Could use a little 66 dart schooling....

[hosehead]

hey guys, I purchased my first early a-body the other day. It's pretty much a stripped shell that I'm going to turn into a street strip car. A lot of the parts are missing. Front clip and all instruments. I was wondering if any of you had photos of the instruments/dash. It seems like it's the lowest trim level and it's a two door sedan.
I have this radio delete plate and was wondering if it's correct for a 66 dart? Are the dash parts hard to find? I've poked around a little but with little luck but I understand it's the holidays.
Any headers for small blocks fit good?
How hard is grille stuff to find?
If any of you have stuff for sale, I might be interested but as I've been reminded by the mods, please pm instead of posting here.
Mostly looking for interior photos and info on the one year only stuff.
Thanks guys!

 

[Lee Robinson]

hey guys, I purchased my first early a-body the other day. It's pretty much a stripped shell that I'm going to turn into a street strip car. A lot of the parts are missing. Front clip and all instruments. I was wondering if any of you had photos of the instruments/dash. It seems like it's the lowest trim level and it's a two door sedan.
I have this radio delete plate and was wondering if it's correct for a 66 dart? Are the dash parts hard to find? I've poked around a little but with little luck but I understand it's the holidays.
Any headers for small blocks fit good?
How hard is grille stuff to find?
If any of you have stuff for sale, I might be interested but as I've been reminded by the mods, please pm instead of posting here.
Mostly looking for interior photos and info on the one year only stuff.
Thanks guys!

View attachment 1715269470

Front sheet metal, grille, bezels is one year only. I look on the internet for interior, exterior or engine pics when in
doubt. I believe front bumpers are the same for 65-66. Turn signal lenses are different colors for those 2 years.
Structurally parts are pretty much the same for 63-66 Darts. Put wanted ads for specific parts you need.

 

[hosehead]

Front sheet metal, grille, bezels is one year only. I look on the internet for interior, exterior or engine pics when in
doubt. I believe front bumpers are the same for 65-66. Turn signal lenses are different colors for those 2 years.
Structurally parts are pretty much the same for 63-66 Darts. Put wanted ads for specific parts you need.

Thanks lee! Is that radio delete plate correct for my car? Do all the instrument bezels span the entire dash it are the lower trim grades less fancy?

 

[toolmanmike]

Thanks lee! Is that radio delete plate correct for my car? Do all the instrument bezels span the entire dash it are the lower trim grades less fancy?

The radio delete plate is probably correct. The dash trim for the 170 is simpler than the 270 and GT. I may have some photos on my laptop that I can get to in a bit.

 

[hosehead]

Thanks Mike! Just decided the vin. It's a dart 170.

 

[cosgig]

The radio delete plate is correct, I have a dash pad for a 66 Dart, and I know where a complete 66 Dart parts car is hiding. If you’re in Michigan I’ll give you the coordinates, or I may be able to go pick it up myself. Work is pretty busy so it may take awhile!

 

[hosehead]

Thanks cosgig. Keep me posted. I'm not in a huge hurry as I'm in California but moving to Oklahoma this summer. The car is there.

 

[cosgig]

Thanks cosgig. Keep me posted. I'm not in a huge hurry as I'm in California but moving to Oklahoma this summer. The car is there.

I’ve looked the car over and it’s complete. It was in his little bullpen so it was left untouched. I inquired about it before but wasn’t really interested as I’m not a Dart guy, but I’ll look into it further. It’s about 2 hours from me, so it will have to be a rainy day or a Saturday with no kids! I’ll keep you posted!

 

[66Dvert]

hey guys, I purchased my first early a-body the other day. It's pretty much a stripped shell that I'm going to turn into a street strip car. A lot of the parts are missing. Front clip and all instruments. I was wondering if any of you had photos of the instruments/dash. It seems like it's the lowest trim level and it's a two door sedan.
I have this radio delete plate and was wondering if it's correct for a 66 dart? Are the dash parts hard to find? I've poked around a little but with little luck but I understand it's the holidays.
Any headers for small blocks fit good?
How hard is grille stuff to find?
If any of you have stuff for sale, I might be interested but as I've been reminded by the mods, please pm instead of posting here.
Mostly looking for interior photos and info on the one year only stuff.
Thanks guys!

