1965 Dodge Dart Charger

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swifter said:
You know after watching this build it makes a guy a little goofy in a good way,What a inspiration you are to the hobby !!!!!! Normally I would look at a car like this and say oh well another dart BUT what a privilege it would be to be able to take a ride in this car man when you page thru this thread it is simply incredible what you have done and the attention to detail and perseverance u did to keep going,YOU my sir are simple talented and this shows thru in the finished product. OUTSTANDING !!!!!!! Steve
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Thank you so much for those kind words. You almost made me embarrased!! I've read about guys making all kinds of restoration so I said to myself that can they do it, I can too!


Anyway, today I found a package from my friend Thord in southern Sweden. He has the best restored 1964 Valiants I have ever seen. He was kind to let me buy two pieces of locking strip that he bought as a spare for his nice Valiant. It has the right partnumber and it has the right profile. BUT, I need to make it in two pieces to go all the way around the glass. There is simply not long enough for al the way around the windshield. There for there will be some extra material left.

Should we make a joint venture here on FABO and have this unique piece reproduced? I'm pretty sure there will be a market for it. I don't have a clue about who can do it but with a good coordinator.....
 

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Hi Ulf,
as a new member of FABO I've just browse through a few occational posts about your restoration. This effort is stunning and it's an incredible effort you've done to this car. Reminds me about the 3 years 2500 hours effort I've put into my car 1979-81.
I'm happy to contribute to yours, you know I would never let those pristine locking strips go to any other car. Just hoping I would never need to replace the very good originals I have on my car.
Thord Liljekvist
 
C130 Chief said:
That would make it a darn sight better than the stuff Mopar used, regardless of price.
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I don't know about that...it lasted at least a decade, and keep in mind the average age of a car on American roads in 1979 was 5.7 years, and that was up from a lower figure in 1969. A-body Mopars happened to be more durable than many cars of their same build year, so -- just like the owners of rear-drive Volvos and other especially sturdy cars -- we tend to wear out/use up stuff the average driver never has to think about. We wear out dashboard chrome. We use up ignition keys. We wear out windshield lockstrip mylar. That doesn't mean the original stuff was crap, it means our cars lasted way past their stint on the actuarial tables!

(the 2013 figure is 11.4 years..."they don't make 'em like they used to")
 
Hate to say this but my November of 64 built convertible Still had little pieces of the broadcast sheet under the rear seat. May have been a special deal. You have the info on my car. Daniel
 
slantsixdan said:
I don't know about that...it lasted at least a decade, and keep in mind the average age of a car on American roads in 1979 was 5.7 years, and that was up from a lower figure in 1969. A-body Mopars happened to be more durable than many cars of their same build year, so -- just like the owners of rear-drive Volvos and other especially sturdy cars -- we tend to wear out/use up stuff the average driver never has to think about. We wear out dashboard chrome. We use up ignition keys. We wear out windshield lockstrip mylar. That doesn't mean the original stuff was crap, it means our cars lasted way past their stint on the actuarial tables!

(the 2013 figure is 11.4 years..."they don't make 'em like they used to")
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Dan! Who sang that song? They don't make cars like they used to? Barbi Benton? You are so right on your comments. Our loved cars are around 50 years!

For the NOS lock strip I have been wondering what tool to use. I was able to locate a special tool at Classic Industries for usd 16. I thought it was cheap so hopefully I can use it.

Anyone have tried this tool?
 

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It doesn't matter what Mopar site you go to from around the world there is always someone looking for a locking strip that fits as it should.....a correct reproduction I'm sure would sell world wide!!
 
Martythetrimmer said:
It doesn't matter what Mopar site you go to from around the world there is always someone looking for a locking strip that fits as it should.....a correct reproduction I'm sure would sell world wide!!
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True - I would take one for my wagon!
 
I don't know the song, and I can't recommend a tool (the one you got looks good) but make sure that lockstrip and the gasket are nice and warm when you install, and I'd put a thin film of silicone grease on the edges of the lockstrip before installation.
 
Next out was the DART GT emblem that goes on the inside of the door. From start it's chromed and the Dart GT area seems to some kind of a polished chromes area. I was able to buy a set just a couple of miles away so the first one was on the program for today.

The masking is a bummer. Takes quite some times to do it right. And after a shot of paint you just wrap it off! It turned out great. When I mounted it on the door I was afraid that it might damage the paint but no problem.

Now it's just the other side. BUT, the rivet that hold the spring on the other side needs some attention.

To be continued.......
 

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Hi Ulf,
Will there be a piece of the windshield lockstrip left over? James Fillmore at Detroit Muscle Technologies might be able to do us some good if he had a piece for a sample.
 
grimreaper said:
Hi Ulf,
Will there be a piece of the windshield lockstrip left over? James Fillmore at Detroit Muscle Technologies might be able to do us some good if he had a piece for a sample.
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Great idea! For sure there will be some extra material left. I will get in contact with Jim about it. I already has a package for him!

Thanks for the idea!
 
