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!
