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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: MuuMuu101]
#1267559
10/17/13 04:23 PM
10/17/13 04:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
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Just got a call from my mechanics. The Dart brake system is done and the car is running. I'm going to check it out and drive it in 3-4 hours. They said there's a small problem with the engine. They're reading low compression in one of the cylinders.
Update: So I went to my mechanics. I actually got to drive the car a little and it drove just as well as before. Cylinder 2 is reading approximately 60 psi. There were a couple little issues I wanted addressed so I told them to keep it another half week. The steering wheel wasn't centered, the turn signals weren't working (I'm guessing there was no ground), my friend broke my speedo cable, I wanted them to check the locks, I may need a couple tires, etc. So I will most likely bring the Dart to Fall Fling, drive it around for a month or two, save some money, and send it back to them to redo the entire suspension (rebuild kit, steering box, T-bars and leafs, possibly sway bars), install my 8 3/4, and put on some new 17" wheels. It's not going to look pretty at Fall Fling, but it will most likely be there.
On a positive note, my mechanics told me I did a good job on putting the brake system together. So that was a good "pick-me-up."
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: wally426ci]
#1267562
10/24/13 01:28 AM
10/24/13 01:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
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Quote:
So maybe it just needs a valve job with the low compression? 
That's what I figured.
He didn't fixed the speedo as he said I gave him the wrong one. Apparently my fitting that hooks to the trans was either way too small or way too big.
I pick up the car tomorrow. We'll see how much they did as he said I had a "big list." I hope he at least replaced the front tires, fixed the turn signal, realigned the steering wheel, and reinstalled the interior panels. It seems to be drivable. I should be at Fall Fling so feel free to catch up with me and say hi. I may need a buddy to look around the swap meet area with me as I'm possibly going to be in the spending mood for some goodies.
Update:
Well after a year of plenty of ups and downs and a busy life, I was finally able to get the Dart running and driving again. There were times I had bursts of progress and times I was just simply too afraid to work on the car. Well, 3 weeks ago I sent it off to my mechanics to put the final touches on the brake system. I test drove it last week and today I picked it up. First thing I did was take it to the local cruise to show a friend of mine who has a Challenger there.
I'm happy I have the Dart now. The best way to describe driving the car would be to say it's "refreshing." Driving it makes life seem simpler. I don't care it's not shiny, with the biggest and baddest motors, with all the creature comforts. It has a crappy chipping paint job, missing the trim on the driver's door, none of the gauges work besides the alternator gauge, the blue protectant on the two new white walls hasn't been wiped off, and it's slow as hell. But then again, it's my Dart. It starts right up, is now safe, and has character to it. No one at the local cruise had a mopar with missing trim, steel wheels w/o hub caps, and 1 year build up of dirt.
I just figured I should post this. I'm going to drive it 4 miles to school tomorrow to see how well it likes freeways and hills. If it's good, it will be going to Fall Fling just the way it is. No wash, no prettiness, it's going to just drive.
Anyways, I should get to studying. I have 2 math exams tomorrow I haven't started studying for and I've got an engineering exam on Monday. On top of all that, my uncle from Lebanon is flying in again tomorrow. Busy weekend, much?
Again, thank you moparts for being an awesome site with some great guys! If anyone at Fall Fling wants to meet up. Send me a pm.
Last edited by MuuMuu101; 10/24/13 10:49 PM.
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: MuuMuu101]
#1267563
12/15/13 04:25 AM
12/15/13 04:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
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So a little update from my last post. The Dart took the 90 mile round trip to Fall Fling like a champ and I had a fun time out there. After Fall Fling, I haven't done anything really to it. I drove it to school for about 2 weeks straight, but now I just drive it every other week to relieve some stress and go someplace new. Luckily, I just finished all my finals this week for the quarter so I have 3 weeks off (sorta) before I go back (again sorta). I've got a couple bugs I'd like to work on and get sorted to make the car a little more safe. So hopefully I'll have time to work on that as I work from 8am-2pm everyday and am going to have to go to school to machine parts for the baja car till who knows how late. Also, I'll be leaving my work after the New Year. I've just been juggling too much and need to focus on school. Plus, it really wasn't a place I could see myself working at in the future as something I'd enjoy doing. So, unless I find another job, money won't really be coming in. Luckily I saved almost every penny I could from my 1.5 year run.
Things I'd like to work on:
1) The steering column was only installed 90% of the way there. Right now the turn signal housing occasionaly spins as I'm turning the wheel. I'm assuming that will stay put once I mount one of my brackets I've got in a box that goes with the steering column. Also, my turn signals don't work. I took the steering column apart last year and completely went through it and replaced the cam (it was working before, just didn't return one way). I think it's something simple as a ground not being connected, I just don't know where to connect it.
2) Cleaning the grease from under the car. It's got about an inch layer of good, thick grease underneath the engine area. It's scary.
3) The driver's door rear view mirror aims at the ground. I removed the adjusting mechanism on the door to fiddle with it a little but it seems like something broken or not working right.
There seems to be some sort of oil leak possibly. I cleaned some spots up when I moved my car. It was definitely dark, with some thick and greasy stuff (like the stuff found underneath the front end). I also spotted 2 small spots of trans fluid.
Besides that, I've taken two of my friends out on a trip. The first one was a couple months ago or so and she felt the trip was interesting. She did enjoy herself and we had a fun time. The second time was tonight where I took my best bud out. We went to a Ramen place about 15 miles away and it was really nice just cruising on a big street at night with very little cars.
It's definitely a fun car to drive and am glad I decided to buy it and work on it over a year ago.
