At an emotional crossroad

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Sorry for your loss and do the best you can to get it running.

Your dad would be proud!
 
Sorry about your Dad. Similar situation for me. My stepdad was a hardass full bull Air Force Col., who told me “children should be seen not heard.”
Not once did he give me positive reinforcement, complement me, and always found something wrong , no t to mention he molested me and my brothers. He was a real SOB. He didn’t even say he was proud of me when I got commissioned as LT and was a Medevac pilot.
He got blood cancer knew he was terminal and did a 180. We actually had a real relationship for months. I cherish that time even though it was short and feel that you should concentrate on anything positive about about your dad.
JUst my two cents.
 
Woodward said:
lol... Thanks for the reply!
Dad would disagree... If the car you built doesn't have at least parts from 6 different makes... It's not a Hot Rod.
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put a Scarebird front disc conversion on it, ford parts. yep ford and mopar, your 1/3 of the way there. add some fuzzy dice on the mirror and a garter belt around your tach. (those are Shivvy things right?) a couple of fart can mufflers to appease the import tuner crowd and your in with the Toyoder dudes.

No seriously screw the dice, garter belt and the fart cans, just playing.
 
Woodward said:
Wow, that's a nice collection lol, and jealous you have the space. Mines inside and not in the way, im just feeling I should be doing something with it, and I'm getting the comments of when r u going to finish it... But they don't know the back story.
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thats my biggest problem besides not having enough time, I don't have enough space. except for the new platform I built, but that will fill up fast. I would have bought 4 more cars in the last 2 years if I did.
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Sorry about your Dad. My father in law had a saying: A man can have many wives.....but only one mother. Same can be said for the father....
I would only proceed with this project if it is what YOU want. Your heart has to be in it. I would not not do it because of some form of guilt...or what might have/could have been.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Your dad was a hot rodder, and the essence of hot rodding is making due with what you have, and using your hands and your wits to make what you have better. I’m glad to hear that you feel the spark of enthusiasm building again, and I believe your Dad would be proud of whatever you do. Your dad taught you volumes during his lifetime, maybe not all that you agreed with at the time, but there is a lesson in everything. Maybe one of the lessons in the distance between you at one time would be to keep your own kids closer to your heart, and try to share with them your passions in life. In the end, they will fly in their own sky as you’ve done, and your Dad realized that you did also, and that was ok with him. Whatever you plan to do, keep your dad in your heart, he will be there with advice and direction, and will always be proud of you. I say do the Dart your way, and honor him with a hot rodders approach, do the best you can with what you have, and work your way up the ladder, you might be surprised at how quick you can climb! Good luck to you bud, and sorry to hear about your Dad.
 
I also suggest that you spend some time cleaning up that garage and making a space that’s easy to work in. I often get discouraged when I have to move things, clean up things, and work around things just to start on something. It just makes it easier when you can walk out with a nice warm cup of Joe, turn on the lights, click on the radio, and get right to work.
 
ch1ll said:
put a Scarebird front disc conversion on it, ford parts. yep ford and mopar, your 1/3 of the way there. add some fuzzy dice on the mirror and a garter belt around your tach. (those are Shivvy things right?) a couple of fart can mufflers to appease the import tuner crowd and your in with the Toyoder dudes.

No seriously screw the dice, garter belt and the fart cans, just playing.
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erm, i think your math is off
my scarebird kit uses toyota discs, chivy calipers, and gmc hoses
 
Build the car the way you want and put your favorite pic of of your dad next to the gauges. He will always ride with you
 
It sounds like you already met the goal of the project, in spades... Glad you got to see that relationship through on a high note. Wish I had been able to do that with my Dad. Do quality work on the car in his memory and I'm sure he would be proud.
 
Sorry for your loss.
I did not have a very good relationship with my dad for many years. He was an abusive alcoholic, my mother divorced him when I was around 14, and he blamed her for everything possible. He always said that she turned all of the kids against him and constantly played the victim.
When I was young he was always buying and selling cars and trucks, doing engine work, body repair, whatever was needed. I am the youngest of the family and when I turned 16 things only got worse. I was something of a hellion and got into a bit of trouble with the law. Nothing serious, but I guess it was a great disappointment for him. I didn't see him much throughout my 20s, but did stay in contact. I got married in my early 30s and found a way to resolve all of the issues between us. I had owned a lot of fast cars as well as a few motorcycles over the years, which he did not approve of, always said I was wasting my time and money.
When I was building my 70 Dart, he started showing up at my house more often and took a real interest in the project. I found it a bit odd since he had always hated Dodge. It was a good way to spend time together doing something that we had at least a common interest in. He's been gone since 2006, I drove that Dart for many years, and to his funeral, sold it 10 years ago now.
I believe that you have to do what is right for you, but I also think that you have made a connection with your dad through that car. If you are not able to put a hemi in it, build it according to your budget and enjoy the memories it will bring you every time you get behind the wheel.
 
Thanks Everyone for the support, it means a lot!!! This past year was hard for me, and and much worse for others, but in retrospect it was inevitable that this was going to come up... what to do with the car. Good and Bad emotions, pain, anger and a lot of guilt, and 8 years later the car brings back those memories... I miss not being able to have a beer, leaning over the fender wondering what to do next.. i miss that. I have a lot to think about, and how to do it... but i'm feeling much better, in whatever the next evolution of the Dart will be.

