1969 Dart Street/Strip (Re)Build

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keep us up on the progress when it starts. if u stop and think about it the ole dart handled it pretty well.

Parts are already on order and they'll start sanding it down next week. They're saying 4 or 5 weeks to complete. This will be easy to work in with the other winter projects at least. Some shops can take a long time on paint jobs.

I beefed up the rear frame rails when I rebuilt them with heavier gauge metal. That probably helped take some of that impact. The crossmember had some dented areas where the brackets dug in but nothing very bad. The frame rail tabs held it pretty straight.
 
Sounds like you're luckin' out all the way around regarding the damage and getting it taken care of. 42 years ago on Christmas eve my 69 340 4sp. Dart was rear ended by a drunk in a Buick Electra. The surprising thing about it, considering the car that hit me, was that the rear of my car had about the same amount of damage as your car. But what spelled my car's ultimate demise was the buckle in the quarter panels over the wheel openings as well as in the rear frame structure on both sides. The car was still driveable and I drove it like that for a little while, but ended up parting it out. Back then it was just a 5 year old used car and deemed not worth fixing. I've been following your build for a while and really like your car. It sounds really sweet when you get on it. Hope all goes well for you on making it right again.
 
Wow.

I guess I'll shut my mouth when I'm knee deep into my 72 and complaining about something. CA car, a little surface rust, second owner car.

My hat is off to you!

Nice job.

Sorry to hear about new body damage.
 
Sounds like you're luckin' out all the way around regarding the damage and getting it taken care of. 42 years ago on Christmas eve my 69 340 4sp. Dart was rear ended by a drunk in a Buick Electra. The surprising thing about it, considering the car that hit me, was that the rear of my car had about the same amount of damage as your car. But what spelled my car's ultimate demise was the buckle in the quarter panels over the wheel openings as well as in the rear frame structure on both sides. The car was still driveable and I drove it like that for a little while, but ended up parting it out. Back then it was just a 5 year old used car and deemed not worth fixing. I've been following your build for a while and really like your car. It sounds really sweet when you get on it. Hope all goes well for you on making it right again.

Yep I'd say I'm lucking out so far. Like you, could have been a bigger vehicle, faster speed, and REALLY messed up the car.

Wow.

I guess I'll shut my mouth when I'm knee deep into my 72 and complaining about something. CA car, a little surface rust, second owner car.

My hat is off to you!

Nice job.

Sorry to hear about new body damage.

Here in the rust belt, we don't get the enjoyment of rust free cars very often. So yes, if what you have is just surface rust, be very very thankful! Sure will save a lot of headache.
 
Some progress on it. Most of the shaving is done and the trunk is pulled back. Ugh the dust is bad. I know it's all part of it but seeing that much dust everywhere make me cringe a little. That and seeing someone else blowing my car apart gets me nervous too.

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Nothing a little air (gun) won't blow away. Just keep the windows up.

It will be lookin good when done.
 
Yes Keep the windows up! The rest is cake to clean.

Hey, ever consider a black vinyl top? Would like back *** with the black and hood and stripe.
 
Nothing a little air (gun) won't blow away. Just keep the windows up.

It will be lookin good when done.

Every time I go by there the flipping driver's window is down. The interior is extremely dusty already. Oh well. Nothing that can't be cleaned up.

Yes Keep the windows up! The rest is cake to clean.

Hey, ever consider a black vinyl top? Would like back *** with the black and hood and stripe.

Nah, not really a vinyl top guy myself.
 
Every time I go by there the flipping driver's window is down. The interior is extremely dusty already. Oh well. Nothing that can't be cleaned up.



Nah, not really a vinyl top guy myself.
I kept my windows up when we were doing mine, and it still got filthy inside. everywhere else too .
 
Shhhhh....just trying to keep Clint positive. It will clean up....eventually
 
As I suspected, rockers are rusted. I knew they would be but it was one area I couldn't fix before without cutting the panel open like the body shop is doing. This should take care of most of the rust in the car that I'm aware of. Where there was some bubbling, they found pinholes everywhere when they sanded it down. This is an area of the car that always bothered me. At least now it will be fixed.

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As I suspected, rockers are rusted. I knew they would be but it was one area I couldn't fix before without cutting the panel open like the body shop is doing. This should take care of most of the rust in the car that I'm aware of. Where there was some bubbling, they found pinholes everywhere when they sanded it down. This is an area of the car that always bothered me. At least now it will be fixed.

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wow, looks like ur going to be better off than before !! cool beans , "as they say"-
 
More updates. Pictures speak for themselves. Glad that rust is getting repaired.

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Hadn't been by the body shop in a couple weeks so I haven't seen the car in person other than seeing pictures they were sending. So I stopped by to see what state it was in. Currently it's in the paint booth about to get primered and block sanded.

