My Western Sport Special

[meathead66]

Had been looking for a 69 Dart for quite awhile and finally found one in SF California in 2010; wasn't really looking for a WSS but did want something relatively rust free if possible, actually didn't even know what a Western Sport Special was but I did want a hard top Dart. So drove to SF from the Chicago area which in itself was some trip if you have ever driven through the Sierra Nevada's during construction with only 1 lane open towing an 18 ft trailer. It was pretty much rust free with the exception of the normal issue spots like trunk pan and lower rear quarters. I figured trunk pan is available from AMD and patch panels would work in the quarters. Since it was a roller (no engine or trans) my work was cut out for me.
Always been a Mopar guy but not an expert body guy or mechanic per se but at least I can take stuff apart and put it back together again as long as I got a picture to follow. Besides one buddy can weld good and my son in law is an estimator and manager of a body shop so he prolly has someone that does body work and paints.
Apparently someone had made some attempt at sand blasting it as sand was everywhere even inside the frame rails and cowl.

 

[roccodart440]

Not too bad of shape. Boy you have a lot of work and money ahead of you though.

 

[meathead66]

Made 1 mistake by not getting a title or checking to see if all the chrome trim for the vinyl roof, drip rail, emblems and all were there and included. Since quite a few of the parts are 1 year only items the budget had to be revised. It had also been hit pretty hard on the right side and the PO had run over a possible parking barrier as the trans cross member and torsion bar was out of alignment.
The title was to be following me home but that never materialized. Couldn’t very well start the project without a title so had to start the title procurement process here in Illinois. Since all it takes is a bit of "grease" to get anything done in this state my other son in law suggested a bonded title cause him being an attorney I went that route.
After test fitting the vinyl top trim, drip rail trim and some of the emblems they were obvious not from or for this car. Oh well chalk it up to lessons learned.
Took 2 years For the title but was kinda easy really. So started an extensive collection of parts during that time. Nice thing was that it came with 2 doors from a GTS which were in very nice shape but no door jam strikers on either side.

 

[roccodart440]

I'd really advise putting together a plan, a timeline and a budget. You are probably looking at 30-40 thousand dollars depending on how much you can do yourself and where you want to cut corners and about 1-4 years time wise assuming the money and resources are ready to go.

 

[meathead66]

Hear you "loud and clear" but it seemed like every couple of months the priorities got revised.

 

[meathead66]

Picked up a complete front end from a 73 Duster (thanks Joel) for the disc conversion and a homemade rotisserie within driving distance so then as long as it's on the roto might just as well put in tubs and weld some frame connectors in cause one never knows when a set of bigger tires might be needed. See my rational is " might as well go hog wild" now instead of having to disassemble everything later. Everything seemed to fall in place at once. Found 2 8x15 and 2 10x15 Centerline Telstar wheels on Moparts in my price range and by chance 2 bucket seats with brand new covers sitting on a porch with a "for sale" sign; ring the bell...guy says $100 bucks each and I'll throw in the tracks too. Never looked back even though they from a Plymouth.

 

[meathead66]

So my son in law says got a guy used to have his own classic rehab shop will check it out and tell you what you need to do. Dave says that car don't need much "just a little bondo, sandpaper, primer, paint, couple patch panels and a left fender and you good to go". Tall talking is what I'm good at so he says I'll start on it while you go on vacation. Soooo....I call AAR order a fiberglass hood and trunk lid as long as I'm in Cocoa Beach FL anyways. I tell her look how much I saved on shipping.
Can't say enough about AAR/Stinger as far as their quality goes, just a little sanding.

 

[meathead66]

OK Next phase while Dave is getting every ready for paint and primer I figure I might as well get going on the interior. Also need to shop for an engine and transmission. I had bought a big block trans for to use as a core should the need arise someday. And the need has arrived. Kinda want a small block though but hey the dream is starting to get roots. Like I said earlier "as long as I'm this far" might as well go all out. Last big block I had was 40 some years ago. No need to make that decision now.
Anyways I never liked the dash in a Dart kinda thought they are ugly so I find a guy on FABO who started custom making them per the customers design. Right up my alley cause I always liked the "Rocky Mountain" ones however they aren't around anymore anyways. Forgot who I got it from but thought his work was excellent and I'm one of the last ones he made. Contacted Norm's Speed shop in Wisconsin and exchanged my steering column for his. There was no way I could duplicate the job he did.

 

[HemiSSDart]

I am parting out a Western Sport Special in Rockford, IL let me know if you need any parts. I have also parted out 300 or more A-Bodies in the last 40 years so have lots of parts laying around.

 

[meathead66]

I am parting out a Western Sport Special in Rockford, IL let me know if you need any parts. I have also parted out 300 or more A-Bodies in the last 40 years so have lots of parts laying around.

Thank you Sir; very much appreciate the offer but I hopefully have everything pretty well set. Getting into the final stage so I'm sure at my age that something will be missing.

 

[meathead66]

Didn't take my friend Dave long to get the fenders, doors off and in primer. Filled in where necessary with "Evercoat Polyester putty". Had me get some " Eastwood Polyester primer" for the outside doors, fenders and body work. Did the underside, inside, engine bay and trunk with an epoxy primer which he claimed was the most durable he had used. The polyester primer had to be the easiest and fastest sandable stuff he said he had worked with. Wasn't cheap though but sure was a time saver. It was a pleasure to watch a guy being a professional practice his craft. Project was moving right along but now it's decision time for which direction to take. Either keep it as a Western Sport Special which in itself is a unique Mopar or do a big block with all that entails. I always liked the unusual and unique as I had just finished a Hang 10 360 but it wasn't quite "quick" enough. Soooo..... what to do?

