1970 Dart GT - A day in the life

[7071DartGTReg]

This will be my official thread for my 1970 Dodge Dart GT.
I won't call this a restoration thread as I drive her daily. So instead I am calling it "A day in the life". I will post any and all restoration type improvements as they happen.

I am going to start at day one: The day she came home in 1994.
First of all, I did not know they made 70-71 Dart GT's at the time!
Because of this she was my inspiration to start The 1970-1971 Dart GT Registry.

To keep this thread about my 70 GT only please see:
www.7071dartgt.net for more info on The 70-71 Dart GT's and GTS's.

We bought her for $400.00 in Seattle, WA. She had no reverse and a busted ring. The journey begins.







I stuck a spare 904 in her to get her drivable for my Wife (I had my 1972 Dart Swinger Slant 6 4 speed). You only noticed the busted Ring (SMOKE.... ON) briefly every now and again.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[AdamR]

F4 green, my favorite.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Here is the story on the Engine & Tranny replacement.
I had been hauling around this Slant 6 since 1989. I bought it from a dealership in Clearwater, FL. The story from them was that it was a 1964 (it was) 225 Slant 6 300 hp that was built by Chrysler in 1965 for a Mopar sponsored race car of some sort. The race team never picked it up and into the back room it went. I found it during an open house during a car show at the dealership wrapped in plastic on a pallet in the back room. I offered them $400.00 for all (Also on the pallet was the Clifford 4 bbl Intake and Headers) and they took it!
Now the bad news; When I went to put it in the 1970 GT I learned about the different Tranny/Crank Pilot sizes on 1964 Motors! This would have made no difference with a 4 speed Tranny. However, as my Wife could not drive a Manual/Stick It could not be used. I then sold it for what I paid for it.
(Note: Per the new owner of the Motor - FAST as Hell!)


Then I found a 1977 Aspen Wagon RUST bucket with a Shucks/Advance Auto Parts Crate Motor and 904 Tranny with 5,000 miles on them for $400.00.
(Note who towed who home!)


Then the clean up and Install Motor & Tranny.




These are the Motor & Tranny in her to this day.

The sharp eyed among you will have noticed the addition of a few items in the Engine Bay pics:
I installed Power Brakes, Cruise Control, 7 Blade Fan, A Moparformance Chrome Valve Cover Set, & a Super Six 2 bbl set up.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Her 1st car show was The Sultan Shindig in Sultan, WA Summer of 1996.
No trophies or judging just a parade and show.





After this we just drove her as a daily driver and to cruise ins. I rebuilt the Front End and added a Front Sway Bar, Air Shocks, & Rear Window Defroster. She was a proud member of The Seattle Chapter of Mopars Unlimited. We moved to NC shortly after. There she joined The Mighty Mopars of Western NC. She towed a 4 X 8 Trailer full of Dart parts (Weighed in at 8,000 lbs!) for the trip with only one problem - Overheated in traffic. This was fixed in NC with a biger Radiator and Fan Shroud.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

1st of all; Her NC Tag:


She then went to her 1st show in NC: The Mighty Mopars of Western NC's Annual "Mopars in May" show on May 3rd, 1997.

-Insert Trophy Pic Here- when scanned

She won 3rd Place in the A-Body 70-up Class! She was beat by 2 1970 340 Dusters (20 cars entered in the class) and was the ONLY Slant 6 vehicle to trophy in the show.



Later,
Bruce B.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Well, What can I say. All good cars come to an end? Keep in mind that this 70 GT was my Wife's car. So, Who wrecks it? Why, freakin' ME of course - UGH!

The 1st wreck; A Mitsubishi turns in front of me... Lady looks up... sees me coming... STOPS... Crunch, I broadside her! Damage to Mitsubishi: $4500.00, Damage to 70 GT: $1800.00 No Total out.



Not enough damage for me? 2nd wreck; (8 days later on the way to body shop for estimate) A Honda turns in front of me... She stops and I swerve to go around her... She pulls foward another 10 feet... CRUNCH again! This time I come out of the car raving mad! The girl locks her doors to save her from the raving long haired, bearded madman circling her car screaming at her - Me. I then calm down and we call the cops. Damage to Honda: $1000.00, Damage to 70 GT: $2500.00 No Total out. This time I am injured too - Damage to me: $5800.00. Off to the hospital.





The only bright side to this I can come up with is; The hits were both on the Passenger side, NO Frame damage, and Wife did NOT kill me provided I am NO LONGER to drive HER 70 GT! We used the settlements to purchase ALL (and I mean ALL) the restoration parts for her.

Then I found this 70 Swinger in Winston-Salem, NC for parts: $200.00:



We used the Hood, Grill, Valance, & rusty Passenger Fender from it. I Kept the entire Dash and 318 Short Block (it HAD a 340 Intake and Carter AVS on it when I bought it - came up missing when I went to pick it up!) Then sold the remaining carcass in 2007 for $600.00!

I Still haven't restored her. I am going to put all the Interior Stuff in this year - 2008. No paint until I get a covered place to park her in. Then the rest of her new shiny stuff goes on.

Oh yeah - I took full ownership of her in our divorce.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

She has been parked for a little over a year now.

7.25 Rear End finally croaked after 36 years!

I bought a 7.25 and Front Disc Brake setup from a 73 Duster to convert her to BBP and Disc Brakes.

So, Went to put the BBP 7.25 in to get her back on the road.......
Then decided: Now is the time to replace the Leaf Springs too - Right?

