I've spent the last week cleaning my garage so I could get the dart inside. I never thought I'd see the garage floor again in my lifetime...but my daughter took control and now I can park and walk inside it. Here's a few pics that were part of the selling package from where I bought it. My wife and I have been on 1 shortish ride in it, and living in Florida, we were drenched after about 20 minutes lol. The a/c needs converting, and so do the brakes. First time I went to stop I seriously had my doubts I was going to stop in time. I guess I'll be researching and reading on how to do the conversions...but 2 of the things I've never messed with on a car before. I tried to upload some photos and it seemed to work but they might be too big.
Finally Got My Dart
- Thread starter SixgunSal
- Start date
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Nice clean looking car.
Brakes and AC are not too bad, plenty of info on here to help you get the job done.
Brakes and AC are not too bad, plenty of info on here to help you get the job done.
lilfontleroy
annoyinglilLeroy
NICE CAR! I am
That's pretty!
Good looking GTS, can you find someone around there that still works with R-12? Brakes are easy, disks or drums?
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
Consider just "fixing what is there." Find out what brakes are on it. Is this an original 340 car? Then it should have come with decent brakes. If that is what it has, AKA the brakes native to a 340 car you should be able to get them working well. If it has drums, they might be worn out, not just rough, but worn too large (or turned too large) and so the shoes don't fit right. If you are not going to race it or drive it hard "a lot" that might be a better "fix."
cool car. keep it locked up. hahahaha.
Thanks for all the great comments. It is not a number matching motor/trans the way I understand it. The car came with the highest output motor for that year. My guess is that it was pulled and probably sold, but who knows. As for the brakes, all around drum brakes, they stop the car but it seems very slowly. One of the places that popped up in my google search of drum to disc conversion was TheRamManINC.com - some good information but I can't believe the cost of this project. Also, I want to stick with the 5 X 4 bolt pattern because to switch means having to buy all new rims and tires which aren't needed at this time. He also is one of the few that offers a 5x4 bolt pattern rotor with his kit and it is all a "bolt on" fix. I welcome any and all comments on this...as I said I have almost no experience with brakes (let alone converting them). On the a/c issue - I have not found anyone who will support the R12 refrigerant, plenty of people that will buy it but not sell it. I think I'm going to run up to PepBoys to see if they can do anything for me. I'm also not sure if this is the right place to discuss this so if it's not I will change where it is.
The small bolt pattern disc brake parts show up in the "For Sale" quite regularly, just bide your time & collect what you need.
A company called "Dr. Diff" sells disc brake kits and the owner is very helpful and knowledgeable. Many of us here buy from him.
You certainly went all in when you became the new owner of your Dart!! It's a beauty!!
Make sure your brake shoes are in good shape and adjusted properly. People didn't usually drive as fast when our cars were built so they didn't need brakes like we have now. Having said that, good brakes are tops on the list to have!!
Make sure your brake shoes are in good shape and adjusted properly. People didn't usually drive as fast when our cars were built so they didn't need brakes like we have now. Having said that, good brakes are tops on the list to have!!
Dartvader440gt
Well-Known Member
Great looking Dart. I did the brake conversion on mine and kept the small bolt pattern. I bought the basic stuff like spindles and such from someone here about 12 years ago. Then I believe I got the rotors, caliper rebuild kits and bearings from a local parts store. It was pretty easy and my Dart stops very quickly now.
adriver
Blazing Apostle
IF it was mine and IF I was going to keep it and IF I was going to put disk on the front.
I would spring for some big bolt pattern axles with the common wider brake shoes. Not much really.
The front is money either way and you would then have more options in wheels as well.
That new old car feeling.
I would spring for some big bolt pattern axles with the common wider brake shoes. Not much really.
The front is money either way and you would then have more options in wheels as well.
That new old car feeling.
ragtopfury
Well-Known Member
We did the Scarbird disc conversion on my son's 65 B'cuda. But the brackets from Scarebird and sourced the rest locally and at rock auto. That was about 6 hears ago. Total cost was right around $325.
How does it stop? Are yall satisfied with it?
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Beautiful Dart! You will have no trouble converting the brakes if you choose to go that way. There are many threads on here explaining it. Your car is seriously nice!
ragtopfury
Well-Known Member
Stops pretty well. Added a dual reservoir manual disk master cylinder for a 71 Cuda, plumbed it all in thru a matching proportioning valve and have had no issues. Stops true and straight.
Hay thanks for the quick response. Much appreciated.
ragtopfury
Well-Known Member
Ain't nuffin but a thing, RRR
BTW - to the OP... love the color combo on that Dart.
BTW - to the OP... love the color combo on that Dart.
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