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

[kb67mopar]

Looks good in there. It still blows my mind that they didn't paint or. At least prime under that stuff.

Keep up the good work on that thing. You are making huge progress. Once the metal is done the rest flies by.

 

[carnalsupply]

Hey Larry,

Your progress is absolutely stunning! Keep up the amazing work.

 

[conv67bdere]

Larry, I really enjoyed our meeting last Saturday. Looks like you have a pretty good handle on restoring your 67 Belvedere. And are coming along nicely. Thanks again for the parts. I also liked your modification to your shed, great idea. I am going to do that to one side of my barn. I think I'll do it on the side away from the river. Good luck on your project and if I can be of any help feel free give me a holler anytime.

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We had just discussed this Saturday. Glad you looked into it, now I know how to do mine. Guess the uncertainty is worse than doing it. I have a new set of those bumpers too. They are nylon and should never wear out. Again I thank you.

Thanks Chuck - great visit and a great opportunity to meet up with another Mopar aficionado . . . glad we talked and were able to find more parts to help your car ( and yes, I'm still trying to locate that proportioning valve that I have see many time - except when I need to find it for you ). Hope that you can get started on your car soon !

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Looks good in there. It still blows my mind that they didn't paint or. At least prime under that stuff.

Keep up the good work on that thing. You are making huge progress. Once the metal is done the rest flies by.

Thanks KB - glad to hear you say that as I kinda feel like things have been going a bit smoother and quicker lately . . . maybe it's my second wind ? ? ( smile )

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Hey Larry,

Your progress is absolutely stunning! Keep up the amazing work.

Thanks Bob - I sure appreciate all the positive feedback . . . sure help the ole ego ( and motivation ) . . . trying to keep up with the masterpiece you're building ! ! ( smile )

 

[hunt2elk]

Wow Larry, you have made a lot of great progress as of late. Seeing all your handywork almost makes me wish I had another project to tackle this winter.

 

[conv67bdere]

Wow Larry, you have made a lot of great progress as of late. Seeing all your handywork almost makes me wish I had another project to tackle this winter.

Thanks H2E . . . plenty of work left on this one if you want to lend a hand ! ! ! ( smile ) . . . you still looking for that 69 SuperBee ? ?

 

[hunt2elk]

Thanks H2E . . . plenty of work left on this one if you want to lend a hand ! ! ! ( smile ) . . . you still looking for that 69 SuperBee ? ?

That or a 70-71 Cuda. Just haven't run across the right candidate yet. Since nothing new ended up in my garage, I decided to redo some things on my 69 RR. I kind of took a liking to the power of the 440 in my Charger. So much so that the RR just wasn't any fun to drive anymore. So I will be pulling the #'s matching motor and tranny soon. I am having a 451 built and it should be on the dyno next week. Along with that, I have brand spanking new TTi headers, pipes, Ultra Flows, and Accurate tips sitting on the shelf. I am also going to do a front disc swap, MAD electrical bypass, and hang some gauges inside so I can keep tabs on the new motor. Replacing the 5/16" sending unit with a 3/8", and of course that means a new larger front to rear fuel line. As long as that is going on, I might as well replace all the 45 year old brake lines. It just keeps going on and on. I really think I may have a slight addiction to this hobby lol.

 

[conv67bdere]

Installation of my inner fender braces . . .

Got the passenger side inner fender brace installed yesterday . . . and it went in so nicely . . . I figured that I would get the driver side one installed today . . .

WRONG . . . it has been fighting me the whole way . . .

Here is the passenger side installed . . .



And another view from the front of the car . . .



As for the driver side . . . it is still fighting with me and and I am still working on it ! ! ! It won't beat me . . . ( grrrrrrrr )

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That or a 70-71 Cuda. Just haven't run across the right candidate yet. Since nothing new ended up in my garage, I decided to redo some things on my 69 RR. I kind of took a liking to the power of the 440 in my Charger. So much so that the RR just wasn't any fun to drive anymore. So I will be pulling the #'s matching motor and tranny soon. I am having a 451 built and it should be on the dyno next week. Along with that, I have brand spanking new TTi headers, pipes, Ultra Flows, and Accurate tips sitting on the shelf. I am also going to do a front disc swap, MAD electrical bypass, and hang some gauges inside so I can keep tabs on the new motor. Replacing the 5/16" sending unit with a 3/8", and of course that means a new larger front to rear fuel line. As long as that is going on, I might as well replace all the 45 year old brake lines. It just keeps going on and on. I really think I may have a slight addiction to this hobby lol.

I know what you mean H2E . . . I think I am too . . . and some days I think I'm just downright crazy . . . but it's all a labor of love . . . Sounds like a whole bunch up upgrades going into the Cuda . . . it wasn't "fun" to drive anymore . . . whew . . . ( smile ) . . . addicted to power ! ! !

Best of luck on all the upgrades, hope that they all go smoothly . . .

