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

[kb67mopar]

Don't grind them if you are ok with seeing the welds. Grinding them will take away the extra material and if you did not get full penetration you would weaken the joint. So if you aren't too worried by their appearance I would leave them. When I replaced my rear frame rail sections I added backing plates inside before to help add to the joint and didn't remove any weld.

Though I don't think grinding them will cause any true issues here, but my personal preference with structural joints is to always leave the full weld bead.

 

[conv67bdere]

Got a chance to meet up with 747 Mopar at the outer banks . . .

747 Mopar and his family was on vacation on the Outer Banks of NC this week, and he invited me to stop by . . . so, since I've never been to the Outer Banks yet, and this would give me an opportunity, I figured it was time for a

ROAD TRIP ! !

Got a couple of bodies of water that we need to cross . . . first one . . .



Then you need to cross the sound itself, you'll notice the big rise in the bridge in the middle . . .



Then you have to go down the rise - here's the view on the other side going down . . .



He picked a neat house to rent that was on the 4X4 only beach, which means I had to continue the trip about 20 minutes up the sand . . .



This was really cool, driving on the beach . . .



The sound apparently has wild horses, that have been there since the first settlers . . .



Just a couple pictures of the horses roaming around on the Outer Banks . . .



It was a great trip, we got a chance to sit in the sand, play in the surf, boogie board in the waves ( yikes that water is COLD ), and of course, we got a chance to share more pictures of our cars and talk cars in general. Had the opportunity to meet up with his brother, his wife, the kids, and all the rest of the brother-in-laws, sister-in-law, and all their kids . . . and I got a chance to see the Outer Banks too. Oh, did I say get sun burned . . . OUCH ! ! !

Next meeting will be ( probably ) in about a month or two when I head up to his shop in Ohio and we narrow the Belvedere rear end ! !

Thanks for the invite 747 Mopar - It was a great trip and a great time . . . enjoy the rest of your vacation !

 

[HYRDGOON]

Probably even more awesome then watching the car progress and hard work get done is watching a lifelong friendship get forged! Cheers to both of you it's awesome you guys had this chance to meet up!

 

[747mopar]

Haha, yes indeed a friend for sure. Looking forward to some garage time and a little cruising in the Charger when he comes up. It was definitely nice having him and he's just as nice in person as he is here.

 

[conv67bdere]

Best made plans . . .

Well, Herr_Poopschitz made an observation while I was working on these brackets - he was right . . .

Sometimes you "don't" quite work out all the kinks in your plans . . .



I need to replace these shackles anyways . . . they don't look "too bad" . . . do they ? ?



I've seen shackles that have the bolts separate from the brackets and not welded together like my bracket - then I can install the top bolt through the original hole.

I'm looking for the shackles that have the bolts separate - 747 Mopar told me Just Suspension, but their pictures don't show if they are - I'll call them.

 

[Ron 73]

747 Mopar and his family was on vacation on the Outer Banks of NC this week, and he invited me to stop by . . . so, since I've never been to the Outer Banks yet, and this would give me an opportunity, I figured it was time for a

ROAD TRIP ! !

Got a couple of bodies of water that we need to cross . . . first one . . .

View attachment 193267

Then you need to cross the sound itself, you'll notice the big rise in the bridge in the middle . . .

View attachment 193268

Then you have to go down the rise - here's the view on the other side going down . . .

View attachment 193269

He picked a neat house to rent that was on the 4X4 only beach, which means I had to continue the trip about 20 minutes up the sand . . .

View attachment 193270

This was really cool, driving on the beach . . .

View attachment 193271

The sound apparently has wild horses, that have been there since the first settlers . . .

View attachment 193272

Just a couple pictures of the horses roaming around on the Outer Banks . . .

View attachment 193273

It was a great trip, we got a chance to sit in the sand, play in the surf, boogie board in the waves ( yikes that water is COLD ), and of course, we got a chance to share more pictures of our cars and talk cars in general. Had the opportunity to meet up with his brother, his wife, the kids, and all the rest of the brother-in-laws, sister-in-law, and all their kids . . . and I got a chance to see the Outer Banks too. Oh, did I say get sun burned . . . OUCH ! ! !

Next meeting will be ( probably ) in about a month or two when I head up to his shop in Ohio and we narrow the Belvedere rear end ! !

Thanks for the invite 747 Mopar - It was a great trip and a great time . . . enjoy the rest of your vacation !

Buddy, Thank you for sharing!! It sounds like you all had a great time, Some things we never forget and ill wager this is one trip in the books!!

 

[conv67bdere]

AHA ! ! ! This is what I'm looking for . . .

Found these on the web this morning - I think this is just what I'm looking for ! !



And being Hotchkis . . . I think they ought to work just fine . . . will be calling them tomorrow ( maybe pick them up in Moresville ? ?)

- - - Updated - - -

and he's just as nice in person as he is here.

