Start of a Dart

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At least theres an update, I may have to do the same - mine runs and while I can tool around the neighborhood it isn't quite ready for its full intended use just yet - with the swamp weather completely set in here in the PNW - some things will have to wait. good luck with the truck, if your progress goes like mine then by the time the weather breaks you can probably get back to the Dart.

@j par - perhaps when I can get my Dart road worthy I will meet you down at halifish's and we can stand back and supervise some of his woes - or hand him tools to help out
 
At least theres an update, I may have to do the same - mine runs and while I can tool around the neighborhood it isn't quite ready for its full intended use just yet - with the swamp weather completely set in here in the PNW - some things will have to wait. good luck with the truck, if your progress goes like mine then by the time the weather breaks you can probably get back to the Dart.

@j par - perhaps when I can get my Dart road worthy I will meet you down at halifish's and we can stand back and supervise some of his woes - or hand him tools to help out
if you're going to drive that far I would come on the last Sunday of the month and come a little further and go to the a-body group meet... There's a group of a-body Mopar guys that meet on the last Sunday of the month at noon at a pizza joint just off of 205...
Halffish needs help alright..:realcrazy:...lol..:poke:...
 
if you're going to drive that far I would come on the last Sunday of the month and come a little further and go to the a-body group meet... There's a group of a-body Mopar guys that meet on the last Sunday of the month at noon at a pizza joint just off of 205...
Halffish needs help alright..:realcrazy:...lol..:poke:...


sounds like a plan
 
Looks like my diet won't consist of nuts & bolts this coming year...

Excuse me sir, and not to state the obvious, but the words "diet" and "j par" are hard to fathom in the same sentence. Just sayin'...
 
Excuse me sir, and not to state the obvious, but the words "diet" and "j par" are hard to fathom in the same sentence. Just sayin'...
In the last two months I've lost my covid 15 + 4..... :D.... No soda, no treats, and no extra servings...:(...
 
No homemade whipped cream either?
Well I did stumble around Christmas time.. my wife made an apple pie from scratch of course and insisted on a 2lb box of See's Candy witch I was very well obliged to help her with LOL...
I'm happy to say I made a full recovery and still on my way down... LOL...
 
The head for the truck is stuck in machine shop jail. I made the mistake of thinking it would be done soon. Haha. The block is going back together this weekend and I'm going to reassemble it all and put it back in the truck, then add the head when I get it back. That way I can move the truck out sooner and get back on the Dart. Summer is coming!
 
The head for the truck is stuck in machine shop jail. I made the mistake of thinking it would be done soon. Haha. The block is going back together this weekend and I'm going to reassemble it all and put it back in the truck, then add the head when I get it back. That way I can move the truck out sooner and get back on the Dart. Summer is coming!
How's that summer coming statement working for you today?...lol....
This thread has made it all the way back to Page six... What the heck is going on?...
 
How's that summer coming statement working for you today?...lol....
This thread has made it all the way back to Page six... What the heck is going on?...

Out of the blue, one of my competitors stopped working so I've been super swamped lately. It is for sure the feast after the famine. I can't complain too much, it's nice to see some moolah going into the checking account lately. And the heater for the shop took a crap as we hit the middle of winter, so I wasted a bunch of time trying to fix it, then replace it with a defective unit, and so on. I dug out my old stand-by so at least I can work without mukluks and parka. And Bernie Mittens! :D:D:D

Progress report, even though it's on the truck which is just like a Dart but bigger. Oil pump and dizzy are rebuilt. All the engine sheet metal is cleaned, prepped, and painted.

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The intake and exhaust manifolds got a gentle porting and clean-up, they are off for a date with the hot tank tomorrow.

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The block has the cam installed and is getting the rest of its innards today so I can get the measurements and have the head shaved.

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Next up, go through the tranny and do all the seals and whatnot.
 
Time for an update on the space-hogging truck. It's been a long slow slog, but the finish line is in sight. The head was in machine shop jail for over two months but it's finally back, shaved .060, mild bowl blend, and oversize valves. All the accessories are cleaned, painted, and going back on the block. All that's left is to button up the distributor, rebuild the carb, and reseal the trans. Putting things back together is WAY more fun then taking apart greasy nasty crusted over parts to scrape, clean, blast, clean again, and paint. It's all very time consuming but will be worth it in the end.

