Mopowers' 66 Dart Build

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I'll finish the the passenger's side tomorrow, then on to the driver's side. When it's finished, I'll take some installed photos.

These have been a pain in the *** to make. Hopefully they work. Haha!

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Oooof.
No, I do not. I can weld but I really need improvement in my skills.
It is typical of me though....I am adventurous enough to try new things but then I get to a point of mediocrity and sometimes never rise above it.
I've long thought how if I were to win the lottery, I'd hire professionals to train me in areas that I need help.
Wouldn't it be great to have master techs teach you one on one? I'd love to be a better welder, body-man, painter and all of that.
I just stumbled upon this thread tonight. Glad to see that you're making progress. I like the decision to omit the motor plate. It looks much cleaner.
Did you use Drive Line of West Sacramento? They are the only ones I use for drive shaft work. I also am loyal to River City Differential and Vic's Harbor Machine....Rick is still around there but is semi-retired.
 
Kern Dog said:
Oooof.
No, I do not. I can weld but I really need improvement in my skills.
It is typical of me though....I am adventurous enough to try new things but then I get to a point of mediocrity and sometimes never rise above it.
I've long thought how if I were to win the lottery, I'd hire professionals to train me in areas that I need help.
Wouldn't it be great to have master techs teach you one on one? I'd love to be a better welder, body-man, painter and all of that.
I just stumbled upon this thread tonight. Glad to see that you're making progress. I like the decision to omit the motor plate. It looks much cleaner.
Did you use Drive Line of West Sacramento? They are the only ones I use for drive shaft work. I also am loyal to River City Differential and Vic's Harbor Machine....Rick is still around there but is semi-retired.
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I hear ya there. It'd be nice to have the resources to master every aspect of these cars. Best I can do is try and pretend like crazy.

I did use Driveline Service in West Sac. They do awesome work; fast too, and at a great price. I'm hoping Vic's is still around when it comes time to do the machine work on the stroker big block. Is it just Rick there? Is he a one-man operation?
 
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Mike owns the shop, Rick is a "sort of" partner. Rick works part time now. Since 2001, Rick has been the guy to do all my engine machine work. Well, one time I went to another shop when Rick was on an extended vacation. That engine threw a rod at 3800 rpms on the freeway!
 
We've been busy looking for a new house, so I haven't been getting much done lately, but I did get the passenger's side finished. I just have to squirt some high heat paint on it. I'm happy with the fit. Hopefully I can finish the driver's side soon and get this junk fired up.

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Not much new, but I was able to finish the driver's side 'manifold' today. The exhaust flange is a a little close to the steering shaft, but it should work fine. If it bugs me enough, I can always extend it a couple inches. I'll spray on some black bbq paint to finish them off. Then it's time to run a couple pipes to the rear axle with the cheapie mufflers. It's getting closer...

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Got the exhaust finished up with some cheapie flowmaster copies and made up a set of plug wires. Almost time to put 12 volts to the ignition and starter and fire this pig up.

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Another minor item checked off the list. Got a throttle bracket made (modified from a small block bracket) and made up a throttle stud from a #12 machine screw. When the hotrod motor goes in, I'll likely be modifying it again to fit the victor manifold and carb spacer. I'll probably be getting a cable of appropriate length then too. This will work for now though.

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Richard Sweet said:
Mopowers, Remind us what engine and trans this car has now? Nice work.
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This engine is just a completely stock LOW compression 400. I plan on using it to just get the car drivable while building the 470/512 (haven't decided yet). I figure if it runs, I'll be more motivated to finish the numerous items on the punch list.

The transmission is the 727 I built last year. I put some good parts in it, but I just hope it works. Haha!
 
Well, I totally failed and didn't get a quality video, but my buddy and I got this pig fired up. It purrs like a kitten, as you'd expect from a stock 400.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it running for long since the alternator wasn't hooked up and we basically just used a battery and some jumper cables. You could tell the starter was not happy with that setup - nor was the ignition. We accomplished what we wanted though.

Next up is redoing a couple tubes on the cage and cleaning up and painting the trunk. Then, it's on to wiring the battery and cutoff switch and working my way forward through the interior (finishing,wiring, etc.)
 
S C O R E ! !!
It is a great feeling to make progress like this. Good for you, man!
 
Wow, I replied to this thread in Oct. of 2008, had to go back and look at what I said - total nonsense.

Anyway, good to see you're back working on it. Hope you get all that wiring stuff figured out. Car looks like it could be light, should be fairly quick even with a mild big block.
 
I pulled the car out this past weekend to redo a couple tubes in the roll cage and got a couple shots of the fuel system and rear axle. I still need to route the feed and return lines, but that's no big deal. The supply line from the fuel cell to the filter/pump is -10an. From there, I'll be running -8 feed and return lines.

After I redo the rear cage bars, I'll be cleaning up the trunk, squirting on some paint and start running some wires. I just need to decide on a color.

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Alright guys, I need help deciding on a color for my 66. It'll eventually have a hood scoop - not sure which one though. I kinda like the look of the Hemi scoop. Right now, I'm liking either an off-white like the original WW1, or maybe satin black (I know, I know - way played out).

Thoughts???

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Go with the off-white. Ya don't want people thinking you're running primer until you decide on a color, do ya?
 
Revhendo said:
Go with the off-white. Ya don't want people thinking you're running primer until you decide on a color, do ya?
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Haha! That's what I kinda like about it though. I've always been the type to go against the grain. That white does look killer on these early A's though.
 
I've seen some in a light purple and the looked fine but I'm partial to the orig. ruby red.
 
I never would have picked this color out of thin air but I had a '65 Dart in DD1 and repainted it in the original color:

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Kern Dog said:
I never would have picked this color out of thin air but I had a '65 Dart in DD1 and repainted it in the original color:

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That does look slick! Did you paint it yourself? Do you have a local place you get your paint, or do you order it online.

I've never sprayed metallic, so I'm thinking a solid color would be the best choice for me.
 
Yeah. It was Shopline base coat and clear coat bought from Mac's distributing on Auburn Blvd in Citrus Heights. That is where I buy my paint and body supplies.
I have painted several cars. Metallic jobs turn out much better when you spray base coat, clear coat. That way, you can sand out whatever flaws show up. You've been to my place....it gets dusty here. Any fly, gnat or spec of dust that lands in the paint gets sanded out. Even if nothing lands in the paint or clear, I still sand and buff every car to get the orange peel out.
I've sprayed black, white, red, orange, and blue several times....yellow and Inferno Red once. I am in no way fast enough to work at a paint shop. I make mistakes that take time to fix!
 
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