kdbunn
Well-Known Member
Sweet! I like the green. The color of grass, Go lights, and money 
Slow, Driving Rustoration 1972 Dart
- Thread starter dartnlo
- Start date
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65wgn440
Well-Known Member
Hate to say it, but the rubber "core plugs" have been known to pop out under hard acceleration/ high rpm over time. BTW, we refer to them around here as "soft plugs", no matter the material they are made of. Like the car, we just did a driver '72 Scamp for my son.
Nice ride!!! We had a 318 3 speed 71 Scamp in the mid 80s.
An engine and transmission rebuild are in the Dart's future. I'll whack some brass ones in when they are accessible.
So for the past 8 weeks or so my partner and I have been taking short trips out of town every Sunday to get breakfast in a small town cafe. The longest trip so far was about 140 miles round trip. The Dart is getting about 16 mpg on these county roads and has been almost flawless. The only things that have been broken are the climate controls and the driver's vent window. The vent window almost fell out when I was opening it on a dirt road and the climate control only works on the AC setting. So I took the heater/AC control switch out and just jumper wire the fan on and off and adjust the blend doors manually.
As it has started warming up lately I decided to finally get the AC working too. I ordered a new heater/AC control switch online (won't be here til Tuesday) and got a new drier and expansion valve. I got them installed today, rented the vacuum and gauges from O'reilly and got everything working tonight. I'm still working out of my driveway and it got dark as I ran out of freon. It was about 80 degrees F at the time and it was blowing out really cold air. It was starting to freeze up on the low pressure side of the evaporator and the sight glass was still partly cloudy.
I need to crawl around and make sure the evaporator drain hole is clear before taking it out for a test ride.
Oh and on the last breakfast trip it hit 12345.6 on the odometer
Facebook link to our breakfast adventures.
As it has started warming up lately I decided to finally get the AC working too. I ordered a new heater/AC control switch online (won't be here til Tuesday) and got a new drier and expansion valve. I got them installed today, rented the vacuum and gauges from O'reilly and got everything working tonight. I'm still working out of my driveway and it got dark as I ran out of freon. It was about 80 degrees F at the time and it was blowing out really cold air. It was starting to freeze up on the low pressure side of the evaporator and the sight glass was still partly cloudy.
I need to crawl around and make sure the evaporator drain hole is clear before taking it out for a test ride.
Oh and on the last breakfast trip it hit 12345.6 on the odometer
Facebook link to our breakfast adventures.
So I got the heater control switch and changed it out only to find that the problem was with the blower resistor and not the switch.
To make matters worse I installed an uninstalled the heater control assy at least 10 times. It would work great at switching between AC/Heater/Def when it was hanging loose. But as soon as I tucked it up under the dash and bolted it in, it wouldn't switch between Def/Heater. I finally realized that it was leaking vacuum once installed. I found that I had to adjust the vacuum plug once it was installed.
By the time I got it figured out it was dark so I guess I'll finish it tonight. Maybe the radio will help support the vacuum lines, if not, I guess I'll install the old switch and see if it has a better seal.
To make matters worse I installed an uninstalled the heater control assy at least 10 times. It would work great at switching between AC/Heater/Def when it was hanging loose. But as soon as I tucked it up under the dash and bolted it in, it wouldn't switch between Def/Heater. I finally realized that it was leaking vacuum once installed. I found that I had to adjust the vacuum plug once it was installed.
By the time I got it figured out it was dark so I guess I'll finish it tonight. Maybe the radio will help support the vacuum lines, if not, I guess I'll install the old switch and see if it has a better seal.
Got everything buttoned back up today with a "repaired" loop on the blower resistor. Did a road test and with temps around 83 it was cool enough in the car. I still am about 12oz low so I expect this will be pretty good this summer, at least on the highway. I somehow lost the little chrome button for the temp slider. I'm sure it was one of those "I'll put it here so it will be safe" things. 
I also installed the windshield washer tank and replaced all of the hoses. I've had the new tank since 2018 so it was past time to install it.
I also installed the windshield washer tank and replaced all of the hoses. I've had the new tank since 2018 so it was past time to install it.
WOW! So much empty.
