My 1967 Belvedere Convertible Plans and Restoration (aka - Mad Scientist Build)

[maxwedge1962]

This looks like a really nice project you have going to get a grand old lady back up and getting it! I have spent the last few nights reading your thread and to say it is interesting, just doesn't do it justice. I think you are doing a fantastic and very thorough job on this and I congratulate you for you perseverance and dedication to see this through to the image you have in you mind. I know it will be the ultimate after you finish to get behind the wheel, fire her up and really take your first good cruise in her. I will definitely be following along on your journey!

 

[BDL]

Re-doing fender lips is my absolute least favorite part. I ended up getting a "repair panel" off ebay that didn't even resemble a Charger... I mean, it was horrible! Just a rough made approximation of a fender. But, it gave me a lip to start massaging so it resembled what I needed to do the job. It took hours of hammer and dolly time and ended up looking like a total Frankenstein job when I was done. But it all works out in the end. Keep on movin' on Conv67bdere! It's looking great!

 

[Propwash]

Yabba Dabba Dooo....!


Just Keep at it...Work is looking good. Best way to learn is roll up the sleeves and get too it.

 

[conv67bdere]

Glad to see your sacking up and getting after it haha. Wish we were closer, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand but it looks like your getting it just fine. Nice to see you back to work on the wheel openings and your new approach should leave you with the flare you wanted.

Thanks 747 Mopar . . . Hopefully I'll get better, the driver side is a MESS . . . slowly, I'm getting the hang of it . . .

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This looks like a really nice project you have going to get a grand old lady back up and getting it! I have spent the last few nights reading your thread and to say it is interesting, just doesn't do it justice. I think you are doing a fantastic and very thorough job on this and I congratulate you for you perseverance and dedication to see this through to the image you have in you mind. I know it will be the ultimate after you finish to get behind the wheel, fire her up and really take your first good cruise in her. I will definitely be following along on your journey!

Thanks MaxWdge1962 . . . . glad to have you aboard . . . this is fun, this is therapy, I'm learning a whole bunch, and it keeps me out of trouble . . . ( smile )

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Re-doing fender lips is my absolute least favorite part. I ended up getting a "repair panel" off ebay that didn't even resemble a Charger... I mean, it was horrible! Just a rough made approximation of a fender. But, it gave me a lip to start massaging so it resembled what I needed to do the job. It took hours of hammer and dolly time and ended up looking like a total Frankenstein job when I was done. But it all works out in the end. Keep on movin' on Conv67bdere! It's looking great!

Thanks DBL . . . I'm having fun ( smile ) . . . I'm having fun ( smile ) . . . I'm having fun ( smile ) . . . I'm having fun ( smile ) . . . ( is it working ? ? ? ) LMAO

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Yabba Dabba Dooo....!


Just Keep at it...Work is looking good. Best way to learn is roll up the sleeves and get too it.

Thanks Propwash . . . Funny thing, the longer I sat there and looked at it, nothing seemed to get done ! ! Rolled 'em up and here I go ! !
( keep thinking what KB67Mopar told me . . . gotta be able to make it better than it currently is . . . I think I can do that )

 

[usaroadrunner]

no problem khan, you got this far whats a little fender lip repair. LOL. its only gonna make you better. keep up the good work

 

[tallhair]

no problem khan, you got this far whats a little fender lip repair. LOL. its only gonna make you better. keep up the good work

X2 keep it up brother and keep smilin' ..

 

[conv67bdere]

Little side trip was taken yesterday . . . found a potential project . . .

Found this nice shell on CL - the amount of rust on this car is minimal . . . I was amazed.

Thinking of picking this up for the next project . . . front fenders were replaced with a 72 Dart ( originals were dented pretty bad I was told )



Look at the lack of rust in the trunk - it's ALL painted ( very little rust in there too )



Most of the trim pieces, bumpers, grille, headlights, dash components, steering wheel . . . are gone . . .

 

[tallhair]

I would advise against it Khan. You can find a nice A body that is complete and running for a very reasonable price on CL if you keep looking. When I was helping keep a lookout for an A body for Propwash I saw a quite a few complete cars for < $1.5K. A complete car will save you a lot of heartache in the long run. No/low rust is a good thing obviously too.

How much are they asking for that?

 

[conv67bdere]

Thanks Tallhair . . appreciate the feedback . . remember, my 1966 Shoe Box is a 4-door too . . not opposed to them ( maybe make the rear doors suicide doors )

Finding a car that is not a rust bucket is becoming few and far in between, so my thought was to get while I can and get to later.
I really like the body style - what can I say ? ? Don't "need it", but I'm thinking of making him an offer to get it off his trailer so he can use it . . . we'll see.

