My 74 Dart (The Bondo Bucket)

[74 DART']

The Dart is still around. Plans changed a lot in the time since my last post. Decided to go Gen 3 Hemi. Lots of part collecting and figuring things out. Trying to keep it a low budget build as much as possible. 2014 5.7 and going to run my 727 trans for now.

 

[74 DART']

Currently working on engine mount fab. Also front suspension rebuild and paint work.

 

[sireland67]

Change of plans for sure.

 

[74 DART']

I was able to pick up a Hemi longblock for cheap. It’s a truck engine that had a camshaft failure. Customer decided to put in a new engine so I was able to get the old core engine. Engine was still in great shape - cylinder walls and camshaft bearings look good. My son and I did some cleaning and painting on the block and timing cover. This being a core meant I had to come up with a lot of missing parts. I decided to go with the truck timing cover and accessories due to them being a little cheaper and to give me more room for the alternator.

 

[4spdragtop]

Nice looking welds! Glad to see progress and the hemi update!

 

[DionR]

Keep us updated. Seems you have the Hemi mounts done now, any other progress?

 

[j par]

Oh boy j par is on board. Now I’m under pressure lol !!

Update...

 

[74 DART']

Keep us updated. Seems you have the Hemi mounts done now, any other progress?

Yes has been way too long since I posted any progress on here. Thanks for asking! Going to go back in time and pickup where I left off.

I built a pair of wheel cribs out of 2x4 so I could get the car up high enough for me to work comfortably under. Needed to keep the rear suspension under load so I could figure out my trans angle while fabbing up the mounts. First time building and using wheel cribs and they turned out great. Was sketchy as hell getting the car up that high since the front suspension was out of it at the time. Kept wanting to push the front jackstands over but I got it. Finished mocking up the engine mounts and then I dropped the K -frame back out of it. Decided to have it powdered coated gloss black. Assembled the freshly painted suspension /steering components onto the k-frame. Did all this on the table before putting it back on the car.

 

[74 DART']

Engine mount progress. Before and after powder coat and suspension assembly. Thanks to my wife and son for dropping off and picking up the K/frame from powder coat while I was at work!

 

[mygasser]

looks like you need to up the power/amps on the welder, it doesn't appear you have very good penetration on those mount brackets. my steel fabricator freind told me once to set your welder as 'hot' as you can without blowing holes in the workpiece. works for me.
neil.

 

[74 DART']

Big difference from what we removed lol.

 

[74 DART']

Before I put the K-frame back in I wanted to clean and paint the part of the inner fenders where the upper control arms mount and the bottom of the frame rails where the frame bolts to. Reason being I wanted to make it a roller so I can push it outside to finish prepping and painting the engine compartment. I will just mask off the area I’ve already painted and of course cover the suspension pieces I’ve already done. My garage is under my house so try to limit the paint fumes in the garage cause it goes right up into the house.

After the cleaning and painting my son and I put the frame back in. First time the engine was fully installed onto the new mounts!

 

[74 DART']

Got the upper control arms attached. New front shocks mounted and backing plates and caliper mount brackets cleaned painted and installed. My youngest son was there to lend a hand also.

 

[74 DART']

New front wheels came in. I mounted the new tires at work. Installed new front rotors and put the wheels on. Finally took the car off the wheel cribs and jackstands. First time the car was back on four wheels in over three years! We were ecstatic! Knocked out a good bit of work pretty quick. My middle son was leaving for College about a week later so we needed to get the Dart outside so we could get his Charger into the garage and do some maintenance to it before he had to leave. Was nice to get the Dart outside and give it a much needed bath.