helliphinon8
Well-Known Member
Hi. I'm new here, but I figured I'd share my project ideas with you all before I get going. And I will also post detailed info with pictures on the restoration as soon as it starts. 1st off, the history.... The Dart was bought new by my great Grandma in '69. It was a Western Sport Special that came equipped with a 225 slant 6, 904 trans, 7 1/4" rear, 4 wheel manual drum brakes, A/C, P/S, cream white paint with black cloth interior, and the ugliest hub caps known to man. 
ukeleft:
When she got ill and passed away in 1988, my dad got the Dart. The vinil top had been removed ,and the roof was painted black in the 70's since she lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1990, my dad had the car painted the original cream white, and had a new vinyl top installed->(BIG mistake!!). When I was 12, in 1993, we moved from Ventura Calif. to Apache Jct. Arizona, then the car was only driven once or twice a week at best until I got my license in 1997. I inherited the "fart" as we called it, and our relationship started.
This being my 1st car, and my Grandma's 1st "new" car, I babied the hell out of it. Everything was in perfect condition except for the driver's side carpet where her cane had tore it up. Me, my friends, and this car went everywhere and had a **** load of fun. In 1999, I fell in love with a 1979 Trans Am WS6. I bought it & began owning Trans Am's until 2001. After I quickly realized that GM's were giant hunks of ****, I owned new Fords for 7 years since Chrysler couldn't and still won't offer or build a "cheap muscle car" like the mustang.
Anyway, the Dart sat from 2001-2009 on the side of my Dad's garage. The Phoenix, AZ area would be the last place you'd think about if you're worrying about rust. Unless you had a vinil top. Thanks DAD!! Needless to say, there are many rust holes in the roof now which will be no prob to fix since I'm an aerospace welder. What is the trouble is the sides of the roof above the rain gutters. They're as thin as paper.
My 1st thought is to grind away all of the active rust, and paint on some sandable rust killer, patch panel the holes, and bondo over everything since my best friend is an auto body tech with 20+yrs exp. Changing the roof is outta the question since it's such a ***** to do, plus finding a doner roof out here is next to impossible. I think all of this will work.
More of my plans are to come, but the rust is the major deal here. The V8 swap since nobody that is easy to find can build a /6 to run better that a V8, the disc brake front swap, and the paint and interior are yet to come including pictures as soon as the wife finishes college and gets a job.:angel3:
Any suggestions or help would be awesome if you were able to stay awake thru the story. :toothy5: If there is any engine builder in the PHX area that knows the hi performance stories of slant six's, please contact me @ xjnate5150@yahoo.com. I doubt there is anyone out there that can get some nasty V8 power out of a slant six. If so...Please contact me!!
THX,
Nate
ukeleft:When she got ill and passed away in 1988, my dad got the Dart. The vinil top had been removed ,and the roof was painted black in the 70's since she lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1990, my dad had the car painted the original cream white, and had a new vinyl top installed->(BIG mistake!!). When I was 12, in 1993, we moved from Ventura Calif. to Apache Jct. Arizona, then the car was only driven once or twice a week at best until I got my license in 1997. I inherited the "fart" as we called it, and our relationship started.
This being my 1st car, and my Grandma's 1st "new" car, I babied the hell out of it. Everything was in perfect condition except for the driver's side carpet where her cane had tore it up. Me, my friends, and this car went everywhere and had a **** load of fun. In 1999, I fell in love with a 1979 Trans Am WS6. I bought it & began owning Trans Am's until 2001. After I quickly realized that GM's were giant hunks of ****, I owned new Fords for 7 years since Chrysler couldn't and still won't offer or build a "cheap muscle car" like the mustang.
Anyway, the Dart sat from 2001-2009 on the side of my Dad's garage. The Phoenix, AZ area would be the last place you'd think about if you're worrying about rust. Unless you had a vinil top. Thanks DAD!! Needless to say, there are many rust holes in the roof now which will be no prob to fix since I'm an aerospace welder. What is the trouble is the sides of the roof above the rain gutters. They're as thin as paper.
My 1st thought is to grind away all of the active rust, and paint on some sandable rust killer, patch panel the holes, and bondo over everything since my best friend is an auto body tech with 20+yrs exp. Changing the roof is outta the question since it's such a ***** to do, plus finding a doner roof out here is next to impossible. I think all of this will work.
More of my plans are to come, but the rust is the major deal here. The V8 swap since nobody that is easy to find can build a /6 to run better that a V8, the disc brake front swap, and the paint and interior are yet to come including pictures as soon as the wife finishes college and gets a job.:angel3:
Any suggestions or help would be awesome if you were able to stay awake thru the story. :toothy5: If there is any engine builder in the PHX area that knows the hi performance stories of slant six's, please contact me @ xjnate5150@yahoo.com. I doubt there is anyone out there that can get some nasty V8 power out of a slant six. If so...Please contact me!!
THX,
Nate
