1965 Dodge Dart GT - 273 V8/2Barrel - Automatic She's a numbers matching to the paint color First cleanup since she got home in March 2007
not much left here to work with
the dog leg cut off the passenger side fender beside it is my first attempt at metal bashing a replacement patch
curve and attempt to get the bolt house configuration to work it won't be factory spec bty hey, beats paying outlandish prices for replacement parts
backside of the dog leg showing the curves/fold and the inner lip
the fender showing the dog leg cut out
fender in place ready for trial fit of dog leg patch panel nasty rust to be cleaned up prior to final re-install of fender
dog leg patch panel welded from the backside and quickly primed
another pic of dog leg patch panel welded from the backside
and yet another pic of dog leg patch panel welded from the backside
another pic of fender on for dog leg patch panel trial fit
dog leg patch panel pre-fit, I am very pleased how this is going
successful replacement of the dog leg for the passenger side fender, I also made a template and mirrored a piece for the drivers side which is not as bad but will be replaced
end result of hammering out all the dents, some were severe creases right behind the headlight bowl found some caked in bondo (1/4" easy thickness) filling in a very large dent just ahead of the wheel well
another view of end result of hammering out all the dents, some were severe creases right behind the headlight bowl found some caked in bondo (1/4" easy thickness) filling in a very large dent just ahead of the wheel well
more hammering out of dents, large dent just behind the wheel well, welded dog leg patch panel in place some other patch pieces on top welded in
top of fender small patch welded in to replace the cheese
this is the inner splash shield from in front of the door, passenger fender. As you can see the last owner slapped on a pc of metal and bondo to do a quick (nasty) fix
this is the same inner splash shield from in front of the door, passenger fender. As you can see the last owner slapped on a pc of metal and bondo to do a quick (nasty) fix
well here are a pair of replacement inner splash panels I hope will work, I still need to shape (bend) to follow contours. I figured I might as well make for both sides while I was at it
inner splash panel after some bashing (form a lip) and shaping for fit
inside view of inner splash panel after some bashing (form a lip) and shaping for fit
front side view inner splash panel after some bashing (form a lip) and shaping for fit
inner splash panel trial fit (completely bolted), this is the bottom portion due to lighting issues, see next pic for the top section
inner splash panel trial fit (completely bolted), this is the top portion (due to lighting issues), although not to factory specs, I am quite pleased with how my first attempts at metal work on a car are going, remember, she's a driver!
went after the deep bondo, found metal overlap braze tack welded. also a large are dent that was bent backward at body line, large pc must go and be replaced
a pc of about 20 x 20 cut out will be replaced once I figure out replication of the body line : )
section completely cut out ready for replacement panel I managed to replicate the body line as seen in the next pic which I am quite happy with
panel progress is going well
panel completely welded in
now for the drivers door bottom right cheese
and the bottom left more cheese
cheese removed metal patch welded in bottom left drivers door forgot to take pic after welding done
cheese removed metal patch welded in bottom right drivers door forgot to take pic after welding done
rear quarter wheel well cheese
rear quarter wheel well cheese cut out both what was left of outer skin and the inner fender not much left here
rear quarter wheel well patch panel both inner and outer this might be much tougher to pull off
just another pic of rear quarter wheel well patch panel both inner and outer
rear quarter wheel well patch panel both inner and outer trying to show how the patch panel will be used as one pc
just another pic of rear quarter wheel well patch panel both inner and outer trying to show how the patch panel will be used as one pc
large patch panel replaced and putty done. Had some suck back of the patch panel I think mainly due to the large unsupported panel area but I'm satisfied it will be OK
when I removed the back glass it was a great time to remove the water damaged hard board type material covering the back speaker deck. As you can see, pieces with a total replacement needed I decided to make a replacement from heavy cardboard and anticipate a black covering to complete. The speakers I removed looked the the material was as old as the car so they are not keepers
Now I have a one piece replacement for the back radio speaker deck. Just have to add a black covering that will take some sun
Brought her out for some sunshine late August 09
Brought her out into the sunshine late August 09 The driver side is near complete removing scares : )
well well ... found a pair of inner splash panels on ebay at a very reasonable price! Looks like my hand made ones will be removed and replaced once I clean these up.
