1967 Dodge Dart GT daily driver build

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VintageRacer67

1967 Dart GT 318/Auto
Joined
Mar 12, 2021
Messages
146
Reaction score
142
Location
Orange County, CA
Hey FABO. I’ve been working on my 1967 Dodge Dart GT for the last 10 months or so (many of you have helped me in my posts). Per some members recommendations I’ve decided to create a build thread. It’s just too much info for the photo garage.

I purchased the Dart used in Southern California. It’s an original V8 GT 273 2 barrel (replaced with a 318), 904 automatic car, with power steering and power drum brakes. It had red interior (buckets and console), light tan (beige) exterior, and a black vinyl top (now missing).

My plan for this project is a daily driver, with some modern comforts, safety and performance while keeping the vintage feel. This is my first Mopar project, but not my first muscle car. I’m not a mechanic, but I love all things muscle car. I hope to learn a lot on this project doing as much as possible myself. I also have a 1967 Mustang project (my first car) and a 1967 Chevelle project I’ll get to eventually after the Dart. I’ll try to update this thread soon and get it caught up to where I am on the project. Thanks for checking out my build!

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A few images from when I cleaned out the car. I pulled the old seats out, what was left of the carpet, and 50+ years of junk and debris. The floor was pretty solid, mostly surface rust and one small hole on the passenger front floor board. I also found the broadcast sheet under the rear seat…. or at least most of the pieces of it. In a previous post here on FABO I learned that the seats are ‘67 Dart seats that were apparently recovered in this… ugly pattern by a previous owner lol.

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Speaking of old, check out this owner’s manual. Even has a few hand written notes from a previous owner. My Dart apparently had 17,672 miles by December 1968. Pretty cool.

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Looks a lot like my Darts book.

20,847 by November 68

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My dad bought his (my) dart in Feb of 67, and drove the car as his daily driver for 30 years.

your sequence number is lower than mine. So it was probably delivered in late 66 or Jan of 67.

One of the first pages has that info written down in my book. Your certicard ( if you have it) should have that info as well.

It maybe too late from what you said but the thinks you find under the carpet have value to document the history of the car

I found 1 of my dad's business cards.

Good luck to your build enjoy it.
 
Looks a lot like my Darts book.

20,847 by November 68

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My dad bought his (my) dart in Feb of 67, and drove the car as his daily driver for 30 years.

your sequence number is lower than mine. So it was probably delivered in late 66 or Jan of 67.

One of the first pages has that info written down in my book. Your certicard ( if you have it) should have that info as well.

It maybe too late from what you said but the thinks you find under the carpet have value to document the history of the car

I found 1 of my dad's business cards.

Good luck to your build enjoy it.

You have your Dad’s old Dart… that’s so cool. My dad wasn’t a car guy. He had a ‘71 F250 that I was going to fix up, but my parents got rid of it when I was in the Army. I wish to this day I still had it, especially after he passed away.

Your Dart’s manual is in much better shape than mine lol. That’s a cool piece of history.
 
I only have a 2 car garage. Moved projects around to get the Dart inside for some work. My goal with this project has always been to keep the Dart on the road as much as possible while fixing things.
Photos: The old carb was leaking fuel, so I pulled the intake and cleaned/painted it. Then installed a new Edelbrock 650 AVS2. During the swap found out I had 714 swirl port heads on the 318, which was cool.

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Your Dart’s manual is in much better shape than mine lol. That’s a cool piece of history.
you can find them in great shape on ebay etc. but keep the Original its the best! I have a sales brochure with my dads notes on it from before he ordered the car.

by the way you might find another build sheet. I have 2 that my dad found at some point.

By the By the way... save every nut bolt and screw. 67 is a odd year many one off parts not the same as on 68 up
 
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I stripped down some of the surface rust on the roof, and hit it with primer just for now. I’m planning on painting it body color. I also painted the front grill black (just my preference) and got new plates on the car.

I enjoyed driving the car for a while, until the starter gave up on me. I decided that I’d install a new high torque mini starter. And while I’m at it, I figured I would upgrade to disc brakes and rebuild the front suspension with a PST tubular UCA, poly front end kit and Hotchkis shocks.

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Thanks for your service VintageRacer67.
What did you do with the original plates? I like the old black with yellow letters and numbers.
 
