1973 Dart Sport 340 (my way)

[74DartSwinger360]

Sorry to hear. Same thing happened to my grandfather this time last year.
Family comes first and I feel what you are goin through good luck.
Cant wait to see this car finished

 

[metallidart]

Thanks guys. Honestly, it still feels like a bad dream. Made me feel pretty good when they used a poem that I found on his remembrance card, and my Aunt printed out something I had typed up while I was in the hospital with him, I typed it just to vent, but they all loved it, and everyone that read it cried. She put it in a frame, and had it right by his casket.

I haven't posted anything, but I have done a little work. Got my tubular radiator support welded in, made sure all was level/straight. I had to do a little repair to the inside of the drivers side front subframe, right at the front, from the battery that exploded at one point. It was weak, so I replaced a part, reinforced it, and made a new top piece for the front of the subframe. Here are some pics from my cell, I forgot my camera.

 

[metallidart]

 

[metallidart]

Today, I started to re-attach the radiator support pieces, as the PO had removed the whole radiator support to repair the rust caused by the battery. I didn't get pics, yet, but I will! Tomorrow, I am going to start removing the inner fender, and also removing the inner fender from the good front clip I have.

 

[pauly]

Looks like you have a good starting point! I'm wrenching on a /6 3 speed 70 duster that came with a 340, 4 speed, and 8.75". Motor is coming out in the next week, so I can drop the front suspension and start getting busy! Keep us posted on your progress. Mine is under Newbie from Michigan.

 

[metallidart]

Ok, haven't had much time lately, but I have been doing a lot of thinking (not just about the sleeper w2 small block "problem" I posted in another thread lol.

I was going to keep it an automatic, just because that is what I have.

But...I may be able to sell the 904/converter/etc. My brother has a 4-speed he will get rid of.

My fiancé hates the center console in these cars. I dunno why, but she does.

How many of you are against aftermarket shifters in a-bodies? I have a feeling I would recess it into the floor a little for a more clean look, if I did it.

I'm not sure I want to use a 4-speed with that much engine.

Thoughts?

 

[metallidart]

Getting ready to put the front suspension in so I can bring it to the new house!

 

[MoparDaddy]

Wouldn't hurt my feelings to run a 4 speed.. Weld a pair of vice grips to the shifter if you want a real sleeper appearance! Rofl

 

[gdrill]

It looks really nice. Heck if the fiance hates consoles, go aftermarket. Myself, I'm to lazy to shift a 4spd anymore! I like to put it in drive and go.

 

[metallidart]

It looks really nice. Heck if the fiance hates consoles, go aftermarket. Myself, I'm to lazy to shift a 4spd anymore! I like to put it in drive and go.

That's pretty much what I am thinking with the 4-speed, lol. Besides that, my brother has a 4-speed in his, and I have to be different! I just looked at your build thread, and those white buckets/black console looks sharp!

She can get her own car, console stays! Lol

 

[metallidart]

Just got the uppers from Badart, and pretty much everything else came from FABO members! 76orangewagon did the strut rods, k-member, etc. Only thing I already had lying around was the lower control arms and cam bolts! Which I will be making my own sway bar tabs for the lcas.

 

[metallidart]

My homemade stiffening plates, used the back bumper off my 72 dart, removed it 12 years ago, it had a dent and I am tired of it sitting around! So, I put it to good use. I might add another hole for drainage..

 

[metallidart]

Still have to finish repairing the radiator support, the po removed it to repair some rust from a leaky battery. I gots the peices, just nots the time! Yet. But, here is the last shot before I went home.

 

[gdrill]

She can get her own car, console stays! Lol

That's funny! Thanx for the morning giggle. I have a set of Badarts arms too, I can't wait to put them to use. Looks like you'll have it at your house fairly soon! :thumbup:

 

[metallidart]

Finally have all the parts for the front suspension! I hate having a few auto-immune disorders... I could be putting it together today, but I don't think that is in the cards. I got my new pitman arm from another member, and it is exactly what I needed. I'm not hooking my brakes up, but I can't find the freaking inner/outer wheel bearings for one side. So, I feel like I am throwing money away buying new ones since I need to buy rotors etc but, I have to have them to move it. Grrr.