just taking a set of pics so I can remember where and how the gaskets and foam are placed when I get a new set of them next Moparfest
Finally, after 8 long months (nov 09 - May 10) of health issues getting in the way of both work and work on the GT, I have picked up (slowly) where I left off. : )
this is a funkt brass tee, it actually bolts to the axle! When I asked around the feeling was that not heard of, must not be, but as you will see by future pics, it is so.
must find replacement rubber line with a male and a female end. No luck so far but I'll find one yet.
just a view of the funky brass tee for the rear brake lines. Notice the large hole for the bolt to axle to pass thru.
here is the bolt (which is hollow) and the cap with a spring and rubber circle to hold the spring. The cap will rest and be captured by the taper on the left head above the hex. This lets off heat build up from within the axle I guess.
just another pic as before
and yet another as before. I must delete a couple eh! : )
funky tee with new brake lines installed. Wohoo! : )
just a pic of the brake line going over to the passenger side rear with the new cupru-nickel lines. Great stuff to work with, does not kind even on the tightest bends just like the good people at parts shop said. : )
just a pic to capture the underside of the car after sitting over a year without any attention.
as before but the other side of the underside
this is a pic of the cross-member where the single pipe exhaust passes to the back, Note the tunnel effect to keep the pipe up from being below the frame (or should I say uni-body) : )
this is a pic of the cross-member on the passenger side where I will do some cut and fab to make a similar tunnel for another single pipe exhaust to pass to the back. I really want dual exhaust even if it was an option for the car.
up on a hoist. Maybe I won't hit my head as much. : )
now for some major patch panel work. Fitting up to trace when I need to cut metal away and replace with this panel I picked up at Moparfest 2010. I put this off from last year, thought it to be to much for me to chew.
same as before : )
other-side marked and ready for the cut. I must bring my self to doing it, this is major for me and sure don't want to make a mistake particularly setting up for lap joint using a flanging tool after the cut. First time : )
well there we have it, all cut away and now we can see the inner wheel well. Some work will need to be done here as well.
now I have stitched up a panel using a lap joint. Actually went fairly well for my first kick at it.
Same patch panel as before that I have stitched up a panel using a lap joint. Actually went fairly well for my first kick at it.
now I cut the other side with much more confidence. It went really fast this time. : ) You can see into the trunk and into the window area on the right side.
Same side just a different angle. now I cut the other side with much more confidence. It went really fast this time. : ) You can see into the trunk and into the window area on the right side.
Same side just a different angle. now I cut the other side with much more confidence. It went really fast this time. : ) Now I am digging other areas behind the patch panel that I need to replace. Confidence is motivating me : )
Patch panel replaced using stitch welding into a lap joint. Again second one ever and went really quick compared to the first scary one. : )
note above the open area a large section that I hammered out to get rid of approx 1/4 to 3/8 depth of bondo put in some time ago to fill a crease and dents around the body line. I cut the rest of the metal out that had the same or more amount of bondo so I can minimize the amount I put back in. : ) What do I know, this is the first time I have attempted this!
Just more of the area shot. note above the open area a large section that I hammered out to get rid of approx 1/4 to 3/8 depth of bondo put in some time ago to fill a crease and dents around the body line. I cut the rest of the metal out that had the same or more amount of bondo so I can minimize the amount I put back in. : ) What do I know, this is the first time I have attempted this.
same as before just a bit closer pic to show the body line and hammered out dent area
well as the patch panel was going in I discovered a very large area that had at least 1/4 - 3/8" bondo that had to go. I made myself a replacement patch panel which was not planned but a very good idea. Note above the patch panel which was what was left of a very large dent that someone failed to attempt to pull or hammer out. I attempted to hammer it out, again so I can limit the bondo without cutting out at the body line. The body line also was creased, clear to me that the car was hit kind of sideswiped I think. The restore just keeps getting a life of it's own but I am really enjoying the challenge and work I am putting into my driver.
here I am fabricating a patch panel for all the metal I took out ... remember all that bondo that I mentioned in the earlier pictures ; )
still finding more cheese areas as I move back from the wheel well patch panel. Making more patch panels and welding in right around the corner to the rear.
Now the patch panel is welded in right around the corner to the rear, joined to the side patch panel installed previous. Lots of shaping in this corner, pretty happy with my attempt from scratch : )
ok so I found more cheese ahead of the wheel area that needed a patch panel shaped to fit into the wheel well. This will also help secure the chrome stone guard properly as well at the end of the work.