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: wally426ci]
#1267567
12/20/13 01:42 PM
12/20/13 01:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
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Quote:
Thick grease.... Maybe a steering component is leaking grease like too much was applied? Or maybe the U-Joints?
Glad you kept the car. It looks good. 
I wiped the oil and grease last time I drove the car just so I can figure out exactly where under the engine the stuff is falling from. Most the time it seems like the biggest puddle/pile is about where the exhaust collects right around the bell-housing area, but I want to make sure of it.
Besides that, I've been swamped and had no time to even look at the car. I've been waking up every day at 6 am to go to work and after work (been putting in ~5 hours a day), I head over to school to work on the baja car (either designing or machining). I've been getting home every night somewhere between 9 pm and midnight.
Thank you all for your positive support! 
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: MuuMuu101]
#1267568
12/24/13 09:26 PM
12/24/13 09:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
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Little bit of an update. I've been fiddling with the Dart a little today. So, turn signals do work; however, the housing/lever still spins. Basically the turn signal lever stays somewhere between 9 and 12 o'clock on the steering wheel. The cam I replaced does work, luckily. I don't remember the steering column being like that when I first had the car, but I guess it works now.
Also, there is still some sort of leak. It's in the same spot, right underneath where the bell-housing connects to the engine and the exhaust swings over from the passenger side exhaust manifold. I checked my oil levels and they were just a touch bellow the "safe zone."
Last edited by MuuMuu101; 12/24/13 09:54 PM.
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: MuuMuu101]
#1267569
12/24/13 10:29 PM
12/24/13 10:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,944
woodcrest, CA
magnum440d100
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,944
woodcrest, CA
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Quote:
Little bit of an update. I've been fiddling with the Dart a little today. So, turn signals do work; however, the housing/lever still spins. Basically the turn signal lever stays somewhere between 9 and 12 o'clock on the steering wheel. The cam I replaced does work, luckily. I don't remember the steering column being like that when I first had the car, but I guess it works now.
Also, there is still some sort of leak. It's in the same spot, right underneath where the bell-housing connects to the engine and the exhaust swings over from the passenger side exhaust manifold. I checked my oil levels and they were just a touch bellow the "safe zone."
Sounds like rear main.
Could be valve cover gaskets, intake gasket, or even the oil pressure sending unit.
Did you figure out the low compression? Is that a 318? I just pulled the 318 out of my truck in favor of a 360. 318 was even compression across the board. It's greasy as heck because of leaky valve covers. I wiped a lobe on the cam last year but swapped in a 360 cam. It doesn't really NEED to come apart, but the bearings should be checked because of the wiped lobe (metal specks going through oil system)
Anyways, you're welcome to the motor for your dart. Otherwise I'll be listing it for sale
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: MuuMuu101]
#1267572
01/26/14 06:40 PM
01/26/14 06:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,797
Mt.Gilead, Ohio
OhioMopar
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,797
Mt.Gilead, Ohio
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Quote:
Well, the Dart is back up on jack stands again. My mom came up to me this morning telling me I have a flat tire on the front passenger side (which was a brand new tire). I go, lift the car up, put it on the stand, take the wheel off and check it for any punctures or to see if the tire fell off the beads. It all seemed fine. I take it to my super tiny, portable car compressor I got from my Aunt for Christmas (that requires a 12V plug-in, Thank you Aunt!) and pump the tire up. It was extremely slow to pump up and then I found out that the little valve stem has a leak. So now I'm assuming I need a new wheel... Definitely not a lovely way to start off my morning. Especially since I have homework and a lab to complete.
You shouldn't need a new wheel. Just have someone pop a new valve stem in it. Should cost a total of $5. Or if you know someone with a tire machine, it'll cost you whatever a new stem is at Auto Zone. Pop the bead, replace the stem, fill it back up.
1969 Dart GTS 340
1969 Coronet R/T X9 N-96
1999 Dodge Dakota R/T RC
2015 Dodge Dart GT
2019 Ram 2500 Big Horn
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: OhioMopar]
#1267573
01/26/14 08:51 PM
01/26/14 08:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
|
Quote:
Quote:
Well, the Dart is back up on jack stands again. My mom came up to me this morning telling me I have a flat tire on the front passenger side (which was a brand new tire). I go, lift the car up, put it on the stand, take the wheel off and check it for any punctures or to see if the tire fell off the beads. It all seemed fine. I take it to my super tiny, portable car compressor I got from my Aunt for Christmas (that requires a 12V plug-in, Thank you Aunt!) and pump the tire up. It was extremely slow to pump up and then I found out that the little valve stem has a leak. So now I'm assuming I need a new wheel... Definitely not a lovely way to start off my morning. Especially since I have homework and a lab to complete.
You shouldn't need a new wheel. Just have someone pop a new valve stem in it. Should cost a total of $5. Or if you know someone with a tire machine, it'll cost you whatever a new stem is at Auto Zone. Pop the bead, replace the stem, fill it back up.
Yeah, after a quick search I found that it's a pretty cheap fix.
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: MuuMuu101]
#1267574
01/26/14 10:54 PM
01/26/14 10:54 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,654
Southern by Choice
Shoozy
I have a foot fetish
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I have a foot fetish
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,654
Southern by Choice
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Did you make sure the valve core is tight and not causing the leak?
Old, tired, and sometimes broke down. Me, not my car...
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Re: MuuMuu's 68 Dart... It's a Learning Process...
[Re: Shoozy]
#1267575
01/26/14 11:42 PM
01/26/14 11:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101
OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
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OP
I got lucky at Woodward!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
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Quote:
Did you make sure the valve core is tight and not causing the leak?
The valve stem was cracked a bit and shooting air out of the side.
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