Thanks for your service VintageRacer67.
What did you do with the original plates? I like the old black with yellow letters and numbers.
It was my honor and pleasure to serve, my friend. It only came with one of the original black plates (which hangs on the wall of my garage now). It had actually been registered to newer plates by the previous owner.
 
you can find them in great shape on ebay etc. but keep the Original its the best! I have a sales brochure with my dads notes on it from before he ordered the car.
You can also get some at RockAuto.com.
You can also get a digital technical service manual for them as well. (which I did).
My original owners manual sadly, was used as construction material in some farm rat's love nest.
But I lucked out and got another one from a free 74' parts duster. It was somewhat preserved in an old plastic envelope. Good thing too as the glove box was rotted out which then the plastic was the sacrificial layer that took the brunt.
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Sadly, I couldn't save that duster as it was rotted out to the core. I mean it sat out in the elements since the 80's with missing rear windows and rear quarters stored in the trunk, which in No. Utah is a bad thing (it also probably didn't help that it was originally an Iowa car). As over 80% of the floor and trunk was gone and there was significant amount of cancer on the frame. The rear quarters were about 20% gone as well. But the good thing is, it donored some much needed parts for my duster
 
Hey FABO. I’ve been working on my 1967 Dodge Dart GT for the last 10 months or so (many of you have helped me in my posts). Per some members recommendations I’ve decided to create a build thread. It’s just too much info for the photo garage.

I purchased the Dart used in Southern California. It’s an original V8 GT 273 2 barrel (replaced with a 318), 904 automatic car, with power steering and power drum brakes. It had red interior (buckets and console), light tan (beige) exterior, and a black vinyl top (now missing).

My plan for this project is a daily driver, with some modern comforts, safety and performance while keeping the vintage feel. This is my first Mopar project, but not my first muscle car. I’m not a mechanic, but I love all things muscle car. I hope to learn a lot on this project doing as much as possible myself. I also have a 1967 Mustang project (my first car) and a 1967 Chevelle project I’ll get to eventually after the Dart. I’ll try to update this thread soon and get it caught up to where I am on the project. Thanks for checking out my build!

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That front seat duct tape is APPROVED!!
How do you like the PST control arm swap? Easy install? I’m thinking about suspension changes since I’m dropping a 383 in for my slant six.
 
That front seat duct tape is APPROVED!!
How do you like the PST control arm swap? Easy install? I’m thinking about suspension changes since I’m dropping a 383 in for my slant six.

The car is a rolling work in progress. So I did a “Gorilla Tape reupholster” on my driver seat while I was driving it around lol.

I haven’t driven it since I installed the PST tubular UCAs (medical problems have delayed me a little bit and I’m still replacing my brake lines). They installed pretty easy and seem high quality. I did have to notch part of the support to clear the wider arm of the “tube”. I’ve posted a before and after pic, with the modification circled in red.

When you do the swap, post a thread. I love big blocks in A bodies. In fact, let me know if you do a photo garage. I’d love to see more pics of your ‘67 Dart slanty!

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So, progress on the Dart slowed considerably. In the last 6 months I’ve had surgery on both my right elbow and my right shoulder. But things are healing up and I’m slowly getting back into doing what I can. While I was on the mend, I did find a good deal on a rebuildable 360 small block. Purchased for $200 and the seller threw in the engine hoist and a 727 auto trans (which I believe is for a big block). The pistons in the 360 look to be higher compression than I expected. Also note the old M/T valve covers that came on the 360.

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So, progress on the Dart slowed considerably. In the last 6 months I’ve had surgery on both my right elbow and my right shoulder. But things are healing up and I’m slowly getting back into doing what I can. While I was on the mend, I did find a good deal on a rebuildable 360 small block. Purchased for $200 and the seller threw in the engine hoist and a 727 auto trans (which I believe is for a big block). The pistons in the 360 look to be higher compression than I expected. Also note the old M/T valve covers that came on the 360.

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That’s a good deal.
 
So, I was able to get all new stainless steel brake lines installed in the front of the car. While I was at it, I installed the high torque mini starter and the 340 HP exhaust manifolds with TTI head pipes. This is to replace the more restrictive 273 exhaust manifolds. I scrapped the old single exhaust and picked up a summit 2.5” dual exhaust that will replace it in the near future. I am very impressed with the bends and overall equality of the TTI pipes.

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Oh, I realized I forget to mention that I added a Hellwig front sway bar as well. Prior to install I cleaned up and repainted the bottom of my K-frame and lower radiator support. My LCAs did not have sway bar tabs so I really like how the Hellwig sway bar bolts on using the shock mounting bolt.

Quick shout out to Hellwig’s customer service. I did have a problem with one of the bushings being too large for the bar. One call to Hellwig and a new bushing was at my house -the next day! That, combined with the quality of their sway bar has me really impressed.

I’m really happy with how the project is coming along. Cheers to all the FABO members who have given me advice, guidance and encouragement. You guys are awesome!

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Blue Moon! A man after my own heart! Love the build so far. Glad to see you are healing up after surgery and getting back into the car. I may have to check out the Helwig sway bar. I am looking to upgrade the suspension in mine as well eventually. Disk brakes all the way around (I have the 10" drums atm), aftermarket suspension from either Hotchkis or QA1, and some quality meats. Trouble is finding wheels I like. I am glad you blacked out your grill. I want to do the same and now I know what it will look like. =)
 
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