3 hours from home in a one gas station town, I spotted this old Valiant sitting in the grass. I left my contact info along with a generous tip with the cashier. 10 days later a got the call and made the deal on the phone. We trailered it home the next weekend.
<img src="http://www.mopars.org/tools/bigred/Images/rustyside.jpg" width=420>

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Cheers!
Al T

While the exterior sheetmetal was fairly decent (except the front fenders), the floorboards were a different story. The carpets were soaked and the floorboards were no more. The engine wouldn't stay running and there were no brakes.

Diagnosis:
1. The sending unit/strainer was plugged solid with crud. Tube cleaned and new strainer attached. Engine starts and purs like a kitten!
2. Coolant begins pouring out the rad. 3 cores have been severed. Remove and temporarily solder cores shut.
3. No brakes: add fluid but no results. Quick disassembly of front cylinders reveals seized pistons. After a quick clean & hone job, reassembled with old parts and fluid starts running out of the bleed screws. I tighten and test brakes and they're working. These brakes bleed themsleves! Cool!
4. After topping up the tranny fluid and cleaning the tire/rim beads, they appear to be holding air. Ready to roll again.

Here's the return from the inaugral trip. Its feels very 'real' when gravel flys into the car's interior at 40 mph!
<img src="http://www.mopars.org/tools/bigred/Images/Rustymoving.jpg" width=420>

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Cheers!
Al T

Do you want to sell it?

I'll always sell for the right price but with unrestored cars, its often transportation costs that kill the deal. You making me an offer?

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Cheers!
Al T

I have one on the West coast:
http://www.dutra.org/pictures/62-valiant/for-sale.htm
DD

Put a T5 and blower on that puppy and terrorize some folks on the street and track...

I figure you have about an 800 lb weight break relative to your big car, so that'll make it extra fun.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Turbocharge it and put EFi on it. Turn the boost up to about 30# and find some big block owners at test-n-tune night!


Tom

Yea, throw some clear coat over the paint then race for pinks!

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Chuck Rivers, Webmaster

Great suggestions all!
The future is coming into focus. The only thing between me and the future is now $$$ and time.
Stay tuned for some conceptual pics.

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Cheers!
Al T

I don't know what you need but there is a guy on ebay selling alot of 61 plymouth valiant parts. Just type in plymouth (1961,61,'61) and all kinds of stuff will come up.

Here's the "look" that I want to capture in the '61 Valiant. Sort of like that tough little kid in school that could handle himself in all situations. I like that color of yellow . . . still working on the picture of the Valiant done up this way.

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Cheers!
Al T

The image is beginning to take shape now. Figure out a way to get larger wheels and running gear underneath. Keep the stance low. Cover it in yellow . . . and see if the space under the hood has room for a blower.

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Cheers!
Al T

Hey Al ,have you done anything to your 61 yet? I just got mine running and now ive got to drop the tank(stopped up)and rebuild the brakes.I plan on building a sport compact(dont laugh-what could be more sportier than a Hyperpac 61 valiant-the original sportcompact) with 17 inch wheels ,beefed suspension Clifford Hyperpac ,and 5-spd.
Have you found out any more about the front disc conversion?if you do please let me know.
Thank you
Mark W. Charapich
(aka SlantedAttitude)

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Ive got a slanted attitude and a heavy right foot.

I've progressed in my head (debatable according to my friends) on what I want to do but not physicaly but here's the plan.
According to one of Doc's earlier posts, altho the front suspension is unique to the 60 - 61 Valiants, the mounting locations for the entire assembly are the same as the 62 - 67 A bodies. Therefore I intend to pursue this swap. Once that's in place, I can get the disks off a mid 70's A body and do the conversion.
With respect to the rear, I intend on using an 8 3/4" and narrow it down a bit if I have to. I intend on putting lots of rubber on as well and therefore flare out the fenders as required.
With the interior, I'm leaning toward a customer 'deeper' dash with the original features grafted in. I'd like to create space in there for modern luxuries like AC and sound system features. Leather buckets of some sort will replace the bench.
Under the hood, I'm planning on redoing the setup I've got in Big Red.
Jeez . . . now that I've written it down for all to see, I've actually got to do it!

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Cheers!
Al T

Cool,Al ,sounds like a great plan of attack on the Valiant.Iplan on tackling the brakes and fuel tank this weekend on my Valiant.On the large rubber,theirs alot more room in those fenderwells than you might think so with my wheel and tire choice(new mustang bullet wheels)Idont think i will need to massage the sheetmetal any.Ive got a rusty 74 duster with an 8 1/4 rear and discs that will find its way under the Valiant also.

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Ive got a slanted attitude and a heavy right foot.