Get Running & Driving 2-1965 Dodge Dart

-
RustyRatRod said:
What the heck man? You ain't drivin this thing yet? Who needs brakes? They just slow you down. Chop chop Hop Sing. lol
Click to expand...
Dude you kill me! LOL I know, it's hot here too. Once the brakes are done, and I can fashion a seat it should drive. But then the dominoes will start to fall and I'll be talkin' about the heads need redone and if the valves in a Charger engine are the same as a 2bbl, etc. Maybe a cam thread or two, who knows what mayhem will ensue.
 
rustyfish said:
Dude you kill me! LOL I know, it's hot here too. Once the brakes are done, and I can fashion a seat it should drive. But then the dominoes will start to fall and I'll be talkin' about the heads need redone and if the valves in a Charger engine are the same as a 2bbl, etc. Maybe a cam thread or two, who knows what mayhem will ensue.
Click to expand...

I wish we were local. It'd be a lot of fun bringing both yours and mine back from the dead together.
 
So I called Right Stuff and they said all the ports on that distribution block are 3/8 so a little tap action and it's good. Plug works and just waiting on the brake line kit and master. Hurry up and wait.
 
So it's been a bit. My wife's folks are now in a nursing home and it seems they are still work even in a facility. But I finally have full brakes and it was a trial.

The In Line Tube lines are good. Had to loosen and tighten everything a couple times to stop the leaks. Then I couldn't get the master to bench bleed. Seems one of the pistons was stuck. Tapped it with a hammer a few times, rebled the master on the car. Bled the rear wheel cylinders, then had to figure out the fronts.

One bleeder was 1/4" and the other was 9/32s. Used and open end wrench and even smaller hose to self bleed them. Also had to put some grease around each bleeder to keep air from leaking in as well as some zip ties around the bleeder hose to keep air out.

With all these little things and persistence I was able to get some good pedal.

Now this Dart has driven and stopped under it's own power for the first time in probably at least 30 years! Granted only to the end of the driveway and back.

I think I need to start working on the seats now.
58811920207__49B1A2D0-E4C3-4D98-A104-7FB8103E1677.JPG
 
txas2step said:
That floor bracket is most likely to secure the shifter plate . looks to be the same distance as top of plate. Probably elevated to compensate for padding and carpet. Nice car!

View attachment 1715383657

View attachment 1715383658

View attachment 1715383659
Click to expand...
Yep, that's what I finally came to conclude. Got a couple things done this week after getting the brakes working. The car didn't have a trunk lock when it came to me, so ordered one of those and installed so now I can access the space without a screw driver.
Also, saved $50 plus dollars by make my own resonator hanger to replace the old rotten one that was there. Not beautiful, but right now that's not the point.
IMG_3519.jpg
IMG_3520.jpg


Also, once I had brakes, I drove it to the end of the driveway and it moved and stopped under it's own power for the first time in at least 30 years! I call that a milestone.

Now I need to address seats. And I just can't come to grips with a split bench in a factory 273 Charger 4 speed car. So I'm looking at options. I posted another thread about Procar Classic seats, but no replies. There doesn't seem to be any recovering options '65 split bench specific and the '66 kits all said and done are probably twice the cost of new seats.
 
We are working on a '65 2 door post that was a slant 6/3 tree. Pulling the bench seat for '65 Dart buckets , swapping in a '65 273 and 4 speed. We have been collecting parts for the past year. Have you considered finding some '64-''65 Dart/Barracuda seats and recover?Your Dart is well worth the effort and pretty unique.
 
txas2step said:
We are working on a '65 2 door post that was a slant 6/3 tree. Pulling the bench seat for '65 Dart buckets , swapping in a '65 273 and 4 speed. We have been collecting parts for the past year. Have you considered finding some '64-''65 Dart/Barracuda seats and recover?Your Dart is well worth the effort and pretty unique.
Click to expand...
I have. As well I’m looking for a little more comfort and safety, if that can be had. If I could find some reasonably priced buckets I’d certainly consider that.
 
While trying to decide what route to take on the seats, I'm starting to knock off some of little things. At this point I had no filter assembly on top of the 1406 Edelbrock. I wanted to be able to use something that at least looked somewhat factory in this regard. So with time to address the issue, I found a ring spacer the diameter of the Edelbrock, 5 1'8", that the original air cleaner could sit atop. So found such a thing from Speedway Motors cheap and thought I would give it a try. So here it is. Factory air cleaner on top of the Eddie 1406 on the 273 Charger engine.
IMG_3524.jpg
IMG_3523.jpg
 
Very cool car!! That air cleaner looks sharp too and nice, very rare with the tube going to the breather, that’s the one that came on the CAP (clean air package) 273 4bbl cars in CA.
 
66340SEDAN said:
Very cool car!! That air cleaner looks sharp too and nice, very rare with the tube going to the breather, that’s the one that came on the CAP (clean air package) 273 4bbl cars in CA.
Click to expand...
Correct. It's an L.A. plant car. Apparently it spent a fair amount of time at UCLA as it still has parking stickers on the bumper.
 
This morning I pulled the Dart out into the driveway to change one of the leaky freeze plugs. Got it done, started her up and shot this short vid. Enjoy

 
rustyfish said:
Today I figured I'd pull the gas tank and check out its condition. Pretty safe to say I need a new tank and sender. Hopefully the line is in better shape.
View attachment 1715353247
And in a touch of irony, the tank was already replaced once before and from a '66 Barracuda.
View attachment 1715353248
Click to expand...

Did you replace the tank? Which replacement tank did you get?

Mine looks like that one too. I'm looking at replacing the tank.
 
65DartDD1 said:
Did you replace the tank? Which replacement tank did you get?

Mine looks like that one too. I'm looking at replacing the tank.
Click to expand...
I got the cheapest one I could find on eBay. I figure it should last a good long while if I keep good gas in it and use it regularly
 
I posted a couple other threads about seats etc. I can't find any place that has replacement covers for my split bench. Legendary has them for '66 but says they won't fit my '65. What to do? I was going to get some procar seats, but didn't feel like shelling out for seats that wouldn't really look the part (although I did like they look, just another $1000 right). So I decided to go to the junker and see what I could find. Well how do ya do, 1991 Toyota Corolla buckets in maroon.
1. $50 and change out the door
2. $20 for hardware.
3. The look on my wife's face when I told her I wasn't going to spend $1000 on front seats, PRICELESS!
IMG_3694.jpg
IMG_3695.jpg

Passenger seat not in yet, driver side just fitted, not permanent install yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top