Dodge Dart Lite

-
Kern Dog- I have a factory 1974 Slant with factory front Disc Brakes and big bolt pattern all the way (7 1/4) around. Your car most likely has factory Disc Brakes and came with the big bolt pattern.
 
Kern Dog said:
To me, these cars are cool for their "weird" factor. They were the last year of the A body and they threw what they had to get them to be more fuel efficient. The one that I have was built 11-75 so it could have been a 4 wheel drum model. The rumor that I heard was that after January 1 1976, front disc brakes were standard in all models. Is that right? Mine has a 7 1/4" axle with the big bolt pattern so it probably had front discs since I've never seen big bolt drums used on these cars. Mine is heater only....it isn't even coded for a radio and that surprises me.

View attachment 1716325523

The demo derby bumpers defy weight conscious fuel economy efforts. The Dart Lite and Feather Duster had some aluminum brackets but not the full width impact beams, those were still steel. The A body line was already spartan compared to the C bodies so where else could they reduce weight?

Mine was stripped of every "Dart Lite" special part and has no title so it is essentially worthless to rebuild.

View attachment 1716325524

Even the rear bumper is for a sedan/Swinger and not a Dart Sport.
Click to expand...
No, they came with the aluminum support beam that ran the length of the bumper just behind the chrome. Not the brackets, they were steel.
 
Swinger 340 said:
My 69 and 72 doors and ignition keys are the same. The trunk are different. Get a little guy to crawl thru the divider and use a 1/2 inch wrench to remove the lock mechanism or catch, which ever one is easiest to remove. As others have said, get a trunk key and have a locksmith rekey it. You can buy a keyed set online for around $20.00 or remove one from another car you may have. Don't sweat it!!!!!
Click to expand...
I can not crawl into the trunk.
For those not familiar with the fold down rear seat here are a couple of pictures.
There is a rear folding divider the whole width, wheelhouse to wheelhouse.
One of my plastic covers was broken like someone tried to go in that way.
But it would take someone with real LONG bendy arms to reach the release mechanisms.

Resized_20241110_100628_1731254856938.jpeg


Here are the inside parts of the folding door, I have tried everything I know to get them to release.
It also shows how high the door comes and the little space there.
I can get a couple fingers over the edge.
The trunk is quite secure.

Resized_20241110_100701_1731254856297.jpeg


Now with that said, I found a complete lock set on evilbay, ign, door, trunk, keys rods and stuff for around $130. That is about what the Dallas locksmith I found wanted to just come out to the house and pick the lock.
It will take a week or so to the get the parts and get them installed.
 
sireland67 said:
That is really odd, I have never seen a Jeep CJ newer than 76 that did not have disk brakes. And I have had a bunch of Jeeps.
Click to expand...
I had a 50 CJ2A that had front disc brakes.



After I put um on there. LOL
 
Hyper_pak said:
I can not crawl into the trunk.
For those not familiar with the fold down rear seat here are a couple of pictures.
There is a rear folding divider the whole width, wheelhouse to wheelhouse.
One of my plastic covers was broken like someone tried to go in that way.
But it would take someone with real LONG bendy arms to reach the release mechanisms.

View attachment 1716325679

Here are the inside parts of the folding door, I have tried everything I know to get them to release.
It also shows how high the door comes and the little space there.
I can get a couple fingers over the edge.
The trunk is quite secure.

View attachment 1716325682

Now with that said, I found a complete lock set on evilbay, ign, door, trunk, keys rods and stuff for around $130. That is about what the Dallas locksmith I found wanted to just come out to the house and pick the lock.
It will take a week or so to the get the parts and get them installed.
Click to expand...
Refresh my memory why you don't want to drill the lock out again?
 
RustyRatRod said:
No. 4 wheel drum brakes were used all the way through the 76 model.
Click to expand...

On the drum/disk debate.
My old Feather Duster had 4 wheel drums.
9 or 10 I do not remember.
4 inch bolt circle.

Feather_Duster_4 s.JPG


My good friend @383Duster let me borrow his extra rims and tires to go get the car.
I, of course, assumed it was a small bolt pattern car as my Feather had been.
Well this Lite is a big bolt pattern car with front disks.
It has a broken 7 1/4 big bolt pattern rear end in it.
The broken rearend is what caused the Lite to get parked for 10-15 years.
Again, I have never seen a bbp 7 1/4 so I assumed it was a sbp car.
This is what caused me to have a 2 hour delay as we went looking for tires.
Thank goodness we found a used tire shop with 4 195 14 inch tires.
He cleaned the inside of the rims, new stems and we were in business.

Dart Lite (2).jpeg


SO I have owned both, all drums and disk drum versions.
 
Hyper_pak said:
I didn't want to drill till I had a key and lock in hand.
Just my OCD.
Click to expand...
Ok. I can go along with that. I can just about tell you what's gonna happen. You're gonna drill through the key hole and shortly after that, the drill bit will catch the inside latch and pop the trunk lid open. I've done it several times and that's almost always what happens. lol
 
Great find!! Congratulations. On that trunk issue, isn't that rear fold down divider just plywood on a hinge? If so, another option would be to just saw your way thru it and replace it later.
 
TF360 said:
It's going to be a real nice car, and different.
Click to expand...
That's a fact. I have to wonder though....when these cars were new.....or a few years old, they were basically worthless as a collector car. I just wonder how many of them got turned into full race cars because they were a little lighter than the regular models. We'll never know.
 
DC 340 said:
Great find!! Congratulations. On that trunk issue, isn't that rear fold down divider just plywood on a hinge? If so, another option would be to just saw your way thru it and replace it later.
Click to expand...

Hack through a completely original fold down door?
That is just crazy talk!
I tell you those hillybilly virginia country folks are CRAZY!

What would you do on your Barracuda?

Good to hear from you friend.
 
RustyRatRod said:
That's a fact. I have to wonder though....when these cars were new.....or a few years old, they were basically worthless as a collector car. I just wonder how many of them got turned into full race cars because they were a little lighter than the regular models. We'll never know.
Click to expand...

I thought about a V/Stock NHRA car at one time.
This one was a Hemi car years ago.
Notice the tow tabs!
Vanke Feather Duster 1.jpg

Vanke Feather Duster 3.jpg
 
Hyper_pak said:
Hack through a completely original fold down door?
That is just crazy talk!
I tell you those hillybilly virginia country folks are CRAZY!
Click to expand...

So I guess you won't be sawing your way into that trunk. :)
 
How many could be left in a 4-speed, red and black stripe. I bet you could count on one hand how many are out there. Maybe 2 or three!
 
Last edited:
Cool car and story about the article you wrote. Glad you found a tire shop that had what you needed.
 
I moved the Lite behind my fence, now I can really start taking it apart.
I may have found an 8 3/4 rear today as well.
Resized_20241112_171551_1731457045265.jpeg
 
Grill header and fender removed.
I can save the grill but I need a fender and header.
Also a picture of the "Lite" weight hood spring.
Resized_20241113_170128_1731538918366.jpeg
Resized_20241113_170136_1731538916038.jpeg
 
The red fender on mine is dented near the headlight. It actually looks okay in this picture. Mine has the fender mounted turn signal too.

IMG_6810.JPG
 
Got the front bumper off today to try and get it straight.
Here you can see the drivers side bracket broke off the reinforcement.
All the bumper bolts are spinning, may have to use a little more force on them on them.
And the common hardware store bolts that hold the whole mess together. (HAH)
20241114_160502.jpg
20241114_160846.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top