Miss Maylene

Howdy again

Well my boss gave me a few days off so I decided to go fishing with my dad. So I had some time to post a little more about me and the build.

My names Anthony or Tony or as a few who have meet me call me Hootie. I'm 22 with some repair background my dad used to have a few different cars growing up. He's a GM guy though..... My grandfather built transmissions for Chrysler till the late 90's. I just got out of college with a degree I really I don't know what I'll do with so I've been thinking about going to learn body work and painting but who knows! I work at a local gun shop as a gunsmith/sales person. It pays the bills.

But enough about me!

The car is kind of a tribute car to my grandfather. He always told me about these mopar when I growing up and he loved a 68 charger but I don't have the money for one so I picked something we both would like. My grandpa passed away almost two years ago and he is my hero so I think it's only right.

I've done a lot of looking at darts from different years seeing what was popular. I really like the factory steel wheels in black with dog dish caps. I just think that's a pretty cool look. I also like the old style Rocket Racing wheels but to buy new ones I'd have to switch to 4.5 bolt pattern.

Other plan is to lower the front by half an inch. Just using the torsion bar method. Also add front and rear sway bars for some better handling. Probably also redo all the bushing on the front and rear. One thing I need to do is add new shocks all the way around! I want a little bit of a rake but not a monster drag car look.

With the body I would like to fix any rust and all the dents. After that it probably will need paint. I thought about a dark maroon color, figured that would look good or black cherry, plays in the light which is cool or the factory color which was white, looks good with black accent but I don't want the vinyl top back on it, or a charcoal kinda color, plays in the light as a black/silver or lastly the same kind of a metal flake blue. Then rechrome the front bumper. I might add a tail strip depending on the color. Like my dad says it ain't a mopar with out a black hood. So flat black the hood and maybe add dual scoops or I kinda like the snorkel scoop myself. Not sure what original would be, I've seen both.

Interior, I'd like to keep mostly original. I like the bench seat it's pretty comfy and I love the pattern! That vinyl with the checkered inserts. So I'll probably get new covers for the front with new foam. It has AC which works pretty well since we recharged it. I'm still trying to figure out how to do the radio still, I might put a hide away unit somewhere. We will see, plus I want to pull the seat and carpets to check the floor pans then coat them. Also needs new weather striping. I would also like to change out the gauges with a unit I found in classic industry. Updated gauges will add a bit more enjoyment I think.

For the drive train, my dad says 340 because that's what everyone wants. I personally think the 318 will be fine for what I'm going to do with it. I want to wake it up right now and do a intake with a 4 barrel carb. I was looking at an eddy performer or maybe an air gap with a holly 600 cfm. Around the same time I want to do headers or something like that and do full dual exhaust. Still trying to pick a muffler to do. Maybe a thrush weld or glass packs. Eventually I will add around a 340 spec cam or maybe a size bigger and heads, found some at Aero Head racing and there pretty reasonably priced. I would like to put a 4-speed in but I'm not sure I'm able to for awhile. So I probably will do a shift kit in the 904 trans and have it run through. For a rearend I've been looking for a 8.75 but no such luck yet with a decent one. I'm thinking 3.55 gears with a sure grip or similar set up. Time will tell all!

The point of stuff I want to do is update the car and add a bit more comfort to it so its more of a joy to drive. That's the whole thing! Drive it! My grandfather would want to see it drive the most it could. It's not original but not over the top. Sorry for the long post but I hope you guys and gals enjoy!