New Member, New Polara

[Stev]

Still fabbing the quarter here. But if anyone has a '66 polara, can anyone measure the above distances and relay them back here? I obviously have nothing left of the original panels and I'd like to get more exact measurements to ensure I do it right.

A is the thickness of the panel behind the door to the wheel arch lip, front to rear. This should be the same for all C-bodies ( I think)

B is the vertical distance from the crest of the body line to the flat of the wheel arch lip. This is unique to the polara as the location of the body line is not the same from badge to badge


Additionally. if anyone has any c body wagon, I'd really appreciate pictures of how the inner tub on the left side works where it meets the wheel arch lip on the outer skin. I have nothing left of the original as the body shop cut it off, so i have no idea how it's supposed to be. Still undecided on which solution I want to go with on replacing it.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I am not sure if measurement A is the same for wagons as compared to 4 dr sedans, as wagons have a different wheelbase. Definitely NOT the same on a 2 door.

I can only check on my 66 Town and Country and give you that.

Measurement B is the same for Monaco and Polara, so I can check my 66 Monaco.

Stand by.

 

[Stev]

I am not sure if measurement A is the same for wagons as compared to 4 dr sedans, as wagons have a different wheelbase. Definitely NOT the same on a 2 door.

I can only check on my 66 Town and Country and give you that.

Measurement B is the same for Monaco and Polara, so I can check my 66 Monaco.

Stand by.

Swell, appreciate it.

I kind of screwed up the original drawing, i'm looking for the distance between the highest/outermost point on the bodyline to the flat plane of the wheel lip

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I measured exactly that - however, the distance from the body crease of the panel to the actual edge of the wheel opening varies, since the wheel opening is an arch, and the crease is straight.

At its most narrow it's 1/2" - pic is from a genuine 66 Monaco quarter.

The space between the wheel opening and the door's edge is also a tad variable - both are not straight lines...

1.5" as seen. My T&C's wheel opening is defined by a fender skirt. Measured from the very bottom of the door edge. If your door corner is curved, then you have to imagine the measurement is taken from a point if there was no curve (where horizontal and vertical meet).

Distance w/o the skirt to the tire's edge is roughly 3", depending on tire size. Mine are 235 75 15s.

Hope this helps

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

I think the measurements I took off the wagon really aren't going to apply... too many differences. I do think that since the Polara's door opening mimics the curve of the wheel opening at that point, just keeping it roughly within spec and have the new metal of the new wheel opening kept the same, then you'll be good. I'd go by eye, using 1.5" as a guide. Make a paper template, paint it primer colour, tape it to the panel and stand back from the panel to see if it looks right.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Here's a pic of a 66 Polara wagon's wheel opening:

 

[Stev]

Still plugging away at the quarter panel, but if you're old like I am, you grew up with Highway 35 and acceleracers, which despite being silly little toy commercials were genuinely great films that stood the test of time

On impulse i photoshopped a highway 35 livery onto the car, based on the '55 Nomad. We can't let Taro be the only Mopar guy around. I thought it would just be a laugh but the more I look at it the more I like it. The 5 year old in me is absolutely going "Hell yeah. Do it, loser"

Wraps are cheap, some day I might end up doing it.

Progress soon.

 

[3175375]

Still plugging away at the quarter panel, but if you're old like I am, you grew up with Highway 35 and acceleracers, which despite being silly little toy commercials were genuinely great films that stood the test of time

View attachment 734904

On impulse i photoshopped a highway 35 livery onto the car, based on the '55 Nomad. We can't let Taro be the only Mopar guy around. I thought it would just be a laugh but the more I look at it the more I like it. The 5 year old in me is absolutely going "Hell yeah. Do it, loser"

Wraps are cheap, some day I might end up doing it.

Progress soon.

I have never seen that show and know nothing about the series. I’m too old. Speed Racer was more of my time.

The wrap looks good though!

 

[cuda hunter]

Acceleracers sure looks like it was a fun show. I've not seen it either.

 

[Stev]

There we go. Had to borrow someone's shop to get it done.

Avanti.

 

[273Banjo]

Still plugging away at the quarter panel, but if you're old like I am, you grew up with Highway 35 and acceleracers, which despite being silly little toy commercials were genuinely great films that stood the test of time

View attachment 734904

On impulse i photoshopped a highway 35 livery onto the car, based on the '55 Nomad. We can't let Taro be the only Mopar guy around. I thought it would just be a laugh but the more I look at it the more I like it. The 5 year old in me is absolutely going "Hell yeah. Do it, loser"

Wraps are cheap, some day I might end up doing it.

Progress soon.

This rendering is cool, but I would keep the rooftop luggage rack, you might actually use it one day.

 

[Stev]

This rendering is cool, but I would keep the rooftop luggage rack, you might actually use it one day.

Oh yeah that's staying for sure. Just the best photo i could find for a base.

 

[Stev]

Going's been slow. The weather has turned and because the car is on the rack, I have to punt the thunderbird outside to work on it.

Got all of the panels fabbed up in pieces, had to extensively reshape the original inner quarter I made for the old incorrect quarter made out of armour plating.

Car's still going into the body shop on the 20th so I have a deadline to this thing. Might get it all shaped up and tacked in place and then give it to them, just in case they want to make any final adjustments. I'll ask what they'd prefer.

Also, the fleet has once again expanded with another distraction. A 1949 Austin A40. Rescued after it'd sat since about 2006 and road tripped it home. Bit of a party with it's top speed of 50.

Fortunately it's so small, I can actually park it between the lifts. So once Blue is in the bodyshop and all the stuff that's sitting there goes with it, it can live indoors without putting anything else in the wet. I'll also be bringing the DeSoto in from it's tent for the winter. Both it and Blue's motor are still trapped in machine shop hell. I am unimpressed.

 

[Stev]

Started delivering stuff to the bodyshop. Finally.

 

[Stev]

Visited the bodyshop again today for some refreshing beverages.

This Volvo is getting painted this week and then Blue is going in. Finally.