I'm loseing hope!!

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Firemybird

Firemybird

Firemybird
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
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Location
Riverside, CA!!!!
I'm loseing hope on my dart...

Every time i fix something, something else breaks and now it seems like i need to fix everything!!

No joke!!!

my rear axle housings bent, axle bearings shot, headers have holes from bottoming out, front end is completely shot needs a rebuild, engine leaks oil (rear main seal i believe and i have no means to fix it, no space to pull engine), engine burns oil and needs a rebuild, needs two front tires, rust under vinyl top, i needs to rewire EVERYTHING!!, brakes shot all around, heater doesn't work, and i can go on and on and on but i won't!!

I know im not the only one with these problems but it's overwhelming sometimes but for some reason i'll never get rid of her, lol!!!

moneys TIGHT right now due to me missing ALOT of work cause of me always being sick, so repairs will have to be put on hold for i dont know how long!!

sometimes i think i should just get a new car but then i actually think about it and i dont wanna be part of the flock, lol :-D.......

What to do........
 
If money to pay the bills is an issue then the car has to go. Priorities! On the other hand, if you can weather the storm and keep the car, set aside the time and money to fix one thing at a time. A long journey starts with a single step. These cars are all 30 years and older and most have been neglected ,so consider that when it seems overwhelming. Don`t rush, take your time and address one job at a time. Work that one thing until it`s complete. It will eventually get done and with the hard work you put into it the payoff will be even more satisfying.
 
Make a list of all the things that need attention then prioritize them and put a budget number against each task. Then work on them as budget allows.

I do not have an un limited budget so I have been following this philosophy since I purchased the Barracuda in Oct 97. My list now is things that have nothing to do with the reliability or safety of the car its things I want to do.
 
It takes work to keep a 35 year old car a dependable driver. You have to expect that everything is shot. You could always find a cheap 10 year old beater and drive that while getting your Dart Road worthy. When you feel coinfident in your Dart, sell the beater, and you really didn't lose any money. If you sell it, you'll probably regret it.
 
What TN plumber said. It's an old car, what did you expect? When ever I get a new old ride, I assume everything needs to be done and go through it before I plate it for daily useage. That is the simple fact of it all, it is old and needs help from square one.
 
I agree with everyone above. Make a list, fix the safety items first, try to find the best deal(even here..ask and you may find). All cars are money pits, and to think of all of it at one time can be overwhelming. Get healthy, make money and accomplish your list!
 
Work that one thing until it`s complete. well said longgone.:-D
And do the safety things first if you do keep your car.
Times may get better down the road and it is hard to find
a Dart when your time and family permits it to happen.:clock:

Hope everything works out for you and the family and the dart.:happy10:
 
Like said before, take your time if you really want to keep the car.... I have been in your shoes my whole life..Not enough money to do what i want to do . But i have managed to keep my cars up and running.. Do one thing at a time, first being to make sure it is safe on the road. It takes time to fix up a 35 plus year old car.. I have had my Dart for 14 years and it still isn't close to what I want it to be. But it does drive and run good and is safe on the road. And that is the most important thing... Good luck with it and keep your head high.
 
when you make your list see what HAS TO BE DONE, Brakes would be high priority, oil leak, how bad, can you keep adding oil, rust under vinyl top, peel it off and spray bomb with rattle can to stop it until time and money to fix right

I had a 72 Challenger in the early 80's I was using a a daily driver and it seemed every day something else would go wrong, it got parked and then everything did go wrong. It is best ti try and keep driving and fix what you can, or find some dry storage to keep it in.

if the engine needs rebuilt (using oil and leaking) it might be best to find a good running engine in late model truck and change it out. There are a lot of magnum engines in trucks. If it is slant 6 might be harder to find one but they are out there.

If it means house payment/rent or keeping the car, sell it and at some time in the future get another when you can afford it.

