Valiant VF roof restoration - Dodge Dart '69->

[Ace Dropshot]

After much pain, but with support from many helpful people, I now have a roof section to allow me to restore my Chrysler Valiant from a custom 'vert back to the original hardtop.

It's not going to be a simple task! The body shop guy who is helping me with this, has asked me for measurements, against reference points on the body so he can align the roof as accurately as possible. There doesn't appear to be any original documentation with these measurements.



Is there anyone in this group with a 1969 Dodge Dart (or equivalent), who could help me by providing some measurements if I send through what I need?

Thanks!

[mygasser]

My experience with a similar job may or may not help but here goes. In the 70's I bought a mk1 ford escort that had rolled in an accident so needed the roof replaced. I braced the door gaps after measuring against straight doors and cut the roof off. I sat the 'new' roof in place and fitted the front and rear screens along with the rear side glass. Next I lightly tightened a couple of ratchet straps around the whole car to better hold the window rubbers as they would normally be. I measured the door gaps all round and welded the pillars inside and out as much as was accessible then removed the glass and finish welded the pillars. Obviously you need 2 sets of window rubbers as 1 set is sacrificial but other than that it worked for me.
Neil.

[Kev]

Get on FB and join "Valiant VE VF VG stock & modified" and ask the Q. A lot of Verts are returned to hardtop over here.

[Cannonball]

My experience with a similar job may or may not help but here goes. In the 70's I bought a mk1 ford escort that had rolled in an accident so needed the roof replaced. I braced the door gaps after measuring against straight doors and cut the roof off. I sat the 'new' roof in place and fitted the front and rear screens along with the rear side glass. Next I lightly tightened a couple of ratchet straps around the whole car to better hold the window rubbers as they would normally be. I measured the door gaps all round and welded the pillars inside and out as much as was accessible then removed the glass and finish welded the pillars. Obviously you need 2 sets of window rubbers as 1 set is sacrificial but other than that it worked for me.
Neil.

Your avin us on ratchet straps were not about in the 70,s

[mygasser]

My experience with a similar job may or may not help but here goes. In the 70's I bought a mk1 ford escort that had rolled in an accident so needed the roof replaced. I braced the door gaps after measuring against straight doors and cut the roof off. I sat the 'new' roof in place and fitted the front and rear screens along with the rear side glass. Next I lightly tightened a couple of ratchet straps around the whole car to better hold the window rubbers as they would normally be. I measured the door gaps all round and welded the pillars inside and out as much as was accessible then removed the glass and finish welded the pillars. Obviously you need 2 sets of window rubbers as 1 set is sacrificial but other than that it worked for me.
Neil.

Your avin us on ratchet straps were not about in the 70,s

Just worked it out and it was actually 1980
Neil.

[Dave999]

this is all i could find

this come from here http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=109

69 coronet charger dart service manual

the 67 version may be of use for comparison

but in theory if the car is on a lift, supported and is chocked/supported so that those under floor dimensions are correct and the doors open and close
i guess you are as near as damn it

Dave

[SJH]

After much pain, but with support from many helpful people, I now have a roof section to allow me to restore my Chrysler Valiant from a custom 'vert back to the original hardtop.

It's not going to be a simple task! The body shop guy who is helping me with this, has asked me for measurements, against reference points on the body so he can align the roof as accurately as possible. There doesn't appear to be any original documentation with these measurements.



Is there anyone in this group with a 1969 Dodge Dart (or equivalent), who could help me by providing some measurements if I send through what I need?

Thanks!

Hello,
I have a 1967 Dart hardtop, if this would be of any use ?. You can see the car in members gallery, see SJH 1967 Dart

cheers
Shayne

[autofetish]

[Dave999]

After much pain, but with support from many helpful people, I now have a roof section to allow me to restore my Chrysler Valiant from a custom 'vert back to the original hardtop.

It's not going to be a simple task! The body shop guy who is helping me with this, has asked me for measurements, against reference points on the body so he can align the roof as accurately as possible. There doesn't appear to be any original documentation with these measurements.