Options:
Build it, drop an engine in it and just drive it . . . I don't mind changing things up and putting modern replacement parts in the car.
Convert it to a 2-Door - that could be an interesting build ( follow the other build on this site for direction )

Got to get the Belvedere done, then the Shoe Box completed . . . then ( if he sells it ) might be the time I get to working on the Dart . . .

 

[747mopar]

My only advice comes from my way of thinking which is based on being broke more often then not. I won't tackle a big EXPENSIVE project unless it's something I really, really, really love so just ask yourself that. It does look pretty solid and if you get it cheap enough it could always be a great donor for a Sweet 2 door Dart if nothing else. Kinda hard to top your 67 vert

 

[conv67bdere]

My only advice comes from my way of thinking which is based on being broke more often then not. I won't tackle a big EXPENSIVE project unless it's something I really, really, really love so just ask yourself that. It does look pretty solid and if you get it cheap enough it could always be a great donor for a Sweet 2 door Dart if nothing else. Kinda hard to top your 67 vert

You're dead on with that advice 747 Mopar . . . I had a "max" price that I would go to obtain the car and keep it for another project - we couldn't come to an agreement on the sale price - so I'd much rather focus my attention on my Belvedere.

The dart was VERY SOLID . . . but I guess it was just not meant to be.

Probably all for the best - I've got a Belvedere that needs some love and attention to get her back on the road ! ! Oh, and my 66 Shoe Box waiting in the wings too ! !

Thanks 747 Mopar - I guess I'm kinda partial to the 67 Belvedere Convertible too - glad you like it too.

 

[747mopar]

I don't like it................I love it!

 

[tallhair]

I don't like it................I love it!

Hear hear

 

[kb67mopar]

Glad to see you are back at the metal work! If you take your time you can do it, but it will be an exercise in patients. Remember steel is easy to work with, you can always weld more on so you can always cut it out and try again...can't make it worse than swiss cheese.

 

[conv67bdere]

More Belvedere wheel well / mini tub work . . .

Spent most of the day ( it raining down here ) working on the wheel lip and trying to figure out how to work the outer wheel well construction into the re-building of the wheel well lip on the passenger side - the side I've been working on it seems like forever . . .

needed to get the outer wheel well in place at the same time to figure out how to get everything connected properly . . . seems to be going well . . .

Here where I've gotten so far . . . more of the lip replaced . . .



And some work on the inside - I think this will help accommodate about any size wheel that I want to put under here NOW ! ! !



The re-building of the inner wheel well is going much better than I anticipated - but - I haven't started welding the top ( over my head yet ) that is when I'm going to have a whole lotta fun - and probably end up getting burned more than I am now . . .

Hope this whole thing works out - trying to match up inner wheel wells with visible wheel flares and make it all look correct . . . oh boy . . .

 

[Ron 73]

Looking way better bud, Please borrow, steal, or whatever it takes to get an leather apron!!! Cant have you laid up now!

 

[conv67bdere]

Even more progress on the mini tubs . . .

Thanks to the rain that we've had all day, I've been able to focus my attention on the Belvedere . . .

The front side . . .



And I finished off the back . . .



I think we'll be able to have a party in here - there's plenty of room . . . ( smile )

Once I get the top welded in, then the inside can be welded to the frame rail, then the 3 inch patches get welded in after that . . . think I've got this thing figured out . . . at least in theory . . .

 

[conv67bdere]

Glad to see you are back at the metal work! If you take your time you can do it, but it will be an exercise in patients. Remember steel is easy to work with, you can always weld more on so you can always cut it out and try again...can't make it worse than swiss cheese.

Thanks KB67Mopar . . . nice to be feeling better, have the temps go up a bit so I'm not freezing in the shop, and be back on the metal work . . . got a lot to get done ! !

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Looking way better bud, Please borrow, steal, or whatever it takes to get an leather apron!!! Cant have you laid up now!

Will do Ron . . . I'll be checking out Tractor Supply and Northern Tools to see what they've got . . . Thanks for the suggestion !

 

[747mopar]

Yeah this weather really sucks, I started on tearing the front of my house apart yesterday and it rained the whole time and then I woke up to snow AGAIN! Looks really good Kahn, just another suggestion for PPE (earplugs). If you've ever had a molten metal go in your ear you'd know why............. (ouch).

 

[usaroadrunner]

looking good kahn, and the welds keep getting better an better. no more holes. little shaping an be all back together before ya know it.