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Getting rid of the rust is your silver lining.

Dust is a way of life in so cal, especially in the high desert where I am. A decent detail job and your back in business.

I suspect the window being open all the time is because they're pushing it around the shop?

Every body shop I worked in would detail the car before delivery to customer.

Can't wait till it's my turn to worry about dust at the body shop!
 
Getting rid of the rust is your silver lining.

Dust is a way of life in so cal, especially in the high desert where I am. A decent detail job and your back in business.

I suspect the window being open all the time is because they're pushing it around the shop?

Every body shop I worked in would detail the car before delivery to customer.

Can't wait till it's my turn to worry about dust at the body shop!

Oh the feeling of knowing those rockers are replaced is awesome! The guy said it was a good thing I had the subframe connectors because there wasn't much there to keep the body stiffened up and was surprised he didn't see more effects of that in the body with the power it has.

The car was in a different spot each time I showed up and the guy noted how hard it was to keep running when it was cold. They ended up moving it by hand since it was easier. So it does make sense now you say that.

Believe me I didn't intend to get into the paint for at least 5 years knowing the cost of a quality paint job and what mine needed. I was going to have to save big time or learn to do it myself (which I had no intentions of). This just turned out to be a good deal for me that I couldn't pass up!

The tech guy asked me "Do you drive this on the street?" I say "yep". He says "How do you stand that fuel pump?" I said "Surprisingly it fades away when engine is running. But I agree, it's horrendously loud and is on my list to replace!" Can't decide if I'm going to go in tank or another rail mount yet.
 
Getting rid of the rust is your silver lining.

Dust is a way of life in so cal, especially in the high desert where I am. A decent detail job and your back in business.

I suspect the window being open all the time is because they're pushing it around the shop?

Every body shop I worked in would detail the car before delivery to customer.

Can't wait till it's my turn to worry about dust at the body shop!
----------------------------------MOA-----------
where in the hi desert are you ? I was in Victorville and Apple Valley for about 4 yrs.---bob
 
Oh the feeling of knowing those rockers are replaced is awesome! The guy said it was a good thing I had the subframe connectors because there wasn't much there to keep the body stiffened up and was surprised he didn't see more effects of that in the body with the power it has.

The car was in a different spot each time I showed up and the guy noted how hard it was to keep running when it was cold. They ended up moving it by hand since it was easier. So it does make sense now you say that.

Believe me I didn't intend to get into the paint for at least 5 years knowing the cost of a quality paint job and what mine needed. I was going to have to save big time or learn to do it myself (which I had no intentions of). This just turned out to be a good deal for me that I couldn't pass up!

The tech guy asked me "Do you drive this on the street?" I say "yep". He says "How do you stand that fuel pump?" I said "Surprisingly it fades away when engine is running. But I agree, it's horrendously loud and is on my list to replace!" Can't decide if I'm going to go in tank or another rail mount yet.
Clint, I couldn`t hear you fuel pump standing beside you car when it was running. (can`t hear mine either)----------- I assume your going back w/ the same color ?
 
----------------------------------MOA-----------
where in the hi desert are you ? I was in Victorville and Apple Valley for about 4 yrs.---bob

Acton. Close to palmdale but not too close. Got the car from Little Rock.
 
Clint, I couldn`t hear you fuel pump standing beside you car when it was running. (can`t hear mine either)----------- I assume your going back w/ the same color ?

Inside the car it's pretty loud when the engine is off. It gets drowned out by the engine though once it's lit. Going back with the same color. Would like to change the color a bit but wasn't ready to deal with getting the firewall cleaned up the way I would want it. That and I'm trying not spending too much to keep the old lady happy in the process. I might regret not doing it all but oh well.
 
The shop wanted way too much to just shoot the hood flat black so I brought it home to work on myself. Lots of orange peel to get rid of. I pulled the scoop off and holy cow. Bondo city! I'm not going to mess with it though. Just going to keep with the plan to scuff and apply the blitz black.

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The scoop paint is very contaminated and didn't match the finish of the hood at all.

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The shop wanted way too much to just shoot the hood flat black so I brought it home to work on myself. Lots of orange peel to get rid of. I pulled the scoop off and holy cow. Bondo city! I'm not going to mess with it though. Just going to keep with the plan to scuff and apply the blitz black.

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The scoop paint is very contaminated and didn't match the finish of the hood at all.

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better get that hood lookin good. one of the first things people notice when your running a scoop. the dart is going to be too nice for a mediocre hood !! aint mine, but I think flatter black on hoods looks racier. remember the 69 factory hoods? pics of new paint job when it`s done
 
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