast the whole thing.

EDCB3EB0-CA69-4312-8033-997C931A3EFD.jpeg


E9721668-0B97-48F8-9FF5-7DAC729FE431.jpeg
 
Awesome progress on your 65! I'm doing the same deal with 65 Dart convertible currently, lots of rust repair. I'm using an ax15 5 speed though, had to do the same to the torsion bar cross member. Keep it up!
 
Wow you have made some awesome progress since you brought your 65 home! I love how you built the tunnel around the new trans and didn't modify the existing tunnel!
Keep the pics coming!
 
Finally got the final repair section done. Upper cowl sheet metal repair now complete! I’m going to blast and epoxy prime it next.

I also sent my trans crossmember for powder coat. I didn’t care too much what color it was and a buddy of mine was getting a bunch of stuff done. I just added it to his batch. It’ll be a silver gray color. Can’t wait to see it!

E4D42358-60CA-4979-813B-B283F04DF58E.jpeg


AF0CDD35-3CCB-4F4F-B576-AEB9F15310AE.jpeg


E666754A-DC0E-43FD-8279-CD9E2AE41347.jpeg


A3131912-5B41-4EAE-B6EE-684AB9BE2768.jpeg
 
This thing has taken forever! I think I got it all ready for primer now though. Getting in those grill slots was a serious pain. Tedious sanding with 100 grit wrapped around a screw driver worked pretty well. They say it’s all in the prep...

B72F6B3F-FD93-44AF-8847-823C175C7B49.jpeg


91F9BBB6-8BF8-4BF0-9DE6-4CD9FD81813A.jpeg


01375171-18CD-4825-AE8F-1A4C5DAC5003.jpeg
 
I know it's too late now, but how do you seal and paint under those vents? There's always that somebody who notices that at a show and I wouldn't want it to rust. I once had the thought of under coating it.
 
I don’t know why I haven’t seen this thread, but holy cow are you doing some fine work. It’s more like a work of art than just a car resto. I must say that you will know every inch of that car by the time you’re done. Keep up the good work, it’s very inspiring to see.
 
Thanks guys! Appreciate the kind words.
@Dave Lucas , the cowl isn’t welded on yet. It’s getting epoxy primed on both sides first. So it will be protected for sure. Top of the bottom cowl has rust bullet on it. I’ll detail that more when I get ready to permanently attach the upper cowl section.
 
Got the motor and trans back out of the car. Now I can finish up the floor and transmission tunnel from underneath. I also dropped the K frame, which I plan to beef up just a little.

5245C4A8-E196-46A5-A0D2-7FDA1A1B286C.jpeg


0898E2D6-9F35-4269-87A9-627BFDE71600.jpeg


FF4F7750-9FDA-424D-A66C-494B62901AF6.jpeg
 
This thing has taken forever! I think I got it all ready for primer now though. Getting in those grill slots was a serious pain. Tedious sanding with 100 grit wrapped around a screw driver worked pretty well. They say it’s all in the prep...

View attachment 1715718565

View attachment 1715718566

View attachment 1715718567
amazing craftsmanship on your 65 restoration! No one would ever know its your first resto- top quality work! No doubt your welding is getting better and better with all that practice! Redoing the entire cowl area was genius- major surgery!But it came out great. Can't wait to see further progress updates. Keep up the great work! I have 3 65 Valiants and a 65 Barracuda- luckily they aren't nearly as rusty as yours was.
 
amazing craftsmanship on your 65 restoration! No one would ever know its your first resto- top quality work! No doubt your welding is getting better and better with all that practice! Redoing the entire cowl area was genius- major surgery!But it came out great. Can't wait to see further progress updates. Keep up the great work! I have 3 65 Valiants and a 65 Barracuda- luckily they aren't nearly as rusty as yours was.

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words. It’s definitely been a learning experience. I’m using this car as practice. My wife’s 71 Javelin is next in line. That one will be our hot rod :)
 
Got the rest of the top of the tunnel and floor burned in. Just a little stitching to do from the bottom. Back is killing me now so that’s it for today.

47D454E7-79F8-46BD-836B-E813E4C27C70.jpeg


421F53A9-ADE6-4897-BCE2-104B06CF78B0.jpeg


E82AD274-C15A-416D-99E8-E2E1BAEDA841.jpeg
 
good job :thumbsup:, are you going to make infill panels between the new tunnel and new trans' hoop? it'd probably stiffen it a bunch.
neil.
I don’t think so. I have the floor welded to the hoop in a couple spots though.
 
Got my homemade transmission crossmember back from powder coat. Love it. My first part that’s ready for final assembly! Too bad it won’t get installed for quite some time yet.

859BAA3D-DAC8-4C1D-ACEF-B1F3836AF484.jpeg
 
Just in! Got the upper cowl epoxy primed. It’s motivating to see color and even just primer go on some parts.

31679894-D08A-4E25-ACB0-FB8564E4327F.jpeg
 
Finally starting work on the fenders now. Got them back from the blaster. Got some homework now.

7FEB9525-6D00-437D-B059-E171C10EE491.jpeg
 
Maybe this is boring but I like pics so here’s some more. Started working the left side fender.

0CAC8DCC-4BE8-4740-B633-B67823750F04.jpeg


26A74CBF-3EE0-4961-A9CA-40FDC1FF4078.jpeg


AD3107B2-27B1-4C9A-9151-879D2EE5AEB0.jpeg


2355F361-BDC4-43BE-82D9-6176C8A94920.jpeg


3C946C27-AD47-4CBC-8D26-2971A7D77C18.jpeg


49AB5686-9527-4B48-8540-ABCEA3A16AA9.jpeg
 
-
Back
Top