Ulf, you're almost done and it is turning out perfect. I am looking forward to seeing it and meeting you in person. You and all your helpers here have done such a great job with this project and documenting your progress. I just have to ask, what's your next project? tmm
 
toolmanmike said:
Ulf, you're almost done and it is turning out perfect. I am looking forward to seeing it and meeting you in person. You and all your helpers here have done such a great job with this project and documenting your progress. I just have to ask, what's your next project? tmm
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Mike! Thanks for the comments. I totallt agree with you re all the help here from the FABO community. I must admit that all the help I have recieved from FABO members from around the globe a amazing. In my wildest dreams I could not believe that I was going to find so many stories, so much knowledge and so much history as I have from the FABO community. And not to forget all the help I have got from all odds and ends! I'm not sure that I could ever completed this restoration without FABO! So hats off to all you members out there who has contributed in whatever way. You will be remembered.

Next question is in my thoughts too! I was wondering if I was going to make a full restoration on the 270 wagon I bought from Lance.But I changed my mind. I will re-do the interior and leave it as is.

I bought a 270 2 dr sedan from the first owner in Sweden. He bought it brand new at Reedmans in Langhorne, PA as a wedding gift. Drove it up to New York and had it shipped to Sweden. Drove it until 1977 and parked it due to some issues with the brakes. Was going to restore it some day! (Have we heard that before?) I started calling him in 1986 and called him every second year. Last year he called me for the first time and told me,
-I'm 81 years old now and I'm not going to complete the restoration. If you like you can have it. We agreed on the money and I got it in mid December last year.

My plans was to restore it as a driver condition. At the same time I'm tired of making everything 100% stock.

So my idea is to build a tribute car to The Ramchargers. 273 Power pack engine w/tag and using a dual 4 barrell intake from God knows, gear drive and 4-speed. I also has a sure-grip rear end for it.

I have talked with The Ramchargers about my plans and they agree. The guy who owns the right to the name has also approved the use of the name The Ramcharger.

So we will see which way I will choose! To be continued.......

But today was a funny day when I mounted the passenger seat. It is a little tricky to get it done but after a while it was there.The nuts on the underside is the yellow dichromated ones. I's getting better and better.
 

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Monday night I mounted the window cranks. Last night I was thinking what way should be mounted? I have mounted them in my way a logical way but I need to find out what the partory had in mind?

Does anyone know which direction they should be pointing at? I checked the FPC but nothing.

Any help is gladly appriciated.
 

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The door handle looks perfect according to what I remember. The top tip just at the chrome. I believe the window cranks were installed so that when the window was in the full up position they were almost straight up but not quit, so that any jiggling or the weight of the handle would cause the window to tighten rather than try to roll down.
 
grimreaper said:
The door handle looks perfect according to what I remember. The top tip just at the chrome. I believe the window cranks were installed so that when the window was in the full up position they were almost straight up but not quit, so that any jiggling or the weight of the handle would cause the window to tighten rather than try to roll down.
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Hey, I Think you are right! Look what I found on a test drive in Motor Trend I think. You can see on the picture that when the window is down the window crank is pointing towards the inside door handle. When you mount them that way the window crank will point at the same direction as the door handle!

Thanks grimreaper!

I also found a picture in the dealer album of how it looks. But I guess that they did it the flashiest way!
 

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For a long time I have been worrying about the right rear wheel well moulding. I was able to buy an almost mint set fron Don (65 dartman) but I could just use the left side: There is simply too much work to get it back in shape even if I have put 15 hours in it! I guess that my skills is the reason!!!:banghead:

BUT, I found a partscar in my other garage, my convertible! The right side wheel well moulding was way much better on the stone guard. That's where the problem lies. The moulding itself is usually very good but the stone guards!

So now it's on the shelf for somehours os sandling and polishing.

I was also able to find NOS chromed screews for the sun visor arms. So now the sun visors are back in place. I just need to find 3 more for the rear view mirror!

I talked with one of the guys, Goran who helped me with the work Before the paint was sprayed. He is going to help me with a special paint gun to shot the undercoating in the Wheel wells. BUT, where to find a great picture so I know how the pattern looks like?
 

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65dartcharger said:
Here is a 2 minutes show that our local newspaper did on my car. It can be watched at the web-TV. Sorry for language is only Swedish!

http://www.vk.se/1403784/umeas-mest-akta-bil
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Very nice interview Ulf. It's great to put a face with a name. I don't believe I've ever seen a photo of you. We all have a vision in our own minds as to what you look like. Now we know. That Dart is georgeous and I am looking forward to seeing it and you in person someday soon.
Cheers my friend. toolmanmike
 
WOW!!! That car is incredible!!! A well deserved interview, although I did t understand a word of it, I'm sure it was well deserved!! Nice job Ulf, no, make that incredible!! Geof
 
I had some issues with the shift mecanism. When I pushed the car I could hear the parking brake almost go through. It was something I never heard before. I found out there is a small adjustment to be done on the shifting mecanism.

According to the shop manual the marking on the shifter should be in the center of the guide pin on the side. One minute and the work was done. Thanks Chrysler! Now I can do the rest with the center console.
 

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Very cool video Ulf! Even though you are speaking in a different language, I can tell your accent and it sounds the same in English when we talk on the phone :glasses7:

Again, very cool and it's great to see your shop too! Your car is amazing and can't wait to see t in person soon :glasses7:
 
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