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Time for an update on the space-hogging truck. It's been a long slow slog, but the finish line is in sight. The head was in machine shop jail for over two months but it's finally back, shaved .060, mild bowl blend, and oversize valves. All the accessories are cleaned, painted, and going back on the block. All that's left is to button up the distributor, rebuild the carb, and reseal the trans. Putting things back together is WAY more fun then taking apart greasy nasty crusted over parts to scrape, clean, blast, clean again, and paint. It's all very time consuming but will be worth it in the end.

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Great looking engine!!!... Here's what still makes my head spin... Great looking engine on work truck just meant to take loads to the dump and pick up parts yet your dream car the 69 Dart doesn't get this treatment?...
 
Here's what still makes my head spin... Great looking engine on work truck just meant to take loads to the dump and pick up parts yet your dream car the 69 Dart doesn't get this treatment?

The Dart will get the same treatment or better, but first I need to get it road worthy and then I need to figure out what I want to do with it. Stick or auto, SB or BB, buckets & console or bench, etc. Once I drive it for a while I'll know where to take it. Until then it will remain an ugly little red-headed step child.

I understand the logic behind the pickup truck engine restoration. I am OCD too.

Well I'm not OCD by any stretch, but my original plan became a victim of mission creep. I bought the truck knowing it was a non-runner, likely from a bad timing chain. That turned out to be the case, so I figured I'd just replace the chain for $100 or so and be done. Then I took off the oil pan and saw where the grubby pigs had been living since 1982. The valve cover was the same. The entire engine, inside and out, was a filthy crusty mess. So I figure I'll just refresh it with new rings and bearings, but the bores were out of round so it's time for a bore job. Then the head was cracked so I had to take apart the filthy grubby Volare engine to scavenge parts to build the truck. And then everything needs painted for protection and so it goes, and goes, and goes. What I thought would be $100 and two weeks has turned into $2500 and five months, and I'm not done yet. However, I'll have a completely new engine and refreshed everything else when I'm done. The truck will likely outlast me. :D

And the other factor, I like working in the shop. This is the first time I've built an engine, and I hope I get it right. If nothing else this is good training for the Valiant and the Dart when their times come.
 
I love tinkering in my shop as well. My 8 year old says he loves the smell of the shop. I have to agree. Nothing like the smells and scents of an old workshop.
 
@j par - Oh, hardly. There is zero possibility you will beat me done with the two trucks.

For today's update... I've been buried at work lately so there's been little wrenching time the last two weeks. Plus, I hit a couple of set-backs. I went to install the rocker arms and found they were pitted more than I was comfortable with so I had to source a replacement set. That took a little doing but they are set up now. Then I went to install the intake/exhaust manifolds with all the three-handed monkey business that entails, but before I got there the Car Part Fairy showed up with a set of Clifford long tube headers so all the time and effort getting the Super Six ready has gone by the wayside. The still-rusty half is getting a vinegar bath then they will both get fresh paint.

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Instead of going with the Super Six, I dug out my Clifford 4-barrel intake and an Edelbrock AVS 500, and we are in the process of getting them cleaned and painted for install. Yes, the carb is on there sideways but it's just sitting there for mock-up. The intake is getting painted later today.

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The head is back on and I got the new(er) rocker arms on last night. Since I'm using the 4-barrel now, I don't need to rebuild the BBD so the next project is to reseal the tranny and I'll be well on the way to final assembly and sticking this back in the truck.

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@j par - Oh, hardly. There is zero possibility you will beat me done with the two trucks.

For today's update... I've been buried at work lately so there's been little wrenching time the last two weeks. Plus, I hit a couple of set-backs. I went to install the rocker arms and found they were pitted more than I was comfortable with so I had to source a replacement set. That took a little doing but they are set up now. Then I went to install the intake/exhaust manifolds with all the three-handed monkey business that entails, but before I got there the Car Part Fairy showed up with a set of Clifford long tube headers so all the time and effort getting the Super Six ready has gone by the wayside. The still-rusty half is getting a vinegar bath then they will both get fresh paint.

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Instead of going with the Super Six, I dug out my Clifford 4-barrel intake and an Edelbrock AVS 500, and we are in the process of getting them cleaned and painted for install. Yes, the carb is on there sideways but it's just sitting there for mock-up. The intake is getting painted later today.

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The head is back on and I got the new(er) rocker arms on last night. Since I'm using the 4-barrel now, I don't need to rebuild the BBD so the next project is to reseal the tranny and I'll be well on the way to final assembly and sticking this back in the truck.

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My truck is stripped to the Bone, I mean the bare bone and ready for sandblasting and powder coating and I still feel that I'm ahead of you LOL. :poke:..
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