How far gone is too far gone?

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This!…….this is too far gone!

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Can you do the work yourself? Look it over good and add up the sheet metal cost. Labor to rebuild that car at a body shop would be the deal killer. How much to restore it? $35-50,000? How much is it worth done? That's what you need to ask yourself.
 
toolmanmike said:
Can you do the work yourself? Look it over good and add up the sheet metal cost. Labor to rebuild that car at a body shop would be the deal killer. How much to restore it? $35-50,000? How much is it worth done? That's what you need to ask yourself.
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Right now it looks like 5-6k in sheet metal (that I can see) for the AMD stuff which is by far the best I’ve seen, but the last time I ordered from them it never made it to the west coast, still no clue what happened to it! I can do the work but pulling a couple hundred hours of time to do it could be a problem.
 
These are labors of love not profit. As long as you arent into it 3x its value it is worth it . The 69 340 4 sp I am doing right now I bought to save it from being crushed .
 
Just looked at the pics.... no way in hell would I part that car out!
If you need drivetrain for the 74 there are hundreds of Rams, Dakotas and Durangos sitting in backyards with 5.9s or 5.2a
 
mbaird said:
Just looked at the pics.... no way in hell would I part that car out!
If you need drivetrain for the 74 there are hundreds of Rams, Dakotas and Durangos sitting in backyards with 5.9s or 5.2a
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You are very correct.....Its official im gonna keep my baby haha, i need to finish my 74 but until i do at least i can drive this one.
 
I feel your pain, i bought a duster when " i was in the ether" as car Sales guys say. Looked Good from 15 Ft. Both quarters trashed, gallons of bondo , rockers rotted etc. I spent the next 3 yrs all Over the US Looking for a 100% rust free 70 Dart that hadno sheetmetal replaced and no bondo no wrecks. I got lucky and had
great timing i bought it at the height of the recrssion from a guy who was trying to keep his business afloat. i found it in Nevada in the desert perfectly preserved with fresh paint. The /6 smoked and burnt 32. Qts of oil in the 3000 miles to fl. Not a problem i had a fresh 360 magnum to install. Price $3500
If you have plenty of time and you are keeping the car, go for it. However from your description of the car i would say that after a Complete resto you will have more in the car than its worth and will be probably able to buy a Similar turn key one, maybe not as a pristine for less.
At 63 this is my laster complete every, nut, screw,washer, rebuild. The next one will be turn key.
 
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Brooks James said:
I feel your pian. I spent 3 yrs all Over the US Looking for a 100% rust free 70 Dart that hadno sheetmetal replaced and no bondo no wrecks. I gotlucky and has gerta timing i bought it at the height if the recrssion from a guy who was trying to keep his business afloat. i found it in Nevada in the desert perfectly preserved with fresh paint. The /6 smoked and burnt 32. Qts of oil in the 3000 miles to fl. Net a problem i had a fresh 360 magnum to install. Price $3500
If you have plenty of time and you are keeping the car, go for it. However from your description of the car i would say that after a Complete resto you will have more in the car thann its worth and will be probably able to buy a Similar turn key one, maybe not as a pristine for less.
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I dont want to go full on, i just want a decent driver that i can cruise safely, but its a little ways out i have quite a bit of work still to be done on my 74. Right now i just want to make room in my shop and stick it in the corner in the on deck circle.
 
I'm glad you decided to keep it, and build / repair it. After looking at the pictures, I thought, too - that's a keeper.
 
You do all the labor. All. No! you don't pay a bodyman. You work for nothing because you love your "baby".
Add up what ALL the parts and materials cost, that is what you have in it. Ain't hard to figure, just take time if you never done it before.
Some people get carried away and replace every damn nut, bolt, screw, washer, gasket, seal, etc. there is!! Over a 20 year period!:rofl::steering:
 
I'm glad to hear that you are saving it.
Even if you don't end up fixing it, you can pass it along to someone who will and the car will still exist.
 
RedFish said:
Today we have to go to museums to see dinosaur skeletons. Those were living creatures from much longer ago. We might keep these old iron machines moving but... at some point we might pay a premium for legal right to move them, aftermarket skin and all. I have a 67 notch with dead battery that has been lawn décor since the pandemic began. I feel like such a fool for continuing to pay for tags and insurance on it. Maybe some museum wants to display its bones some day? LMAO
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I'll Museum it for ya!
 
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