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

[conv67bdere]

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.

Thanks USARR . . . enjoying the learning experience, that's for sure !

HOTCHKIS

I've been in touch with Hotchkis and I've discussed with them (2) options:

1 - They're considering making a 3 1/2" shackle to support the Belvedere platform ( that would be great )
2 - Buying the kit from them, less the 4" brackets - and using my original brackets . . . that would work, but I'd prefer their nice powder coated stuff ! !

Will get back in touch with them and see what they have to say - they've had a couple days to talk to their R&D guys . . . keeping my fingers crossed.

USCARTOOLS

USCarTools - been back in touch with Chris at USCartools and gave him some feedback on the mods that I've done and the installation process. I really like this new setup, as it keeps the car leaf spring geometry all the same, and I'm playing the part of the Guinea Pig and working through the first install. Chirs was very thankful for the feedback, I'm going to provide him with a copy of my final modified plates - I think he liked the way I merged the outer plates in with the bumper bracket that is attaching to the frame rail. He's talking with his partner about making this an option with the spring relocation kits.

This has been a load of fun, and working with Chris at USCartools has bee fun too - he's a great guy, and all his stuff is American Made ! ! !

They will be at Carlisle, might have to make a trip up there this year . . .

 

[Ron 73]

Thats what i call getting it done, being right smack dab in touch with the right folks sure is a good way to do it!, Ive been working kind of close to home with some good guys around here but not really on anything big, just getting in things like sand for blasting a WHOLE lot cheaper then the other nut i was getting some and a guy that sells me gas for the cutting torch and welder.. He actually brought me over both tanks for my torch and lent them to me with a larger regulator because mine i guess wouldn't fit his tanks, i had to pay for the gas in both but hes lending me the tanks and regulator until i got a old trunk floor cut in pieces i wanted (future metal work) and some other metal that i needed to cut up hes been a great help and a guy that just sells everything from his home and i haven't known him long, he would be a great guy to start a project car, he says my car seems awful big, yep he's a few years younger lol! Nothing like a country boy, always helping his neighbors, Things are gradually getting some better here and i hope to get some car work going, you all are having all the fun, or headackes lol, they are combined sometimes i guess! lol :headbang:

 

[conv67bdere]

Visit to Hotchkis - East . . .

Dtopped by and visited Kevin at Hotchkis East - we've been discussing leaf shackles, and I got a chance to stop by and visit their shop in Mooresville NC. They've got some really nice work and some really nice cars they're working on in the shop . . .

Thought I'd share this little "gem" with you . . . and oh yeah, it's got a HEMI . . . 6.4L HEMI to boot !



Putting 6.4L of Hemi into a Dart . . . WOW ! !



Also got a chance to sit in their Challenger . . . Sweet ride ! ! ! They do some REALLY nice work on the cars . . . I've got a long way to go ! !

 

[HYRDGOON]

Damn that Dart is going to be sexy! Great inspiration ofr you Kahn!! FER RACIN'!!

 

[conv67bdere]

Change of plans . . . Plan D ( or is this E, F or G ? ? ) . . . lost count . . .

Got a little change of plans for the shackles . . .



Going to cut away enough of the "old" frame to allow me to get this welded shackle into the "new" location. I had some concerns about the shackles with the "free" bolts as opposed to the welded bolts ( like the one shown in the picture above ). After a talk with my neighbor, who has been in racing all his life, he pretty much confirmed my concerns for the non-welded shackles -

welded shackle will hold the geometry better with all the torque that will be placed on the leaf springs. If they're not welded, then the bolts have a chance to move with this torque, and wallow out the holes the bolts are in, and one "could" end up with a less than favorable end result.

This was my concern, and this does make a lot of sense, and I'm going to play it safe and figure out how to get the welded shackle into the "new" location.

Ordered a set from PST - new eyelet bushings, new shackle bushings, HD shackles 3 1/2" center-to-center . . . should be here next week. Oh, the PST shop is right around the corner from Hotchkis and I called to stop by and pick them up . . . no go . . . they don't have a license to sell over the counter, you HAVE to order the parts online or over the phone . . . ARGHHHHHHH . . . so I ordered them over the phone ! ! ! At least it was free shipping !

