64 Dodge question
#276465
04/04/09 08:09 AM
04/04/09 08:09 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 583 Raleigh, NC
rockerbob
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mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 583
Raleigh, NC
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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?
2005 Dakota 4X4 3.7
2004 Rumble Bee 5.7
1978 Diplomat 318
1969 Satellite 318 "bracket racer"
1966 Barracuda (in progress )
1964 Dodge 330 (future race project)
1962 Belvedere (HUM????)
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: rockerbob]
#276466
04/04/09 09:18 AM
04/04/09 09:18 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 46 Macomb Michigan
65 Belv A990
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Macomb Michigan
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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.
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: 65 Belv A990]
#276467
04/04/09 11:40 AM
04/04/09 11:40 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 583 Raleigh, NC
rockerbob
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Raleigh, NC
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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?
2005 Dakota 4X4 3.7
2004 Rumble Bee 5.7
1978 Diplomat 318
1969 Satellite 318 "bracket racer"
1966 Barracuda (in progress )
1964 Dodge 330 (future race project)
1962 Belvedere (HUM????)
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: rockerbob]
#276468
04/04/09 12:02 PM
04/04/09 12:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,021 Chesapeake Va
BobK
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,021
Chesapeake Va
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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
1964 Plymouth Fury x 2 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: rockerbob]
#276469
04/04/09 12:07 PM
04/04/09 12:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,716 Baltimore/Denver
64Post
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,716
Baltimore/Denver
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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.
Last edited by 64Post; 04/04/09 12:45 PM.
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: str12wedge]
#276472
04/04/09 12:44 PM
04/04/09 12:44 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,716 Baltimore/Denver
64Post
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Quote:
But would respectfully disagree about WalMart
Thank you.
I'm sure some of the 5M+ people who have lost their jobs in the past year would've agreed with you...
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: rockerbob]
#276473
04/04/09 12:55 PM
04/04/09 12:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,314 Carstairs, Alberta, Canada
dave571
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Quote:
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???
Definately the same wheel base. I had a 4 door parts car when I bought mine.
I think going to a 2dr hard top is a lot of work man. 2 door post would be better. No roof mods, just the doors, and teh side panel. Much more doable
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: dave571]
#276474
04/04/09 03:16 PM
04/04/09 03:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,080 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,080
Niles , Ohio
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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
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: 64 Dodge question
[Re: therocks]
#276475
04/04/09 04:32 PM
04/04/09 04:32 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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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.
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Re: 64 Dodge question
#276476
04/04/09 10:46 PM
04/04/09 10:46 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,565 tennessee
pushbutton
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,565
tennessee
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Quote:
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.
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Re: 64 Dodge question
#276477
04/04/09 11:26 PM
04/04/09 11:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,716 Baltimore/Denver
64Post
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,716
Baltimore/Denver
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Quote:
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.
That would make for an interesting photoshop project...
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