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

[HYRDGOON]

So I was running around trying to track down some parts today, and I had some good luck . . . what I found . . .

1 - my pilot bearing
2 - the part number for my 2012 clutch master cylinder
3 - the part number for my 2012 clutch hydraulic hose

Here's the pilot bearing . . . including the box and the part number

View attachment 231984

And while I was at the Dodge dealer getting part numbers for the clutch master and hydraulic line, I asked if there was a HellCat there . . .

Guess what . . . make sure I get a picture of the Hellcat emblem to prove it's for REAL

View attachment 231982

Full side view of the car too . . . the owner will not have to wash the car because I cleaned it up nicely by drooling all over it . . .

View attachment 231983

All I can say is . . . WOW . . .

Why didn't you "accidentally" back into that Hellcat with your truck??? Could have made your parts shopping a WHOLE LOT EASIER!!

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

So it looks like the measurements on the Charger are the same as the Kahnvertible! Guess I'll be on the lookout for a deal on a Challenger back seat now haha thanks for the help Kahn!

And as for those measurements on the Viper seats, they're 20" wide at the widest point of the bottom bolsters, and about 36" tall total. Here's a pic with it sitting on the rails on the floorpan, miles of room up to the roof luckily. I'm 6' 3" so my seats needed to be tall man certified too haha. For my height I think I'll end up raising them about 1" off the floor give or take and I think it should be about perfect



Nice Hellcat sighting too!!

Why didn't you "accidentally" back into that Hellcat with your truck??? Could have made your parts shopping a WHOLE LOT EASIER!!

I call the drivetrain and back seat! Lol

 

[conv67bdere]

Challenger rear seats . . . the rest of the story . . .

So it looks like the measurements on the Charger are the same as the Kahnvertible! Guess I'll be on the lookout for a deal on a Challenger back seat now haha thanks for the help Kahn!

Hey Speedy - figured I'd better add some additional "details" of the rear Challenger seats so you know the WHOLE story . . . and some of my concerns . . .

The width measured so you we can compare notes . . . how wide is the Belvedere . . .



Now here is the concern that I've got with the seats . . . how they fit as opposed to the original seats . . .

Here is the original seat location 7" back from the door opening . . .



With the new seats in ( as far back as I could move them . . . they're 1" off the door opening ( 6" forward from stock )



Also - take a look at the width - you've got 5" to figure out what to do with ( add a really nice arm-rest with a cup holder ? )
( the Khan-vertible has some convertible top moving parts that I have to have room for - so this should not be a concern for me )



Want t make sure that you're aware of ALL these details so that you're still interested in the seats before you go and track them down . . . so now you have the rest of the story ( hope that helps with your decision ) Don't want to have any surprises when you get the seats . . .

Also, you planning on getting the metal under the seats to help with the support of the seats too ? ?


Now for another Viper seat question:

This is a picture ( not very good - sorry ) of the Challenger seats . . . this is where my butt will sit off the floor - about 11" off the floor ! !
Looks like I may need to add a sunroof on the convertible . . . so I can have some headroom . . . . ARGH ! !



I'm hoping that the Viper seats are MUCH LOWER to than what I'm seeing with these Challenger seats ? ? ? Can you get this measurement for me Speedy ? ?

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Ohh ok now that was my main concern, how the width would match up to the old seat. Might have to go the other route I was considering with custom covers for the old Charger back seat that match the viper seats. But in your case I'd say yeah some armrests would be a great idea to takr up that space. Maybe integrate them to the rear interior panel so the whole thing can drop right in? Hopefully the floorpan mods will help with the height issue too.

And here's that measurement comparison for ya (from floor to seat bottom where you'll be sitting), definitely a big difference



Looking at about 6 1/4", and I have a feeling the difference you're seeing is because of all the electronic adjustment stuff in the Challenger seat. The Viper seats are all mechanical which was one of the main things I was looking for

 

[747mopar]

Thought I'd add a few pics, I went with the Chrysler 300 rear seat because they were wider but they even fell about an 1 1/2"-2" shy on the sides. With them only being an 1 1/2"- 2" shy the upholster just added enough foam to fill the void. I really like the Challenger seats better so it's a matter of whether you want a better fit or better look. The armrest idea is a good one, fill the void while creating a nice place for a cup holder or arm rest.

