1963 Dodge Dart for the Wife....

JimKueneman · Sep 13, 2019

After the Coronet for me and the Duster for the daughter the wife was feeling left out...... here I go again....

It is always worse than you think..... Patches are coming the replace the lower quarters.

I

JimKueneman · Sep 13, 2019

Strangersfaces · Sep 13, 2019

One of my high school cars was a 64 Dodge 440 with the slant six and pushbutton gear selector, while a good friend had the 63 Dart convertible like your wife's car, only in red. My pushbuttons were rectangular, Alan's, like yours, were round. Liked the pushbuttons..., so different from everything else. One weakness, the selector cable seldom broke, but the seals at the transmission end would begin leaking transmission fluid, so needed replacement.

This will be another fun one to watch...

Have fun,

Lance

Barry · Sep 14, 2019

This will be one excellent car when done.
You like John when done car will be way better then it was when new.

'68 Coronet R/T · Sep 14, 2019

Of course you will want to drop a Hemi in that baby, right?
Can't have the wife lagging behind in a 6 cylinder.

jcclark · Sep 14, 2019

My first car painting was an old Valiant, back in the 70's.
I've had several of those Darts and Plymouth Valiants
with the good old slant 6. Pretty neat!!!

old soul · Sep 14, 2019

The leaning Tower of Power!! Love it.

That grille and headlight trim look to be in great shape. Good score.

JimKueneman · Sep 14, 2019

'68 Coronet R/T said:
Of course you will want to drop a Hemi in that baby, right?
Can't have the wife lagging behind in a 6 cylinder.

It has a Hemi in it doesn’t it.

JimKueneman · Sep 14, 2019

old soul said:
The leaning Tower of Power!! Love it.

That grille and headlight trim look to be in great shape. Good score.

The trim is all there and is in excellent shape

JimKueneman · Sep 14, 2019

Strangersfaces said:
One of my high school cars was a 64 Dodge 440 with the slant six and pushbutton gear selector, while a good friend had the 63 Dart convertible like your wife's car, only in red. My pushbuttons were rectangular, Alan's, like yours, were round. Liked the pushbuttons..., so different from everything else. One weakness, the selector cable seldom broke, but the seals at the transmission end would begin leaking transmission fluid, so needed replacement.

This will be another fun one to watch...

Have fun,

Lance

Yup I quickly realized this on disassembly!

JimKueneman · Sep 14, 2019

Getting ready to shoot grey Epoxy Primer in the morning on the remaining parts that are blasted but before blast the rear wheel tubs behind where the patch panels are going. That way we can shoot epoxy primer in in the wheel tubs and the back of the patches before they get welded in.

Trying to convince her to let me assemble it in the house. That we we can put the top down and have drive inn night with the big screen.... She says "no".... Honeymoon is over.

texasking · Sep 14, 2019

That looks to be a really nice quality patch panel. Nice job so far!

JimKueneman · Sep 14, 2019

texasking said:
That looks to be a really nice quality patch panel. Nice job so far!

Yea, but I hate metal work and welding and this grew to much more than I wanted.... Figured an Arizona car would be more solid but getting that mud and crap stuffed in these seams that won't self clean 56 years in the Desert is a bit too long

JimKueneman · Sep 15, 2019

Day started out with rain but cleared up. Was not able to get the wheel tubs blasted and grey epoxied but did get the axle and the rest of the black epoxy parts done in the afternoon along with the E-Brake cables and rear brake lines....

JimKueneman · Sep 15, 2019

And now a word from our sponsor, Southern Polyurethane black epoxy. First coat with a lot of air pressure which as eliminated the fisheye then the second and normal pressure for a nice finish.

JimKueneman · Sep 15, 2019

Love this woman.... Wheels she selected.... Slotted Mags.... Nothing says early muscle more than these.

JimKueneman · Sep 22, 2019

More work this weekend. Barry said it was ok the new epoxy get rained on 24 hours after we busted our buts Saturday. Not having garage space with the 2 other Mopars on the garage sucks.

JimKueneman · Nov 4, 2019

Dash for the '63 is done as well as the column. There is some SPI Universal Clear for the SPI content in there. The trunk is blasted ready for SPI Epoxy Primer.

If you want plastic rechromed call Frank at Vacuum Orna-Metal. Insane workmanship at a fair price....

JimKueneman · Nov 4, 2019

Teeny tiny 7 1/4" rear axel is also restored and ready for install. Lots of SPI Epoxy and UC content here!

JimKueneman · Nov 9, 2019

Working the body.... Heathen, razor, Blackhawk "cookie" abrasive disks, 80 grit DA, 50 grit 4" disks then some media blasting the get the rust out of corners...