Hi All,

The front end on the Dart Wagon is a tad banged up. The bumper and grille were hosed when I got the car, but the sheetmetal is decent. Seems the previous owner hadn't owned a car with 9 inch drums before.

Anyway, I've never cared for the look of '66 Dart grilles, so when I am doing my disc swap, I figure I might as well stick a nose on there I like. Anyone know if a '63 Valiant nose will work? I've always LOVED the '63 Valiant nose, but I'm wondering about the headlight buckets, radiator support, valance, etc.

I'd be finding a complete donor in a yard and doing the swap that way to make sute I had everything.

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"When applied at precisely the right time, Ignorance is a powerful tool, usually even surpassing knowledge" E.J. "Michigan Madman" Potter.

Personally have always wanted a 63 Polara clip on the Dart, don't think thats possible due to width differences between the A and B bodies and with what these cost would suffer cardiac arrest having to cut one up. Can't say for certain but seems a 63-64 Dart grill would interchange more easily. Width and height should be right on and as far as I know there are no difference in the clip from 63-66. All I can say is do the math, but anything is possible with enough determination and spilled blood..Dave

There are only a couple of things that concern me. My '66 has a much taller bumper and no front valance, unlike the '63-65s.

Also, The headlight buckets. If they both mount to the inner fenders, then I should just have to swap fenders, if both of them mount to the rad. support, I assume I'll possibly have to re-mount and align the buckets, or install/remove the buckets from the support if one mounts differently than the other.

Basically, I think the more of a '63 I'm able to get the easier it'll be. If I have the hood latch mechanism and bracketry, bumper and valance brackets, hardware, etc. I'll save myself some headaches in the long run, but I'm wondering if I'll need to drill new holes for mounting in the support, etc. or if the support was stamped with the same tooling over the years.

If I can find Svc. Manuals for both years, 63 Valiant and 66 Dart I'll get 'em both, but in the mean time, I'm wondering if anybody has stuck a 63-65 Dart/Valiant/Cuda on a '66 Dart/Valiant/Cuda, and how much/little of a hassle it was.

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"When applied at precisely the right time, Ignorance is a powerful tool, usually even surpassing knowledge" E.J. "Michigan Madman" Potter.

Now that you mention it , several years ago saw a 64 Dart wearing a 66 front clip at a local show and the judges were giving him hell for it. I remember thinking "that looks odd". Fenders are the deciding factor as you would have to use 63/64 to get the bucket, never torn one down this far would be curious what additional work if any would be needed, can tell you one of my fenders is not a 63 part as fit is poor and moulding line is not 63, this could be be a 64/65 part, yet seems 1/2 too long, so who knows what it really is? . You could forgo the valance. The 63 fenders do not bolt to the radiator supports if thats any consolation and it seems to be a minor matter to drill any new mounting holes. Just swap the bumpers to solve that issue although you might have to experiment with the brackets as the bumpers on my 63 hug the body tighter then on the 66. Good luck finding a valance that has not be used for a curb feeler. Will have to take a more detailed inspection of the 63. This is the kind of project that mystifies until you sit down to do it..Now to find a deal on a Polara grill, love those 45 degree headlamps!...Dave

I have done at least 6 body panel swaps on 63-66 A-Bodies, it works as long as you have the complete front clip.

The biggest issue with putting a 63 clip onto a 66 is finding a way to route the parking light wires, 63-65 inner fender wells have a hole and a plastic plug to allow the P.L. wire into the engine compartment, a 66 does not have this hole.

I think there are a couple of extra holes that need to be drilled for the hood latch / grill support but all this stuff is not a big deal.
As already noted, the key to success is to find a nice, clean & complete front clip to use for the swap. The job goes much faster and easier with a complete clip from a single car as opposed to getting a fender here, a hood there and a grill and parts from somewhere else.
DD
PS, my all time favorate "morph" is putting a 64 Dart front clip onto a 66 Barracuda. I am currently working on my third "Dacuda", it's about ready for painting.

I am putting a '64 Dart front end on my "Project V" '66 V100 - the Dalliant (or Vart).

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Thanks for the replies, guys. I found a couple donor cars already and will be going ahead with the swap. Easier than doing bodywork and I'll end up with the Valiant nose I've always wanted.

Car will be rockabilly/rat-rod/kustom style. It's already two tone black and white primer and I tracked down a set of vintage 14 x 7 torque thrusts with the snout style centers.

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"When applied at precisely the right time, Ignorance is a powerful tool, usually even surpassing knowledge" E.J. "Michigan Madman" Potter.