OLD CARS ARE EXPENSIVE to have unless you work on them yourself and often

I want a late model el Camino but they are all at least 22 years old, and I don't want to have to work on my daily driver daily..........LOL
 
I must agree with all, priorities 1st then car, but keep her if u can for they are hard and x-pensive 2 replace, I'm 48 and been working on bb dart for 3.5 yrs. and almost lost her a couple times but now I'm getting close. takes time, lots of money and PATIENCE....like hurry up and wait.....you will get there just have faith and stay positive, like ; how do u eat an elephant? ONE BITE AT A TIME....EVENTUALLY U WILL GET IT !!!! STAY HEALTHY
 
Like most have said. Small steps will have you running in no time. If you need to drive the car, work on the safety stuff first. then go from there. Leak oil, just keep some on hand and drive. Rust under the top? Pull it off to stop it from getting worst. then when you do get a few bucks primer it.
 
Here's a trick you can use. If you don't have one already, get yourself a CHANGE JAR. Now the trick is, DON'T spend your change. Each time you buy something, use a dollar. Then you put all (or most of) your change in the jar. I usually keep a couple of dollars in quarters in my pocket "just in case", but everything else goes in the jar.

You'll be surprised at how fast it will fill up. Myself, I use a quart juice jar, and generally DON'T put quarters in. Last time I "cashed it in" there was right at $90 in it. That's enough for lower ball joints and strut rod bushings. And if I put quarters in instead of making stacks of them on the dresser, there would have been another $30 (or more) in there.

just a suggestion
 
68 sedan: That is great advise.. I have been doin that for years now..It does add up fast. One time i turned in over $400 worth.
 
68 Sedan said:
Here's a trick you can use. If you don't have one already, get yourself a CHANGE JAR. Now the trick is, DON'T spend your change. Each time you buy something, use a dollar. Then you put all (or most of) your change in the jar. I usually keep a couple of dollars in quarters in my pocket "just in case", but everything else goes in the jar.

You'll be surprised at how fast it will fill up. Myself, I use a quart juice jar, and generally DON'T put quarters in. Last time I "cashed it in" there was right at $90 in it. That's enough for lower ball joints and strut rod bushings. And if I put quarters in instead of making stacks of them on the dresser, there would have been another $30 (or more) in there.

just a suggestion
Click to expand...
thats a good idea i also dont spend my change
 
68 Sedan said:
Here's a trick you can use. If you don't have one already, get yourself a CHANGE JAR. Now the trick is, DON'T spend your change. Each time you buy something, use a dollar. Then you put all (or most of) your change in the jar. I usually keep a couple of dollars in quarters in my pocket "just in case", but everything else goes in the jar.

You'll be surprised at how fast it will fill up. Myself, I use a quart juice jar, and generally DON'T put quarters in. Last time I "cashed it in" there was right at $90 in it. That's enough for lower ball joints and strut rod bushings. And if I put quarters in instead of making stacks of them on the dresser, there would have been another $30 (or more) in there.

just a suggestion
Click to expand...

Isnt it funny how when we were kids we called them piggy banks but when we are adults we have to call them "change jars" :-D I do the same thing though and I use it as a little extra cash when I take vacations.
 
68 Sedan said:
Here's a trick you can use. If you don't have one already, get yourself a CHANGE JAR. Now the trick is, DON'T spend your change. Each time you buy something, use a dollar. Then you put all (or most of) your change in the jar. I usually keep a couple of dollars in quarters in my pocket "just in case", but everything else goes in the jar.

You'll be surprised at how fast it will fill up. Myself, I use a quart juice jar, and generally DON'T put quarters in. Last time I "cashed it in" there was right at $90 in it. That's enough for lower ball joints and strut rod bushings. And if I put quarters in instead of making stacks of them on the dresser, there would have been another $30 (or more) in there.

just a suggestion
Click to expand...

I also do the same I have a blue moon glass full of silver change prolly around 50 or so dollars.
 
