Father, Son, and Grand Father project. 1963 Valiant

[prorac1]

Very good day today.

Jason had school so it was just me and grandpa.

We changed around the kick down arm and took it out for a test drive.

After a few adjustments, we had the part throttle shift points perfect and the kickdown function working as it should with the TransGo TF2 kit.

We also adjusted the over center adjustment on the steering box. It’s very close. A few more adjustments and we will have it perfect.

It started raining while we were out test driving. She handled, drove and braked very well on the wet roads. Very sure footed.

So after the test drive, me and grandpa washed it real well.

Than we installed the inner splash shields to seal everything up under there.

A very productive day.

Thanks for reading. Eric.

 

[prorac1]

A boy and his car

Grandpa and Jason worked on the car today after school.

Than they had to take the car for a drive. Lol.

You gotta love that smile! Lol

 

[prorac1]

We drove it to the gas station Sunday and filled it up for the first time.

Still some tweaking to do with the steering box, shift points, and timing, but we’re getting close!

 

[prorac1]

We’ve been working on finishing details.

Door panels are on their way from member/vendor @RPM440+6. He has supplied us with the majority of our interior soft items and the quality and service has been top notch!!!

We cleaned, painted, and affixed the door plaques. They turned out beautiful.

We had some wiper linkage/pivot geometry issues we took care of. We also disassembled the wiper motor and replaced the brass contact plate and plastic gear.

It’s now quiet as a church mouse and the geometry is dead on.

We also took a trip to the Secretary of State and made an honest girl of her. Plates and Registration.

Jason wanted personalized plates, but me and mom told him to hold off for a year. Get to know the car. Bond with it. And a plate will come to you.

We’ve also been up to our ying yangs in distributor work. Lol. It’s complicated. But that’s detailed in another thread.

The important part is we have the distributor limited to 34 degrees total and a set of springs in it to try out.

We’re also working with the vacuum advance.

Big thanks to many members including @Mattax for his input and articles reguarding the subject.

Getting closer. The To do list is getting shorter.

Thanks for reading. Eric and Jason.

 

[Mattax]

That's really looking nice, and as others have said, just awsome three generation project.

 

[moparmat2000]

Really awesome!!!!

That is an interesting advance weight and limiter plate setup. Where did you get it?

 

[prorac1]

Really awesome!!!!

That is an interesting advance weight and limiter plate setup. Where did you get it?

The car came with a bunch of extra parts in the trunk.

Part of the booty was a brand new mopar performance electronic ignition harness, an ECU, an MSD blaster 2 coil, and this distributor.

The distributor was in a plain white box and didn’t look like anything fancy. I assumed it was a cheap Cardone replacement.

Come to find out, it’s a mopar performance adjustable distributor that uses Mallory sourced internals.

So that was a pretty cool find.

 

[prorac1]

Not a lot to report lately. Still finishing details up.

Grandpa got to drive the car for the first time. I think he likes it. Lol.

The horn springy thingy on our turn signal switch broke. The canceling cam was already broke, so Jason took the opportunity to purchase a new one from @slantsixdan. Hoping it will be here this week. It looks like a beautiful piece! Excited to install it. Thanks again Dan.

The below pics are for reference so we can remember how to repin the new switch.

We pretty much have the timing in a “happy place” until track testing can happen.

20 degrees initial and 34 total. Still fiddling with the vacuum advance settings.

We took the car out, and for the first time I went to manually shift it and let it eat.

I tagged second gear and piled the throttle!

Everything went well, until we got to 4800 RPM. The tach stopped moving. Lol.

Engine wasn’t breaking up. Everything was fine. It just wouldn’t rev any further.

I shifted third and it continued it’s smooth strong pull.

So I spend hours thinking about it right. Lol

Cam, valve springs, ignition, timing, what could it be?

Than, later that night, while watching the walking dead, it hit me……

……I only put a 390 cam carb on this motor for break in and initial street driving. Lol

I’m like the stupid kid that hugs his hamster to tight and kills it. Lol.

Now, with that being said, that 390 is a sweet little carb. And the best tuned street carb I’ve ever had……just don’t try to take it past 4800 rpm on a 318 inch engine. Lol

We have a 600 that Jason is going to rebuild and install after we make it through the restoration and prom.

Thanks for reading. Eric

 

[prorac1]

This weekend, Grandpa is working on paint touch ups and final wet sand with 2000 grit.

Getting closer!!!!

 

[chryslerfat]

Wow she turned out great. Hard to believe that young man is now old enough to drive. I remember just a few years ago when you stopped by here. I dont feel any older. lol

 

[prorac1]

Wow she turned out great. Hard to believe that young man is now old enough to drive. I remember just a few years ago when you stopped by here. I dont feel any older. lol

Yeah. Lol. I hear ya.

He’s growing up way to quickly!

 

[prorac1]

More wet sanding progress pics.

 

[Prorac2]

Just some good shots I got of the valiant in the sun. She’s pretty photogenic if I do say so myself.

Also door panels came in today, look amazing thanks @RPM440+6.

Thanks again, Jason and Eric

 

[RustyRatRod]

It's red.

 

[prorac1]

It's red.

It’s very red.

And it will be even brighter red when grandpa gets done wet sanding and buffing.

He’s on a mission. Lol.

 

[prorac1]

Just some good shots I got of the valiant in the sun. She’s pretty photogenic if I do say so myself.



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Also door panels came in today, look amazing thanks @RPM440+6.
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View attachment 1715316936

Thanks again, Jason and Eric

Yep. We have door panels now!

Just waiting on the rear Mylar vapor barriers and the wet sanding to be done and we can install them.

@slantsixdan is sending out our turn signal switch this week so we can install that also.

It’s coming together nicely now.

 

[prorac1]

The entire car is wet sanded with 1500. Now he’s moving onto 2000 grit, than the final buff.

 

[prorac1]

And after two rounds with 2000 grit she’s a frothy girl. Lol

 

[prorac1]

Now grandpa is going to go over it one more time by hand with 2000 grit, than wash it real good.

Than tomorrow final buffing commences.

Our Mylar vapor barriers for the rear side panels should be here Thursday, so hopefully Sunday we can install those and the new door panels.

Checking off our list quickly!

Should easily be ready in time for the first cruise night May 1st and prom May 4th.

Thanks for reading and following along. Eric

 

[prorac1]

All washed up and ready for buffing!

It even looks shiny when it’s dull. Lol.

Stay tuned. Eric

 

[prorac1]

First cut with the buffer. It has crazy depth!!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

What kind of paint did yall use?

 

[prorac1]

What kind of paint did yall use?

Wanda base clear with an epoxy self etching high build primer.

Dad says compared to DuPont or Nason this **** is hard as a rock. But it’s holding up well so far and seems to have good adherence.

 

[prorac1]

Oh yeah! This is going to be good.

 

[prorac1]

First cut done. Now onto the polishing to get the fine scratches out. Grandpa is killing it today!