View attachment 1715269470

headers are some other persons " bailiwick" since I'm a /6 guy. grill parts can be found (Pricey) headlight bezels are the same suck to purchase and hood front trim is a monster to find. one year only like most of these cars, drivers side outer bezel are almost impossible to find good and pitted pot metal is a fortune to re-chrome.
I'm not too sure on the radio delete plate since all the ones I have seen had the heater and delete in the bezels
in this image you can see a heater w/radio delete(top right). that came off of a 4 door with the 3 side spears so I'm "assuming" it's the 270 model and not the 170 but am not really sure on that statement. there was no glove box plastic piece or end cap on the more-door car. These I can vouch for removing them personally at center was hardtop GT with A/C, bottom (2) was Hardtop 1 GT 1 270 normal heat only. Also none of the end pieces (all gt's)were 270 in this pic' but I do have one and it's got a 270 emblem on it.

170 heater with radio

pretty much all the darts Iv'e seen ( minus the whiteface conversion)

done except for the numbers.

and the dash opening in your car should look like this

 

[hosehead]

headers are some other persons " bailiwick" since I'm a /6 guy. grill parts can be found (Pricey) headlight bezels are the same suck to purchase and hood front trim is a monster to find. one year only like most of these cars, drivers side outer bezel are almost impossible to find good and pitted pot metal is a fortune to re-chrome.
I'm not too sure on the radio delete plate since all the ones I have seen had the heater and delete in the bezels
in this image you can see a heater w/radio delete(top right). that came off of a 4 door with the 3 side spears so I'm "assuming" it's the 270 model and not the 170 but am not really sure on that statement. there was no glove box plastic piece or end cap on the more-door car. These I can vouch for removing them personally at center was hardtop GT with A/C, bottom (2) was Hardtop 1 GT 1 270 normal heat only. Also none of the end pieces (all gt's)were 270 in this pic' but I do have one and it's got a 270 emblem on it.
View attachment 1715269625


170 heater with radio
View attachment 1715269626

pretty much all the darts Iv'e seen ( minus the whiteface conversion)
View attachment 1715269627


done except for the numbers.
View attachment 1715269628

and the dash opening in your car should look like this
View attachment 1715269633

Thanks for the input! My car is definitely a 170 so maybe I'll get off s little easier on the dash stuff. Getting scared to buy the grille pieces.

 

[toolmanmike]

I believe the dash trim on the 170 and 270 end at the glove box lid. The GT has trim on the lid. The GT radio trim doesn't have a 90° bend at the end like the other models do. I have a 270 trim on my radio panel and it should be a GT panel. Like Lee said the front ends are 1966 specific. I believe the front bumpers are 66 only as well but I don't know for sure. I have hundreds of photos of my GT.

 

[66Dvert]

Thanks for the input! My car is definitely a 170 so maybe I'll get off s little easier on the dash stuff. Getting scared to buy the grille pieces.

Finding the rear tail lights in good shape is the worst part (Driver outer since that's where ALL the exhaust pipes on pretty much every model came out). You can usually find the stuff on here or the rest of the stuff, (especially if you can repair aluminum trim since most of the headlight bezels are beat up) can be fixed or sent out without killing your budget (yeah right... it's a mopar part, 4 times more expensive than any chevy part). I'm just getting back into the parts making process for me since the hurricane pretty much totaled my shop space and molds).. not making anything special except for the parts my car needs (pretty much everything soft and or rubber)now I'm working on a molded glovebox (lotsa tries lotsa failures but it a closer to good part failure each time)

 

[toolmanmike]

Thanks for the input! My car is definitely a 170 so maybe I'll get off s little easier on the dash stuff. Getting scared to buy the grille pieces.

Post some photos and we will know what you are needing. FABO has great sale/wanted forums that can be of help.

 

[toolmanmike]

headers are some other persons " bailiwick" since I'm a /6 guy. grill parts can be found (Pricey) headlight bezels are the same suck to purchase and hood front trim is a monster to find. one year only like most of these cars, drivers side outer bezel are almost impossible to find good and pitted pot metal is a fortune to re-chrome.
I'm not too sure on the radio delete plate since all the ones I have seen had the heater and delete in the bezels
in this image you can see a heater w/radio delete(top right). that came off of a 4 door with the 3 side spears so I'm "assuming" it's the 270 model and not the 170 but am not really sure on that statement. there was no glove box plastic piece or end cap on the more-door car. These I can vouch for removing them personally at center was hardtop GT with A/C, bottom (2) was Hardtop 1 GT 1 270 normal heat only. Also none of the end pieces (all gt's)were 270 in this pic' but I do have one and it's got a 270 emblem on it.
View attachment 1715269625


170 heater with radio
View attachment 1715269626

pretty much all the darts Iv'e seen ( minus the whiteface conversion)
View attachment 1715269627


done except for the numbers.
View attachment 1715269628

and the dash opening in your car should look like this
View attachment 1715269633

Great info here!

