Here are a few starter pics of my 1963 Savoy. It is an original 426/425 hi-compression car, that came with the T85 manual transmission and no heater, radio, seat belts or mirrors. Just a real strip terror

I bought it from an e-bay auction two years ago and immediately set about finding the missing max wedge parts, which was just about everything! In fact, the only MW parts still with the car was the pair of emergency brake cable brackets that were still bolted to the floor (Dodges were spot welded).

The body, while relatively solid, had the typical cowl rust from mouse nests and lower rear quarter panel issues from rust and old race mods with a hammer and chisel. The floor pans from front to rear are completely rust free and are virtually mint aside from a bunch of holes drilled for Camaro bucket seats (seriously). It had the typical fenderwell header cutouts, the front rails had the usual tow bar tabs welded to them and the best was the driveshaft safety loop, it was a man's leather belt that was run through two slits cut into the transmission tunnel!!! That was a priceless discovery to say the least

After doing some research and reading some posts by Moparts member Joey Cole (Quicksilver) and seeing the work he can do with a TIG welder and all of the experience he has with the early B-bodies, I decided to bring the Savoy out to Michigan for the metal reconstruction.

Here is some of the damage that the car has suffered and then the work that Joey has done to reverse it.

Next

The previous owner bought the car in 1977 when he was 16, he was told that it was a factory Super Stock car, but that didn't matter to him, he just wanted a '63 Plymouth post car! He bought a '69 383 4-spd drivetrain and installed it in the car. To fit the '69 bellhousing, these were the "mods" he needed to make in order to fit the parts in the wrong location.

right side...

Fixes...

fixes, the control arm bumper brackets had been torched off, along with the frame rail upper flange that Joey had to put back on.

other side

more...

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The upper radiator support was cut off to simplify engine swaps back in the day. Good thing they didn't toss it in the trash like so many others did and made quick release brackets, otherwise, the SO # would have been lost. It's back in place permanently now

before...

Framerail horn replacements. They were mutilated beyond belief! There was a driveshaft welded to the ends of the rails and a tow ball was welded to the center!

left side

Here is a picture of the car as I found it for sale on E-bay.

Cool! Keep the pictures coming!

Nice work James..Looking better every pic...I have a hood ornament for that car you can have..I will bring it to Carlisle..

Sweet, thanks Jim!

I bought a NOS passenger side inner fender well and a nice used driver's side to replace the cut-up originals as I thought that would be the easiest way to get the work done, but Joey's feeling is to keep as much OEM metal as possible. Since the factory inner wells had zero rust anywhere, he set about making a set of patch sections for them. Here is the passenger side in progress...

It is not permanently attached yet as he removed the upper cowl and middle firewall section in order to replace them with nice California parts. These sections were rusted due to nasty mice or rats making nests.

Other side...

The right shock tower also was smashed in for header clearance, here it is all fixed now.

Nasty vermin damage

Underlying damage seen once upper cowl was removed...

And the cure, nice California metal

I drilled it all apart prior to bringing it to Joey's place in MI. Using a Blair spot weld cutter and a few hours, it all came apart.

This firewall section will donate some parts to the cause as well.

The fellow that bought the car in '77 thought of a great idea in order to prevent gas thieves from getting any of his fuel. He flipped the gas filler neck around and cut a hole in the filler tube cover. This made it necessary to fill the tank with the trunk open, but made for more work during the metal restoration phase

The cure...

Just to show off some of Joey's skills, here is an aluminum hood and scoop that he made for a customer that is restoring a '63 lightweight car. It fits my car perfectly!

Where is that winning lottery ticket?

The bottom side...

Here it is, test fitted on my car. Also shown is the aluminum front bumper and lower valance that he made. I believe he will be making the fenders next.

A picture of the future powerhouse

I started out by finding a '63 426 TMP block (still need a correct TMPHC block, anyone?), then ended up with several intakes and heads before I finally found near perfect, uncut examples (NOT an easy task with 50 year old race parts). I bought most everything needed for the engine and tried to get the closest dates that I could find. Probably the hardest original MW parts to find would be the oilpan, carbs and block.

That hood is sweeeet!!! As is the powerplant...Great car...!!!! Im miss my Vert!!!!

Looks to be coming nicely. Ron

its about time you start posting pics of the maxie on here! looks like its coming along

Hmmm, I wonder if this was ever approved by the NHRA?

FYI- that is a leather waist belt

Looks good James!

It's going to be a very nice car when complete.

