65 dart gt build

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braptor52

braptor52

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Here are some photos of my 65 dart i recently purchased in the last couple of months. its a california car i got from the original owner. 72k original miles. drove it 2 hours home from the bay area of california to my home in sonoma county.

My plans are to keep the car original with the exception of a 360/727 combo and a nice set of torque thrust II's. this lil dart is too complete to chop up and change its original gt packaged looks. straight body an all trim is there. interior complete except for a broken arm rest and the only rot/rust is a lil patch over the driver's rear wheel well.

As of now i am focusing on the mechanical aspects. will do paint/body and interior after everything else is dialed in. right now i have a 727 put together and 360 almost ready to be dropped in. pulled the original 225/6 and 904 out last weekend and am getting the engine bay prepped for paint. also have gotten a hold of a set of 73up disk brake spindles and calipers, an v-8 centerlink. hoping to have this thing back on the road by summer time!
 

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That is a great project you found. Seems solid and in good condition. Are you gonna keep the orginal white paint?
 
Thank you. Well I initially was wanting to paint it silver. but now I'm leaning towards painting it the original white/yellowish cream. Keep it original color, also be a lil cheaper than changing colors. I've had a lil trouble getting a paint code to bring to the local paint shop. I have the body badge that lists the trim code an paint on the car, think paint is like S1Y. Not sure how that translates into the modern paint code system.
 
braptor52 said:
Thank you. Well I initially was wanting to paint it silver. but now I'm leaning towards painting it the original white/yellowish cream. Keep it original color, also be a lil cheaper than changing colors. I've had a lil trouble getting a paint code to bring to the local paint shop. I have the body badge that lists the trim code an paint on the car, think paint is like S1Y. Not sure how that translates into the modern paint code system.
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If you want shoot me a readable picture of the fendertag and I will decode it for you.
 
Hello, I'm building a 65 Dart also.340,727,TTI headers. I am having issues with the . 727 trans not fitting.The tailshaft is touching the floorpan. I hope a different rubbermount will give me the needed clearance. Any ideas? Thanks Jason
 
I have made some progress lately, here are some photos. ive got my firewall gasket from Shumacher installed, my freshly re painted column an box installed, v 8 center link and new idler an pitman arms on there. also have my spindles hanging from a set of FFI tubular 73-up "big ball joint" arms. today i sent my LCA's into FFI to have them gone through an stiffened up. got my wheel well's re painted with fresh undercoating and also installed my grant wheel. still needing strut rods and torsion bars that i plan getting from FFI before i can set this girl back on the ground on a set of torque thrust II's!

Also i have a 9" purchased, that still needs narrowing. (i know its not mopar guys, but around here they're a dime a dozen an cheaper to build) got my 727 built ready to go and still need some parts for my 360 before i can drop that it. (oil pan, pickup, exhaust manifolds, converter)
 

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few more of tearing the front end apart
 

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Nice. I have a 65 Dart GT V-8 nearby in Sacramento. I don't move as fast as you and been on it 3 yrs. My Dart was cheap ($1000) but turned out to be a Reno car w/ some rust. I got a 64 convertible slant in the interim and fixing that too. I wonder how different the V-8 center-link is. I have my slant steering apart and held it up to my V-8's and it looked almost identical, but perhaps the V-8 drops another 1/2". I'll check the oil pan clearance.

Re fitting a 727, I understand you have to fold up a body seam to get it to clear the tunnel. Looks like you plan the Mopar BBP disk brakes, since there are disk brake kits that work with your original 9" drum spindles. That will increase you wheel selection. I am staying SBP.
 
That paint code SS1 is called Ivory. Looks like yours is a Feb 10 scheduled build date, 225 slant with 904, manual driver's side mirror, rear stone guards, AM radio, back-up lights, buckets. Hope this helps
 
Thank you. Well I initially was wanting to paint it silver. but now I'm leaning towards painting it the original white/yellowish cream. Keep it original color, also be a lil cheaper than changing colors. I've had a lil trouble getting a paint code to bring to the local paint shop. I have the body badge that lists the trim code an paint on the car, think paint is like S1Y. Not sure how that translates into the modern paint code system.
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Looks like you got a great build plan going keep up the nice work.
as far as the paint it looks like
SS1 is IVORY and the Y is upper inside door trim in tan. Nice color combo.
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BillGrissom said:
Nice. I have a 65 Dart GT V-8 nearby in Sacramento. I don't move as fast as you and been on it 3 yrs. My Dart was cheap ($1000) but turned out to be a Reno car w/ some rust. I got a 64 convertible slant in the interim and fixing that too. I wonder how different the V-8 center-link is. I have my slant steering apart and held it up to my V-8's and it looked almost identical, but perhaps the V-8 drops another 1/2". I'll check the oil pan clearance.

