1968 Dart 2dr post RESTO (father/son)

[metallidart]

Well, I am finally starting a thread on the 1968 Dart I acquired earlier in the summer. I was bored, browsing CL, and spotted this Dart for sale. Said it came with a 360, 4-speed, 3.73 rear. I figured what the hay, I'll see if he wants to trade for my 68 C10 sb stepside rat rod rusted frame shot bed project. Turns out he is a Chevy guy, experienced welder, and was looking for a truck to do airbags. Deal struck.

As soon as they pulled up with it on the trailer, my 12 year old son and 11 year old nephew were all over it. It was love at first sight lol.

The 360 is actually a 1996 magnum that his buddy took from a running truck. Trans was a cast iron 833 od. The rear is a 3.73 posi 8.8 from an explorer, but it only has drums. He installed a 3" relocation kit, but never got the chance to weld the perches on, so I can decide where I want the pinion angle. Here are some pics from when it arrived. That is my 12 year old son Logan in the front.

 

[metallidart]

pics

 

[metallidart]

Loading pics from my phone sucks! lol

 

[metallidart]

More pics to come, but I have to start waking kids up.

 

[Princess Valiant]

what a nice looking grille and front end trim ...my car had the front end trim all dented up ....which makes me wonder what is with some people and driving ....is it so hard to not hit anything in front of you. lol

whoever had your car before could obviously see and didn't hit anything with the car.

 

[metallidart]

Thanks! 68 grilles are my favorite from those 3 years, so I was pretty happy to see it in almost perfect shape. I will probably just polish and repaint the black. The bumper is straight, but the corner is rusted through (along with the entire bumper bracket!)

Although they didn't hit anything, apparently they didn't "hit" many car washes either! Underneath is really clean, but anywhere towards the outside that could have held water and mud is rusted out.

 

[Princess Valiant]

I have always wondered but never knew ....do the back windows roll down or are they in a fixed position, or maybe pop out like a duster.

I have never had or seen a post car up close before.

 

[metallidart]

To my suprise, they roll down! I will run outside and snap a pic.

 

[metallidart]

don't mind the green seat, apparently the "experienced welder" previous owner thought he could leave it in when he moved the springs over. He said it WAS perfect. It wasn't, however, fireproof. At least the welds look good lol

 

[metallidart]

I have done alot of work since I got the car in July. My goal is to teach my son some things about cars, work, and just get to spend time with him. Second, I have a ton of parts lying around, so I thought, lets see what happens if I actually put something together. This is the epitome of budget, if I can test my skills by rebuilding something instead of buying new, I will. My kids think "dad can fix anything". Time to put that to the test! Lastly, its been 6 years since I drove my last a-body (well, not counting the 20 mile drive home in the 66 Valiant that had the uca rip loose from the subframe. It was steering funny.), so I am really itching to drive something. It will be a loooong time before I can do my Dart Sport, so this is my little stress reliever.

 

[metallidart]

Check out the original fenders....shot. Literally have random holes all through them. The splash shields came off in peices, and I unbolted the passenger side bumper brackets, which are super nice, and proceeded to remove the drivers side by twisting them in half. The subframe, though, is perfect.

 

[metallidart]

I was going to try to frankenstein some fenders together just to get by until I had money to get decent ones, but a trip to the local swap meet netted me these gems....for $75 each!

 

[metallidart]

I know, they are 1969 fenders, but unless someone wants to trade, I am just gonna weld up the marker light holes and drill them for my round ones. The drivers side has a patch at the bottom, but they did a decent job. The bracing is still perfect. They stripped all the undercoating off of the insides, and I don't see any big dents, etc. But, they BRUSHED the primer on. Oh well, I don't have a garage, at least they won't rust!

More pics to come. One more before I go...picked up a 75% pair of Mcreary G60-15 at the same swap meet for $60! No dry rot, patches, etc. Should work ok with the magnum!

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Oh this is going to be great. Is your son having fun yet?

 

[no poseur]

always wanted to do a post, good find, I'll be watching this build

 

[metallidart]

Oh this is going to be great. Is your son having fun yet?

I like to think so! lol. He is trying, so thats always good. He actually got a little dirty tonight, he removed the shocks and all the cotter pins.

always wanted to do a post, good find, I'll be watching this build

Thanks! I already started alot, so I have alot of pics and info to keep everyone interested for a while lol

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Have you started a thread on the Duster parked beside it?

 

[metallidart]

I kind of did, its my Dart Sport, but it needs way more work (it was a basketcase) so I figured I would put this one together first, and if he decides he doesn't like it, I can sell it and do the Dart Sport lol. Its a 73 340, but I don't have a fender tag or build sheet, so I am just going to make it my way.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

I kind of did, its my Dart Sport, but it needs way more work (it was a basketcase) so I figured I would put this one together first, and if he decides he doesn't like it, I can sell it and do the Dart Sport lol. Its a 73 340, but I don't have a fender tag or build sheet, so I am just going to make it my way.

I will look for it when you start one at a later date.

 

[metallidart]

Logan wrenching on the shocks, and I jacked it up and set the rear tires under it to give him a glimpse of what the future holds. Have to say, I kinda like it!

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Great looks like he is enjoying learning.

 

[metallidart]

I will look for it when you start one at a later date.

I have never really suceeded at pasting a link using my phone, but here goes lol. I haven't had much to ad to it lately.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=218877

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

I have never really suceeded at pasting a link using my phone, but here goes lol. I haven't had much to ad to it lately.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=218877

Thanks I just read it.

 

[winstoninwisc]

I have the motor for it here its a 68 340 out of a 69 gs dart tranny an option its under
new posts send me an e- mal I will send you a pic of my buddy krammers 68 dart with a true flame paint job to hang by them for insentive

 

[metallidart]

Thanks, I have a drivetrain just about all buttoned up for it. I gotta get some more pics of the heads, and finish the porting. It should be a fun engine!

Here are some before pics of the tops of the inner fenders. The drivers side was missing almost the entire upper lip, and the pass side wasn't much better.