Project "Distraction from life" A theraputic 65 dart build

[5.2jeepyj]

Well after lurking around here for a couple months getting all kinds of ideas I thought Id start a build thread and introduce myself. Little bio first to explain the title of this thread. This last Oct I lost my wife to cancer wich I took really hard for not only did I lose the love of my life but my family too for since I was just step dad I had no right for my step daughter so she had to go live with her dad who wont let her even visit. So in Oct I was hanging out at my brothers drinking and he mentioned that the 65 dart he too in trade the previous year he was thinking of selling, (hes a ford guy. Still trying to teach him the error of his ways lol) well 2 days later I received a life insurance check, So after going thru my finances I called him and inquired if he was really going to sell the Dart. said yes so obviously I asked how much. $3000 later I was the proud owner of a rust free 65 dart:cheers:
I drove it for a week, previous owner before my brother had already swapped a 318 into it, disks brakes and sway bar up front, and 8 1/4 in the back. other than that it was stock. So after a week I realized It needed power steering, power brakes, I plan to drive it a lot so needed an overdrive trans, 4 wheel disk, and FUEL INJECTION ( I HATE CARBS WITH A PASSION). So up on jack stands it went and onto ebay and internet venders I went.ordered a rear disk kit,power steering set up, fast efi kit,power brake kit. Well Im also a disabled ver so I have trouble sleeping at night due to chronic pain. so after not being able to sleep (partially since I was overdueing things on the car to get my mind off life) Id end up on ebay late at night wich is where this all spiraled out of control lol. found a lot of stuff I just had too have lol its now got hotchkis sport rear suspension, pst front, with tubular uppers and the 11/16 up graded tierods, classic instruments gauges, vintage air , b&M quick silver shifter in a stock floor console tilt column,70 challenger shaker hood scoop, 46rh overdrive trans with shiftkit, new 245x50x17 wheels and tires, hid headlights, all other light rebuilt with leds, billit aluminum serpentine belt conversion, msd street fire ignition, hei dist, mini high torque starter, hooker headers and pypes stainless xpipe exhaust new carpet, all new weather stripping. bed linered the floor baurds dynomated them, new kick panels and bumper to bumper wiring. tan this last week found a 68 340 on craigslist sooooo had to have that. its currently at machine shop getting cleaned and prepped for a rebuild Ill get into that in another post

 

[Cazbah362]

5.2 - First, sorry for your loss, second in the same boat on the sleep thing (not a fun world), couple tours will do that to us.

I like the FAST system, very cool setup you have going. One of my desires is to install a FAST II on my BB for daily driving. Keep some updates coming on this and the car.

Wish the best, keep posting nice to see fast progress with results.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

First Thank you, its been rough and it happened so fast found out last April she had cancer and she passed in Oct. sooo yeah Im working as fast as my back will allow even pushing myself to the point I can barely walk lol. I injured my back in Iraq was made worse by the Army dr telling me he sees no reason to do an mri for he felt I was faking my injury to get out of the deployment. So I spent a year over there with 3 blown disks in my back. ended up with permanent nerve damage now. consider myself lucky tho Im alive and Im not paralyzed. I need to get the rest of my pics downloaded from my phone and organized I will definetly update and post.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

heres some more progress pics

 

[Bad Sport]

Welcome to the forum. My condolences for your loss, and that of your step daughter. I truly hope for you and her that ya'll can eventually at least visit from time to time.


Nice, interesting project.

 

[barbee6043]

let me say, sorry for your loss, and thank you for your service to our country.

being the proud owner of a 65 dart, I say good choice on cars!!! I've broke veterbrae ( yes I can't spell or type), but fortunately no lasting damage. now the drunk that hit me head on 40 years ago, that's another story! LOL I rarely ever take a pill, but sometimes after wrestling a car all day, a Tylonol PM is good! LOL
I hope th e work on the car can ease your pain. maybe you can stay in touch with the step daughter by phone. remember , plenty of people on here for advice for the car work, and willing to lend a shoulder when needed. good luck..

 

[5.2jeepyj]

thanks yeah we at least have been able to talk on the phone a lot so we shall see.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

thanks barbee6043 yeah Im with you I don't like how the pain killers make me feel so I only take them when I absolutely have too. I just deal with the pain wich sucks since I was a heavy equipment mechanic/welder and fabricator. I cant sit hunched over a project welding for hours like I used too. and have to take frequent breaks to go lay down due to the pain. but Id rather have a clear head. I don't let it stop me from pursueing my passion it just slowed me down. lol what used to take me hours now can take me days but I will persevere and its therapeutic.

 

[JBrian]

Condolences for the loss of your wife and the blow of losing custody of your step daughter. Also thanks for your service to our great country. Since I also have had terrible back, L1-L4 herniated discs with what used to be terrible sciatica and scoliosis, I received two round of epidural Steroid Injection in my lower back in August and September of '13. I am a new person after that. Find a doctor that can help you.

