Hi every one. I bought this 64 about 2 years ago. Its a 4 door, but the body was/is in super good condition. I wanted to make a 2 door super stock type clone racer out of it. Its been sitting in a field behind my house as I worked on my 69 Satellite & currenty the 66 Barracuda I'm restoring. I should be able to start on it this fall. Here's my question. I was told by several local "experts" that these cars had the same wheel base as the 2 doors. Hwever I measured it the other day at 118 inches. I checked it against my 62 Belvedere 2 door and it was 117. So is the wheel base longer? I was going to start collecting parts for it over the summer as I found them. Or should I use this as a parts car?

All the 63-64 B-Body Dodges are on a 119" wheel base except the station wagons that were left on the 116" wheel base of the 62 Dodge models. The 62-64 Savoy/Belvedere/Fury/Sport Fury’s and the 65 Belvedere/Satellite passenger versions remained at 116" thru this whole period. With that said, a replica of a super stock 330 or 440 2 dr post sedan could be made from a 330 or 440 4 door sedan or even a Polara 4 door hardtop it you had enough cash and bodywork skills. It does seem kind of cost prohibitive when you weigh out the fab costs, donor doors and quarters for what you have vs just finding a decent 2 door post sedan shell and going from there. IMHO,use the 4 door as you stated for a parts car. Most of these 62-65 B-Body cars have known and expected rust problem areas like the inner cowl and firewall areas, floor pans, trunk floor extensions and such, and a solid 4 door car would be good to have "just in case"

Here is a little more info regarding the factory SS cars relating to wheelbases.

Actually all the Y9-09 lightweight Max Wedge and Hemi cars from 1964 and the 1965 WO51 and RO51 "A-990 Package" cars were altered wheel base cars compared to their production counterparts. The 62-and 63 B Body's used a rear leaf spring that was 55" long with the front bolt eye 20" forward from the spring pack center bolt. 1964-65 production cars used 56" long springs with the front spring eye 21" forward of the axle locator pin/spring pack bolt. The 64 Stage III Maxies and the 64-65 Hemis utilized a Super stock spring that was also 56" long but had the front mounting eye 20" ahead of the spring pack center-bolt/locating pin. The difference was subtle but effective. In 65 the Dodge 330, gave way to the Coronet and a subsequent 2" reduction in wheelbase, but still 1" longer than the Belvedere's 116" at 117". This was accomplished by the Dodge having a 1" longer front box sectioned spring hanger bolted to the unibody to mount the front of the rear leaf spring. So by putting the Belvedere front spring hanger part #2403742 which is 2 1/4" from the front mounting face to the spring eye bolt hole on the Coronet, and using the 8 leave right and 6 leave left Super stock springs on them, all the A-990 cars had 115" wheelbases. 1" shorter on the Plymouths and 2" shorter on the Dodges compared to the 1965 regular consumer B-Body’s.

Ed.

Ed thanks for the reply. I am not wanting to make an exact SS replica. Just like the styling of these era cars & the history. Would likely end up looking more like a "footbraker" than an SS. I have located a 413 engine & also a 2 hardtop donar car. Both reasonable price. I know the 64 hardtop had a different roof. However I think I can make it work as a hardtop??? Going to put a cage in it anyway. I saw a mag feature a few months back with a 63 Dodge hardtop that had my roof style. I have decent and improving skills with each car I do. And more importantly I have friends with different expertise. I have a buddy (GM guy) who will bail me out if I get in too deep. He's a pretty good welder as I have seen his work many times. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have the strech look due to wheel base differeces. Thanks again. Anyone else want to share their thoughts or advice?

Just a thought, but why not build it as a 4 door? I've seen a couple of nice 4 doors (pulling unbelievable wheelstands) at the strip. That would give you bragging rights "My 4 door grocery getter beat your 2 door race car"

Just my

Normally I'd try to dissuade someone from doing what you're contemplating. The normal course of action is to acquire a true Post car then cannibalize the 4 door for sheet metal. You then have a car with no VIN/title issues and without the stigma of being a cobbled together car you can't resell. You seem to be hellbent on it however, so good luck.

I would do it if I found the parts. You could do it two ways depending on what you find. If you found an incomplete 2 door you could transfer your parts onto it. If you found a 2 door in bad shape you could cut out what you need and transfer it to the 4 door.

Sheldon

Nice car Dave. But would respectfully disagree about WalMart

The guy that bought my 65 sedan shell was doing a 4 door to 2 door makeover.If you can do body work its do able.But trying to make a sedan a hardtop is really pushing it.Rocky

IIRC, 62 and 63 hardtops used the same roof as the sedans.

But the 64 2dr hardtop had a different roof than any sedan, so unless you weld on a different roof, converting your 4dr sedan to a 2dr hardtop would leave you with a 64 body style that never existed - it that's an issue.

Thanks for all the replies! I think I'm going to give it a shot. I have time on my side. If I screw it up then I'll have a good 4 door parts car for sale...LOL If I was wanting a nice street car I wouldn't dare attempt this. However since its only going to show its pretty face at local drag strips & I dont mind a little bondo to hide the imperfections...... And I can sheet metal/tin the inside to cover the inner areas.