66 Dart GT resurrection - Parts I and II

[Ddaddy]

This is a 2 part build thread since the car was first 85% rebuilt by Mopar Tim and then he sold it to me to finish (part 2).

Here is Part 1...

Tim bought a salvageable 66 GT California car. Sounds good so far, right?

Well, the car had some rust issues...

So Tim got to work and started hacking out the rust and replacing the sheet metal where ever it needed...

Once all the metal was replaced, he pulled off all the trim, gutted the interior and pulled the drive train to get ready for paint. Then he selected a subtle color to enhance the looks of the car and painted everything followed by the process of putting it back together

After that he started putting it back together with lots of new parts...

Then, after several years of hard work (and buying a 69 GT convertible) he lost interest in finishing the car. He posted it for sale and gave me a smoking great deal on it with tons of new parts to pretty much finish the car. It was essentially a 1:1 scale model with all the parts included. How could I say no to that?

So we sealed the deal and he even delivered the car across the country to me here in Philly.

More of the story in the next post...

 

[Ddaddy]

The story continued...

Tim loaded up the car and drove across the country and delivered it right to my driveway.

Then we unloaded all the parts and started going through everything. Of course we had to install at least one part to christen the arrival.

Then we had a few FABO members drop by to celebrate the delivery (and drink and laugh our butts off)

Now the car sits in my driveway under a cover, patiently waiting to begin the second part of the restoration story...

 

[toolmanmike]

Looking good so far.

 

[straightlinespeed]

Great story and pics!

 

[Mopar Tim]

Here it was loaded up getting ready to leave in the morning..

 

[Ddaddy]

The drive train had a little beef added in it too.

318 engine, 4 bbl
714 closed chamber swirl port heads with hardened seats
Crane energizer flat tapped cam .454/.454 lift 272/272 duration with a double roller chain.
A904 Trans
3.55 Sure-grip 8.75 rear with 245/60/14 rear tires.
Power front disc brakes.

 

[Mopar Tim]

Power front disc brakes.

Restored as good as new KH disc brakes.

 

[Ddaddy]

Oh yeah, and nearly every piece of body trim including the bumpers rechromed, restored or replaced with new. The tail lights are a work of art.

 

[Ddaddy]

On my end, I have bought a few parts to add...including Cragar SS wheels and twin scoops to begin the process of adding my own touches to the look of the car.

The look I’m going for is something like this...

 

[Mopar Tim]

Any updates?

 

[lilfontleroy]

@Ddaddy and @Mopar Tim been rambling through the Stop in for a coffee thread and saw this. nice car seems to have stalled out on the build though?

 

[dukeboy440]

@Ddaddy and @Mopar Tim been rambling through the Stop in for a coffee thread and saw this. nice car seems to have stalled out on the build though?

nah, you wanna see stalled, go look at mine lol

 

[lilfontleroy]

nah, you wanna see stalled, go look at mine lol

did = = = agree

 

[dukeboy440]

did = = = agree

 

[Ddaddy]

The build has taken a new twist. Since I just haven’t had the time to complete it since it got her, I offered it back to @Mopar Tim for what I have in it. He is coming out here for Carlisle and is taking it back home with him.

It is his car and his labor of love to begin with and only right that gets it back to finish. While I have been running it regularly, the battery died so I put a new battery in and fired it up again a few days ago and it is still running like a champ! It looks and runs exactly like it did the day he brought it here.

 

[Mopar Tim]

Thanks for taking. Good care or it

 

[Ddaddy]

Well, things got a bit messed up back in July...but today Tim was able to finally take his car back. All loaded up and headed back home to Cali!