1968 Dodge Dart GT Sleeping Beauty?

hcallaway · May 4, 2022

Small updates. Original engine and transmission pulled. 273 broken down. Crank was seized. Cylinders were ok. Crap in the pan after changing the oil was bad. If by some chance we crank the engine it would’ve destroyed itself in QuickTime.

Also my son located the hard to find missing seat emblem for $30 for his younger brother.

hcallaway · May 4, 2022

Plan is to do the suspension and brakes. Then get it on the lift to clean the underside. Very easy on this car without any undercoating other than the factory in some areas. Detail the replacement engine and transmission. Paint the engine compartment and drop the motor back in. Also work on the replacement quarter panel at the same time. Strip the roof and trim.

joel d. snyder · May 4, 2022

Dana67Dart said:
It's awesome, but 67 was the best year

'69!

hcallaway · May 16, 2022

I have never seen cylinder heads this clean unless they just came back from a machine shop.

hcallaway · May 16, 2022

Now the cleaning can begin.

hcallaway · May 16, 2022

Stripping back the quarter panel to see what is underneath. It actually was not that bad.

hcallaway · Jun 4, 2022

We needed to separate the skin from the wheel lips

Also ready to drop the gas tank.

hcallaway · Jun 11, 2022

Rear Window Corners

Gas Tank Hole. New ones are on BO.

Bottom of floor solid other than the spare tire well.

hcallaway · Aug 8, 2022

Getting ready for the fabricator.

hcallaway · Aug 9, 2022

Roof is solid. Debating if I want to replace the vinyl top or paint it instead.

70dart340 · Aug 10, 2022

Just an old man's opinion, but I would remove the vinyl top trim, and paint the top body color. My "70 Swinger 340 came without a viny; top or a bumble bee stripe(verified by the build sheet found under the rear seat). I like the clean look, and the lack of rust problems caused by the moisture trapped under the vinyl. That being said, it's your car, and make her the way you're happy with. Nice ride, too. You can pull into the local burger hut, and not worry about another one like her pulling up next to you. Best wishes, Sir.

hcallaway · Aug 10, 2022

70dart340 said:
Just an old man's opinion, but I would remove the vinyl top trim, and paint the top body color. My "70 Swinger 340 came without a viny; top or a bumble bee stripe(verified by the build sheet found under the rear seat). I like the clean look, and the lack of rust problems caused by the moisture trapped under the vinyl. That being said, it's your car, and make her the way you're happy with. Nice ride, too. You can pull into the local burger hut, and not worry about another one like her pulling up next to you. Best wishes, Sir.

From one old guy to another, I am definitely leaning towards painting the top. This car is kind of funny because I’m really building it for my youngest son he is more of a Porsche kind of guy but he really likes this car and so does his fiancé so he has taken it on. He is now paying the bills!!!

hcallaway · Sep 20, 2022

Finally off to my fabricators shop. There is no one in the Richmond area with his talents. He has made body panels on his English Wheel for my Austin Healey that you cannot distinguish from the original sides. Most people cannot deal with the wait time as he is in demand. Also race cars are his primary business and he has to fix them after every race to have them ready for the next race.

hcallaway · Sep 20, 2022

hcallaway · Oct 21, 2022

Dart was dropped off September 20th and ready to come home on October 21st. That is pretty quick.

hcallaway · Oct 21, 2022

There was one more spot that the painters tape fell off so he did not notice the rust bubble. Should have it taken care of tomorrow before I pick it up. 20 hours labor not including me preparing it for his work. At a $100 an hour (for me) I do all I can.

340sFastback · Oct 22, 2022

Love that Dart! 20 hours for all that metal work that guy is super efficient highly skilled. My first ever metal work was that spare tire well I butt welded it in probably 40 hours cause I was learning at the time.

Amazing the floors were rust free. Apparently water never leaked into the car and they survived super solid.

hcallaway · Oct 25, 2022

I was able to bring it home tonight. It was great to see how Brett fabricated the gas tank tie downs, the filler panel in front of the spare tire well, various inner wheel wheel panels etc…

He added to the front of the 1/4 panel where the factory had a leaded seam to match the sill. Total hours billed were 21.5.

hcallaway · Nov 1, 2022

I was able to move a few cars around and roll the Dart to the last garage door. It will stay there until the engine compartment and front suspension are cleaned up. I needed a little help pushing or pulling it up the lift ramps so out came the ATV winch.

hcallaway · Jan 15, 2024

I had sealed the body work to keep the surface clean for bodywork this year.

hcallaway · Jan 15, 2024

7 1/4 rear with the BBP 5 x 4.5 out of a 74 Valiant. New seals bearings including the pinion seal. Rear should be fine for a stock 318 automatic. Should be ready next week.

hcallaway · Jan 15, 2024

Off Facebook Marketplace

All new- big bolt pattern V8 A body K-member! For sale

New ball joints / rotors/ calipers / bearings along with tubular upper control arms. Was bolted in and never used.

Fellow Mopar Lover from Cleveland decided to go another route and didn’t need it. He let it go for $600. It had been sitting for a long time in his garage. It was a good score for the project.