Although, I am a little guilty of straying from the original purpose of why I bought the car. I bought it to learn about cars and working on them. Maybe there will be another car one day I'll get to retest that opportunity with in full.

So, I cringed a little bit when Hotchkis posted about my car on their Facebook page yesterday morning. This is what they said:



I had to post a comment stating it was a 408 built by IMM Engines. I ended up posting it on my page as well stating the correction too. I definitely don't want to discredit IMM for their hard and awesome work. This isn't the first time they mixed this engine up either. When Shannon Hudson first sold me the engine, they posted about his Valiant twice asking what his new mystery motor may be going in. Both times they said he removed his "Supercharged 318." I replied both times telling them it's a 360 sitting in your shop. Lol.

Other pictures from their post.

Samy - better make sure the mixup isn't just in their FB post...

Your patience is admirable. I would have pulled it out of there months ago.

Looks good, hope they pressure wash the engine compartment while its out.

Talking about paints with them. I'm trying to find some paint to match the exterior but the previous owner didn't write the code on the can he gave me after he sprayed the car. All I know is it's a Deltron 2000 Base Coat. I'm trying to get a color to match it otherwise I might have to go bright white. However, they cleaned about 25 lbs of crud from underneath the car and sprayed it in black.

We're also having problems getting a Borgeson box as Borgeson is on back order after they told us they had it in stock. Summit had it in stock on their website but still hasn't sent it yet. We called Jegs and they don't have one.

Magnaflow isn't going to do the exhaust for my car. The build manager decided to go with Flowmaster as he thought it would sorta-kinda fit and I told him to cancel the order and talk to TTi.

There's some small issues that they're sorting out. They found a giant crack in my K-frame they can repair. They're also going to redo my brake lines, etc. So, they care about their quality of work. They're trying to mock up the proper pedal positions and trans position for the engine to go in the car.

Anyway, out with the old and in with the new. Engine and trans is out.

Well, I called them today. First off, they seemed to have found paint at Pep Boys similar to my body color in matte that they wanted to do a little trial to see if it will look good, but after my phone call, I sent them a text back and told them just to go to a paint supply store, get WW1 PPG paint and do it right once (which they've been telling me about everything else).

The Flowmaster exhaust has been CANCELED! THANK GOD! I'm not a huge fan of the sound and ironically neither is the build manager. I walked him through TTi's website over the phone and showed him exactly what part numbers to ask about when he calls them. I also showed him the information for which starter to get that would fit with my TTi shorty headers. So, yes, the entire exhaust, headers to tips will be TTi with the Dynomax mufflers. We'll probably go with 2.5" for rooms sake and we're unsure whether it will be an X or H pipe due to the trans. I think 3" will be overkill based off of what I've read: http://www.exhaustvideos.com/faq/how-to-calculate-muffler-size-pipe-diameter/

If you are going to use the brackets and pump off the 273 you need to change the water pump.

It will have a different style bracket and ps pump to better suite the Borgeson unit.

Time for your weekly update...

No PS box yet, exhaust is ordered, and engine bay being sanded and primed.

Finally some progress from these people. ETA on the box?

No idea.

Still having problems getting the box. We have 3 orders placed with no ETA. PS pump and hoses came in. Radiator ships this week. Engine bay is still being prepped for primer, but the entire underside and fenderwells are coated/painted.

not sure what the mystery was on the paint. A real paint shop can match it with a little hand held gizmo. If they have them in bumhill places, im sure they have them in CA. Try a Dupont shop.

Update. Engine compartment is finally painted. You can notice it's a little different than the outside and that's because the previous owner did a paint job with a metallic white/cream. Either way, I don't care as it's just an engine compartment.

Still on the list of things to do:

-Interior needs to be finished (i.e. seats, steering column, rear seat delete panel, and roll cage).
-Tunnel and pedals need to be modified for the T56.
-New brake lines.
-Fix/weld K-frame.
-Install PS box (no ETA still).
-Install Engine and related accessories.
-Workout bugs.

Progress is slow but steady. The Dart will not make it to Spring Fling. I'm currently looking for a replacement vehicle for the 4 days.

Some parts have come in. Exhaust and Radiator assembly is at the the shop. I found a nice air cleaner on Summit that I thought matched the car and the engine nicely.

Bi-weekly update?

Side members complete (minus paint).

Little update. Engine is in the car. Door bars were finished and sent for powder coating. The interior was also cleaned out, sanded, and painted. Almost time for tunnel surgery.