Dodge Dart Lite

-
340six said:
The 1973 grill looks best. I was glad No one wanted lowly nose car parts. So even NOS parts were plentiful and cheap.
The 1973 has a cleaner look than the 1974 up

View attachment 1716339969
Click to expand...
The grill looks plenty good..it is that BFB and rubber baby buggy .... that looks ugly!
I wonder how it would look body color?
 
barbee6043 said:
The grill looks plenty good..it is that BFB and rubber baby buggy .... that looks ugly!
I wonder how it would look body color?
Click to expand...
I removed them since tgat picture was,taken. My wife wanted them on so back on they went. But later talked her into removal.
Looks,way better without.
1973 had no fillers and close fitting bumpers. Just the chrome with rubber or like mine just rubber 5MPH guards. After 1973 cars got the bumpers moved out and fillers.
 
Yes, the cars, any brand, with those fillers for those 5 MPH bumpers is so sad. Good thong your bumpers are up close pot the body.

I have a 75 AMC Hornet with those plastic fillers and I studied what all it would take to bring those bumpers back to the body, but it would have been a major plater full.
 
I picked up a 73-74 front bumper yesterday.
I guess you guys know a 73-74 bumper is different from a 75-76.
I am pretty sure I can drill my aluminum bumper back brace to match the 73 bumper.
I got the 73 fender sanded and some of the dents out.
It needs more work for sure, but it's beginning to look like a car again.
Front Bumpers (1).jpeg
Beak and New Fender (5).jpeg
 
mbaird said:
Looks to be R4 red.
All Dart Lites and Feather Dusters were 833 O.Ds I believe.
Cool project ! I think if built and tuned correctly 30+ mpg is attainable.
Click to expand...
Nope. My dad's was a 3 speed on the floor. 76 feather duster. That car still pisses me off was supposed to be my first car
Dad bought it as a work car a few years before I got my license... But my brother who is older wrecked his 74 charger and needed a car like "right now" so I the feather became his.
 
volaredon said:
Nope. My dad's was a 3 speed on the floor. 76 feather duster. That car still pisses me off was supposed to be my first car
Dad bought it as a work car a few years before I got my license... But my brother who is older wrecked his 74 charger and needed a car like "right now" so I the feather became his.
Click to expand...
So I have learned .
Every one I have ever seen was an OD .
 
This is from the 76 Dart Brochure:
Dart "Lite" Fuel Economy Package (A31) (Dart Sport)
Fuel Economy axle ratio and exhaust system (2.94-ratio w/3-speed manual OR 4-speed overdrive transmission)

So it does not say an automatic is a part of the Fuel Economy Package.
But that does not mean it could not be ordered.
 
I also found this nugget for the Feather Duster.
1734974456610.png

So, you could get an automatic transmission and it came with a 2.76 rear ratio.
So..... 3 speed manual, 4 speed manual in an aluminum case, or an automatic transmission.
 
I have owned many Dusters and a couple or so Dart Sports, FeatherDusters etc. over the decades. As far as automatic FeatherDusters, YES I had one, original car right down to the engine, trans, paint, interior. All there, run and drove. Bought it over the phone and had a hotshot haul it to Mo. It was like maybe 2010 or so??

When I moved to Mo, I sold all my Mopars (5) except the "non salable" 62 Lancer. Well I did finally sell (give away almost) the Lancer last month and sold the 75 Hornet yesterday. (only lost maybe $500 on the Hornet). But all good exercise!

I still kick my butt for selling my 72 Duster that I bought when I moved to Tx in 2017. Thats 7 years ago. It was a good slant runner, pretty (decent) solid ( floor rust mainly) and good interior for $1500. Missouri price and I soon found that Tx, is different. I did the brakes and cut/welded rust repair, some primer, smoothing it out and sold it $3500 and actually made about $1000-1200 for my work. Maybe..Yet again! Good exercise for us old guys!
I had ONE guy that came to look and he knew it was worth the $ and he bought it.. Two lookers total, the other was a flipper and thought the solid lifters (were bad) were noisy!! ha right,,, move along.

For years now, I find bad excuses for projects, are about all here overpriced and people are not hungry like where I came from.. underworked and overpaid, but what is funny is they want stupid $ when they want to sell, and no one wants to pay when buying a car with tons of work and $ done, 98% of the time>

I been wanting a good Duster project for a couple of years. I finally gave up and went a different route.

What is amusing to me is how 95% of the buyers want a perfect 50 odd year old car, everything new, or rebuilt and comes with a perfect Mecum paint job, and all for 20 cents on the dollar.

Other day, I find a good running, driving 76 Dart Sport (or was it a Duster?) for $1800 600 miles away. We can never get away due to livestock here, but I can get it here with a hotshot for $600 tops. Thats $2400 and is a typical rusted, beat up project. Since I can not afford to keep all my cars I build, and can not afford to build a driver or a show car, and sell it for a loss..... I will probably just keep working on what I already have!!!! :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: :rofl:
 
Picked up the 8 3/4 today.
Brakes are toast from sitting outside.
But much good also.
Looks like a 3.23 Sure Grip in a 489 housing.
Well there goes the gas mileage.
Resized_20241223_154646_1734992411369.jpeg
Resized_20241223_161949_1734992406628.jpeg
 
I had a Volare Roadrunner with 2.94 gears and a four speed overdrive. There was no good gear for passing on the highway. You will be glad to have 3.23's
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top