68 Dart SEDAN Restoration
The goal was to only spend $2700 in restoring it, since that was it's original cost and, coincidentally, it's current book value. It had been parked for 30 years and once fell of a trailer during transit, and had decades of mouse feces in it. I first rebuilt the entire brake system (all drums) complete with new lines and master cylinder. Then I replaced the shocks. A bit of patching was done about the body, and a bit of paint. The interior was completely stripped, and I hosed it down, the water turning black from mouse sewage. I replaced the headliner (it did not go well, but, it's better than before) and installed new carpet. I replaced one door latch and mended all the door panels One tail lamp was broken and I found a cheap used replacement.
The seat benches were ok but the rear seat back had been destroyed by the sun. Rather than spend a lot of money on a new cover I sewed my own from marine vinyl. It cost about $75. Below is a picture of the old and new.
Now with a new interior I went and pulled the transmission (the old motor was long gone). I replaced the filter and bolted it to the Super-Slant 6, which was sporting a new alternator, fuel pump, and coil. We then dropped in the motor. It took a while to line it up. After cursing out the transmission linkage a lot (which didn't line up with the new 2-barrel carb on the super slant 6) I hooked up a battery and fired her up
Or not. I couldnt since this motor had electronic ignition and not points, so I had to wire those up. She turned over but didn't start. I figured I wired it up wrong. I took it to the garage and they told me I had no compression, then charged me $225. They said my engine was probably destroyed for sitting so long. It was heartbreaking.
But fear not! i took it to my cousins, and we gave it a valve job and she ran! She's now registered and I can drive her about. There are only a few things left to fix:
1: A water leak shorted out the dashboard, and I have no gauges
2: The timing advance doesn't work, so if I go over 45mph the manifold glows (yikes)
3: A brake hose and transmission line are loose, so i'm loosing fluids
4: Connect the aftermarket, period correct under dash cassette player and CB radio
5: Properly wire the collapsable Am/Fm/CB antenna
6: Replace all lights with custom LEDs
7: Fix the Hazzard lights and Reverse lights
I'll post again once I get this stuff sorted out.
The goal was to only spend $2700 in restoring it, since that was it's original cost and, coincidentally, it's current book value. It had been parked for 30 years and once fell of a trailer during transit, and had decades of mouse feces in it. I first rebuilt the entire brake system (all drums) complete with new lines and master cylinder. Then I replaced the shocks. A bit of patching was done about the body, and a bit of paint. The interior was completely stripped, and I hosed it down, the water turning black from mouse sewage. I replaced the headliner (it did not go well, but, it's better than before) and installed new carpet. I replaced one door latch and mended all the door panels One tail lamp was broken and I found a cheap used replacement.
The seat benches were ok but the rear seat back had been destroyed by the sun. Rather than spend a lot of money on a new cover I sewed my own from marine vinyl. It cost about $75. Below is a picture of the old and new.
Now with a new interior I went and pulled the transmission (the old motor was long gone). I replaced the filter and bolted it to the Super-Slant 6, which was sporting a new alternator, fuel pump, and coil. We then dropped in the motor. It took a while to line it up. After cursing out the transmission linkage a lot (which didn't line up with the new 2-barrel carb on the super slant 6) I hooked up a battery and fired her up
Or not. I couldnt since this motor had electronic ignition and not points, so I had to wire those up. She turned over but didn't start. I figured I wired it up wrong. I took it to the garage and they told me I had no compression, then charged me $225. They said my engine was probably destroyed for sitting so long. It was heartbreaking.
But fear not! i took it to my cousins, and we gave it a valve job and she ran! She's now registered and I can drive her about. There are only a few things left to fix:
1: A water leak shorted out the dashboard, and I have no gauges
2: The timing advance doesn't work, so if I go over 45mph the manifold glows (yikes)
3: A brake hose and transmission line are loose, so i'm loosing fluids
4: Connect the aftermarket, period correct under dash cassette player and CB radio
5: Properly wire the collapsable Am/Fm/CB antenna
6: Replace all lights with custom LEDs
7: Fix the Hazzard lights and Reverse lights
I'll post again once I get this stuff sorted out.
