I just got a 1960 Valiant and want to rebuild the front suspension. Will the later style lower control arms/strut rods swap onto the early K-member? Also would a steering column from a 63 Dart bolt up to the early steering box? (I have a complete wiring harness from a 62 Valiant.) Thanks for any help.

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. . . there was good sport at his making.

Did you buy that one on Craigslist?

Sort of . . . yup.

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. . . there was good sport at his making.

Sorry cant help you with your question....

Don't believe so, not directly. With enough jigging, cutting, and welding, you could probably put it together. But why?
No, and it won't fit in the pre-'63 car, either — again, unless you're into cutting and welding.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

You got the one on Linden & 75th?
I went and looked at it. It sure was needy!
A guy I know put a 62 steering gear in his 60 Valiant, he said it wasn't easy.
I've got a some 62 Signet steering parts if you're interested.

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60 Red V200 Valiant & 62 Green V200 Valiant

The 62 wiring harness-- does not matche the 60 or 61 car. You really need to get a FSM -it is very small compared to most years.

To get later style parts to fit , you would have to swap to a 62-66 "k" member, I'm not sure if that would work.(mounting issues?)
-- That idea has been proposed before-- I do not think anyone has attempted. The 63 dart is not an "a" body.

Good luck on your project!!
Parts should be available to repair the suspension you have now..
Check your lower ball joints-- they might be original style(screw in) or they might have been swapped to the later assembly style piece.
Lawrence

Actually, the 63 Dart is an A-body. I've often wondered if the 62 K-member would fit in the 60-61 Valiant but I've never heard a definitive answer. I gave one to a fellow about a year ago but haven't heard if he was able to use it.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

My motives for the questions are that I have the later lower control arms with new bushings already installed so this would've saved me time and $$. I also like the 3.2 turn lock to lock ratio steering gear; hard to find and expensive for the later box. The original column has numerous issues that I would've been glad to sidestep as well. This old girl is a real basket case but I've taken a shine to her. Any interest in a full picture story? Cheers!

PS I hate the screw-in early style LBJ and will not be using those for certain!

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. . . there was good sport at his making.

Meril Bruner is the expert on putting the 62 up front suspension on a 60-61 car. Unfortunatley he is not on the internet, if you send me a pm I will give you his phone number. What he told me is that the torsion bar anchors in the crossmember are indexed differently on the early car so you have to cut them out, rotate them slightly, and reweld them in. He has done it and at least once and somebody else who I can't remeber had done the same thing. I believe the K frame does bolt in but there is more to it than that. Good luck.

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If you didn't drive it there, it's not a street car.

Sure!
But the later lower ball joints are a screw-in type, too.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Ummmm.... '62 and up uses a bolt in lower ball joint with an integral steering arm.

*edit* The uppers are screw-in.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

"But the later lower ball joints are a screw-in type, too."

I'm not sure what you mean Dan? The 60 - 61 lower ball joints actually screw into the arm using flats much like the upper ball joints screw into the upper A arm. 62 and forward lower ball joints are "self contained" in the arm without provision for replacing the joint.

"What he told me is that the torsion bar anchors in the crossmember are indexed differently on the early car so you have to cut them out, rotate them slightly, and reweld them in. "

This is the kinda' info that gives me pause on a k-member swap! I consulted with a guy who did this swap but he was never terribly forthcoming about the results. It sounds workable but beyond my talents.

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. . . there was good sport at his making.

B'duhhhh...sorry, I had the (screw-in) upper balljoints in mind.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I just fitted the later lower control arm and strut rod into the early k-member and it looks like a go! This would be extra good news as the lower arm bushings in the original arms are not the same as the later ones. (Find 'em and then install 'em. Yikes!)
I know that the idler arm is specific to 60-61 but the pitman arm looks identical to the 62-66 (72?) arm. Am I missing something like spline configuration? Pics to follow.

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. . . there was good sport at his making.