1965 Dodge Dart Charger (?)

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Beams

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2019
Messages
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Location
Modesto, CA
Hi all, introduced myself when I first came on board. Really appreciate the resource, and have learned a ton so far. This has been a very slow process for me—it’s not a full restoration, and I have no prior experience working on cars. I’m really just enjoying the journey.

Background: First saw the car in the backyard of one of my friend’s parents’ house. His dad is a Challenger guy, so has a few of those sitting around. I loved the dart when I first saw it around 2012. In a weird turn of events, I ended up marrying this friend’s sister in 2015, and their dad gave me the dart in 2018... Their family has 6 kids (5 boys, 1 girl) and none of the boys picked up the hobby. So I’m the lucky one.

He also has a 1965 convertible that is more “restorable”, but I liked the blue hardtop and was able to convince him to let me work on it after about a year of hinting interest.

About the car:
Last registration when I started was in 2000.
1965 Dodge Dart GT Hardtop
1974 225, Autolite 2100 Jerry-rigged on top
A833
8 1/4 rear end (based on 10 bolt cover)
Disc brake conversion complete (LBP all the way around)

Car has been painted, was originally pale yellow.

As I started to look into the car more, I decoded the fender tag. Looked like it was a 273 4 Barrel car, pale yellow, manufactured in LA.... sounds like a Dart Charger, right? I contacted Ulf about the car, and he ended up adding the car to the Dart Charger database. Still hard for me to believe it, considering that my father in-law traded a go-cart for it 15 years ago.

I’ll add some pictures, and type some more later.

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Cool, are you restoring it back to original?
Honestly, with enough existing changes and my budget, priorities are to:
1. Get it on the road and relatively reliable (just about complete)
2. Minor upgrades and cleanup, and install a HIPO 273

I hope that it will be pale yellow again someday, but am aiming to keep it true to form rather than factory correct.
 
The story is that the car was purchased at a local dealership new, and never left the area. The previous owners had the car in the family a long time, and had several motors in it. The last iteration, they blew up a small block, and used a 1974 a body to donate motor, OD transmission, rear end, disc brakes, power brake booster, and probably more. The interior has been redone—black vinyl and carpet, turquoise piping, etc.

Floor pans are hanging in, typical rust around rear quarters.

I worked on it for about a year in the dirt. Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of bringing her home. The car lives in a garage now, which is a big plus. Since pulling it out of the weeds,I’ve done the following to get the car on the road (probably will forget a couple things):
-Cleanup
-Carb rebuild
-Spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor
-Conversion to manual brakes as a cheap fix for leaking booster/master cylinder
-15x7 wheels all around we’re donated, so I took the deal and bought new tires (215 60/15) all the way around
-Gas tank
-Sending Unit
-Mini starter

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I’m not claiming any awards on color scheme/looks at this point. This has been an exercise in frugality. Doing what I can to enjoy the car on the road.

I should note, my four year old loves being involved in the car. She’s hoping it’s pink some day.
 
It cleaned up nice! I like the slant.
 
Thanks, Rusty. Really sweet Slant 6 you’ve built up. I have a 273 set for this car, but I’ll probably keep my Slant 6 for the future because of your build.

I'm totally amazed how strong it is. ...and this is the engine with the stock head....except for the heavy mill. Stock valves and unported.I am really wanting to see what the ported big valve closed chamber head motor will do. But that's gonna be a while yet. Thanks for the kind words.
 
Looking good sounds like you did what you needed to do to get her back on the road nice job! and great that your daughter is interested too!
 
Cool another one hits the road .

Maybe you could head up to Redding Saturday to Benton air park 2600 Gold st. around 11:30 for a show and shine and cruise .
Benton cafe will be open as well starting at noon to whenever everyone decides to leave or start an unofficial cruise.

Great story , enjoy your new ride .
 
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Cool another one hits the road .

Maybe you could head up to Redding Saturday to Benton air park 2600 Gold st. around 11:30 for a show and shine and cruise .
Benton cafe will be open as well starting at noon to whenever everyone decides to leave or start an unofficial cruise.

Great story , enjoy your new ride .
Thanks for the invite! That’s a solid 4-5 hour drive from my place. If I’m ever up that way, I’d be happy to get in touch!
 
Dang google maps showed Central Valley just outside Red Bluff . Just 30 miles from Redding .

The odd thing is City of Shast Lake used to be Central Valley until 1993 . Our high school is Central Valley High .

So you’re located somewhere in the Central Valley, anywhere in the 18,000 square miles from The grapevine to Mountain Gate . So I’m guessing someplace between Stockton and Fresno .
 
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I’ve been slowly chipping away at small projects, like replacing the rusted out battery tray.

Registered for a cars and coffee event a half mile from my house. Figured I could get the car there, and back. After registering, found out that this was more of a show.

Put the car seat in the back and took my 5 year old with me. Didn’t wash the car beforehand. Just took it as-is. Got a prime parking spot. We had a great time, and a lot of folks enjoyed seeing a dirty old dart among the shiny Chevys and Fords.

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Got some stuff done this weekend.

Took out the leaking power steering, and swapped in manual steering. Had been able to source a manual column and box in good shape. Got seals and gaskets from Detroit Muscle Technologies, and the turn signal from @slantsixdan. Included installing a woodgrain steering wheel that I picked up last year. Of course I didn’t take make pictures.

The front end has always looked tall. Lowered the front about 2” using torsion bars. Looks better and seems to drive better too.

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Great save! I like the color, but restored to the yellow could be the future.
I think you are doing the right thing, going full resto takes years and sometimes no fun.
Enjoy driving it!
 
Great save! I like the color, but restored to the yellow could be the future.
I think you are doing the right thing, going full resto takes years and sometimes no fun.
Enjoy driving it!
Thank you, I’m having an absolute blast.

I figure that at the very least, it would be sweet to have the ratty paint on the outside, then have the engine bay yellow.
 
Not sure I would do that, but it's your car.
It's rewarding to bring a car back, glad you did that.
 
My daughter and I picked up a pretty clean 1967 273 last weekend. Inspection camera shows two valve reliefs. I need to do some more lookin, but we might just run it.

I think all I need to pick up is an electronic distributor, and a find a 273 flywheel. I have two slant 6 flywheels, but I’m not excited about drilling out that one hole.

I guess, I’ll probably need to figure out/decide how to deal with the large A833 od input bearing in the stock bellhousing.

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Took the dart to a car show in an old California mining town yesterday. About a 50 minute drive both ways, and the car ran great.

I’ve been working so long on getting the car running and driving, it’s going to hurt a little bit to pull the motor for the 273.

All pics by my 5 year old!

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