I've had a rough 3+ years. My partner was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in early 2022 and passed away right before thanksgiving 2024.
In 2023 we took the Dart on many road trips for breakfast with friends. These pictures are from a trip with 6 people in the Dart.
In 2025 the Dart was my daily driver. I've known since I started driving it back in 2019, that #7 cylinder was low compression.
#1 - 120
#3 - 135
#5 - 135
#7 - 85
#2 - 140
#4 - 140
#6 - 130
#8 - 130
It has actually been running and idling well for the last 3 years. I haven't had to touch the idle mixtures screws or anything. But toward the end of this summer of daily driving highway and in-town. I noticed a loss of power increasing steadily. I haven't redone the compression test yet, but I am planning on doing a re-ring, stone hone, and valve/head cleanup this winter. Going to try and keep the downtime to a minimum as usual. I might also start doing actual metal work to bring the rust under control. You may remember my bondo rust "repair" from nearly 6 years ago. It finally gave up the ghost last winter and is bubbling fairly badly.
Wish me luck! I haven't been this deep in a car engine since vo-tech almost 40 years ago. Watching a lot of Dead Dodge Garage lately has somehow given me something resembling confidence.
... and remember sometimes you can't Dodge a Dart.
I've had a rough 3+ years. My partner was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in early 2022 and passed away right before thanksgiving 2024.
In 2023 we took the Dart on many road trips for breakfast with friends. These pictures are from a trip with 6 people in the Dart.
In 2025 the Dart was my daily driver. I've known since I started driving it back in 2019, that #7 cylinder was low compression.
#1 - 120
#3 - 135
#5 - 135
#7 - 85
#2 - 140
#4 - 140
#6 - 130
#8 - 130
It has actually been running and idling well for the last 3 years. I haven't had to touch the idle mixtures screws or anything. But toward the end of this summer of daily driving highway and in-town. I noticed a loss of power increasing steadily. I haven't redone the compression test yet, but I am planning on doing a re-ring, stone hone, and valve/head cleanup this winter. Going to try and keep the downtime to a minimum as usual. I might also start doing actual metal work to bring the rust under control. You may remember my bondo rust "repair" from nearly 6 years ago. It finally gave up the ghost last winter and is bubbling fairly badly.
Wish me luck! I haven't been this deep in a car engine since vo-tech almost 40 years ago. Watching a lot of Dead Dodge Garage lately has somehow given me something resembling confidence.
... and remember sometimes you can't Dodge a Dart.
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
Maybe look for another 318 you can rebuild while driving this one?
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So very sorry for your loss. I wish I could have the ability to say something better. Life is all about friends, family and memories.
There you go,, spare engine! But really, you can pick up a good teener for pennies. They are great engines that seem to rarely get their credit they deserve!
Sorry for your life tribulations.
you can do it!
Well I didn't get anything done on the engine this winter. The Dart is pretty much my daily driver so I can't have it down long.
I took the week off from my job to focus on project vehicles. I bought a 1961 Rambler American flat 6 in January and just got it tagged and driving. I found a beetle for my local brother and sister-in-law and got it running last fall. I also finally found a good driving restoration for my Sister and Brother-in-law in Nashville. They've been wanting a 1960 Ranchero for a long time and I started looking about 5 years ago. I finally found a solid car in March and have been getting it running. So this week I'm hoping to get a lot of work done. Pictures of those cars included for your enjoyment.
Oo the Dart, I'm finally actually fixing the rusty quarters, and lower left fender. I found 2 separate used lower quarters on ebay from two separate sellers, they just happen to both be yellow.
I started on it yesterday, took the bumper and the rear valance off. Then after measuring 70 times I did the first cutting of rust from the car. I then slowly started trimming little by little till I could get closer to show how and where I needed to cut. The pinch weld behind the tire and the back panel became my guide as well as the wheel opening.
Today I did all the final trimming, using clecos and vice grips to get it all in the right place and angles. Finally trimmed a relatively straight line on the donor pieces below the cleco holes leaving tabs above the main cut line. Got it all cleco'd and vice-gripped in place and drew a line on the car panel for another flush cut line. I cut that off and put the panels back on and it looks great. A little grinding is needed in places to make it fit flush for the butt weld.
