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1965 Belvedere II - The Beater Without a Heater

scot

scot

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A little background for those who have not read my intro. I am a lifelong die-hard Mopar guy and more specifically 62-65 B-Bodies. I've had several cars over the years, but have been out of the loop having sold my last old Mopar about 8-10 years ago.

I had been looking around for a project car and was really hoping to find a 64 or 65 Plymouth or Dodge (didn't really matter if it was a 2dr sedan or 2dr hardtop).

After a couple months of searching CL & Ebay for a decent project, I found a '65 Belvedere II 2 door hardtop that wasn't too far from home. I was immediately drawn to car because of the straight axle...I really like the gasser look. The seller sent me a crapload of pics of the car and it looked like a very solid car although it would need some sheetmetal replacement (what 60's cars don't these days ?). A deal was made and I was off to Iowa !

On the way home April 22nd, 2017 !

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This will not be a full blown restoration, but rather a resurrection and get it back on the road. This will not be a speedy build, guessing a 4 to 5 year ordeal.

Over the next week or so I will get you guys up to speed to where I'm at today. I've been trying to get pics from phone to PC and get them all organized.
 
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Shortly after getting the car home a decision was made to remove the straight axle and go back to a OEM front suspension setup. It appeared to have a Speedway front axle and the car had never gone down the road with it. It was only tack welded in, none of the steering was connected and was quite scary with a piece welded in the center to increase the tack width. Thankfully the guy didn't cut any stock suspension mounting points.

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I was able to get a complete front suspension (minus one UCA) from a buddy. Everything was disassembled and cleaned up. The K-frame was blasted, doctored up some of the factory booger welds and then painted.

k.jpg kframe1.jpg kframe2.jpg
 
Fran Blacker said:
Don't think I'd drive it with that straight axle.
Click to expand...
Me either, it was some scary lookin' **** :eek:

So, I was short one UCA and everything needed bushings. Decided to upgrade the front end with some tubular UCAs (RMS), tubular LCAs (QA1) and some adjustable strut rods (RMS). Also bought new lower ball joints, tie rod ends, sleeves and idler arm.

lca.jpg newsuspension.jpg newsuspension2.jpg
 
Got the front suspension all back together, but I couldn't set it on the ground as the front wheels that came with the car were GM bolt pattern :p

So...Mr Belvedere got a present ! I do find that tires and wheels also help with motivating a project along. Bought a set of 15x5 Torque Thrust VN series wheels and M&H 185/85D15 front tires. T/Ts have always been my favorite wheel and it's funny that this is the first "new" set I've ever bought. Always had used swap meet versions.

I also picked up a lightly used complete Willwood front disc brake setup for the car. This car will be built on a shoestring budget and I couldn't pass them up...$150 CL find :D

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Great project, keep us posted. I’m partial to the early Bs also. 65 Belvedere 1 driver, 64 Savoy and 63 Fury projects.
 
I'd been sitting on a good builder 440 from a '66 Imperial for 25+ years and figured this was the engine to use. Started doing some research and initially planned on doing a stroker 440 with "440Source" rotating assembly and aluminum heads...and then stupidity stepped in :)

I always had a dream to someday have a 426 Hemi car. I remember putting Hemis in all of the models I built as a kid. I'm coming up on my 50th birthday soon and I can't imagine building too many more cars so this car WILL have a Gen II Hemi.
 
On a budget with a 426 Hemi.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:If your going to do it now, times a wasting. I'm on a 65 Dodge project that stalled 4/5 years, bad knees and ankle.
 
Fran Blacker said:
On a budget with a 426 Hemi.:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:If your going to do it now, times a wasting.
Click to expand...

I know...there went the "shoestring budget" idea...and that was the "stupidity stepped in" comment I made. I am already planning on spending $10K-$12K on just the engine.
 
scot said:
Got the front suspension all back together, but I couldn't set it on the ground as the front wheels that came with the car were GM bolt pattern :p

So...Mr Belvedere got a present ! I do find that tires and wheels also help with motivating a project along. Bought a set of 15x5 Torque Thrust VN series wheels and M&H 185/85D15 front tires. T/Ts have always been my favorite wheel and it's funny that this is the first "new" set I've ever bought. Always had used swap meet versions.

I also picked up a lightly used complete Willwood front disc brake setup for the car. This car will be built on a shoestring budget and I couldn't pass them up...$150 CL find :D

View attachment 626592 View attachment 626593
Click to expand...

awesome choice of tire and wheel combo for the front. totally dig it.
 
scot said:
I always had a dream to someday have a 426 Hemi car. I remember putting Hemis in all of the models I built as a kid. I'm coming up on my 50th birthday soon and I can't imagine building too many more cars so this car WILL have a Gen II Hemi.
Click to expand...

Been there and done that. Finally worked for me. Started at 53 and finished before I turned 60.

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Now that I had committed myself to putting a Hemi in the car it was only natural to do a A990 themed car. I realize that Ma Mopar didn't make hardtop A990s, but that's what I'm gonna do.

Found a reasonably priced set of A100 seats for sale on CL. I also found a 70/71 B/E 23 spline 4-speed and 10 1/2" bell housing on CL. Seller said it came out of a running. driving car, but I will have a buddy go through it to make sure all is good.

Maybe I should have named my thread "How to build a car from Craigslist" parts...lol

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The newly acquired A100 seats were shipped off to Gary Ball to get recovered along with my door panel metal parts for a redo in A990 style (only have a pic of the rears as they're packed away for now). Plus I got a set of Gary's S/S seat mounts.

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Your making progress by the hour! When do we see the Hemi. Looks like you'll finish by Saturday.:rolleyes:
 
I have to show at least one before interior pic. Gotta love those custom door panels...:screwy:

The car originally had a bright red interior, but somewhere along the way some goofball rattlecanned the whole dash black...and didn't do a very nice job.

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I pulled the dash out, blasted it, repaired all of the dings/dents and multiple holes drilled by previous owners for gages, compasses, dancing hula dolls and who knows what else...lol. Then it was all repainted in it's original cherry-red color. Also picked up a set of reproduction resin radio and heater delete plates. I figured since it was a H/T I'd use that radio delete plate, plus more chrome to break up all that red.

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