If I could have pick them up I'd had them TODAY . . . oh well . . . Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . . .

 

[Ron 73]

I think that's a pretty good catch and thinking bud! Better to look at what happens after together then just put it in and hope all gos the way we think. The originals were welded, seems like the way it should be, racing or playing...

 

[747mopar]

Got a little change of plans for the shackles . . .

View attachment 194506

Going to cut away enough of the "old" frame to allow me to get this welded shackle into the "new" location. I had some concerns about the shackles with the "free" bolts as opposed to the welded bolts ( like the one shown in the picture above ). After a talk with my neighbor, who has been in racing all his life, he pretty much confirmed my concerns for the non-welded shackles -

welded shackle will hold the geometry better with all the torque that will be placed on the leaf springs. If they're not welded, then the bolts have a chance to move with this torque, and wallow out the holes the bolts are in, and one "could" end up with a less than favorable end result.

This was my concern, and this does make a lot of sense, and I'm going to play it safe and figure out how to get the welded shackle into the "new" location.

Ordered a set from PST - new eyelet bushings, new shackle bushings, HD shackles 3 1/2" center-to-center . . . should be here next week. Oh, the PST shop is right around the corner from Hotchkis and I called to stop by and pick them up . . . no go . . . they don't have a license to sell over the counter, you HAVE to order the parts online or over the phone . . . ARGHHHHHHH . . . so I ordered them over the phone ! ! ! At least it was free shipping !

If I could have pick them up I'd had them TODAY . . . oh well . . . Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . . .

I can see where your going with your logic but you also have to think about it like this, In order for the shackles to move unevenly the sleeve in the frame and the leaf spring eylet would have to move. Your sleeve in the frame is definitely not moving (thanks to some serious welding) and the leaf spring would have to twist sideways (not happening) in order for the shackles to move unevenly. I can see the welded shackles maybe being a little stiffer under side loading though. Not trying to talk you out of it just another way of looking at it that might save you some time. Your frame mods are looking really good with some stout looking welds "way to go Kahn".

 

[conv67bdere]

Getting ready for the mini tub of the driver side wheel well . . .

Took a little time today to mess with the spot welds that hold the bracket in place on the wheel well - didn't know just how long it was going to take me to get all the spot welds loose and free from the well . . .

Then I had an idea . . . a standard step drill . . . so I gave it a shot . . .
It worked GREAT - no pre-drilling then switching to the spot weld cutter, and you start by drilling in the center of the spot weld. Very EASY.



Had all of the spot welds drilled out on the well in about 30 minutes . . .



Event these on this bracket . . . faster than I expected is was going to take.



The Step Drill is nice because it cuts wider on the top piece of metal, and smaller on the bottom piece, you just advance to the next step if needed.

 

[HYRDGOON]

This thread is going to help a lot of people for a long time to come! Nice to see the constant progress Khan! This is one car that I seriously CAN'T WAIT to see till it's done!!

 

[coronet340]

Dtopped by and visited Kevin at Hotchkis East - we've been discussing leaf shackles, and I got a chance to stop by and visit their shop in Mooresville NC. They've got some really nice work and some really nice cars they're working on in the shop . . .

Thought I'd share this little "gem" with you . . . and oh yeah, it's got a HEMI . . . 6.4L HEMI to boot !

View attachment 194446

Putting 6.4L of Hemi into a Dart . . . WOW ! !

View attachment 194447

Also got a chance to sit in their Challenger . . . Sweet ride ! ! ! They do some REALLY nice work on the cars . . . I've got a long way to go ! !

I like some meat on my rims but those fit the car very well. They look pretty big to boot.

Great progress on the frame!! It's going to be beefed up big time.

 

[conv67bdere]

Had a visitor . . . stopped by to see my Belvedere . . .

Kevin, from Hotchkis stopped by to see the work that I've been doing on my Belvedere this morning . . . and oh darn, he drove the Hotchkis Challenger . . .



Wow, what a neat car . . .