The body line down the side of the car is perfect and doesn't roll out or in.
Gonna get down to my local brother-in-law's shop and do the welding tomorrow. I'll need to fabricate some trunk floor extensions to the donor pieces where too much rust and not enough donor metal don't meet.
Hoping to have it ready for spot painting by the weekend.
I took the week off from my job to focus on project vehicles. I bought a 1961 Rambler American flat 6 in January and just got it tagged and driving. I found a beetle for my local brother and sister-in-law and got it running last fall. I also finally found a good driving restoration for my Sister and Brother-in-law in Nashville. They've been wanting a 1960 Ranchero for a long time and I started looking about 5 years ago. I finally found a solid car in March and have been getting it running. So this week I'm hoping to get a lot of work done. Pictures of those cars included for your enjoyment.
Oo the Dart, I'm finally actually fixing the rusty quarters, and lower left fender. I found 2 separate used lower quarters on ebay from two separate sellers, they just happen to both be yellow.
I started on it yesterday, took the bumper and the rear valance off. Then after measuring 70 times I did the first cutting of rust from the car. I then slowly started trimming little by little till I could get closer to show how and where I needed to cut. The pinch weld behind the tire and the back panel became my guide as well as the wheel opening.
Today I did all the final trimming, using clecos and vice grips to get it all in the right place and angles. Finally trimmed a relatively straight line on the donor pieces below the cleco holes leaving tabs above the main cut line. Got it all cleco'd and vice-gripped in place and drew a line on the car panel for another flush cut line. I cut that off and put the panels back on and it looks great. A little grinding is needed in places to make it fit flush for the butt weld.
The body line down the side of the car is perfect and doesn't roll out or in.
Gonna get down to my local brother-in-law's shop and do the welding tomorrow. I'll need to fabricate some trunk floor extensions to the donor pieces where too much rust and not enough donor metal don't meet.
Hoping to have it ready for spot painting by the weekend.
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the rest of the photos
Oh here's the post from 7 years ago where I "fixed" the left quarter panel with foam and bondo. It lasted about 5 years before the rust came back through. The foam at the bottom was soaked with water. Would I do it again? Probably. AM I glad I'm finally doing a better job now? of course.
Slow, Driving Rustoration 1972 Dart
Slow, Driving Rustoration 1972 Dart
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
The dart and the ranchero are the coolest of the 4 IMHO
mygasser
Well-Known Member
the rambler would make a cool gasser
the rambler would make a cool gasser
This Rambler American is going to live out its life in its well earned patina and putt around town. Yours is awesome!
I was so lucky to find this Ranchero in decent condition for $800, I spent a little more on gas picking it up in Oklahoma City, but it was still cheaper than the Kansas rust buckets going for twice that. Had it running in a day and now sorting out brakes and suspension. Trying to get it street ready for a test drive next week when my sister and brother-in-law are in town.
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
Needs a custom tube chassis, Corvette C4 suspension, and brakes, nice twin turbo V8 and T5 manual. Then leave the body all roachythe rambler would make a cool gasser
Well, I am leaving the body all roached out, so I guess I'm 1% there lol
Passenger side "welded" on. I wish I was a better welder, but here we are. It's currently raining so I covered it in rustoleum till I get the other side welded. I'm going to weld from the inside on the driver side to try to get a smoother surface. Also I need to slow down to get less warping. It's been 20+ years since I've welded exterior sheet metal and it shows. I also forget to check the valance alignment before I welded the back section, and I had to cut it and move it into the correct position but it looks good now. It's still going to have an acceptable level of bondo on the body line.
mygasser
Well-Known Member
and i'm leaving the body roachy on my rambler too and fitting a t5 but with a big block and gasser stance.
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
Call it the Rumbler
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
That doesnt look bad. You know what we say out in west Texas ?
"A little primer, a little paint.
Make her what she aint".
Didn't get painted, but one step close!
Also getting new tires on Friday. I pulled into my brother-in-laws shop to do welding for the second day and heard air leaking. I thought it was the air compressor hose, but no. The sidewall on the back right tire was leaking air quickly. I was just discussing in my head if I needed to get new tires before I headed off to Tulsa. This took the decision out of my hands. They were brand new 8 years ago lol
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