1970 Dodge Dart Restoration

[383dart]

Hey Guys,

Newb to the site, it has been a great source of information!!

I am currently in the process of restoring my 1970 Dodge Dart, it was imported from Africa (i am in Australia) and it is factory right hand drive. Originally with a slant 6, ripped that out and wacked in a 318, it had a bit of a fender bender and am now stripping it down completely and wacking in a 383. Here are a few pics...

Before it was crashed

http://www.phatboy.info/dodge/pics/dodge-dart-***.jpg

After the crash....

Stripdown begins.... ENGINE OUT!

And the rest...

Out comes the windsheild...

And the doors to get the hinges re-bushed.

Just got the hinges back today, havent taken a picture yet... they are on the car and the doors are closed.... pretty soon (next couple of weeks) it will go down to the body shop to get sanded back/repaired/aligned and some paint laid down.... then time for the massive rebuild effort! will keep you updated (and no doubt ask a million questions) as they arise...

- Richard

 

[ACME A12]

Welcome to the site!

Where do you get parts (body parts especially) for that thing down under? Were there many produced in/for South Africa? I've been to Jo-Burg a dozen times or more and never saw even one...Where was it assembled?

I noticed that it has the later tail lights even though you noted it was a 1970 model. Quite interesting to me - I travel a lot and see these cars all over the place and their subtle differences are intriguing. Where is the VIN location?

Keep us posted on your progress.

Ray

 

[AdamR]

Looks like a great start, Steering wheels on the wrong side though !

 

[ab7fh]

Very cool! This is the first time I've seen a right hand drive dart.

 

[OldVart]

Welcome aboard. That will make a very nice machine when it's done.

 

[memike]

Welcome 383dart!!
This is the first time I have seen a dart with the clove box on the
left side too.
That will be a great project !! Thanks for sharing .:icon_smi:
Keep us updated and if there is anything you need just ask.
Hope you jump on in and enjoy.

 

[383dart]

Parts for this are quite easy to come by down here. The body is exactly the same as a VG/VF valiant so all interior/chrome bits are a sinch.... only pain in the *** things to get are the front panels and extender (and guess what's the only thing got damaged in the crash!!!) it ended up costing around $2000 to get some new panels+extender imported from california ($400 for the panels the rest shipping and customs).

The VIN doesnt have a location... its just a plate with MOPAR and the 127xxxxxx VIN number, cant remember what it is..

Ill keep the pics updated as things progress... should look much nicer straight, aligned and painted

 

[ACME A12]

Quote: " The VIN doesnt have a location... its just a plate with MOPAR and the 127xxxxxx VIN number, cant remember what it is.."

The reason that I asked this is because Darts in Brazil have the VIN plate affixed to the firewall; just wondering if it is on the dash like in the U.S., on the firewall like in S.A., or elsewhere...

Ray

 

[383dart]

Quote: " The VIN doesnt have a location... its just a plate with MOPAR and the 127xxxxxx VIN number, cant remember what it is.."

The reason that I asked this is because Darts in Brazil have the VIN plate affixed to the firewall; just wondering if it is on the dash like in the U.S., on the firewall like in S.A., or elsewhere...

Ray

ops:.. yeah it is attached to the firewall, top drivers side (american passenger side).

 

[sublimeswinger]

Welcome

 

[340sFastback]

Thats a cool project. Neat to see people far away enjoying these cars. Looking forward to seeing that 383 "wacked" in there.

 

[383dart]

hey guys... didnt get much of a reply in the steering and suspension section... maybe you guys can help

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=30423

ust basically throwing my checklist out here for the suspension/steering/chassis so that you guys can go over it and see if there is anything i have missed.

1. Modified slant 6 k-frame to accept rack and pinion steering with schumacher engine mount kit.
http://www.pentastarparts.com.au/sun..._detail&p=1699

2. Tubular Upper Control Arms.
http://www.pentastarparts.com.au/sun..._detail&p=2032

3. Charger lower control arms with swaybar mount.
Already have these.

4. Front Swaybar
http://www.pentastarparts.com.au/sun..._detail&p=1115

5. Chassis Frame Rail Connectors

6. New torsion bars

Thats about all i can think of, is there anything i might have missed?