The Dart is going to looking awesome with the Shaker hood! Keep us updated. My build is in the New Hemi Section.

Brian

 

[5.2jeepyj]

Ive had 4 of thos injections they did nothing for me. I ended up collapsing in my living room screaming my head off 3 years ago wife had to call 911 by the time they got me to the hospital I lost all feeling from the waist down totally blew out s1-l5, l5-l4 and the had pinched off both nerve roots. had emergency surgery next morning I have permanent nerve damage now mainly effecting my left leg wich Ive lost 70 % of the feeling and have neropothy real bad. until they come up with a way to repair nerve damage nothing that can be done Ive got too 4 neurologist specialists.

 

[MobileCustoms]

Sorry to hear of your losses. A car project sounds like a perfect distraction.... The more I see the early Darts, the more I really like them! I would love to find a '64 so that i could drive that into the Back to The Fifties show here in Minnesota every year. They only allow '64 and older cars. And now they just announced that the Car craft Nationals are being moved to Milwaukee so that is off the table for me too now.

 

[prrc]

Looks good I will be following along.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

Ok mmy new windshield gasket finally showed up yesterday so today. Couldn't find any glass shops that would install this because they didn't supply any of it. So I educated myself last night and this morning installed my new windshield. went really smooth and couldn't be happier. I than pulled the hood and finished trimming the bracing on underside to install the shaker hood brace.

 

[67 prostreet gt]

Very nice project. Sorry for your loss keep us posted sir.

 

[toolmanmike]

Sorry for your loss man. You came to the right place to hang out. Cool build. I like what you're doing. Keep us posted with lots of pics. toolmanmike

 

[5.2jeepyj]

ok picked up the 340 block from my machinist today still waiting on a few parts than I will start assembling. started installing the shaker hood brace have it clamped down with adhesive than I will be welding the braces and blending into the original with fiberglass goal is to have something that looks factory done. finally figured out my rad,fan,condenser and trany cooler mounting. was made a little difficult from the serpentine system I used since it uses 8 rib belts instead of just 6. also my 3 tube core aluminum rad didn't help lol but its all mounted .

 

[5.2jeepyj]

haven't gotten a lot done in last couple days other than bead blasting a bunch of engine parts and front suspension stuff. backs been really killin me from pushing myself too much. getting ready to head to another Dr apt at the VA after I'm gonna get k frame reinstalled so I can start putting the front suspension back together.

 

[Old Man Mopar]

Pretty interesting stuff. I will be watching.

 

[Darter6]

Keep it up jeepy,Love what you are doing.Glad to see you are pushing thru the pain.Also I understand the no sleeping thing.I KNOW how easy it is to sit in front of a tv and try to drink drink the pain away.Many pit falls will be ahead so keep on pushing for the final goal. That thing is soooo cool.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

well no new pictures but Ive been working on it. totally removed the front suspension and k frame. cleaned everything up wich turns out was a good thing for found one strut rod mount that was cracked about 1/4 way around so fixed that before painting it and reinstalled k member. bead blasted lower control arms and getting them prepped to weld the pst reinforcment plates in. hopefully rest of front end parts will arrive tomorrow so I can start putting it back together. spent most today working on under dash wiring. gd chunk of that wiring up the vintage air, wich go figure the only part of the harness they taped up a nice and neat I had to totally redo because the wires were 2" too short and I dont like just splicing if I can help it so un wrapped it all and replaced the wires from the relay to the control panel. also Ive had a mid 60's gm tilt colum from an old jeep project ive been packing around for years just because it was in excellent condition and is a non key column so I pulled it out of its decades long slumber cleaned it up gave it a nice coat of paint and introduced it to the dart lol. so now Ive got a tilt column.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

well made some progress on the dash today

 

[5.2jeepyj]

Ok Im back an Ill get some new pics up in the next few days. I have gotten some work done on the dart. decided to order a coil over conversion so removed the torsion bars and been getting that installed. the building of the 340 balloned out of control. found a crack in one of the pistons so block went back to machinist and being bored .30 now and getting a set of forged pistons. aluminum heads have been assembled. dash wiring is done. ordered new foam and upholstry for the front buckets. pressure switches for the 4spd auto were installed and wired up for the od and torque convertor lockup.

 

[FredS]

For your 46RH. Check out this controller for OD/LU on 4speed Dodge autos. I have one I'm doing on a 72 Chevy C/20 4x4 with all Dodge running gear(Cummins/47RH/NP241). Sweet product

http://www.hgmelectronics.com/products-compushift-controllers/csm-chrysler

Just picked up what looks like a 46RH out of a 90 1/2 ton. 3 wire connector, heck yeah.

 

[5.2jeepyj]

nice Ill have to read into that more may try it out on my Desoto build. this is the set up Im using on the dart http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm

 

[FredS]

are you running stock pressures? if not, those pressure switches will make it come in early

take some good pics of how you setup the tunnel for that fat trans too