 

[HYRDGOON]

kevin, from hotchkis stopped by to see the work that i've been doing on my belvedere this morning . . . And oh darn, he drove the hotchkis challenger . . .

View attachment 194717

wow, what a neat car . . .

View attachment 194718

too cool! Sooooo jealous!!!

 

[747mopar]

Way to cool Kahn, sounds like your getting to have all of the fun.

 

[usaroadrunner]

wow, a member from HOTCHKIS to stop by. totally cool. tell me you got a ride in that challenger. looks cool as hell. you da man KHAN!!!!!!!!!!

 

[conv67bdere]

Hot, hot, hot . . . but the work continues . . .

Time to take a little break from the heat of the shop and cool off ( and play with the puppy dog ).

Got my patterns and notes all traced out for Chris at USCartools on the bracket mods that I incorporated into his prototype design - hope it helps.

With that done, it time to get this side wrapped up and completed - it's now mounted, aligned, and has been tacked into place.



Now onto the mini tub of the driver side . . . I can see daylight . . .



Got a good portion of the wheel well cut to get ready for the inner panel removal and mini tub process . . .



Now that I've got the passenger side behind me, this side is going MUCH faster . . . taking a little break form the heat and I'll try and get back out in the shop later tonight when the sun sets and hopefully cools things off a bit . . . Maybe . . .

My fan works wonders, but it can only do so much . . .

- - - Updated - - -

Way to cool Kahn, sounds like your getting to have all of the fun.

Well YEAH, somebody's got to do it . . . and I have great friend like you that invite me down to the Outer Banks for a day of FUN ! ! ! YOOOOHOOOO !

- - - Updated - - -

wow, a member from HOTCHKIS to stop by. totally cool. tell me you got a ride in that challenger. looks cool as hell. you da man KHAN!!!!!!!!!!

Wow . . . we didn't even talk about going for a ride, we were discussing my work on the Belvedere . . . besides, what good is a RIDE if I can't DRIVE that car ! ! ! ( SMILE ) Uh, not a member, he's the VP of the Hotchkis East store . . . really cool dude too ! Easy to talk to . . .

Next time I go visit the shop up in Mooresville, I'm sure I'll be up that way again ( soon ), I'll have to ask about that ride or drive ? ? ? ( smile )

 

[conv67bdere]

Evening work today - round two . . .

Got back in the shop, had a "plan" to get the wheel well cut out and wanted to make it happen ( it was not much cooler ).

Determined to make progress on the Belvedere . . . so here's what I've got . . .



Removed . . . another view . . . got some cleanup to get the frame ready to re-weld the inner panel . . . but moving along nicely . . .



Just about out of welding gas, will need to be picking up another bottle soon . . . and then let the welding begin ! !

 

[747mopar]

Nice work, looks like some solid progress on the Convert. I feel for ya, not to many things more uncomfortable than super hot humid work making you sweat like a pig then being covered in grinding dust "I can smell you all the way up here"!!!:icon_puke_r:

 

[Ron 73]

I do feel for you with the humid stuff, not had to much yet but it will catch up soon i expect, looks like its not stoping you though, looking good man!

 

[kb67mopar]

is it me or is he getting way to fast at this cutting and welding stuff?! Great progress and way to advance the skillz.

Also if you wanted to drill out the spotwelds you could completely remove those old spring hangers. They don't add any structural integrity to the frame and only hold the spring perch for the rear of the car. May be difficult to completely remove but would open things up back there.

How awesome is it to have all this attention from the vendors. You are helping the car hobby and our cars in the process. Kudos and keep on keepin on.

I'll have to give you a call soon to fill you in on all that has been going on but the Coronet comes home this upcoming weekend!!!!!

 

[Ron 73]

"is it me or is he getting way to fast at this cutting and welding stuff?"

Ive thought the same thing for awhile now, he is good and faster i believe as well, But then again the speed ive been moving at, well, lets just say it wouldn't take much to break my speed! I seem to learn a lot and one thing ive noticed is, hes going to that shop, hot, cold or high water! With that attitude, things get done!