Looking at buying a 1968 Dart with 440
Here is what I found.....a 68 Dart 270 2 dr hard top. Originally /6 car column shift. The car looks like it spend all it's life near the ocean in Santa Barbara or Ventura county. So there are some rust issues. It can all be repaired but I'm not sure I can tackle it at this time. You know 2 projects and all :sad11:
The GOOD:
Bench seats and headliner are in very good condition. Dash pad is cracked of course. Door panels are good. Newer carpet. Gold color. All the glass is good.
The 8 3/4 has the 489 case with 3.91 sure-grip SBP. 727 tranny that could be rebuilt or used as a core. Brand new 3500 stall converter in the box. 440 engine was rebuilt in 1997. 292 comp cam. New valve train, spring, etc. on engine. Larger Valve. Adjustable rockers. Don't know about the pistons or compression but he had the engine blueprint cards. New Milodon pan, edelbrock torker II 440 intake, new water pump, timing cover, new valcover, full gasket kit for engine R&R. I did not see a flywheel or the bellhousing. Stuff was everywhere. The engine has not been fired up since rebuild and everything is very clean in the engine. Has the disc brake spindles, calipers and rotors. NO upper control arms. Grill needs some attention but is in pretty good shape. The bezels are nice. Bumpers are fairly straight. The trunk was almost perfect except for 2 spots where water collected near the shock bolts. The doors, hood and deck lid looked pretty good. The floor pans, trunk extension and frame rails were solid. Engine looks fairly clean
The BAD:
For a California car is has seen better days. Was told it sat out in a lemon grove for years. The last time it was registered was in 1988. Mother nature did a number in the C-pillars lots of bubbly stuff. I could not tell but I'm sure the quarters will need to be replaced too since they had some bondo and bubbly stuff. Front fenders look like they have some issues potentially. I saw some rust in the lower sections by the wheels. The driver's side door sticker had rusted out and had a manky repair job.
This car would definitely make a good project for somebody with a mind to have a big block in an original /6 car. Looks like a solid base to work with but the rust on the C-pillars worries me. I was thinking of making it a bracket/strip/street car with all fiberglass and roll cage. The drivetrain is practically all there and the body work can be done. I am thinking of holding off on this car until I find something better or more worthwhile. HEY JOHN you tired of that GTS....you can send it me and I'll do the body work....:D
The guy wants $3500. I honestly would not offer more than $2500 but am thinking about calling the guy and saying $2000 is the best I can do considering all the work it would take just to get it in driving shape.
***The 68 Dart is my favorite year. What do you guys think? Is this car worth getting as a future project? I probably will not be taking it to the level I have taken my Valiant though. It has alot of the parts already for a BBD. Would I be offering too little or too much? This guy looks like he needs to get rid of the car and his wife is tired of seeing it in the backyard.***
PICTURES
The bad stuff
The Good Stuff
surface rust. zero in the spare tire well
Here is what I found.....a 68 Dart 270 2 dr hard top. Originally /6 car column shift. The car looks like it spend all it's life near the ocean in Santa Barbara or Ventura county. So there are some rust issues. It can all be repaired but I'm not sure I can tackle it at this time. You know 2 projects and all :sad11:
The GOOD:
Bench seats and headliner are in very good condition. Dash pad is cracked of course. Door panels are good. Newer carpet. Gold color. All the glass is good.
The 8 3/4 has the 489 case with 3.91 sure-grip SBP. 727 tranny that could be rebuilt or used as a core. Brand new 3500 stall converter in the box. 440 engine was rebuilt in 1997. 292 comp cam. New valve train, spring, etc. on engine. Larger Valve. Adjustable rockers. Don't know about the pistons or compression but he had the engine blueprint cards. New Milodon pan, edelbrock torker II 440 intake, new water pump, timing cover, new valcover, full gasket kit for engine R&R. I did not see a flywheel or the bellhousing. Stuff was everywhere. The engine has not been fired up since rebuild and everything is very clean in the engine. Has the disc brake spindles, calipers and rotors. NO upper control arms. Grill needs some attention but is in pretty good shape. The bezels are nice. Bumpers are fairly straight. The trunk was almost perfect except for 2 spots where water collected near the shock bolts. The doors, hood and deck lid looked pretty good. The floor pans, trunk extension and frame rails were solid. Engine looks fairly clean
The BAD:
For a California car is has seen better days. Was told it sat out in a lemon grove for years. The last time it was registered was in 1988. Mother nature did a number in the C-pillars lots of bubbly stuff. I could not tell but I'm sure the quarters will need to be replaced too since they had some bondo and bubbly stuff. Front fenders look like they have some issues potentially. I saw some rust in the lower sections by the wheels. The driver's side door sticker had rusted out and had a manky repair job.
This car would definitely make a good project for somebody with a mind to have a big block in an original /6 car. Looks like a solid base to work with but the rust on the C-pillars worries me. I was thinking of making it a bracket/strip/street car with all fiberglass and roll cage. The drivetrain is practically all there and the body work can be done. I am thinking of holding off on this car until I find something better or more worthwhile. HEY JOHN you tired of that GTS....you can send it me and I'll do the body work....:D
The guy wants $3500. I honestly would not offer more than $2500 but am thinking about calling the guy and saying $2000 is the best I can do considering all the work it would take just to get it in driving shape.
***The 68 Dart is my favorite year. What do you guys think? Is this car worth getting as a future project? I probably will not be taking it to the level I have taken my Valiant though. It has alot of the parts already for a BBD. Would I be offering too little or too much? This guy looks like he needs to get rid of the car and his wife is tired of seeing it in the backyard.***
PICTURES
The bad stuff
The Good Stuff
surface rust. zero in the spare tire well