Where would you start?
#819969
10/02/10 02:24 PM
10/02/10 02:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,589 Sacramento, CA
cal_gecko
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,589
Sacramento, CA
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I got this Dart about 7 years ago and started working on it immediately. I've never driven it further than in and out of my garage... Here's a list of things I've done so far:
- swapped 7.25" rear for 8.75" (Sure-grip, 3.55)
- swapped small bolt pattern axles for large bolt pattern
- swapped out front brakes for bigger ones with big bolt pattern
- Transmission completely rebuilt (reverse manual valve body, stall converter, low 1st gear set)
- Swapped 318 for a new 360 (headers, cam, intake, carb)
- Pertronix ignition
- Replaced entire wiring harness from front to back with a Painless harness
- Removed power steering and installed manual pump
- Installed floor-mount shifter, removed original steering column and put in appropriate one for floor-shift
- Stripped and painted all jambs (door jambs, inside trunk, engine compartment, under hood)
- All aftermarket gauges
- All interior removed... floorpans stripped of seam-sealer, resealed and treated with rust-Mort because of some minor surface rust
- Quarterpanels, roof and decklid stripped of paint, etch-primed and fill-primed
That's pretty much as it sits... and has been sitting for a couple years now. I want to get back to work on it, and have decided that I need to give up on the grand ideas of making it a beautiful show car - I just want to get it done and on the road. But, I'm a little overwhelmed and feel like I tried to do too many things at once without a real plan. Crap, I don't even know if I'll remember how to put things back together again! Anyways.. where should I start back up on it? Should I continue with stripping the paint and getting it primed, bodywork, paint? Or should I work on the interior? Also, it seems to have an oil leak from somewhere at the back of the engine.. so I'm guessing I'll need to disconnect the trans, loosen the motor mounts and see if I can lift the engine out enough to find the source of the leak. And, the steering column rubs against the left header.. so I guess I have to 'modify' the header with a hammer a little bit to alleviate that issue.. Anyways... like I said, I want to get it done.. but have no idea what the best way is to just finish it. Thanks!
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Re: Where would you start?
[Re: Alaskan_TA]
#819972
10/02/10 06:12 PM
10/02/10 06:12 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,589 Sacramento, CA
cal_gecko
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,589
Sacramento, CA
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Quote:
0.5 - Clean up around it. Hard to get motivated about anything you can not get too or see.
That IS cleaned up... you shoulda seen it last weekend!!!
I need to get an engine hoist to lift the engine out so I can figure out the source of the leak, I guess... grr...
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Re: Where would you start?
[Re: Neil]
#819974
10/02/10 06:58 PM
10/02/10 06:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,854 Georgetown Ontario Canada
anlauto
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,854
Georgetown Ontario Canada
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My guess is rear main seal.I would pull the drivetrain out, pull the interior out and have it painted...FIRST
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Re: Where would you start?
[Re: anlauto]
#819975
10/03/10 09:34 AM
10/03/10 09:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 417 Caledon, Ontario
smac77
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 417
Caledon, Ontario
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Quote:
My guess is rear main seal.I would pull the drivetrain out, pull the interior out and have it painted...FIRST
If you do a little extra work, that takes a little extra time for you to end up with a nicer car, you will always be happier then if you take the quick and easy way and end up with something that "could've been better"
Restoration, Sales and Canadian Distributor For: AMD Sheetmetal Wizzard Direct Fit, Bolt In Aluminum Radiators Legendary Interiors SSBC & Wilwood Brakes Control Freak Suspensions Fine lines Tubing and many more... www.macleanclassics.com
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