 

[hosehead]

The news is not good.

 

[toolmanmike]

The news is not good.

View attachment 1715269734

You have a dash frame.

 

[66Dvert]

The news is not good.

View attachment 1715269734

ohh you need a bunch a stuff. how much of the dash do you have or is that it? looks like you have some of the harness. no heater controls and need instrument cluster and radio or radio delete bezel (top right post number 9 or next picture center bezel. that'll finish off the dash after the radio and heater.) oh and a steering column.. power or not? makes a difference. ohhh and pedals too.

 

[hosehead]

You have a dash frame.

That’s the good news!!!!

 

[toolmanmike]

You didn't mention how much you spent on this car but you may need to think about looking for another parts car or finding another car and using this one as a parts car depending on how many parts you need. Separate pieces always cost more than the whole parts car.

 

[hosehead]

I totally get it Mike. It was VERY cheap and it will spend most of its time at the race track. It will not be a resto project.
Just a ratty street/strip car. I had to save it!

 

[hosehead]

I guess I'm in the market for a four door parts car.....

 

[GGs66GT]

If you're not doing a resto then the world of custom is open to you .

You can make your own layout for gauges using aftermarket stuff.

The '63 darts used push pull cables for the heater mounted under the dash, you could mount them in the dash face .
Or you could go aftermarket heat & a/c
using their controls.

Pick up the dash pad offered above. The defrost vents are available aftermarket.

Weather strips and glass are also available aftermarket.

Front and rear bumpers, grill and headlights, hood and trim, front fenders are '66 only.
All of the above can be changed to '63-'66 with Dart , Valiant and Barracuda stuff for a complete front clip that bolts on.

You can use '65 Dart tail lights in place of the '66.

You also can use '63-'65 Dart rear bumper and brackets , but you will need to add the rear roll pan also.

BTW the whole instrument panel is bolt in once the w/s is out.
This opens up the using a complete I.P. from any of the '63-'66 Dart , Valiant or Barracuda.

So this may make finding parts more interesting but it sure would make a statement as a 'one piece at a time' second gen a body.

 

[toolmanmike]

I totally get it Mike. It was VERY cheap and it will spend most of its time at the race track. It will not be a resto project.
Just a ratty street/strip car. I had to save it!

@pettybludart bought a clean 66 from the states and turned it into a race car. You can look through his threads to see the progression. https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/search/33034866/

 

[subcom]

You're gonna love it as a little street/strip car. The early As can be a pain to work on in the tiny engine compartment (headers are a pain) but they make for nice, lightweight race platforms. If yours is an original slant car, you'll need a V8 dropped center link and small block motor mounts (Schumacher for those), but that's it. A 727 will fit, but a 904 fits easier. Hooker 5208s (semi fender well), TTI and Doug's have headers for the early As. Or turbo charge it like I did and just use magnum truck manifolds. Enjoy. Boomer!

 

[hosehead]

If you're not doing a resto then the world of custom is open to you .

You can make your own layout for gauges using aftermarket stuff.

The '63 darts used push pull cables for the heater mounted under the dash, you could mount them in the dash face .
Or you could go aftermarket heat & a/c
using their controls.

Pick up the dash pad offered above. The defrost vents are available aftermarket.

Weather strips and glass are also available aftermarket.

Front and rear bumpers, grill and headlights, hood and trim, front fenders are '66 only.
All of the above can be changed to '63-'66 with Dart , Valiant and Barracuda stuff for a complete front clip that bolts on.

You can use '65 Dart tail lights in place of the '66.

You also can use '63-'65 Dart rear bumper and brackets , but you will need to add the rear roll pan also.

BTW the whole instrument panel is bolt in once the w/s is out.
This opens up the using a complete I.P. from any of the '63-'66 Dart , Valiant or Barracuda.

So this may make finding parts more interesting but it sure would make a statement as a 'one piece at a time' second gen a body.

I'm sure I'll take my time and piece it together, knowing me. Lol. I want it to look mostly original. Kind of a day two street strip car. I like originality. I'm hopeful I can't find decent 66 stuff.