1974 Dodge Dart Sport rebuild

[Builderguy]

Update:
Radiator was trashed, dropped off to get rebuilt, that is $400 down the drain!
Transmission was dropped off to the shop for rebuild, if needed.
Oil pump mashed some bearing pieces between the inside and outside rotor tips so it has to be replaced. Picked up a new Melling M-72 (USA made) just this afternoon. Now I will have to clean the block twice as hard to make sure no pieces are left behind.
Have not heard back on the heads or crank.
On the plus side, the wife and I checked the cylinders, and they are fine. Will hone them in the next day or two, once I find my flex hone.
Also on the plus side, I found another 1974 Dart that had all the A/C parts still attached and looking pretty clean. And, yes, it has the unobtainium water valve still in place! Will pull them tomorrow afternoon.
All and all, I think we are on a roll, just as long as the temp drops so I can get back to bodywork. If not, my daughter gave me 2 window shaker A/C units to help with the heat/humidity! Sweet kiddo!

 

[Builderguy]

My wife and I went to the junkyard this morning and pulled all the A/C pieces we needed. They are not in GREAT shape but they are in GOOD shape and I can work with that. It is an A/C car so having all the parts is kinda of important. I know the drier needs replaced, but I can get those.

 

[TF360]

Wow, surprised you could get all that at a junk yard, Can't do that anymore in this area.

 

[Builderguy]

The yard was established in the 70's and they have a dozen or so dart/dusters. The car I was working was on a sand hill and in the direct sunlight so it wasn't buried by vegetation. There were a ton of vehicles that you could barely see, untouched for 50 or so years. Michigan still has some old yards but they are getting harder and harder to come by. I guess we will be 3-D printing parts pretty soon.

 

[Builderguy]

Off the motor and back to body work. Whole body guide coat this time. Not too bad, lines look good. Just how I can miss some imperfections is beyond me, but I did miss this one. I think I am done using glaze as 2k primer should handle the rest. Small shot or two of epoxy on some bare metal (pounded down gently). Probably 2-3 coats of 2K, sand with 220 using guide coat and tape, then 1 coat, sand with 400, last coat, sand with 600 and should be ready for bright light wet inspection and sealer. Web will see how this plan works out!

 

[TF360]

Thanks for posting the build. I'm hoping to do something similar in about six months.

 

[memike]

Moving right along, your build will be something to see I am sure, keep at it and remember all paint jobs are 90 percent and 10 percent mixing and spraying, everytime I speak these words I can smell paint and body filler.
Most excellent job going here and thank you for sharing it here for everyone.

Watching some grudge match racing under the very hot sun.

 

[Builderguy]

Trunk lid was in worse shape than I thought. Going to need a little more work. The hood was not that bad, 2K should take care of it. Mice, I hate mice and everything mice leave behind, like their ACID urine destroying my dash. More metal work! At least I got some more "X" s on the progress board.

 

[Builderguy]

Had to put some glaze on the trunk lid. The hood was fine. I double checked the body line on both sides and they were pretty much spot on. Will mask off the interior and spray the entire body with a couple coats of high build. Depending on how it looks, I will leave it, and start building my spray booth. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. I could always just get an inflatable booth!

 

[mygasser]

nice sharp lines there
neil.

 

[Builderguy]

Man, what a **** day. The red mower in the pic, took a dump. Motor seized! Found out there is a 3 month back log on getting my carb re-built, will just have to do it myself. The trunk lid will take another coat of glaze to get right. The trans had some issue with the kick down and reverse bands, so that will cost more $$$$$$. I took a look as the distributor and that is going to need a rebuild. Just can't catch a break. Change what you can change and deal with the rest. I decided to fix the mouse damage to the dash. Little %$#@&^% !

At least that went somewhat decent, I guess.

 

[Builderguy]

Hood and trunk lid are ready to go into the booth, as soon as the booth is built. Soon, very soon! Just need to have the doors, fenders, and nose piece done so they can all be sprayed at once. Fender guide coat next, followed by the doors, all while tearing down the suspension and fixing the POS riding mower. Fun time to be had by all!!!!!!

 

[TF360]

Love it!

 

[Builderguy]

Mower was beyond repair, picked up another one that needed just a little love and a carb adjustment. Done, runs great. Kinda looks a lot like the other one, PONY vs BRONCO.
Now get back to work!

 

[Builderguy]

The doors look better than I remember. Not a lot of work for either one. Should have sprayed them tonight but I wanted to get the mouse damage fixed, as it was really pissing me off and I walk by it all the time. I hate mice!!!

 

[Builderguy]

Time to put an end to this! I did have to do some repairs to the inner structure, about 12" was messed up. That took longer than this did; sorry, forgot to take pics of that. A little grinding, some weld thru, some spot welds, a lot of tacks, and more grinding. Like it never happened.

MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

 

[mygasser]

that made me chuckle..... 'mice' damage was 'pissing' you off
neil.

 

[TF360]

That rot under the dash is unusual. Maybe it was from the mice?

 

[mygasser]

That rot under the dash is unusual. Maybe it was from the mice?

yes he said that in a previous post

 

[Builderguy]

This is after three coats of primer.

 

[Builderguy]

Lets see how the fenders look. Spoiler alert, they need more work. Not hard, just time consuming and dusty.

The other one is about the same. Makes me a little sad as they both should have been a lot cleaner than this. I am going to have a chat with the QC person.

 

[Builderguy]

Under the shine of wax and grease remover, I noticed a little ripple just above wheel arch and the body line was not as pronounced as it should be. Four coats of high build and the line is dang near perfect, and the ripple has left the building. I just have to finish the other fender and the nose piece, then I can start on the spray booth. Progress?

 

[hcallaway]

Great build. Your eye for detail amazes me, yet it is so true how you catch things as you progress. I definitely believe that this car will be better than when it was new. They were never built with the close inspection you are giving her!!! Continue on!!!

 

[Builderguy]

As usual, nose piece taken to bare steel, then epoxy, then high build. That is now done!

 

[Builderguy]

Rear door cards (well I guess they are not door cards as they are not on the door but you know what I mean) were cleaned up, masked off, and dyed black (two coats). Made a slight mistake here. I used thinner to clean the vinyl and I think it took some of the grain off. It is clean but much smoother now. Still has grain, but not as much. Live and learn!