A Body dimensions

[slantflat]

Hi everyone.

Is there some place I could look up body dimensions for the 1968 Dart and Valiant? I've been perusing the internet and have found conflicting information. Would the maintenance manual have this? I don't have one, maybe I can find it online.

I've always wished there was a Valiant convertible in 68, but since there was only the Barracuda I thought about putting a Valiant front clip on a Dart convertible and calling it a day. Wouldn't be a perfect rendition but close enough for me.

Good place to find this information? Any reason this wouldn't work?

Thanks everyone.

 

[junkyardhero]

mymopar.com has FSM's available for download.

do it. do it.

ETA: yeah, front clips swap around between the cars. caveat is that you have to switch EVERYTHING. search the board, there's several threads about it here.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I've always wished there was a Valiant convertible in 68, but since there was only the Barracuda I thought about putting a Valiant front clip on a Dart convertible and calling it a day. Wouldn't be a perfect rendition but close enough for me

The firewall front inner fenders and core support are the same on all A bodies of the time. so the parts needed changing are front fenders, hood, maybe the front hood lock support and related parts, the front door skins did valentine have a hard top? If not that's a tougher thing to do you might be able to splice two 4 door skins together????? The rear quarters, the trunk lid, rear panel where the tail lights are.

Ets, etc,etc...

 

[halfafish]

Hi everyone.

Is there some place I could look up body dimensions for the 1968 Dart and Valiant? I've been perusing the internet and have found conflicting information. Would the maintenance manual have this? I don't have one, maybe I can find it online.

I've always wished there was a Valiant convertible in 68, but since there was only the Barracuda I thought about putting a Valiant front clip on a Dart convertible and calling it a day. Wouldn't be a perfect rendition but close enough for me.

Good place to find this information? Any reason this wouldn't work?

Thanks everyone.

Here are links for some 68 Valiant specs:

1968 Plymouth Valiant Specifications

https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/plymouth/valiant_3gen/valiant_3_100_sedan/1968.html

A few Dart specs:

https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1968-Dodge-Dart-AMA-1-30.pdf

Some digging around on these is part of the process.

 

[CRUZE 418]

Wheelbase between Dodge and Plymouth is usually different, but the front clip should fit. May have to alter a little wiring.

 

[mvh]

If you can find a copy of the sales brochure online, it will have height, length, width and weight stats.

Yes, the Dart is 3" longer wheelbase, but the difference is all in the back seat and dutchman panel area. The front clips would interchange. The issue is the body line that extends through the fender into the door and the rear quarter, but I recall that at least for some years of Darts and Valiants, this line is at the same height at the front fender-to-door break, so it is a straight swap. The stainless side trim, if present, will be different, though.

 

[slantflat]

Thanks everyone. I'll have a look at those links this evening. I'm not so much worried about the body lines matching up, I just want to walk out of the house and see a Valiant convertible sitting there looking at me. Call me strange, but that's what I want.