1963 Dodge basket case

[Greg_1963]

Hey everybody, starting a new project. This project started about 10 years ago with my father in law and was a slow process with him working on it every once and awhile. Everything was great until he had a heart attack in 2009 and passed. The car was moved into the paint booth of his shop and the doors were closed.

After 6 years it is time to finish what he started. He had big plans for a pro street type car to have fun with. It is my intention to bring his plans into reality, albeit slowly. The car has a leaf spring relocation completed, narrowed 8 3/4, roll bar, manual steering, manual brakes already in place.

What it doesn't have is any identifying emblems to specify what model it is. The working theory is it is a Polara 500 by the vin?? The vin tag has 6432XXXXXX. Here are the starting pictures and if anyone believes it isn't a Polara 500 please let me know!!

 

[super-bee_ski]

Welcome aboard and thanks for joining the forum.
Good luck with your 63 Polara

Check out my resto-thread
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...o-quot-Round-2-quot&highlight=super-bee_ski's

 

[Ron 73]

Looks like a great project bud! Welcome aboard the Mopar madness, im sure you'll have plenty of help and support... Enjoy!

 

[Homstead]

That is an awesome project! Look forward to seeing it come together!

 

[abloch]

Welcome to the forum. Your decoding is correct. Dodge V8, Premium, built in 1963 at the Hamtramck plant. Nice car!

 

[furyus]

Welcome from Weeki Wachee Florida. That's one of my favorite body styles.

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO nice project keep us posted

 

[poly1963]

that's no basket case should see what I started with . good to see another 63 here welcome

 

[Greg_1963]

Scored a parts car for a variety of panels and trim! Truly think I am down to only missing one headlight trim ring (driver side is pretty mangled), time and money...

 

[Mopar Man 73]

Nice to see another '63 Dodge guy on board! I have a single passenger side headlight ring for sale (off of my '63 330). It's not perfect but in ok shape if you need it? I think these trim rings fir on either side. PM me if you might be interested.

 

[jabird]

awsome car

 

[poly1963]

iam looking for a right fender i need the front half mine is kinda outa shape and a upper valance panel

 

[Greg_1963]

Poly 1963 and Mopar Man- pm sent

 

[Greg_1963]

Quick update since I had some time to be in the shop today. When the project started there was one engine that I knew something about with a 727 hanging off the back of it. Looking at casting numbers it is a 1978 440. Then I noticed a short block that was sitting on the floor and checked the casting numbers.

A quick check of the web reveals a 1966-1972 440. The date code on the block says 8/26/65. Will have to do some more research and tear it down to see if that will be a better option. My intentions have been to use a set of Stealth heads from 440 source. Having found this engine sitting around led me to more of a scavenger hunt in the ol' shop. I did find a set of 516 heads sitting around but more importantly I found all of the door panels for the 63! They will need some new retaining clips but in pretty good shape.

Then curiosity got the best of me. My father in law had purchased wheels and tires before he died. I mocked up an axle into the housing and gave it a shot. Looks like there might be a little clearance problem at the front of the tire. So now it looks like I will need to purchase some axles to fit the narrowed housing so I can get it to ride height.

The good news is there is plenty room between the leaf springs and quarter panel! Now to get some more tools for sheet metal fabrication so some patch panels can be built...

 

[Yournewtreasureawaits]

I dont see any lower quarter holes for the 500 panel or side moulding holes for stainless. Dash and door panels look like 500 stuff.

Is there any trim that doesnt seem to fit? if it was a 500 and the holes were filled I would be interested in the stainless
Thanks
John

 

[Greg_1963]

Never did see this car with trim on it. The trim holes on the rear quarters are welded on already. Did get some more history from others that knew the previous owner that sold it to my father in law. In the 80's it was hit in the rear corner and they couldn't find the correct taillight panel to put back on it so they put the panel from a 440 on it. This leaves the car with no reverse lights though. I do have a 440 trim parts car with the appropriate reverse lights that I might put into this car?

 

[Greg_1963]

Got a couple hours in the shop today. I knew the right rear wheel opening was rusted through so I cut the rear quarter panel off the parts car. Looked really good and usable until i got a look at the back side. Hit the rust spot with a wire wheel and the only thing holding the rust together was the paint. Looks like a new panel will have to be ordered. Figuring if the right side was that bad I would remove the primer from the Left side and see what kind of shape it was in. Removed the primer and about six layers of filler to find metal. It appears whoever replaced the panel was not that good with metal working and just covered it with filler. Will definitely have to work the metal over or cut it out and start over. It also appears the same guy did some repairs on the panel between the rear window and the trunk. Curious what hides below the rest of the paint/primer.....

​

 

[1966satellite]

My guess would be that that isn't a Polara 500. I owned one back in 1966 and I don't see the mounting holes for several of the chrome trim pieces that mine had. Of course the holes could have been filled. I can send you some pictures of what mine looked like if you give me an e-mail address. I can't seem to attach pictures here.

 

[Greg_1963]

Most of the trim holes have been filled in on the quarter panel when my father in law got it. I did figure out why the car has 330/440 taillights; repair job from previous accident. That is where most of my confusion came from as this is my first B body build, all my other Mopars have been A bodies. The Front fenders, which I have been told are original but don't know for certain, still have the trim holes. Not too concerned to the trim level at this point as it will end up trim delete when all done.

 

[Greg_1963]

The more I do the more rust I find. What I thought were solid floors have rust holes in the RF pan. Also found some holes coming through the cowl after removing the windshield. Pulled the cowl off today and will be fabing some patch panels on the lower cowl and sectioning part of the cowl from the parts car.