|
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
  
| LolI know 75% are rolling their eyes...  Its Probably gonna be red, but i was thinking black would be cool also... Bought a 58 Belevedere coupe 7-8 years ago? then ran into my 57 Dodge... So the 57 Dodge is almost done but got a super clean sedan body from John(thanks A TON!)... underneath is ready to go onto a clean frame so i have to cut up the coupe and take the roof off. The guy had replaced one rocker on the passenger side and the quarter panel looks okay, I might sell it off or use it for parts. Roof swapping looks "reasonable". I'm just trying to get this project buttoned up for winter(old body scrapped, no one on frame). Only one reasonable spot to repair on the new body floor... I will probably lean towards a 440 or a 413 if i can get it unstuck with 4 wheel disc brakes, I already have the 8.8 posi for it.
 (plymouth.jpg)
 (plymouth2.jpg)
 (plymouth3.jpg)
 (plymouth4.jpg)
 (plymouth5.jpg)
 (plymouth6.jpg)
 (plymouth7.jpg)
 (plymouth8.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 plymouth.jpg (161KB - 159 downloads)
plymouth2.jpg (178KB - 161 downloads)
plymouth3.jpg (182KB - 158 downloads)
plymouth4.jpg (220KB - 157 downloads)
plymouth5.jpg (174KB - 163 downloads)
plymouth6.jpg (228KB - 158 downloads)
plymouth7.jpg (217KB - 143 downloads)
plymouth8.jpg (249KB - 159 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
 
Location: The Centennial State | Super cool! The blue one almost looks like a business coupe, but it can't be because it is a Belvedere. It looks like a fun project and you know the nice thing: it is your car so you can do whatever you want with it! Awesome! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 93
Location: Oklahoma | Looking forward to follow along!
I also have a coupe that will only be good for a roof swap once I take all the parts I need. It rusted from dog urine, a lot of the horizontal metal is thin or rusted away.
Edited by 61imp 2023-11-17 6:13 AM
 (IMG_4950.JPG)
 (IMG_4989.JPG)
 (IMG_4985.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
IMG_4950.JPG (168KB - 153 downloads)
IMG_4989.JPG (133KB - 155 downloads)
IMG_4985.JPG (130KB - 152 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 732
Location: Finland | That must have been some dog! |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| darn... that is bad.
I told John he saved me a year of my life... its a serious amount of work..
Your car is absolutely gone... look for a donor, my whole floor and trunk,rockers are all gone.
|
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 93
Location: Oklahoma | I bought the Belvedere for my '57 Savoy hardtop. The Savoy was in a field for years and got picked over pretty good for parts. All the trim, some glass, hood, interior, etc. The exterior is fairly solid, needs floor and rockers though.
The Belvedere was stored in an old rickety building. I think the dogs stayed on the roof mostly and relieved themselves on the hood and trunk. There was still a lot of fur packed into the crevices when I got it, probably what held the moisture.
 (IMG_1926.JPG)
 (IMG_3336.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
IMG_1926.JPG (198KB - 166 downloads)
IMG_3336.JPG (147KB - 138 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2149
| .
Can you post the data plates of the Belvedere, Savoy and the Turquoise '58 Windsor Dartline on the back ground PLEASE?
 |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 93
Location: Oklahoma | I'll post them in the general section in a few days if you want, I feel like I've already cluttered up Mike's thread with enough of my pictures. I also have a 57 Custom Royal, 58 Savoy & 57 Plaza, all sedan parts/project cars. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| clutter away man, i dont mind |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| when your donor is held together by dirt...
 (cuttingQuarter.jpg)
 (sidepanel1.jpg)
 (slicing.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
cuttingQuarter.jpg (203KB - 155 downloads)
sidepanel1.jpg (170KB - 162 downloads)
slicing.jpg (159KB - 140 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 10173
Location: So. Cal | You should be careful about how & where you cut. All of those 2dr specific parts are hard to obtain, and potentially useful to someone. A plasma cutter makes cutting spot welds really easy to remove sections in whole pieces for use somewhere else. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| I'm going to map the upper support onto the other wheel housings and weld it from inside the wheel housing... So there won't be much left, I will save the passenger quarter panel though. This drivers quarter panel is "swiss cheese" though.
I do need that center brace and it appears to be usable. I will probably not be using the original seats though also. But the car uses that for support I assume so I want to get that same support back int he car. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| 2 door hard top support is out... getting the original one out will be interesting though from the sedan. The 57 sedan did not build the "web" on top of the wheel housing though so it might not be that bad. Its kind of empty up there so I can fit the 2 door hard top on it and weld it in.