I never thought about cutting the floor of the 300 out so I ended up doing my rear like this, basically welded up a frame with 3/4 box tubing attaching the original wire frame to it then panning it in aluminum (the foam sits on the driveshaft hump in the middle).



My back had a flimsy plastic frame so I made a new one out of wood which is how I filled the void in the rear and lowered it to match the package tray. Also you can see what was necessary to be able to see out of the rear view mirror.



I can't wait to see the Challenger seats when their done (way cooler than mine)!

 

[conv67bdere]

Nice score on some shop tools . . .

Had a neighbor ask if I wanted some shop tools that he was not really using anymore, if I was interested . . .

Tool 1 - 4' TennSmith metal break ( and stand )
Tool 2 - 2' TennSmith metal roller
Tool 3 - Craftsman tabletop Disc Belt Sander
Tool 4 - Another tabletop Disc Belt Sander



Already have several uses for the metal break with the fab work I'm doing on my trunk and rear Challenger seats ! !

 

[747mopar]

Nice score! Those will get allot of use.

 

[Mr.SpeedFreak]

Nice!!! Wish I had those in my shop many times over lol definitely gonna come in handy!

 

[HYRDGOON]

I'm with ya Kahn on liking those Viper seats! That place we got the trannies from specializes in Vipers so they may have something come in (I just did an inventory search for you on the website and nothing came up right now.) just not sure what their pricing would be like... might be worth a call in?

That's also part of a decision process I want to make before I move ahead with the tranny and start snowballing more $$$ whether or not I want to convert and go to buckets since the whole direction with the car has been Pro-Touring anyways and do something for a console. If I do that it kinda sucks that I just spent money having my bench re-done but I did get a great deal and now would have a completely re-done bench to sell which would fetch me more $$

I hear ya too on your back seat dilemma sitting so forward... you definitely want those seats usable yet you need plenty o' leg room.... sounds like a good ol' fashund DIIII Lemma!! You got Fer Racin' Problems!!

 

[conv67bdere]

Got some work done on the hemi today . . .

I found out the "part" of the pilot bearing had been removed from my Hemi . . . which left me with a little mess that needed to be cleaned up . . . so I dove into today to get this over and done with . . . here's what I had to start with . . .



And after a couple hours of fighting with it, I've got the new pilot bearing set in place . . . what a PITA to remove the race ! !



A few more follow ups on the Challenger seats . . .

This is a better picture of the Challenger bucket seats, and the height that they require for the 7-way electrical adjustable
( never thought about the height ) . . . ARGH ! ! !



And lastly - Speedy - probably the FIRST picture I should have put in for you - the actual width of the Challenger back seat . . .



From the You've got to see this department . . .

And I found this very interesting about the Challenger shifter . . . Look how far it it placed behind the transmission . . . my guess is that the "modern" cars have a dash that is very much deeper than the older cars, so they need more length to get the shifter into the proper location on the car . . .



Come to think of it, I may need this once I put the seat back for my leg room, I'll be able to shift from the back seat ( where I end up with the seat back )

Nice!!! Wish I had those in my shop many times over lol definitely gonna come in handy!

I agree Speedy . . . that's why I could not say NO to him . . . they will get used a whole lot ! ! Stop by and use them anytime ! ! ( smile )

 

[conv67bdere]

Exciting news . . .

Just got a phone call and was informed that my front end clip is being boxed up and should be shipping in a couple days ! ! !

Can you say WHOOOOOOHOOOOOOO ! ! ! !

Then I can share the news . . . and the new shineys ! ! !

 

[HYRDGOON]

Just got a phone call and was informed that my front end clip is being boxed up and should be shipping in a couple days ! ! !