Is there anyone in this group with a 1969 Dodge Dart (or equivalent), who could help me by providing some measurements if I send through what I need?

Thanks!

Hello,
I have a 1967 Dart hardtop, if this would be of any use ?. You can see the car in members gallery, see SJH 1967 Dart

cheers
Shayne

yes it would provided it is a true pillarless hard top rather than a 2 door post car i.e no metal from B pillar(door lock post) up to the roof

the post cars are a bit more sit-up and beg in styling. door shorter roof shorter different screen s front and rear and rarer

Aussie VF used 67/68 pillarless dart body on a mid - late 60s auto trans A body floor pan i.e one designed in a manner that makes a small block 727 hit the front of the tunnel/bulkhead flange unless you own a hammer i.e little tunnel

dave

This is a VG (square lamps) same body as VF with round lamps, if your looks like this in side profile, with a different grill/front then you can help Mr ACE



lush!!!! a VG hardtop in hemorrhoid orange

[MattH]

This will be a great project to watch happening!

[Ace Dropshot]

This will be a great project to watch happening!

Thanks. I hope so! I'll post updates as it goes. It will be a long process!

[Ace Dropshot]

After much pain, but with support from many helpful people, I now have a roof section to allow me to restore my Chrysler Valiant from a custom 'vert back to the original hardtop.

It's not going to be a simple task! The body shop guy who is helping me with this, has asked me for measurements, against reference points on the body so he can align the roof as accurately as possible. There doesn't appear to be any original documentation with these measurements.



Is there anyone in this group with a 1969 Dodge Dart (or equivalent), who could help me by providing some measurements if I send through what I need?

Thanks!

Hello,
I have a 1967 Dart hardtop, if this would be of any use ?. You can see the car in members gallery, see SJH 1967 Dart

cheers
Shayne

yes it would provided it is a true pillarless hard top rather than a 2 door post car i.e no metal from B pillar(door lock post) up to the roof

the post cars are a bit more sit-up and beg in styling. door shorter roof shorter different screen s front and rear and rarer

Aussie VF used 67/68 pillarless dart body on a mid - late 60s auto trans A body floor pan i.e one designed in a manner that makes a small block 727 hit the front of the tunnel/bulkhead flange unless you own a hammer i.e little tunnel

dave

This is a VG (square lamps) same body as VF with round lamps, if your looks like this in side profile, with a different grill/front then you can help Mr ACE



lush!!!! a VG hardtop in hemorrhoid orange

Thanks Dave. Yes that VG is a pillarless hardtop as mine was originally. It still has the full window set along the side including the rear quarter windows (no pillar). Nice orange VG but I think i'll go white with a pacer style stripe along the side.

[Ace Dropshot]

After much pain, but with support from many helpful people, I now have a roof section to allow me to restore my Chrysler Valiant from a custom 'vert back to the original hardtop.

It's not going to be a simple task! The body shop guy who is helping me with this, has asked me for measurements, against reference points on the body so he can align the roof as accurately as possible. There doesn't appear to be any original documentation with these measurements.



Is there anyone in this group with a 1969 Dodge Dart (or equivalent), who could help me by providing some measurements if I send through what I need?

Thanks!

Hello,
I have a 1967 Dart hardtop, if this would be of any use ?. You can see the car in members gallery, see SJH 1967 Dart

cheers
Shayne

Your Dart is a beauty! Where is it located?
My body guy will probably get started in a month or so once my front quarters arrive from Australia in a crate with a couple of Mad Max Falcons.
He has asked me for the dimensions of the windows. The dimensions around the window surrounds (metal to metal) would be useful but I think he will probably have to fine tune it with actual windows and rubber in place.
What would be the best way to get in touch with you to talk dimensions?

[SJH]

My Dart is located in SW Leicestershire. You are welcome to come and have look/measure or I can have a measure for you. But it will be difficult to measure metal to metal apertures as the glass/rubber/trim is all in place ?

My email is shaywood1@tiscali.co.uk

cheers
Shayne