Over the weekend I finally started on the chassis , after doing the interior this should be a piece of cake !
For those that don't know 1960 was the first year for the Unibody but it still used the earlier front torsion bar suspension , I don't think the K-member front was used until 1962 or 63 . This is a drawing of the chassis layout , looking at photos on the web it's not exact but is pretty close .
Before doing anything I used the JoHan chassis to mark the axle centerlines on the wheel arches . I took some measurements but figured this was a good backup .
Here's the AMT '64 Belvedere chassis and parts I'll use for the unibody .
The rear axle from an AMT '58 Plymouth is more correct for the Dodge and it's the correct width . I just added some mounting posts to move the springs inboard .
Here's the rear suspension set in place . In the background is the frame from the '58 Plymouth .
I removed the front subframe and will add some .060" strips to each side so the chassis will fit snugly in the body .
Those strips were glued in place and trimmed . I also added a filler plate to the rear of the chassis .
Fits like a glove !
The original plan was to make a new subframe using the AMT '57 Chrysler 300 but then I realized that the '58 Plymouth was more accurate for the Dodge . In this photo you can see that the wheelbase has been stretched on the Chrysler frame . The Plymouth is also the correct wheelbase and I actually looked at using the floorboard and chopping up the frame to make it a unibody but there was too much interference with my interior .
So I just cut the front off and made the new subframe .
This is how it will look on the chassis .
The JoHan tires in my kit are in good condition but I really like these Firestone Deluxe tires so they'll be swapped .
Here's everything in place to check clearances . Some of you will be disappointed that this will remain a curbside model . Opening the hood and adding the engine compartment along with all of the miscellaneous goodies is something I'm just not up to right now . I will install an engine just for appearance sake so the chassis will look finished .
And after three months my Dodge is finally up on all four ! I had thought that the ride height would be too high and I'd have to make some changes to the suspension but it looks pretty good . That's a relief . . . something actually worked the first time !