Hello all,

I was wondering if you'd share your thoughts on a good donor car for building out a disc brake setup on a 63 Valiant? Ultimately, I'm looking to run discs (at least in front), a new rear end, and the ability to get a decent set of larger wheels (with more wheel options) on the car.

Anything else off the donor car (engine parts, etc.) would be a plus.

I see many people recommending the book "Performance Handling for Classic Mopars" at http://www.moparpages.com/suspension_book/ I will buy that in advance of the buildup. But for now, what are your thoughts on a donor vehicle?

I'd love for this project to be "on the cheap" in a serious way - I saved the car from the boneyard for a grand total of $55.00 and it's actually in amazing shape. I'd like to continue the build in this penny-pinching fashion!

Many thanks in advance - I'm learning a great deal from all your good posts and will post "before" pics soon on this project!

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1963 Valiant V200 4-door

unfortunately all the mid-B/and E body guys are after your 'cheap bolt in'
you're looking for a 1973-1976 Dart/Duster/Valiant/Dart Sport with isc Brakes. They bolt right in (and have good torsion bars too...), but... The un-cheap part is: most places charge $150 for the whole set (unless you get a good deal for $50...and they don't know wht you have...), you'll have to rebuild the suspension (new bushings @ $200 /kit)... at least that will give you the 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern and better rim selection....

-D.Idiot

Here's one possibility for mixing and matching parts if you can't find a good donor car. These choices are ones that seem less widely known. First, the '73-'76 upper control arms on a drum brake car are identical to the ones for a disc brake car. Get these upper control arms combined with new disc brake ball joints for the same model. Then, find a '75 or later B or R body - Cordoba, later Chargers, Newports, etc. Take its disc brake hardware - calipers, spindles, brackets, discs, and splash shields. Add new Aspen/Volare brake hoses. The result? The largest front brakes Chrysler's put on any of their cars short of the Viper, with some slight suspension geometry improvements. And it all bolts together.

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

This helps a lot...