 (driversidegone.jpg)
 (passsidegone.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
driversidegone.jpg (193KB - 145 downloads)
passsidegone.jpg (196KB - 150 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| anyone want a 301 poly that turns over?
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1532
Location: Lordstown, Ohio | I feel you made the best choice in doing this. With the donor
But what about the critics who will be piping in and saying that’s not a true 2 door hardtop. Or it’s a rebody. Or how could you do this
You should of converted it into a 4 door being everyone else uses them for there 2 doors ?????? |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| hey that sedan is solid though...
yep not original... especially not canadian
scrap guy loves rusty metal though, they keep coming back top pick up the weekly scrap... its a form of rust and dirt though... hard time calling it "metal".
 (bodyoff.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
bodyoff.jpg (185KB - 147 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| Trimming the rear panel of excess sheet metal, I HOPE to get the roof swap in place before the winter hits... then i can button up the car pretty much for storage...
I am cutting off the wheel housings, I will spot weld cut the new housings... the spot welds wont match but I will use the new body "spot weld" holes... it should "Line" up and all go in nice and neat...
the back rear window panel will then be in place ready to accept the new roof...
 (TrimRearPanel1.jpg)
 (TrimRearPanel2.jpg)
 (TrimRearPanel3.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
TrimRearPanel1.jpg (199KB - 89 downloads)
TrimRearPanel2.jpg (158KB - 93 downloads)
TrimRearPanel3.jpg (171KB - 105 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| Forgot to update... the frame has been cleaned and painted along with the underneath of the car... with new body mounts... so the frame off is done... its going to suck to do the brake lines and fuel lines etc with the body on but ill get over it Soo some real progress... I will be doing a Ford 8.8 posi again... I have new rear springs already for this car and the dodge. and it will have 4 wheel disc brakes, and I will try to get the new power steering upgrade done using the Saginaw gear... I already bought that also, its nice I was buying "two" of the parts i needed while working on the dodge... I have all the new suspension parts ready to go also, ball joints, bushings etc...
Edited by mikes2nd 2024-10-31 12:15 PM
 (plymouthbodyon.jpg)
 (frame1.jpg)
 (frame2.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
plymouthbodyon.jpg (189KB - 88 downloads)
frame1.jpg (173KB - 89 downloads)
frame2.jpg (193KB - 91 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Location: The Centennial State | Looks like good progress! |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7576
Location: northern germany | By all means, "box" the weak section of the rear frame. It is only thin gauge U-saped steel, with some large openings tp make it even weaker!
Unbelievable flimsy, even when new. The slightest impact will bring the rear axle out of alignment.
It's easily reinforced and will protect the body better, as a bonus, it will make the whole frame less likely to deform under load, reducing squeaks
and body mount wear.
Why did the factory do this, is beyond me and let me question Chrysler engineering.
Crumble zones should start at the bumper getting gradually stiffer towards the passenger compartment and shouldn't begin in the tank(!) section.
http://forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=72171&post...
Edited by 1960fury 2024-10-31 8:31 PM
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| I did notice that also. and that would be a nice "upgrade" that's for sure. That rear frame is basically sheet metal...
I did use poly body mounts, which stiffens things up and after driving my 57 Dodge I actually have zero squeaks or rattles, its drives amazing and as good as a modern car.
I was kind of shocked I didn't have any on the maiden voyage. I will have to drive it more of course but I made sure everything was nice and
tight.
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| Rear trunk panel and wheel housing "mounting" points are all ready to go.
I will have to get inside the wheel wells and spot weld cut the similar structure out of the car... this will allow me to align the whole piece.
I am going to take a few days off and cut the roof off and then start fitting this pieces in...
 (PXL_20241108_211130570.jpg)
 (PXL_20241109_202200884.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
PXL_20241108_211130570.jpg (237KB - 90 downloads)
PXL_20241109_202200884.jpg (222KB - 91 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 732
Location: Finland | Hats off,,,you are not afraid of the fun stuff..
What did you drill out the spots with...it doesn`t get that clean for me , I have always to you the pneumatic chisel
a little too much. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| I only use Blair spot weld cutters. If your are careful you can do a whole car with one blair, start out real slow and dont twist to much and they last.
They cut a slight bit oversize so you don't need to chisel them, i look for the "rust" to pop and then i stop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7FrgdyuhVA
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5151
| Weird having a Forward look car basically unrusted... west coast metal is worth it... put it together for a while until spring where i roof swap it...
 (58Ply.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
58Ply.jpg (247KB - 67 downloads)
|
|
| |