Honeydew List Valiant - Ratty Build

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

So a few years ago I bought this heap of a Valiant from a shady dealer in Vermont. It is a 1972 Valiant in Honey Dew with a black vinyl top and black interior. It is an Automatic Transmission Package car that was purchased new in Bridgeport, CT by Helen Hiostakis who I understand was a city councilwoman. The car has lived a rough life and looks like it was recently a beach car a it was filled with sand.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Doesn't look ratty to me. Looks more like a solid start!

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

So first thing is to get it running. The transport driver was not happy, the dealer promised a running, driving car, and he wanted me to pay for a new battery, and acted like it was my fault. The car showed up missing the gas cap and the air cleaner lid, which I never got back.

Luckily I had some laying around to take care of it.

 

[junkyardhero]

man, looks like winter got to y'all early up there in ill-noise.

cool project!

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

So I swapped a couple of rotten tires and drove the car to work and back after putting in a new gas tank. It drives like a heap, it doesn’t go, it doesn’t stop and barely runs. Time to change that.

 

[Darter6]

I like it. Factory air too. Looks like rust free.Hard to find these days.
Be good to her.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

I like it. Factory air too. Looks like rust free.Hard to find these days.
Be good to her.

Not at all rust free. The quarters are gone behind the rear wheels, the dog legs on the fenders are gone and lots of body damage.

 

[Darter6]

Unseen. No wonder you called it a heap. Goes to show that photos hide allot.
Still tho, It has potential. Plus it has black interior and it's not green paint.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

These are all old pics. I’m doing photo dumps basically. I’m on the lookout or a couple of clean fenders in Honeydew GY4.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

So the car had a rats nest of unsafe wiring for a cheap radio. I ended up ripping that out and finding a nice AM/FM unit that I will send out for a rebuild. Everything on the dash works even the seat belt minder.

After a couple drives and changing out the lights on the cluster, the engine had an oil light come on. This is a peanut plug head 225 out of a 77 Volaré. I will be doing something fresh for power.

I got a hood pad from DMT and got that on. I will be pulling the engine out in the next post.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

In the mean time I ordered an E70-14 white line tire, and installed it on a powder coated 14”x5.5” wheel and a new trunk mat went in. I borrowed spare tire hardware from a Dart and I got everything cleaned up. I will need to fix a hole in the trunk gutter. But this is looking good.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

I made my own package tray insulation and then dyed the brown package tray black. Sadly that was the only color close enough to work, for one with speaker holes and a defogger hole. I also painted the defogger bezel flat black.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

The original heater side of the climate control was damaged beyond repair so I converted a heater only box to work with the air conditioning unit and installed fresh seals and gaskets everywhere. I am pleased with how it turned out.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

Getting the 8 3/4” rear end housing in shape to be installed. It was acid dipped then painted with 2k high build primer and sanded. The differential will be a 489 with a 3.23 Sure-Grip.

 

[67Dart273]

Boy, you have been at it, that is for sure!!

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

I listed the car for sale previously, and all I got was bitching and moaning about the fenders being in primer.

 

[VS29U1]

So a few years ago I bought this heap of a Valiant from a shady dealer in Vermont. It is a 1972 Valiant in Honey Dew with a black vinyl top and black interior. It is an Automatic Transmission Package car that was purchased new in Bridgeport, CT by Helen Hiostakis who I understand was a city councilwoman. The car has lived a rough life and looks like it was recently a beach car a it was filled with sand.

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[VS29U1]

Small world, I worked as a tech at Haynes & McGill from 68 to 73.

 

[abdywgn]

I listed the car for sale previously, and all I got was bitching and moaning about the fenders being in primer.

glad I missed that. I saw it when it was for sale at the dealer and had questions...enjoy!

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

glad I missed that. I saw it when it was for sale at the dealer and had questions...enjoy!

You didn’t miss much. I am trying to do right by the car but its a dead albatross around my neck at this point.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

Small world, I worked as a tech at Haynes & McGill from 68 to 73.

That’s pretty cool! I’m sure you worked on this car or knew someone who did at one point.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

The k-member was removed, acid dipped, painted and all the parts were restored or replaced. I upgraded to Kelsey Hayes disc brakes while I had it apart.

I picked up a set of cheap (free) roller tires from an old trailer and mounted them on the powder coated wheels.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

It’s a little out of order but the old, tired slant six from the Volaré is out. Just so happens I found a slant six coming out of a Duster. Turned out it is a 1987 slant six block that has 30 lbs shaved off of the older versions.

 

[1972_Plymouth_Valiant]

Jumping back to present day, I got the bolts for the Kelsey Hayes calipers in and I repaired the damaged spindles. Then I got my E70-14 white line tires in. Outwardly this is supposed to be granny’s tired old Valiant but it is a hot Duster underneath.

 

[abdywgn]

oh, I bet the neighbors love you! or do they come over and help out?