65 Coronet mini tub HELP

[JeffreyMopar]

I am sure this has been answered before but I can’t seem to locate the right form post. I am about to make the cut on my 65 Coronet to Mini Tub. Does anyone have pics for me on how you did your 65 B Body mini tub. Or is there a post/thread you can point me too. I will make a post of my own so y’all can see progress but need to reference a few first. Thanks guys

 

[gkent]

Look for the Modern Bullit build. Not a '65 but a good pictorial of a B body mini tub.

Are you moving them a certain amount or going right to the rails ??

 

[JeffreyMopar]

Look for the Modern Bullit build. Not a '65 but a good pictorial of a B body mini tub.

Are you moving them a certain amount or going right to the rails ??

Was planing on going to the rails... unless you have another suggestion... I’ve never done this before

 

[gkent]

I'm in the midst of doing it. Only going 2" wider. I cut out the old inner at the spot welds, trimmed off the old flange, marked a line 2" in and bent a new flange to match the old. Make templates of the curves at the front and rear then transfer these over the same amount on either side.

One thing I've noticed is it can be a weekend job or it can take forever - it all depends on your skill level, equipment and what you want the end result to look like.

The job looks like it can be made easier using US Car Tool's mini tub kit and they sell one for your car. Go to their website and they have a whole bunch of "how to" photos.

 

[JeffreyMopar]

I’ve seen the US Car Tool stuff and their site. 65 B body is interesting as the center seem of the wheels is actually tied into the inter frame of the car. So I am curious for guys while have done a 65, do they actually go through the extra effort of cutting the frame or just right next to it???

 

[dvw]

Much easier to cut the floor next to the rail. Leave the trunk floor attached to the inner wheel well. Cut the floor out from the front of the inner wheel well to and at the rear of the inner wheel well 90 degrees to the frame rail. Trim the left over trunk floor by the desired width increase of the new tub. slide the entire assy inward and reweld the floor gap. Be aware the early B Body frame rail is wider at the top than it is at the fore and aft locations. Trimming the the frame rail flange at the top allows the tub to move inward another 1/2"-3/4"
Doug

 

[JeffreyMopar]

Much easier to cut the floor next to the rail. Leave the trunk floor attached to the inner wheel well. Cut the floor out from the front of the inner wheel well to and at the rear of the inner wheel well 90 degrees to the frame rail. Trim the left over trunk floor by the desired width increase of the new tub. slide the entire assy inward and reweld the floor gap. Be aware the early B Body frame rail is wider at the top than it is at the fore and aft locations. Trimming the the frame rail flange at the top allows the tub to move inward another 1/2"-3/4"
Doug

Thanks Doug for all the info! At the center top of the wheel tub where do you recommend cutting or do you recommend drilling out all the spot weld and splitting the flange

 

[gkent]

If you're making your own spacer, you don't want to separate the flange BUT you don't want to follow the seam either. If you follow the seam you end up with a compound curve that a single strip can't conform to. If you PM me with your email address I'll send you pics of what I did.

 

[malex]

I have a few pictures here to take a look at that may help you. I used a crimp tool and I remember what Stanton mentioned, that there's a compound curve.

 

[JeffreyMopar]

I have a few pictures here to take a look at that may help you. I used a crimp tool and I remember what Stanton mentioned, that there's a compound curve.

View attachment 623914

View attachment 623915

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Thanks so much this is awesome! You do nice work!

 

[65hemi]

Here is another example.
I don't have any progress pictures, but the tubs were widened about 2" to the frame rail, similar to malex.

 

[JeffreyMopar]

Here is another example.
I don't have any progress pictures, but the tubs were widened about 2" to the frame rail, similar to malex.

View attachment 624074

Thank you! Everything helps!