Guess I need to work a little harder on my MEAN gene . . . LMAO . . . Thanks 747 Mopar - that was a great time, looking forward to narrowing the rear and NATS ! !

 

[kb67mopar]

I just made mine from 1/4 plate and 1/2 bolts with lock nuts. No need to pay big money for a name andsome drilled plate.

 

[conv67bdere]

Time to move to the drivers side ans start this mess all over again . . .

It's time . . . time to move over to the driver side and get the fabrication work done over there . . .

First . . . the tearing apart phase . . . phase 1 . . . here we go . . . rear bracket cut out . . .



Then the front bracket needs to be cut and removed . . .



Now I'm trying to get my alignment tool in the original bushing tube, but it has a ridge in it - gotta get it ground down a bit first . . . then get the alignment drawn on the new frame and start cutting out all the un-needed metal . . . ( smile ) . . . having a blast !

 

[conv67bdere]

I've got the sickness . . . back in the shop tonight . . .

More work on the Belvedere because I'd like to wrap up the frame modifications and get these leaf spring hangers all installed so I can re-install my leafs ! !

So, back in the shop working on the driver side - and I've got the frame cut so the new sleeve will sit in place ! !



There is not a lot of room to get a 4 1/2 " angle grinder up in here with a cut off wheel . . . so it's a WHOLE lotta fun removing metal . . .



Now to get the new metal plates in place, mark what has to come out, and do some more cutting ! ! ! Whooohoooo . . .

 

[747mopar]

Betcha the arms are burning from all the grinding? Looks like you need a little cut off wheel mounted on a 90 degree die grinder to get that job done "glad the Chargers didn't have that spare tire well". Little by little

 

[kb67mopar]

Betcha the arms are burning from all the grinding? Looks like you need a little cut off wheel mounted on a 90 degree die grinder to get that job done "glad the Chargers didn't have that spare tire well". Little by little

I think if I had to do it all again I would replace my trunk pan with one from a 68+. Just dispose of the well all together. He could always cut a window and weld it back in

 

[conv67bdere]

I think if I had to do it all again I would replace my trunk pan with one from a 68+. Just dispose of the well all together. He could always cut a window and weld it back in

You read my mind there KB67 . . . I was thinking the same thing, remove the tire well ( I really doubt a spare for my car is "really" going to fit into the well )



Got a question on these leaf spring shackles:

View attachment 193735

The shackles on my car are 3 1/2" center to center on the bolts - but these by Hotchkis are 4" on center . . . that'll raise the back of my car ( how much ) ? ?

I know - you can make them . . . but they really look nice . . . BTW, they don't sell parts at the Hotchkis East store that is near my house ! ! BUMMER ! !

 

[747mopar]

I think if I had to do it all again I would replace my trunk pan with one from a 68+. Just dispose of the well all together. He could always cut a window and weld it back in

It might be a little hard to stuff a 15" wide spare in there anyhow.

 

[conv67bdere]

Going back together on the Driver side . . .

The driver side sure seems to be going a little quicker then the passenger side . . .

Got the fitment of the outside plate close to being right . . . already . . .



so far . . . so good . . . I'll keep at it . . .

 

[conv67bdere]

Another step closer . . .

Got out in the shop tonight and was able to get the inside plate modified and just about ready to get installed - still a little "finessing" left to do . . .

The inside plate has been modified and it's fitting in nicely ( you can see the original frame that still needs to be cut out )



Got this section around the attaching bumper frame fitting nicely too . . .



Here's all the pieces in place - and you can see that there still is a little clean up left to do before welding . . .



Also, the dirt-dawbers ( mud-wasps ) decided that they wanted to build a Bellagio Hotel in the frame - the down side of that is all the sand that falls out while I'm cutting is added into the mix of metal shavings and i'm HEAD to TOE filthy working on this job . . . But it's getting done !

 

[Ron 73]

And "getting done" good, Thats some great fab work your doing there! You sure have come a long way with this stuff, pretty cool work and skills man! Thanks for posting it...

 

[747mopar]

That looks much better now that it's all cleaned up and fitted, very nice
Kahn.

 

[usaroadrunner]

You read my mind there KB67 . . . I was thinking the same thing, remove the tire well ( I really doubt a spare for my car is "really" going to fit into the well )



Got a question on these leaf spring shackles:

View attachment 193735

The shackles on my car are 3 1/2" center to center on the bolts - but these by Hotchkis are 4" on center . . . that'll raise the back of my car ( how much ) ? ?

I know - you can make them . . . but they really look nice . . . BTW, they don't sell parts at the Hotchkis East store that is near my house ! ! BUMMER ! !

hey kahn i got those leaf spring shackles by HOTCHKIS they are nice, i used them with the HOTCHKIS lowering leaf springs. they said it would lower it 1 inch. more like 2 inches. if you would want more you would have to add a block to slam it even more. all your work is looking good. nice job.

 

[Ron 73]

usaroadrunner, Thanks for leaving that! Im going to need a set and wondered where to start and they do have a "cool" look to them!