Re fitting a 727, I understand you have to fold up a body seam to get it to clear the tunnel. Looks like you plan the Mopar BBP disk brakes, since there are disk brake kits that work with your original 9" drum spindles. That will increase you wheel selection. I am staying SBP.
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yes the v8 centerlink does have a noticeable difference in the "drop" section. ive actually heard some later darts came with a v8 centerlink in a /6 car. think maybe some 66's.

an yup, im goin with a 727. ive already beat the pinch weld back along the tunnel for clearance like you mentioned. also purchased an adapter kit from imperial services so i can use my factory floor shifter with the 727. I actually found a guy (The Ram Man) that sells 73-up a body disc spindles an calipers w/ brackets cheaper than an aftermarket conversion kit. so i went along an got the spindles to have the larger bolt pattern and upper ball joint. i have a set of 14x6 Torque Thrust II's for it. cant wait to see what they look like on there.
 
thanks guys! i sent my lca's into Firm Feel this week to have them re-inforced and replaced with urethane bushings an greasable pivot pins. also waiting on a set of FFI 1.00" torsion bars. will update once i get em on the car. cant wait to get this thing on the ground again!
 
finally got all my suspension components ive been waiting for. will eventually add a sway bar up front but this will do for now.
in this picture are my:

Firm Feel 1.00" T bars
Firm Feel Heavy Duty Tie Rods
Firm Feel Reinforced LCA's w/ urethane bushings an greasable pivot pins
Firm Feel 73-Up style "Big Ball Joint" tubular upper control arms w/ urethane bushings
Firm Feel Adjustable Strut rods w/urethane bushings
73-up disc spindles

Now the assembly begins!
 

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Great to see another Early-A build.To me these little cars are like the forgotten A-bodies.LOL.They can be built to handle and also go in a straight line.If you have any questions regarding your car,drop me a PM.I,ve basically done anything and everything possible to my car to beat up on Chebbys/Furds.Just not on the curvy roads.LOL.Good luck with your build.:D
 
How's the Dart build? I made my deadline and made the 200 mile round trip to our big Mopar Run. I have a few things to tidy up but for now the Dart is running well and i can take a break and just do a little Cruzin.
 
Wow, awesome build. I really have a soft spot for 65 Dart GTs.. Wana buy another one? Lol
 
Welcome to FABO. Looks like a nice 65 and a fun build. It will be lots of fun when you get her on the road again. tmm
 
Jason65 said:
How's the Dart build? I made my deadline and made the 200 mile round trip to our big Mopar Run. I have a few things to tidy up but for now the Dart is running well and i can take a break and just do a little Cruzin.
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Jason, the build has been on the back burner for some time. recently just got back to work an gettin a paycheck again. (was out due to an injury). and money = parts so the gathering an installing has began again. congrats on your build! glad you made your deadline. im shootin for hot august nights this year, 5 months away...
 
Rockerdude said:
Wow, awesome build. I really have a soft spot for 65 Dart GTs.. Wana buy another one? Lol
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thanks guys, haha i appreciate the offer but right now my plate is pretty full an pockets pretty empty. guess you gotta pay to play right?

I almost have this thing into a complete roller. waitin on axles to finish my 9" swap an ill have to get a couple more tires next. updated pics an progress coming soon!
 
so ive assembled the entire front end, sittin on BFG 215/60r14's on 14x6 american racing torque thrust II's. now ive got the rear end tore down. rebuilding leaf springs an i got a set of FFI HD rear shackles coming in with all new leaf spring an shackle bushings. going with a Ford 9". using a set of 3.00 richmond gears with a detroit locker an having the housing narrowed with billet end caps installed. soon to be a complete roller. next will be building the 360
 

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few more pics
 

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Man, you have done some great improvments and I must say that the car looks cool with those wheels too!

:burnout:
 
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