 

[meathead66]

Time for engine and transmission decisions. Happened to pick up Hot Rod's latest copy on the Amsoil Engine Challenge (The 2011 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge, Part 2 - Mopar Muscle Magazine ) on how those engines were built, parts used' quality wise etc. Anyways got the guys at HP Engines to give me the "scoop" on their entry. Seeing their list of cam choice, carb,
intake, flow, and compression decided to put it out as a question to see what the "real" experts on the forum thought about this build
for a street application. Kinda expected the comments of "you nuts", " no way", "they built it only to last the contest", "you got balls running that on the street". But because of the builds quality parts and the labor put into the machining I bought it. Brought it to "Midwest Engine Tech" to go through and see what could be done to make it streetable friendly without giving up too much performance. In the meantime brought the 727 which I was going to use as a core to Kieth Long (727 Specialist)who went through it; put in his shift kit and HD parts along with a deeper pan. Said it was good to go. Added a Coan TQ, and figured might as well stick with all good stuff so ordered TTI's SR 2-1/8" step headers. Dave called in the meantime says painting is done with the exception of the hood which I plan to do with John Deere Blitz black.

 

[meathead66]

Apparently the consensus by everyone for a rear differential, driveshaft and brakes is DrDiff and I really couldn't agree more. As is pretty apparent by now I'm not in the engine building, transmission building, painting building, body building, or wiring/electrical building business but I love Mopars and have had a lot. Bought a yellow 70 Challenger T/A 4spd for $1700 sold it for $1900 and thought it was a deal cause I made $200 on a used car. Even had those obnoxious "slats in the rear window. Anyhow I regress. DrDiff answered all my "dumb" questions and I eventually bought his S-60 with 3.73 and rear 10.7 disc kit. I figured there was only a difference of $200 to $400 between it and the 8 3/4 similarly set up. On to the assembly phase which I can do as long as there is a picture to follow.

 

[meathead66]

Watched a lot of videos as to how to put an engine in a car and pretty much made up my mind to put in from underneath by raising the car up and on. Easy if I have to say so myself. Just picked the front end up with my cherry picker, rolled the engine under on my homemade gurney and bolted it up. Prolly should have put the shocks, brakes and whole steering linkage on as a whole unit but didn't want to push it cause I’m by myself at this stage. Rather proud of myself after that cause as tight as it was not a scratch on those headers which I had ordered bare and brought 'em over to QC in Michigan (Home | QCCOATINGS.com) to have them ceramically coated and they are really nice. My little red wagon sure came in handy for the rear end.

 

[Jadaharabi]

Off the top of your head what is the width on the Dana that you put under there?

Super neat car by the way.

 

[meathead66]

At present this is where I am. Just ordered the Painless wiring kit #10307 and my brother and I plan to completely re-wire it. He is/was an electronical engineer so he should be able to decifer the goobleygook of electronics. No way would I have attempted it on my own Should be kinda straight forward as it has no radio ( as of yet) prolly won’t be able to hear it anyway. No heater, for what? can’t drive in the snow. I plan to follow a previous thread on here as he basically did the same thing. (Painless wire harness install (MORE PROGRESS)) Thanks to "Younggun2.0" for the inspiration. Hopefully my electronic “guru” brother can read schematics as I have both of the Mopar tech books for 1969. Anyways I know there are electrical wizards on FABO so no worry.

 

[meathead66]

Brought the car over to Don’s Upholstry for a vinyl roof (which will be the ”piece de resistance”) of the project and a headliner. Bucket seat inserts and covers my buddy and I will do ourselves. Got the hog rings and pliers already to go. Side door panels front and back I had finished over the winter. Carpet is laid out as flat as can be with an electric blanket on it when I get ready. I had picked up an H-pipe and mufflers from a member here but will prolly have to hit a muffler shop cause I really the want exhaust coming out the back with oval tips if at all possible. We shall see.
Ready to start on the wiring.

 

[meathead66]

Off the top of your head what is the width on the Dana that you put under there?

Super neat car by the way.

If I remember correctly it was 51 5/8”. I’ll look it up later as it should be on the invoice from Strange which is right here in Morton Grove Il. Told the wife “look how much I saved on shipping”.

 

[qkcuda]

Nice work Ed. I love the colour. I always thought if I ever painted the cuda it would look good in sunfire yellow.

 

[meathead66]

Nice work Ed. I love the colour. I always thought if I ever painted the cuda it would look good in sunfire yellow."

Thanks Dave actually it's an Acrylic Enamel and I thought the Sunfire Yellow is a bit too light. So I went with Colonial Yellow not a Mopar color but don't tell anybody. The yellow will make more sense when the vinyl roof is done. That Cuda is in a different league for sure as it's too rare to alter. Gorgeous for sure. Mine is a clone done "my way", as evidenced by my avatar. lol

 

[meathead66]

Off the top of your head what is the width on the Dana that you put under there?

Super neat car by the way.

Invoice said 52.25" That's from outside of the axle flanges. I set the wheels under the car lowered it down and just measured between them. Fit perfect.

 

[Jadaharabi]

Thanks for the info on the rear axle width.

How about throwing a couple pictures of your Hang Ten up here since this is your thread anyway?

 

[oldschoolmuscle]

Keep up the good work.

 

[meathead66]

Keep up the good work.

Thank you sir. Very much appreciated

 

[toolmanmike]

Coming along nicely! Fun to watch it come together.