'69 Valiant 2DR Project

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Back from the dead. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked on the car. I bought a house a couple years ago, so house projects took precedence in my life.

Block and rotating assembly have been sitting at the engine builders for almost 3 years. I’ve acquired more parts, namely a nice 727 and new valve body.

This past week I decided it’s time to push this project back to the forefront. Pulled the engine and trans. Think I’m going to blow apart the whole front end and do it right this time.

Hopefully I’ll have more updates for everyone as I get to work on this project again.



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You got the last word in on that one it got shut down! LOL..
I hope you put something in this car that makes it go fast unlike the others...:poke:..
DUMMY...
 
I’ve decide to deal with something I have been putting off since I bought this car. This car obviously had some sort of accident at one point judging by the ‘73 Duster front clip it had when I bought it. The core support is about as wavy as the ocean and the inner fenders are crumpled a little. I’m going to source some inner fenders and a core support for replacement. I dropped the K as well, going to try an replace that with a V8 Spool mount K.

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I forgot all about this thread. Wow. Years fly by. Glad you are getting back on it.

Yeah, I’m happy to be back to this. I’m hoping to get it mechanically squared away and running with the new motor by this time next year.
 
I'm glad to see you're back at it, love those Valiant post cars, are you still in Penfield? I'm still working my car.
 
Harvested the lower control arms today. I’ll take them to work to press the pins out, clean them, and blast them. QA1 adjustable strut rods came today, so I’ll clean up the factory strut rods while I’m doing the LCAs and give them to someone who needs them. Also ordered a LCA rebuild kit from PST today as well. Pretty happy with the condition of the LCAs, a little rusty but the retained part that holds the pin was still tight and they are not bent up, so that’s a win.

Couldn’t get the bump stops off yet though, couldn’t find a socket that would fit down in there.

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Went to work today and got some stuff sandblasted. Also used the shop press to push the LCA pins.

If anyone needs a set of strut rods let me know, free to a good home just pay for the ride.

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once the core support is out of the way is it worth dressing the inner fenders back straight rather than replacing them? in your pics they don't look that bad and with a good core support to reference off of it should be straight forward. it'll mean less factory seams to unpick and a lot less work if they'll straighten out.
neil.
 
once the core support is out of the way is it worth dressing the inner fenders back straight rather than replacing them? in your pics they don't look that bad and with a good core support to reference off of it should be straight forward. it'll mean less factory seams to unpick and a lot less work if they'll straighten out.
neil.

Yeah, I suppose that would be easier. Although the metal at the top to hang the outer fenders is pretty crusty and rusted through in some places. That could be fixed fairly easily but I figured why not do it all at once? Not sure yet, I'll have to think on it. Good idea though.
 
Down the rabbit hole I go...

Been working on the car quite a bit recently. Decided at the very least I need a new radiator support, so I remove the original one. I'll be making a tubular steel lower rad support and some firewall to frame rail supports. Also made some caps for the frame rails.

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Cleared out the interior and wiring as well. I'll likely end up making my own harness. Found some rust so I'm replacing the floor pans.

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Continuing last post.
Here's the new pass floor in place. I'm waiting on my buddies MIG box as I don't really feel like doing all the spots with my TIG machine.

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Got a new manual chuck, and am working on adapting a prius electric power assist column as well.

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And that's basically where I'm at right now.
 
You're moving right along with the project.
Thanks for the updates and keep them coming!
 
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So I recently picked up a 5.9 Magnum, originally just to use for mockup purposes as the original motor for this project is still at the builders and is going to require about $5k to finish the way I want, which I'm saving for but probably wont happen this year. I decided to freshen up the junkyard motor for now.

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I think these are Dakota manifolds, but they were free and I'm going to see if they fit in the bay flipped around. At this point the project spiraled, I ordered some V-band flanges, 2.5" exhaust pipe, and a eBay GT45. Next order is a Holley Terminator X and some weld in injector bungs. My plan is to use this motor as the test mule until my TFS headed 408 is built, then swap the MPFI and turbo setup to that motor.
 
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Really great build man. All you guys that can just do everything SUCK. LOL
 
DNasty, glad to see you're back at it! I stopped on my Valiant and I'm paying someone to finish it right. I will probably have it back for next summer's cruising. Here, getting her loaded to go.
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I got to the point where I couldn't do anymore with my tools, my garage and my limited knowledge. I turned it over to RJ Cars, Inc. He is down around Arkport, NY, 60 miles south of Rochester. Check out his website, RJCARS.com. It will come back right.
 
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I got to the point where I couldn't do anmore with my tools, my garage and my limited knowledge. I turned it over to RJ Cars, Inc. He is down around Arkport, NY, 60 miles south of Rochester. Check out his website, RJCARS.com. It will come back right.

Wow, looks like it's in good hands. Going to look great when it's done.
 
The turbo came in today, this weekend I’ll drop the motor in the engine bay and see if these headers fit, I’ll clearance the inner fenders a little if need be. If all goes well I can start making the hot side piping this weekend.

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The magnum alternator and bracket setup is interfering with the valve covers, I’ve already trimmed the lower mounting bolt so that it clears. I also removed the ground boot and trimmed the ground stud (edit: correction, it is the charge post) as much as I’d like. I really like this style of valve covers so I’d like to keep them.

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Next step is to notch the valve covers.
 
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I also designed a tensioner bracket in fusion, I’ll get that laser cut and see if it gets it where I need it.

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Well, the unknown headers aren’t going to drop in like I’d hoped. It’s hitting the passenger side inner fender, which I could work around by clearancing it with a hammer or zip wheel. The bad part is that the #7 primary is right on top of the steering box and coupler. To fix that I’d have to do a whole new run for #7, but even doing that I’m not sure the engine will sit we’re it needs to be without further modifications. I might switch to Dakota manifolds, which I suppose fits the engine bay much better. I’ll have to think on this.

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