Bought a set of SS Leafs from Summit... the Springs arrive... go to put them in... freakin' B body springs! UGH. Summit puts me through phone hell (they try to blame me for ordering wrong Springs - NOT!) trying to exchange them for the correct A body SS Leafs. No go, they finaly agree to refund my money and pay for return shipping.

I then find out a member of the Middle GA Mopar Club has a set of HD A body Springs he bought and did not like on his Demon. Great deal was reached and I now have correct Springs.

Then I tweak my Sciatic Nerve... down for 6 weeks.
NOTE: I do not recomend doing this to yourself unless you REALLY enjoy pain!

August 2008 - Now have the new Springs in - of course the Brakes are shot. New Brake parts ordered and received 9/05/08.

More later,
Bruce B.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Here are the Front Mounts & Shackle Mounts - before POR-15;


After coating with POR-15 Black;


All Mounts & Springs after coating with POR-15 Black;


Right Side installed;


Left Side installed;


Also, I used new Shackles, Bushings, & Axle U Bolts.
I will open the Rear End up to see what Ring Gear it has since I am putting a new Cover Gasket and Oil anyway.
After all this I find out that the deal went through on a 1973 Duster 8.25 with 3:23 Sure Grip Rear End!
It should arrive by the end of 2008. And I will do it.... again. Lol that's life!

Now, on to the Brakes next post.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[340_dart_power]

Beautiful job thus far. Good thought on the POR15 application as well.
My '71 GT (since we figured out that's what it is I might as well call it that) could use a new set of rear springs. Yours came from Summit Racing?

 

[7071DartGTReg]

They did at one point but.... They are half the price of Summit from Frederickdodgemoparspeedshop.com.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[mooser]

dang about 315 shipped for a pair from Frederickdodgemoparspeedshop.com ebay store thats good considering they are about 200 a piece from summit not including shipping

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Well....
Here it is October 31, 2008.
So much for being down for "6 weeks"!
Still out of commision and looks like through the end of the year per my Dr.
UGH!
Got medical leaved by my job now too.
Oh well, life goes on.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[pettybludart]

AT LEAST WHEN YOU GET YOUR 8 1/4 REAR,YOU HAVE NICE EASY BOlts to undo AND LET THE REAR ROLL OUT.JUST A GOOD THOUGHT.GOOD LUCK!

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Here it is!
Just got the tag re-registered and put on her.


Cool!

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[7demon2]

a shameless plug bruce but if you need a really nice recored 71 oem radiator for you dart i have a thread posted in the for sale section.....

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Just wanted to touch base with everyone. I am still alive and kickin'. I have a new Phone number (Thanks to all that have helped me in this lousy time for me! Bless You!). Please email me and I will send it to you. I have no long distance service on it so you will need to call me. Also, I will try to get in the FABO chat room in the evenings and you can add me on Yahoo: dartgtreg7071@yahoo.com.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[340_dart_power]

Just wanted to touch base with everyone. I am still alive and kickin'. I have a new Phone number (Thanks to all that have helped me in this lousy time for me! Bless You!). Please email me and I will send it to you. I have no long distance service on it so you will need to call me. Also, I will try to get in the FABO chat room in the evenings and you can add me on Yahoo: dartgtreg7071@yahoo.com.

Later,
Bruce B.

Good to hear from you; was wondering how you were since I hadn't seen any posts from you for awhile.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Finally..... found 2 BBP 14 inch Steelie Rims! Man this has been a search.
Time to get the Rear Brakes put on woo hoo.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Here she is back on the ground!




And the gang at my house for 5th of July cookout.


Later,
Bruce B.

 

[72bluNblu]

On the ground is good! :-D

Be nice to see it back in action! Not a whole lot of the GT's left.

On that note, I need to post up again- I just saved a '71 Dart Gt from being parted! :cheers:

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Ok then....
Another chapter in the one thing leads to another book;
My friend George says; "Lets go ahead and put the Disc Brakes on her". Ok then!
Well, the Upper Control Arm Bushings, Upper Ball Joints, & Lower Ball Joints are shot.
Here I go again! Of course I have to clean and POR-15 all the parts first.

Anybody know the correct colors for Front End parts?

Well....... pics later.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[72bluNblu]

Most of the front end parts were "natural" from the factory with a coating of cosmoline to prevent rust.

Spindles - natural cast iron
steering knuckles/lower ball joint - heat treated cast iron
upper ball joint - natural steel
backing plate for brakes - semi flat black
strut rods - natural steel
lower control arm - natural steel coated in cosmoline
upper control arm - natural steel but have also heard could be semi flat black
tie rods - cast iron
adjuster sleeve - semi flat black
center link - heat treated cast iron
pitman arm - heat treated cast iron
idler arm - heat treated cast iron

All the above info is for a '70 e-body, link to the rest of the info is here http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=58257.0;topicseen,
it was provided by a gentleman doing a resto on a '70 Challenger 'vert.

 

[340_dart_power]

Looking better on the ground, Bruce.
Where'd you get your disc brakes from, if I may ask?

 

[7071DartGTReg]

Thanks for the fast reply 72blunblu! I think I am just gonna go with black and Clear this time around.

And to 340 dart power; I got the Disc Brake setup and Rear End off of a '73 Ruster er Duster.

Later,
Bruce B.

 

[rpmongoose]

Not bad for a 400 buck starter GT!