Same as pic before, just a different angle. More cheese ahead of the wheel area that needed a patch panel shaped to fit into the wheel well. This will also help secure the chrome stone guard properly as well at the end of the work.
wanted to begin the bondo work on a 19 degree celcius October 9, 2010 afternoon.
wanted to begin the bondo work on a 19 degree celcius October 9, 2010 afternoon. (the other side)
just another view, on another day
another shot, on another day, the other side. Looks like it is coming together nicely for my driver : )
just a closer shot of the last pic
took the windshield out Monday Oct 18, 2010. Found the expected corner rust out that will be removed and replaced on the drivers side.
closer pic of the corner rust out that will be removed and replaced on the drivers side.
another closer pic of the corner rust out that will be removed and replaced on the drivers side. Looks a bit intimidating for sure ; )
here is the left side that the rust (or shall I say cheese) went down to the end of the cowling so I cut it out and fab'd the beginning of the rebuild of the cowling and the windshield frame that was totally gone
well it's getting colder and looks like the work will slow down unless I get some real warm October weekends from here forward. Shhhh, she's sleeping. ; )
it's November now so I have set up some tool-age in the basement to allow me to attempt to re-make the windshield frame that has disappeared (rusty) small (very) hand brake, small throat-less shear and shrinker/stretcher combo
closer shot of the Eastwood shrinker and stretcher mounted to the work bench in such a way that I can easily remove when I need the bench for other things : ) Oh, the blue thing is the throatless hand shear
here is a couple of pcs that I will weld into the passenger side, bottom corner of the windshield frame that is totally rusted away. Looks like I'll be able to put a windshield back in after all.
this is just another pic to show the very first pc that I have ever attempted in the stretcher tool, it was fairly easy to produce the curve so away I went making the pcs below it
if it fits the template it should fit the car ... right?
New battery after some tests of the system and the lack of response from the old battery it became a project of it's own. I had great advise from the forum members of A Bodies Only. A great resource for sure
Part of the testing process suggested from the A Bodies Forum was to open up and inspect the voltage regulator. You may not see it but the cover is embossed with IGN and FLD so I figured this was the voltage regulator. Boy was it ever clean and shiny inside!
just a pic of the hi-pro engine that I have on a stand. I rotate the cam each week to make sure she doesn't seize up. Note the purple cam!
just a pic of the hi-pro engine that I have on a stand. I rotate the cam each week to make sure she doesn't seize up.
bought some nice rally wheels with new beauty rings and real decent center caps this July 2011.
these rally wheels with new beauty rings and real decent center caps will replace the Cragar SS wheels that have seen better days
Ok here we are replacing the driver's side corner of the front windows that I made the curves in my basement during the colder days. Note the use of a fire blanket to control sparks etc when welding
here we are replacing the passenger's side corner of the front windows that I made the curves in my basement during the colder days. Note the use of a fire blanket to control sparks etc when welding
view of the inside patch work that I needed to do for the passenger side. This corner was near completely gone and needed a complete work up, it was tough going but I am now satisfied with it
back on the driver's side, patch pc's welded in and now work on the cowling begins
passenger side all welded up and cleaned up ready for some putty. Going to use a type that has aluminum in it so it becomes quite hard and will not shrink
just a close up of the passenger side windshield frame replacement and welding completed
just another angle of the passenger inside frame patch work that I needed to do to bring it back to solid material
passenger side patch work all done ready to putty and finish
drivers side cowl and windshield curve
working on the cowl and the window curve
while removing the interior I found the remains of a build sheet still in the springs underneath the drivers bucket. I have a near complete build sheet from the back seat that I now have in plastic.
all the seats and carpet are now removed. After she has been in the barn sitting for near 3 years now it was time to check for solid floor
this was the beige door panel before clean up prep for Dye of the vinyl and carpet portions
this was the beige door panel after clean up prep for Dye of the vinyl and carpet portions
I needed a replacement panel for the drivers door. I had a beige (light brown) one from the original donor car I had so after some research and some chats with some people I bought some SEM COLOR COAT (dye) and here are the results. FANTASTIC!
a closer shot of the replacement panel for the drivers door. I had a beige (light brown) one from the original donor car I had so after some research and some chats with some people I bought some SEM COLOR COAT (dye) and here are the results. FANTASTIC!
I also dyed the pillar interior plastic pcs from beige ones. Again FANTASTIC results!
