1970 Dodge Dart Custom Sedan Restoration

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John Martin

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2019
Messages
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Location
Gurnee IL
So I’ll be sharing the progress on this car. It came from Opp, Alabama and i picked it up for $150. It was going to get crushed, but it was too cool with a two-tone paint job and so many high options.

Here it is before the previous owner parted it out.

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A couple quick shots hauling it back home from Birmingham. My E-150 did really well for being super old and having a 4.6 V8. The going was slow and steady but it was important to get there in one piece.

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Here it is after hanging the fenders. I went back to Alabama and I picked up a carload of parts for $400

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Everything that could be saved, was. Unfortunately the original engine was sold off and could not be recovered. I got the dash, heater box, rear bumper, trim, instrument cluster and all sorts of various goodies back.

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That's kinda wierd. Why did they pull all that stuff off it if they werent going to use it. At least you got the dash back with the right vin tag. Right??

Any new pix of your progress.
 
Accessing the damage from the accident that took this car off the road. I will likely be on the look out for a new slant six k-frame. The radiator brace should be salvageable.

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I took some time to soak the fender tag in vinegar to help kill the rust eating it away.

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I made a new lower radiator support out of 2x3 boxed steel tubing. Maybe you can make something like that to work for you

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I was able to straighten out the core support with a little ingenuity and a couple ratchet straps.

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I had to replace a tire that would not hold air. The car will have E70-14 Polyglas Whitelines with Mag wheel covers when done.

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Maybe leaky valve stem or rust on bead not sealing? I have two biased tires from the 60's that are still holding air.

The old tire had the belts showing and it was dry rotted. This car was a lawn ornament in Alabama. So who knows how long it sat.
 
This car must have been wrecked a while ago. The quarter repair was botched, but they used an original replacement quarter from the Dodge dealer.

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