At a Crossroad...again. If I had only known!!!

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charliec

charliec

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
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When I bought my '68 Dart GTS back in 1997, I was young and full of piss and vinegar. I had more of that than time, though. So, my project mostly sat for many years. Now, I'm retired and have plenty of time, the money to spend, and a real will to finish. Trouble is, I'm not nearly as durable as I once was and I surely can't take another 20 years to start driving. I'm 70 freakin' years old, and I want to drive my car before my kids take my driver's license away. If I had known then what I know now, I never would have approached the project as a complete disassembly/refurb. I mean I tore everything down to bare bones, started sand blasting, painting, etc., etc. If I had it to do all over again, I would have fixed what needed fixing and I would have been having all kinds of fun driving it all these years.

Anyone else had this experience?

Here's my latest thought to maybe bring the timeline in a little and eliminate headaches. I naturally assumed that headers was the way to go for exhaust system for the 340. The engine has a Edelbrock Performer and 850 CFM Carb, relatively mild cam. I will never race the car hard. Should I eliminate the header fitment headache, and just go with stock exhaust manifolds? How much dropoff should I anticipate, and will the rebuild be significantly simplified?

I just can't spend too many more years on this baby.
 
Anyone else had this experience?

Yes, I think everyone has and not just with cars but houses and almost anything else.

I don’t expect you would feel much of a seat or the pants difference stock manifold vs headers.

I suggest you set a deadline of having your car drivable by next May. Then figure out what you need to do to make that happen.

And I like to see pics!
 
charliec said:
When I bought my '68 Dart GTS back in 1997, I was young and full of piss and vinegar. I had more of that than time, though. So, my project mostly sat for many years. Now, I'm retired and have plenty of time, the money to spend, and a real will to finish. Trouble is, I'm not nearly as durable as I once was and I surely can't take another 20 years to start driving. I'm 70 freakin' years old, and I want to drive my car before my kids take my driver's license away. If I had known then what I know now, I never would have approached the project as a complete disassembly/refurb. I mean I tore everything down to bare bones, started sand blasting, painting, etc., etc. If I had it to do all over again, I would have fixed what needed fixing and I would have been having all kinds of fun driving it all these years.

Anyone else had this experience?

Here's my latest thought to maybe bring the timeline in a little and eliminate headaches. I naturally assumed that headers was the way to go for exhaust system for the 340. The engine has a Edelbrock Performer and 850 CFM Carb, relatively mild cam. I will never race the car hard. Should I eliminate the header fitment headache, and just go with stock exhaust manifolds? How much dropoff should I anticipate, and will the rebuild be significantly simplified?

I just can't spend too many more years on this baby.
Click to expand...

I am feeling your pain! I’m just now starting to re-animate my ‘67 Dart that I got back in 2008. My recent retirement has allowed me the time to approach the car in a more ...um, thoughtful manner. As far as the headers go, if you already have them on the car, leave them and get a “header back exhaust kit “ from Summit. I did this and it worked well enough for a driver with a minimum of tweaking. You can get them with or without mufflers around $275.
 
Do whatever it takes to achieve your goal with the least amount of time possible invested in it. Maybe there are even some younger fellow FABO members nearby enough to help you out with getting it the rest of the way completed to help you overcome your physical limitations? How much reassembly do you have to go with it?
 
charliec said:
Here's my latest thought to maybe bring the timeline in a little and eliminate headaches. I naturally assumed that headers was the way to go for exhaust system for the 340. The engine has a Edelbrock Performer and 850 CFM Carb, relatively mild cam. I will never race the car hard. Should I eliminate the header fitment headache, and just go with stock exhaust manifolds? How much dropoff should I anticipate, and will the rebuild be significantly simplified?
Click to expand...

Do you already have the headers or stock manifolds? 340's were pretty spunky from the factory with the exhaust manifolds, so if you aren't going to race it but just enjoy some spirited driving occasionally, stock manifolds will be more than adequate.

Just my 2 pennies..
 
certainly going to be easier to use stock exhaust manifolds..... some headers are a real headache!!! And as said above, for every day driving you won't notice a big difference.
 
I'm on my last project.
It's going to be a rusty rat rod and driver.
(Yes, I stole that from The One).
Work on it as I drive it.
It's a toy.
I've got other nice daily drivers.
Like you OP, running out of time.
Put cast manifolds on your car and get it going on the road ASAP.
(Smoke um if you've got um).
Car-p A Diem.

A driver.
 
If it was me I'd break it down into smaller projects.
Write down some general headings. An outline form works well. For instance, suspension. Then break it down further into front and rear. And then more entries under those.
Brakes, engine, transmission, rear end, interior, body and paint, etc. Break those down into smaller tasks, finish them one by one, cross it off your list and then onto the next.

Schedule definitive times to work on the car. Something like every Tuesdsy and Thursday from 8am to 5 pm. Don't forget a short afternoon nap. This is your new part time job!!!

The hard thing for me is just getting started but once I'm into it, I get lost in concentration. Also, it helps to have a buddy show up and help out occasionally. Good moral support if nothing else.

Come to grips with what you want your car to be. Is it really necessary to completely rebuild and blueprint the engine? Or would you rather be actually driving the car with a re-ring, hone, bearings, paint etc. Giant carbs and big cams mean nothing if the engine is still on the stand and the hulk is still in the garage. 10 mpg or 15 mpg? If you already have the headers use them, or not, or sell them and use the money on something else.
When I have the money I don't have the time. When I have the time I don't have the money. Shrugs.