I also dyed the pillar interior plastic pcs from beige ones. Again FANTASTIC results! Add a Caption
attempted a silver grey paint ... not happy with the result
silver leaf
silver leaf application sheet
close up look at the silver leaf
silver leaf application to dyed door panel
finished doing the silver leaf to replicate the older look of chrome inside door panel to match the passenger side. I'm pretty happy with the results being an experiment
well after some heavy cleanup of the drivers side floor I found that the floor was cheesy. So cut out and patch as necessary
dupe pic
floor pan is good shape here
well after some heavy cleanup of the passenger side floor I found that the floor was cheesy. So cut out and patch as necessary
most of the floor pan is solid so patches were the way I chose to go for now
floor pan patches ...
floor patching ... floor pan expensive and hard to get
more bad molding clips from the roof trim
plastic molding clips for the roof that go across two areas. so far I have not found a source of replacement. need them as they are very brittle and won't stand a re-use
molding clip on the roof ... or what's left of it
roof molding clips for identification for when roof trim is re-installed
drivers side cowl and window curve complete
passenger side cowl to windshield curve complete
One HOT afternoon when I went to remove the cover on the car I found what I thought was a large splotch of gunk on the cover but upon closer inspection it was this alien looking moth. I took a pc of cardboard and got the moth to climb onto it and then I took it outside and coaxed it to climb onto some grape leaves nearby. When I got home I showed my son the pics and he did some research on the Internet he was able to tell me that the moth was a PANDORA'S SPHINX MOTH ... cool! I also took a close up movie
doors are off, interior stripped .. now to get serious eh!
removed the heater box ... the heater core was toast .. that's what rusted the passenger floor I'm sure. Will get a new core fix her up and reinstall a later point
bottom of the doors were not real bad ...... here one is done and ready for re-install
tearing down the front end to get at the valance to straighten and clean up
original engine starting to make her way out. tranny already taken off prior to this. Did it the hard way : )
rad is out, not sure why I took the pic but maybe just keeping with steps I took
tranny looks like it was in the car for quite awhile eh!
tranny removed ready to send away for refresh
original, 75,000 mile engine removed to make way for the 1966 engine
the original engine now removed. Time to clean up the bay
rear flex line replaced with stainless steel, vinyl coated. really nice fit too!
original flex line removed and replaced with new
original flex line ... got to go
original flex lines ... they got to go
stainless steel vinyl covered flex lines also where I got them from on eBay
stainless steel vinyl covered flex line
new flex brake lines (stainless steel) with green vinyl coating cool for sure but not so visible when the car is on the ground but the price was right for the 3 I needed and hard to find.
1966 - 273 w/1970 - 340 intake w/1965 Carter 4bbl getting ready to go back into the car
the original 75,000 mile engine removed Sep/Oct 2011 sitting on the floor beside the 1966 - 273 repacement getting ready to go in
They painted up quite nicely. Then I used a mill file to remove the paint from the ribs and the name emboss, makes pop a bit don't you think?
another pic of the aluminum valve covers
Transmission is back from a refresh by the College Advanced class in Automotive (Thank you ED). Some parts were definitively in need of replacement so the effort for me to take out in the first place was well worth my time. Of course it was the first time I ever attempted to remove a transmission.
close up of the 1970 - 340 intake manifold after paint and first assembly attempt.
just a pic of the engine with the aluminum valve covers on as well as the new water pump and fuel mechanical fuel pump
Just a close up of the previous pic
Here I am placing the 1966 - purple cam - 4 BBl 273 into the car. Note that the tranny is bolted to the engine and I am putting this in by myself. just takes the right angle at entry and bob's your uncle.
easy ... easy ... : ) note the new starter!
almost there ... : )
feels better now that she is in place .... first time too!
now starting to put the fan, belts etc back on. Note the new alternator.
just another view of the engine in place
underside of the 340 intake manifold. Don't know why there are holes but they look like they are supposed to be there by way of nice punched type holes.
this is the second attempt of intake assembly on the engine. My first time left quite a gap at the front and the back which should have had a larger amount of gasket goo used. I thought I had enough but discovered I did not.
just another shot to show the purple cam etc. prior to the second assembly attempt of the intake.
just another view of the purple cam etc. prior to the second assembly of the intake manifold
There she is finally put together and installed in place of the original 273 V8-2BBL October 2011