 

[Ron 73]

That or a 70-71 Cuda. Just haven't run across the right candidate yet. Since nothing new ended up in my garage, I decided to redo some things on my 69 RR. I kind of took a liking to the power of the 440 in my Charger. So much so that the RR just wasn't any fun to drive anymore. So I will be pulling the #'s matching motor and tranny soon. I am having a 451 built and it should be on the dyno next week. Along with that, I have brand spanking new TTi headers, pipes, Ultra Flows, and Accurate tips sitting on the shelf. I am also going to do a front disc swap, MAD electrical bypass, and hang some gauges inside so I can keep tabs on the new motor. Replacing the 5/16" sending unit with a 3/8", and of course that means a new larger front to rear fuel line. As long as that is going on, I might as well replace all the 45 year old brake lines. It just keeps going on and on. I really think I may have a slight addiction to this hobby lol.

Good luck Joel! It sounds like you'll have to make a choice one day on which one for the ride your going on, with both powered up good!!

Khan, ill wager some store bought whiskey that brace wont beat ya! lol, You should know doing the first, the second one will be like your worst date, it seems to always work that way, the wife asked me once why i was stopping for the day after changing a shock mount on one side because how well it went, i told her the other would be the problem... guess what,

 

[mopar4don]

Hi Kahn, say where did you get that brace?
I have to say I have not seen any that look like those.

 

[conv67bdere]

US Car Tools . . .

Hi Kahn, say where did you get that brace?
I have to say I have not seen any that look like those.

Hey Don . . . they come from the same place I get all my stuff . . . US CarTools . . . Great USA company and Chris is a great guy to boot.

Here's a link to the parts:
https://store.uscartool.com/A-Body-67-75-inner-fender-brace-kit.html

 

[conv67bdere]

Driver side inner fender support installed . . .

It was a battle, but I think I won the war . . . and I got it installed . . .



Still got to get back at it and finish up securing it all in place . . . but I think it's going to work . . .

Oh, and then the grinding of the welds to make it look nicer . . .

 

[Ron 73]

Looks good Khan! Seems these cars can be a real battle all the time, even when waiting to get parts, Christmas coming is slowing me down with a couple things but i imagine im not alone.. Keep it up and you'll be havin some fun going down the road! ;)

 

[conv67bdere]

Firewood collection . . .

Finished cutting up the tree in my neighbors yard and got it stacked in my backyard . . . load of firewood for next year . . .



Splitting it is going to be a whole lotta fun . . . I'm sure of that . . .

 

[conv67bdere]

Quarter panel direction . . . I think I have a plan . . .

Been trying to figure out how to fix the bottom rear of the donor quarter panel that is going back in my car - and I think I have an idea - the old panel, that was removed, had a pretty good section in the rear, just not the piece at the bottom that was all rusted out . . .

So once again I found myself removing undercoating from the old panel, so I could cut the good section out of the panel and use it for replacing the bad part . . . does that make sense ? ?

Here's what I've ended up with . . .



The plan is to take this to my neighbors break and put a bend in the bottom like the original panel, then fit it, cut them both, and weld the old part into the donor panel . . .
( this kinda sounds like Frankenstien - but Speedy already has that name claimed . . . ( smile )) . . .

Then it's on to fixing the wheel well lip and putting the panel back on the car . . .

 

[Ron 73]

"Splitting it is going to be a whole lotta fun"

It always is! hee hee...
Looks like you have a good idea buddy, beats all the small stuff that i know you have had yourself cutting and patching, Im certainly glad my day ending lol.... It's been one of those days when anything that might go wrong...... Have a ggond one

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heck, even spelling!

 

[conv67bdere]

Cut, and bent . . . and clamped in place . . .

I think it's going to work - the metal has the same contour as the rest of the panel and it fits in nicely . . .



Now for the fine tuning . . . ( sorry - needed more light on the subject )

 

[conv67bdere]

Looking more and more like a car . . .

Got the pieces all cut, tacked into place . . .then the process of 1000 welds . . . and it's starting to look like an original quarter panel again ! ! !



Got more grinding to do but I think it looks like it will work . . .

 

[HYRDGOON]

Got the pieces all cut, tacked into place . . .then the process of 1000 welds . . . and it's starting to look like an original quarter panel again ! ! !

View attachment 221452

Got more grinding to do but I think it looks like it will work . . .

That did come together nicely! Well done as always brother!

 

[747mopar]

I sure do feel for you guys that don't have the option of buying good panels....................... Looks like you got it covered!

 

[Ron 73]

I do myself Dev, with all these cars you would think they would come out with other models you can get parts for, With your welding though it seems by the looks of it you have it covered Khan.. I didn't think this would slow you down any.. I see how much guys put into there work here over the years and wonder if the guys building there Cameros have the same determination... You finish this your going to be smiling plenty for sure.. not to give you a big head i hope you know.. Heck, you are working for it and deserve big time credit, most would have said "enough"....