Can you say WHOOOOOOHOOOOOOO ! ! ! !

Then I can share the news . . . and the new shineys ! ! !

Awesome News! I wanna see the new Shineys!!

I was poking my head around my mechanics shop today and he has a 69 Charger that he has also put the fronts and rears in from an SRT Challenger... I asked about the fronts because I saw power adjustments but looked like they were on a manual slide and he said due to the height issues (as you've run into) he left the seatback on power for tilting but took out the power adjustable unit underneath to bring the seat down. I couldn't really get any pics to show exactly but I can inquire if he took any through the process if u like?

 

[conv67bdere]

Awesome News! I wanna see the new Shineys!!

I was poking my head around my mechanics shop today and he has a 69 Charger that he has also put the fronts and rears in from an SRT Challenger... I asked about the fronts because I saw power adjustments but looked like they were on a manual slide and he said due to the height issues (as you've run into) he left the seatback on power for tilting but took out the power adjustable unit underneath to bring the seat down. I couldn't really get any pics to show exactly but I can inquire if he took any through the process if u like?

Thanks GOON . . .that's a great idea that I didn't think of . . . if he's got pictures of the mods, that could be a great help . . .

OR - I just go pure manual and be "forced" to change my thinking and "have" to use a set of Viper seats . . . OH DARN . . . ( grin )

 

[HYRDGOON]

Thanks GOON . . .that's a great idea that I didn't think of . . . if he's got pictures of the mods, that could be a great help . . .

OR - I just go pure manual and be "forced" to change my thinking and "have" to use a set of Viper seats . . . OH DARN . . . ( grin )

I'll see if he has any and I'll get him to dig them up. I hear ya on the Viper seats but you've got the Challenger seats already so if you can make em work why not! I'm thinking he just pulled everything off that plastic base and attached to a manual rail system from something else.

 

[Ron 73]

GOLLIEEE Khan, I know ive been away for awhile but man, i cant keep up with everything everyone is doing lol, Great work and i like your thinking, Maybe i need to stay closer here lol.. i almost feel lost with some projects rofl....

 

[conv67bdere]

GOLLIEEE Khan, I know ive been away for awhile but man, i cant keep up with everything everyone is doing lol, Great work and i like your thinking, Maybe i need to stay closer here lol.. i almost feel lost with some projects rofl....

Thanks Ron . . . I know the feeling . . . so many people doing some great work . . . LOVE this forum, it's the greatest ! !

 

[Propwash]

Just got a phone call and was informed that my front end clip is being boxed up and should be shipping in a couple days ! ! !

Can you say WHOOOOOOHOOOOOOO ! ! ! !

Then I can share the news . . . and the new shineys ! ! !

Cool Deal!!! I can bet you're stoked!

 

[747mopar]

Great news! That means you can test fit the motor and tranny in the near future . Your at the most exciting phase of the build, fitting custom seats, motor, tranny, front suspension to bad you don't have some super fat tires to throw into the mix.

 

[conv67bdere]

Cool Deal!!! I can bet you're stoked!

Thanks Propwash . . . uh, that's putting it "mildly" . . . seeing this start to go back together is VERY EXCITING ! ! !

Great news! That means you can test fit the motor and tranny in the near future . Your at the most exciting phase of the build, fitting custom seats, motor, tranny, front suspension to bad you don't have some super fat tires to throw into the mix.

Yes indeed 747 Mopar . . . the word is the are shipping either today or tomorrow and the boxes should be here by mid next week . . . and I'm ready ! ! !

With 8' ceilings . . . I'm wondering "how" I'm going to get it in the car to get my measurements and get it fitted . . .

should be interesting . . . to say the least.

 

[Ron 73]

Thanks Ron . . . I know the feeling . . . so many people doing some great work . . . LOVE this forum, it's the greatest ! !

Buddy if you find a better site, please let me know but i don't see it happening! 8 FOOT ceilings! Sometimes you scare me with your way but it always turns out good, as ill wager this will ONE way or the other... interesting, always is waiting for how it works out...