At an emotional crossroad

Woodward said:

Thanks!
I really don't understand why the distain for mopars... Guys would drop a 305/turbo 350 combo in a model A, and no one would bat an eye lash. I worked for GM for 18 years, i had a fox body 351w and no issues.. I took a Cordoba.. yes a Cordoba... To work.. it got keyed on both sides!

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Jealousy is a powerful thing you brought the better car to work.

ch1ll said:

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.View attachment 1715707856 View attachment 1715707857 View attachment 1715707858 View attachment 1715707859 View attachment 1715707860 View attachment 1715707861 View attachment 1715707862 View attachment 1715707863 View attachment 1715707864

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All a matter of perspective. There's members on this site that would kill to have the space you do LOL!!
BTW … looks like some great projects in the making in there!!

I , too , had a hard time with my dad . A hard core yankee who worked his butt off . Anyway , I was mad at him , and he was mad at me . What a waste of time and anger and pain . I would give ANYTHING to see him again . Whata wonderful man who showed me how to do things . How to be a man . How to work . How to live . IMO , do what YOU want but to the very BEST of your ability . don't take shortcuts or compromise on quality or commitment . took me 22 years to get my car up and running . So what , it's awesome . Why not a street/strip vibe . Best of both ! GO FOR IT !

383Scampman said:

I , too , had a hard time with my dad . A hard core yankee who worked his butt off . Anyway , I was mad at him , and he was mad at me . What a waste of time and anger and pain . I would give ANYTHING to see him again . Whata wonderful man who showed me how to do things . How to be a man . How to work . How to live . IMO , do what YOU want but to the very BEST of your ability . don't take shortcuts or compromise on quality or commitment . took me 22 years to get my car up and running . So what , it's awesome . Why not a street/strip vibe . Best of both ! GO FOR IT !

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Thanks and I can appreciate the support... I really do! As said before... all of you are awesome people who I’d buy beer's for anytime! It’s so odd looking back, knowing we never got along when I was a young and dumb, and for the most part, only remembering the good stuff... funny how that works.

Dad was a stubborn as a 6’7” German Pig Iron built Mule could be. Once he made his mind up... that was it! and rarely if ever... admitted he was wrong. Like many, he worked very hard for what we had, and funny... never complained much, like most Depression era people. That’s the hardest pill to swallow, because I complained all the time. I wasn’t a bad kid per say... but if I screwed up “In his eyes” Man... I got iT! and most times I probability deserved some of it. When accomplishment were made...Hug’s and complements were always in short supply, dad was always too busy... man..... I do miss that sob.

The car has already accomplished it's purpose. It brought the two of you closer together. Do with it as you wish, I'm sure he will appreciate it. Unfortunately it sounds like I am like your father. My wife says "You can always tell a German, but you can't him much". Time starts now. No guilt, no blame. I'll end with another old German saying, "Too soon old, too late smart". All the Best.

That 360 that you sold would've been great in your car.

66fs said:

The car has already accomplished it's purpose. It brought the two of you closer together. Do with it as you wish, I'm sure he will appreciate it. Unfortunately it sounds like I am like your father. My wife says "You can always tell a German, but you can't him much". Time starts now. No guilt, no blame. I'll end with another old German saying, "Too soon old, too late smart". All the Best.

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Don't forget..."A Grouchy German, is a Sour Kraut"

Car Nut said:

That 360 that you sold would've been great in your car.

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It was a an opportunity to help out a friend, and what was a good plan at the time. Now my RB/K member has been re-fab'd to an A-body hemi K member...

Thoughts for you... without repeating to much.

You mentioned ROADKILL, I like that show. David Frieburger said “You don’t have to get it right, just get it running” so get a small block Mopar and use a 727 behind it. If you decide to grab the 5.7L gen 3 Hemi they will bolt up... but you will have as much in that as a classic small block Mopar. Trust me when I say I ran those numbers for my Duster dreams...

On the Gen 2 Hemi note, you be lucky to find those parts right now, let alone afford them even with good income. Complete you are in for $30,000 on a 426. My friend was trying to upgrade his 426 last year and found himself in it 10 more grand just changing to a steeper camshaft... cause top end required new stuff due to clearance issues of taller cam lobes etc.

Now, a final thing, I bought my Duster and am working on it with my Dad and he thought I was crazy to pay what I did for it... and or parts to rebuild it... but he also loved hearing a 340 Mopar again... and it sounded exactly like the one he ran in his 66 Barracuda in the 70s. So I know what you are feeling on bonding with your Dad on your a Dart, glad you got started with him still around... and what you will find is once you bonded... when you start back building the car... it will have a therapeutic feeling and you will find yourself talking to your Dad while working on the car. (I was close with my grandfather building model train layouts and did that when repairing his train layout last year after he passed.)

Don’t beat yourself up on how to afford an engine right now. I am sure you have several parts laying around to bolt on and can get to a roller ready for an engine... and by then the solution will be obvious... but for now, make the goal turn wrenches on what you have and start setting aside money for what you don’t have.

By the way, try to have fun, and if it takes a year, it takes a year. If it takes longer so what... just enjoy it and try not to burn yourself out on the enjoy part cause building a car is a process... and isn’t always fun... it is ok to walk away and try again tomorrow.

So sorry for your loss man. It was good yinz reconciled though. As others have said, build it with what you have or can afford. Enjoy it. If you sell you will come to regret it. Your Dad was proud and will be regardless of the engine.

Let me start by first saying your story is very heartfelt and one of the more touching stories I've ever read on this website. Maybe it's just cuz I can also relate to a lot of it I met my dad when I was 27 with a boatload of animosity, he moved away from my sister and I and mother when we were about four started a new life halfway across the United States putting my half siblings through college while my sister myself and Mom struggled on welfare. I also learned what not to do as a father from him. I feel you should build your car as others have said within your means get it up and running and begin to enjoy it. And as time goes by you can move to that dream hemi if opportunity presents itself. The best of luck to you.