Ed

Thanks Ed! I hope I didn't get too much drool on the '63 the other day

Here is a before pic to go with the one showing this area all fixed. Some folks just did what they had to in order to make the old race parts "fit"...

Looking good, James. I do like 63's

Thanks Anssi, get your's set-up in this section too. I'd like to follow your progress

Lookin good! I was interested in that car when it popped up on ebay. I sure would love to have that hood! Wowza!

That hood was something else! He had trouble in deciding on the placement of that Mustang scoop and just kept on drilling holes until he finally got it centered My buddy liked it so much, he has it hanging on his garage wall

Ha- it just dawned on me that you were referring to Joey's aluminum hood

Well, new pics from Joey, not the best discovery, but it is a near 50 year old car, so we knew there would be some deeper issues. The rat urine really did a number on the cowl and firewall. I should have pics soon showing the repairs and then the final cowl installation.

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And the last for now. I have to say, I think that most, if not all '62-5 B-bodies have some issues brewing in these areas. It was simply a horribly designed structure. Even the California replacement cowl assembly I bought has some deep pitting in the same areas at the pinch welds. And that was from a life long Cali desert car!!!

I have owned 10-15 62-65 B bodies while I lived in Arizona and every one of them had cowl issues. Even the ones I bought in California. This was a junk trap that couldn't be cleaned.

Looking at that picture of your white Savoy is giving me some real motivation to stick with my project! She's a real beauty

check out pics of my car
www.mister4speed.blogspot.com
also still a lot of work needed, but we will get there

good luck and have fun with your car,
best regards from the Netherlands,
Marcel

Hi Marcel, I have been following the progress on your Savoy for some time now, keep up the good work!

Major score! I just bought a '63 426TMPHC longblock. I have been searching high and low for a factory high compression block for two years now. The date is one month after the Savoy was built, but, oh well, I will live



For those that would like to see the difference, here is a low compression '63 MW block.

The casting date on the block is 10-12-62. It was built years ago for a fellow's boat! It has a funky Edelbrock timing cover with the mounts. Notice, even the original maxie oilpan has been modified with side kick-outs in the sump.

Here is the restored instrument cluster. The gauges were rebuilt/refinshed by Mike Mancini of Auto Instruments and the bezel and heater delete plate were replated/detail painted by Glenn at G-Car. Top notch work done by both

Looks really good James...Cannot wait to see it done!

The weekend update from Joey

Nice and fresh metal all set to replace the crusty crap

And all TIG welded in, nice work Joey!

Looking good Where's the other project threads?

I can;t even keep up with taking pics, so your doing better than me

I probably wasted alot of money on all of this supposedly "rust-free" California metal, since most of it has been anything but... Even the replacement panels, needed some patch work. That shiny piece was hand formed by Joey.

Next...

Wow! Only test fitted, but an indication of good things to come

The last one for now...

It's great you were able to find a true craftsman to do the metal work.

Bob- yes, he is a master at his craft! My buddies and I have installed patch panels many times before, but I wanted this Savoy to be done right

Some random pics of misc MW stuff...

This is one of the hardest parts to find if you are restoring a '63 MW T85 car. This is the early bellhousing #, the Stage 2 equipped cars used a different casting #.

10-11-62 date code works well with my cars 2-14-63 SPD.

And a classic song to go along with the car by the Super Stocks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLnubx56Gds

James,
Love the song!!!
Another good song for the Maxies is that beach boys song "shut down"
lol!!!
Blaine

The newest update, hand made patch! Joey's attention to detail is unreal...



All welded in, good bye rust

More progress pics. The inner fenderwells are now back to new and after the cowl/firewall is primed, that will be permanently installed. It's starting to really come together now

Very nice

Left side.

Check this out, the original swinging pick up in my "new" max wedge engine grew an extra head!

I guess I havent seen it all. Thats pretty slick.

Looking good, James.

MB

James my hood and scoop are glass as I got a great deal on them seperately. But that Joey is amazing !! That hood and scoop he made from aluminum is awesome. He is one great craftsman and I take my hat off to the awesome work he does. I am sure you said this but I seem to have forgot what color you are going to paint it ? Ron

Just thought I would show you a pic of my cluster I did myself. I painted the black and silver and cleaned the glass. Turned out ok but not as nice as the cluster you had done. Ron

Thanks for the kudos HPMike

383man, your cluster looks great!
The Savoy will be going back to the original PP1 Ruby Red using PPG single stage enamel. The interior is code 306 Alabaster (black and off white vinyl). And yes, Joey's work is truly amazing.

More pics coming soon