Get started, get organized, knock off a few things and you'll get motivated.
I always say, when building a brick house, there is always a first brick that gets placed, then thousands more one at a time. Then you're sitting inside in your rocking chair.
 
I was just noticing your avatar.

Reminds me of..... appropriate?



upload_2019-12-4_13-24-52.jpeg
 
Sell the Performer and 850 Holley. Your car will be trouble free and faster with the original cast Iron intake and any 340 OEM carb. Stock 68 to 70 340 exhaust manifolds are the way to go and lots of people will send you the stock exhaust even stainless if you want. And no surprises or headaches. How soon can you get it running? Driving? OBTW most of us suffer from this problem. I'd hate to admit how long I've had my 340 done, yet it still is in pieces.
 
SSVDP said:
Anyone else had this experience?

Yes, I think everyone has and not just with cars but houses and almost anything else.

I don’t expect you would feel much of a seat or the pants difference stock manifold vs headers.

I suggest you set a deadline of having your car drivable by next May. Then figure out what you need to do to make that happen.

And I like to see pics!
Click to expand...

I will post some pics soon. I have a bunch, but as I said, I started this project a long time ago. All of the "original condition" pics are 35 mm prints in an album!!! I have to digitize them.
I picked up a 72 duster K member and disc brake set up, so that might be an even better persuader to go with stock exhaust manifolds. I just dont know what extra kinks that will throw into fitting headers in there.
 
Garrett Ellison said:
Do whatever it takes to achieve your goal with the least amount of time possible invested in it. Maybe there are even some younger fellow FABO members nearby enough to help you out with getting it the rest of the way completed to help you overcome your physical limitations? How much reassembly do you have to go with it?
Click to expand...
I have a LOT of reassembly to do. The body is still on the rotiserie. The engine is rebuilt and wrapped. I can acces the crank bolt, so I rotate the engine once a month. The trans is rebuilt and stored. The differential is rebuilt and stored. The PS pump is rebuilt and stored. The LCAs are re-bushed, new tierod ends, etc. All steering links and knuckles are in place in the K and ready to be tightened and installed. Very little body work to be done. I replaced one rear lower quarter; otherwise very straight and rust free. I have sand blasted the entire underbody. I will apply an automotive primer and probably some kind of undercoat; leaning toward LizardSkin. After that, I think I'm pretty close to getting it back off the rotis and in the ground. That will be my big milestone.
 
Bad Sport said:
Do you already have the headers or stock manifolds? 340's were pretty spunky from the factory with the exhaust manifolds, so if you aren't going to race it but just enjoy some spirited driving occasionally, stock manifolds will be more than adequate.

Just my 2 pennies..
Click to expand...
It had Hooker headers when I got it. They were beat all to hell and are now defunct. I don't have the stock manifolds. Will have to locate a set. Know anything about repops?
 
If you ever watch Roadkill (you can youtube it). The moddo they use is "Don't worry about getting it right just get it running")and there's a lot of truth to that. If you tear the car down into a million pieces it becomes an enormous task and unless you are really motivated and have lots of time chances are it will sit there for a long time. So just get it running, then have fun with it and you can make improvements on it over time.

Stay motivated and get that car on the road as soon as you can. You can then enjoy it and get it just right over time if you so desire.
 
Around 1980, I had a really nice 73 Dart 340 Sport that had raggedy headers on it when I bought it. I replaced them with some pretty expensive Hooker headers. I had to put dents in at least a couple of tubes for steering clearance and then they still rattled against the frame. And they would scrape speed bumps if I wasn't very careful. Later, I swapped to stock manifold and loved them. No issues at all.
 
charliec said:
Anyone else had this experience? I just can't spend too many more years on this baby.
Click to expand...

WOW, I coulda written this post! I bought a 1972 Demon 340 in 1986 that had been "rode hard and put up wet". Carolina car so no serious rust. Messed with it and drove it around some 'till a rod knock started. Tore the engine and transmission out in "89. Kids in college, working crazy hours with on-call, took early out, started new job, moved, finished upstairs in new home etc, etc. Finally got back to it about 2009 (retired in 2008). Always something gets in the way or needs fixing.

Engine ,transmission rebuilt on run-in stand, interior coming along, Front suspension all rebuilt along with brakes. Gotta get under it and replace all fuel and brake lines and then drop drive train back in. At 76 YO this isn't fun any more so it will probably go to Carlisle next year needing some body work and total paint.

It's a labor of love until it isn't. I feel for ya all in the same predicament. The positive is, we all probably saved a Mope that would have gone to the crusher decades ago.

:thumbsup:
 
I blew my running 67 notch apart at 65 years old. It took me about 6 years to do the work, while working full time. I'm now rebuilding the front suspension again because I didn't research the mopar alignment issues enough and have to install the offset bushings. I did research the header issue and stayed with my stock manifolds. I have the car I hoped to get from the work and money though and I am grateful every day that I own my Barracuda. Hitting the wall is a universal experience for all of us so you are not alone there. Get a whiteboard, list the tasks and pick them off as you are able. I'm still working part time hoping to get a 69 dart next. That one may be a finished car though as my 73rd birthday is in four months. Best of luck to you, I am rooting for you.
 
lilfontleroy said:
this? View attachment 1715433080

it's a header in a K frame
Click to expand...

That looks just like what I had to deal with when I dismantled my current piece of yard art. If you aren't planning on any racing, I would go with stock manifolds, they come up for sale here from time to time, as for getting it back on the road, take a logical approach and go one stage at a time. Age is only a number, or at least that's what some people say, as long as you still enjoy what you're doing it comes together easy. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
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