Sorry if this all seems a bit... words fail me now, but sad comes to mind, to post on a car site filled with people I don't know. But sharing helps, even if it's for just for a moment... it helps and ALL of you are Awesome! And I ever meet any of you... The first beer's are on me! Maybe at the next Roadkill Nights! I am Woodward after all!

I can't end without saying what you already know.....Car (Dart) people are the best! It's like at the track, the SOB is talking S**t, sitting at the line Blasting the double purge trying to get in your head, then double bulb's you. Funny thing... when you break and your scrambling to make the next call, he's there jumping in to help, even loaning a part off his car without even thinking about it. You guy's are stopping to help someone on the side of the road, you don't know, and asking how you can I help? I'm sorry to hear the sad parent stories, but looking back... as most of us do later in life, I learned... some bad, most good.

No matter what the difficulties we're enduring, you people are always going to be the Guy/Gal pulling over... asking how can I help?

I'll share a moment... I chopped my D60 3 inches, and test fitted it for looks... Dad comes under the hoist with one comment.. "That's Bitchn'"

With Enduring Gratitude,
-Woody
 
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Just a thought
Put a late hemi in it they are cost effective..
Your dad would appreciate the hemi ( hot rod conversion) an the fact it carries the hemi name....
After all wasn't the the essence of hot rodding?
 
I was born in Jackson, back a few weeks ago (I am 73 and a Nam vet). My slant is if you sell your MOPAR, I think later on you'll think about what could have been on down the road.... Working the car and doing it a piece at a time is hard. Not just the money, but the days that you have to wait before you move onto the next major step. (I have been buying parts for the 440 for 5 years). So, in the mean time, do the body work. Those little tedious PITA's that need to be done if you are doing it right. Costs you mostly, time. Tunes in the man cave. Get an Eastwood 1/2 bench grinder with those looooong extended mounting shafts, with buffing wheels from that Chinese tool place, and start polishing up your bright work and trim. That takes time! I polished my distributor housing to the point that it looks like chrome. I used stainless bolts on my engine, but you can even polish up the heads on bolts for some blitz too. If you don't already know how, learn to MIG, TIG, Stick and torch weld. Learn to paint on scrap sheet metal. How to spot weld on sheet with the MIG. Eastwood has a great video on doing just that and its free... (Eastwood Auto Welders, Plasma Cutters & Accessories - Scroll down to stitch weld) Tons you can do, while waiting for the ching ching thing to get fat enough for that next piston. That Forrest Gump thingy about the chocolates isn't far off. And from so many others, "It is what it is"! Run with it!
Hawk
 
Sorry for your loss.
Being an old guy I will say this, as you get older, if you are like me, you will have more reoccurring memories and thoughts of your parents and youth. Thoughts of "what could have been", why things were like they were, etc. Your heart will tell you what path to take. And God also if you ask.
 
Sorry for your loss. Praying I have many more days before I am in the same boat.

I bet your Dad would be more proud if you got it on the road with an LA/Magnum or B/RB rather than let it sit trying to put a G2 Hemi in it.

Maybe keep the dream alive and collect parts as you can, but in the mean time drive it with whatever will make it move under it's own power.

I will say, it is much easier to stay motivated on a project when it will make noise and turn a tire. Seems to rekindle the fire for me when I can fire it up and drive around the block.
 
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Memory is like a sliding window of time. As time marches on, so does the window. New memories come into view, even as the old ones are slowly fading into the distance.
Just being logical;
throw a stock 5.9M in it and drive it. Every time you get in her, you will remember. And every time you drive it you will be making a new memory. Which will soften the first one. without obliterating it.
 
My parents divorced when I was 10 and Dad wasn't around much after that. He passed in 2006 and, although we weren't close I was there and really hold no anger towards him. I remember when I was young (before the divorce) he and I would go out to the car lots and, look around for fun. He liked cars but, wasn't a guy who wrenched on them.

Fast forward to my son who is 19, are likes and dislikes are not the same. I have tried to teach him things about wrenching on cars....sometimes successful and, sometimes not. Sometimes its my fault it doesn't work out and, sometimes it's not. Our relationship has been a struggle especially over the last 2 years. I wish it were better as I don't want us to have the type of relationship my Dad and I had but, one lesson we all should learn is you can't control other people.

I have done my part not to butt heads with him recently. My biggest thing that just pisses me off is when he won't listen to advice on how to do something on a car or, if he asks how to do it then argues with my reply. I just walk away and tell him...Good Luck!!! Do it your way!! The Duster i built is going to be his one day...it was going to be his graduation present but, since he is not responsible enough and, the little he did drive it he didn't respect or take care of it, him receiving this car will be down the road a bit. I fully expect him to change things on it and put his twist on it. Your Dad would be the same. He was excited about the car and sounds like you are too so, put it together with what you can afford and enjoy it. Thats Hot Rodding...just making things work for your budget.
Sorry for being long winded...
 
My father would see absolutely no reason to spend time and money on what I do with cars.
Pack ratting was also anathema to him.
Depression child. Navy commander WW2.
However, based on what you say I think your father would want you to do what makes you happy with the car.
Whatever.
I'll give you a caveat though.
Your father is gone, don't neglect the important people that you still have with you to work on a car.
Time is getting shorter.


 
You could pick up a late model hemi
Not too bad $ wise.
No matter what , build it and drive the wheels off it. !!!
 
i threw a new post on my old thread Dads Barracuda to make it easy to find. We traveled a very similar path, hope it helps. BTW we are not strangers on this website, we are family you haven't met yet.
 
Thanks for the heads up, all u guys are awesome.
Transmissions...... I have... Lol
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