The change jar is a great idea...but...I have a teenager. My tootsie roll bank seems to never have anything in it besides pennys no matter how much silver I put in. My wife used to have a jar above the washer, anything she found in pockets went in there. When she finally showed me, the family enjoyed a nice steak dinner out.
 
Ron, are you making fun of my Piggy Ba.....er......CHANGE JAR???:cheers:
 
68 Sedan said:
Ron, are you making fun of my Piggy Ba.....er......CHANGE JAR???:cheers:
Click to expand...

lol I actually got called out on this one by my 3yr old not that long ago. He went digging in it and I told him to be careful with daddys change jar. He starts laughing and says "silly daddy, monies go in a piggy bank, not a jar)
 
I have a change JUG. :-D Does that make me a redneck?

Now qwit yer bitchin' and take care of of what needs to be takin care of first.

#1 Family and tranportation to and from work.

#2 Pets.

#3 Pet project (Dart).
 
Everybody's saying the same thing.

1. Get well.
2. Take care of family (includes job that keeps everyone covered & fed)
3. Pets
4. Pet projects

If you have to let the Dart go, so be it. Dodge made tens of thousands of them. It may take a while to find another, but they're out there. Stay connected to the local Mopar community and when things allow, they can be a resource for finding a car as well as parts & services for it. You may have to look long to find the cars. But, they are there. Hang in there.
 
Well, at least I'm not the only one...I've been so frustrated with my car at times, if someone had walked up to me and offered me $100 I would have sold it (maybe). I live in an apartment complex that forbids us to work on our cars so I have to find other mopar lovers who are willing to let me work on my car at their places. During the first resto, I had my car in four different towns. I miss alot of work too from being sick. We've managed to work on our car by buying peice by piece. We gave up alot to get her done too...we don't eat out, walk whenever we can, nothing extra. Another way we came up with money for parts was selling on ebay. Don't give up!
 
Thanks for all your replies and concerin about my health, yeah i DEFF. need to get healthy first and for most...

As far as family, i don't really have any; well cat's but not by choice.....

I live with my GF and we rent a nice duplex for only $550 which is cheep in california!! we both work (even at the same place :angry7:) but we dont make very much money... her dad actually own's the; get this, AUTO PARTS STORE :toothy10: we work at but times are tough and so are our wages..

Well we don't make much to start off with in the first place, lol!!
I only make enough to pay bill's right now.. I usually make a little more but i'm missing so much work, it's horriable!!

Parts are no problem, always there when i need them but, no money....

Lucky for me though we drive her crapy datsun sentra to and from work now(she drives like a mad woman!!!) so it's saving us on gas and maint. for the time being.

The funny thing though is that her car ran perfectly fine i suppose before i parked the dart, the only reason i drove the dart to and from work is because we only live about 8 miles from work, no big deal on gas, but to quote myself "she drives like a mad woman", lol, when i had to stop driving the dart to and from work her tranny went out, go figure.....

So i pulled it and we had it rebuilt and i put it back in and then my health problems started up...... the thing that really bothers me is that im only 22!!!

I'm too young for this crap you know :angry7:......

Any who, thanks again for the concern and i'll get her going eventually....

like so many of you said, time is what it takes!!
I still kinda drive her around town; well, more like cruz', but not to far or fast!!

But i do want to keep her and having her for now has not been a problem and i hope it stays that way....

Thanks everyone for the support :-D!!!
 
68 Sedan said:
Here's a trick you can use. If you don't have one already, get yourself a CHANGE JAR.

You'll be surprised at how fast it will fill up.
Click to expand...

I have a water bottle from work. I have yet to fill it up. Last month I was about a 1/4 filled and raked down approx. $50. The one time I had it somewhat filled the wife and I counted $1200+.

Do not tell anyone you have this change jar!!!!!!!

Put more hours in at the auto parts store. LOL
 
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