Anyone ever turn an old Dart into an ultimate daily-driver?

....cuz that's my plan.

The sad reality though is I can barely keep my 74 Dart on the road much less make it an ultimate anything. I would LOVE to get her to a point she can be a 4-seasons-Iowa-shitty-weather-mobile; but alas, that would take a lot of money and mechanical prowness. Of which I possess neither. :(

Back story: 2 years ago I picked up my Dodge via a Craigslist ad for $500. I needed a car to get back and forth to work (less than 10 miles a day). It ran. I drove it 75 miles home.

I put new shocks, tires and brakes on it. (Well a shop did). Had the carb rebuilt. Had a fella weld a new rear shock-absorber-mount as mine rusted away and one shock popped into the trunk. I replaced the starter myself (yaaay Matt! ;)).

So I have about 2 grand in it currently. It's been parked though since summer as I can't get more than about 8 miles to the gallon with it. And I don't have the $$$ to drive such a guzzler. Which is puzzling as it's a stock 318 2-pot. ???

Meanwhile I've been driving a 1988 New Yorker my neighbor gave me when her dad died. Though I can't ***** about a free vehicle; I miss the Dart. The Chrysler gets 15 mpg. I would like to think a well-tuned 318 could knock down 15, perhaps better.

So when I figure out the fuel issue I still have to have the front end rebuilt. Suspension is shot. But a kit is like $300 or so. THEN maybe I can drive my old car.

But that's why I'm here. Try to get things where they should be. I don't want a muscle-y car. I want a car that's dead reliable and dependable. Sip as little fuel as possible.

I could then revel in the manual steering and enjoy the 318 thru a pair of dual pipes.
I don't even want to fix up the body. A rusty quarter panel is patina.

Oh yeah and as to the title of this thread; I think dropping in a new 360 (fuel-injected) and tranny and upgrading the rear to an 8 3/4 Sure Grip, with 15-inch wheels would do it for me.

Sorry I ramble.

I'm new. You can tell me to shut up.


:)


Matt