Here are the plans, in order, once I get it home :
1) Fix the minor rust spots in the roof from the vinyl top/trim, and around the rear window. I have a demon roof to use. Then, good paint, new rear gasket, and reinstall the glass.
2) Paint/detail dash, fix the spots a previous owner cut out around where the bottom of the windshield sits, seal it up, install something like dynamat on the roof and reinstall the headliner, then dash, new gasket and new windshield.

It has to be outside for now, the new house doesn't have a garage. Really sucks, but it never stopped me before! I figured I would do all the work, reinforcing, etc, get the drivetrain in, work out the bugs, and have fun with it until I get a garage. Then, I will tear it down and make it pretty.

 

[QuintinMotorCompany]

very cool!

 

[metallidart]

Thanks tqfastfish! I was checking out your build the other day, looks great! My son is the same age as you, I had purchased a 1966 Valiant for him to build, but it turned out to be a little rusty. Kind of keeping my eyes open for another. You are doing a great job!

 

[metallidart]

It's finally on the ground!

 

[metallidart]

Not much in the way of "work done" updates, but I have collected a few more parts for it.
---got a set of new .920 torsion bars from a member on here! All I need to do is get the solid tie rod sleeves, some 11/16 rods, and fab up my lca sway bar tabs, going to go with a bushing on the bar/heim joint on the bottom. That stuff will wait till spring, tho.
---sold the console/brackets/etc. Finally decided to go 4-speed. I got digging through myparts and found some stuff I didn't even know I had! Bellhousing brackets, correct shifter mechanism, basically new z-bar bushings, lots of cool stuff! The pedals/linkage/reinforcing plate/etc are all coming from the 68 Dart I got in a trade a couple months ago. Really clean, no rust parts!
---just bought an inside hood release, I don't think it had one originally but I don't like not having something like that on this car.
---trying to get a nice oem rear seat, fold down style, so I can use mine to modify for the wheelwell relocation attempt (so far, I can't find any that have been done on the 73-up cars!)

That leads me to a question: Are the cars with the fold down rear seat any less "rigid" than those with just the normal rear seat, since they lack the x-brace behind the seat?

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

I can't wait to see more.

 

[metallidart]

Me too...every morning I look at it and catch myself daydreaming.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Me too...every morning I look at it and catch myself daydreaming.

That is how you keep the dream alive. I just lost mine with my Charger.

 

[metallidart]

After you posted that, I searched out your build thread and read all 18 pages. I don't think you should give up on it! That does suck about the quarter though. Nothing a welder can't fix! Wish I could come help, I am really starting to like messing with my welder.

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

After you posted that, I searched out your build thread and read all 18 pages. I don't think you should give up on it! That does suck about the quarter though. Nothing a welder can't fix! Wish I could come help, I am really starting to like messing with my welder.

I would but I can't afford new quarters, used ones sell for almost new prices. 73-74 Chargers are different than the 71-72 Chargers so vry kittle interchanges. So it's going to keep rusting.

 

[metallidart]

Ok, so it looks like here reeeaaaal soon, its GAME ON for the ol' Sport!! Kids wanna go racing next year, and the boy wants to take time to do the 68' Dart and make it like new, so it will be go time soon.

My shortblock recipe:
1970 340 block-line bored with main studs and a Hughes girdle, decked for zero deck, priority main oiling, bushed lifter bores, sonic tested, bored/ honed with a plate to 4.100
--forged 4" crank, I would have to look to see who the manufacturer is.
--Eagle H-beam rods
--Custom-ordered JE pistons, ft with reliefs, sheet from JE specs them out to be 12.5:1 with 60cc heads, if I remember correctly. (I purchased the shortblock used, the po wanted a bigger, nastier small block.)
--Fluidamper balancer, Moroso 7qt pan/pickup, Cloyes timing set with the correct length for the line boring.
I think the shortblock will take anything I throw at it. Not many passes since it was last freshened, I got all sorts of receipts with it, its history, you name it lol.