No2 lead additive LOL
that is OEM sender type/design. Aftermarket replacements are a different design, less accurate at gauge, but much less expensive than having that one restored.
The incredible folding Cuda!
- Thread starter RSie
- Start date
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that is OEM sender type/design. Aftermarket replacements are a different design, less accurate at gauge, but much less expensive than having that one restored.
From my totally not 'back yard mechanic' scientific method, I've determined that:
1. My garage floor is pretty level.. and,
B: The 'Cuda seems to be pretty 'square' from the firewall back.
I know none of what I did is totally accurate... but I think I'm 'kinda' close. I have feelers out for a good 8 foot level for the floor, instead of using that 8' 4" steel tubing (I did check that with my drywall square, it's true) with a 3' level. Level on the back shelf shows 1/4 low on the pass side. Shows the same on top of the rockers, so I'm getting more confident the body from the firewall back is true.
Also picked up a cheap plumb bob (I know now I'll find the other two I have.. somewhere), and some cheap welding magnets.. those will be used a lot, I think
1. My garage floor is pretty level.. and,
B: The 'Cuda seems to be pretty 'square' from the firewall back.
I know none of what I did is totally accurate... but I think I'm 'kinda' close. I have feelers out for a good 8 foot level for the floor, instead of using that 8' 4" steel tubing (I did check that with my drywall square, it's true) with a 3' level. Level on the back shelf shows 1/4 low on the pass side. Shows the same on top of the rockers, so I'm getting more confident the body from the firewall back is true.
Also picked up a cheap plumb bob (I know now I'll find the other two I have.. somewhere), and some cheap welding magnets.. those will be used a lot, I think
stretch
I cut my cars!
Keep plugging away with your eye focused on the prize. You will have that car back on the road looking and driving great!
Busy labor day weekend doing house stuff, but managed to get a 2x2 suspension installed. Just need it temporarily as I need to move it back and forth while working on it and making room in the garage for winter. Also noticed today the torsion adjusting bolt isn't in on the pass side., laying out loose. I have no idea where the original door bolts went.. spent a while looking for those, then realized all the door bolts are still in the doors from the '74 Dart I parted last summer. Just waiting for the boy to get home from work to bolt the doors bolted back in.
Hemiorangeswinger
Dodge Material
Looks like you’ve got a lot of rust repair ahead of you! I clipped my Swinger as well.. once you get it all cut apart you’ll see these cars go back together like LEGO. There’s lots of little notches and alignment points throughout the car because they were pieced together by people at the assembly line. Check out my restoration thread if you need some answers, because I went through similar repairs.
I'll definitely check out your build thread!
No time or $ to do much right now, but that's ok... more time for planning stuff
Love this site.. guys (and girls) that have 'been there, done that' and are willing to share the knowledge.
Thanks man!
You go boy! Git R Done!
Subscribed. Member of the save the Notch club! Keep it going, man!
Here's what a 1974 vintage looks like. Before fresh gas hit it and completely dissolved the pick up sock which clogged the line LOL. That was dumb. So then I got to drain the gas out and replace it anyway.
Yunick13
3 Time FABO NASCAR champ 2023 FABO NHRA champ
Good luck with this one.
74 DART'
Well-Known Member
Good luck! Glad to see your not giving up! It will be a nice car in the endGood luck with this one.
stretch
I cut my cars!
This is a very accurate description. Very nice analogy! The parts really do just kind of drop into place. Be sure to check and double check your measurements and you will be fine.
I'll fill in the backstory of this car as far as my history with it.
I got it in 2009, from my nephew. He bought it from a kid that needed money.. story was his dad had it, died, and left it to this kid. The dad had worked on it and loved the car. Kid never did anything with it let it sit for 10 years, fell on hard times, and wanted to sell. My nephew picked it up for $2K.
My brother stops by one day, and says "hey, you want an old Barracuda?"
Worked things out with the nephew.. did a bunh of computer/network stuff for him in his new house, a laptop I had, and settled on $1100.00 bucks cash, which he let me pay in $100/month payments. I got the car after I did the work on his network, and he trusted me to pay him (I'm his damn uncle after all).
I knew the rot problems it had... but I loved the car. The wife saw how much I did, and was on board
I got the car, and slid into my 3 stall garage in the end stall.
Then life happened. Medical bills, and a kid that loved hockey.. the car went way, way back on the burners. I'd gaze at it at times, getting the snowblower out.
Money got a bit better last summer. The father-in-law was over one day.. asked if I was ever going to do anything with that pretty car.. started digging into it. Saw how bad it was, was ready to part it, then found this site.
That goofy looking kid is now a 220 pound senior hockey player. Time flies.
I can get this car on the road. I wouldn't say that if I hadn't found this site. The knowledge, that people share on here, is an incredible resource.. and I thank you all.
I got it in 2009, from my nephew. He bought it from a kid that needed money.. story was his dad had it, died, and left it to this kid. The dad had worked on it and loved the car. Kid never did anything with it let it sit for 10 years, fell on hard times, and wanted to sell. My nephew picked it up for $2K.
My brother stops by one day, and says "hey, you want an old Barracuda?"
Worked things out with the nephew.. did a bunh of computer/network stuff for him in his new house, a laptop I had, and settled on $1100.00 bucks cash, which he let me pay in $100/month payments. I got the car after I did the work on his network, and he trusted me to pay him (I'm his damn uncle after all).
I knew the rot problems it had... but I loved the car. The wife saw how much I did, and was on board
I got the car, and slid into my 3 stall garage in the end stall.
Then life happened. Medical bills, and a kid that loved hockey.. the car went way, way back on the burners. I'd gaze at it at times, getting the snowblower out.
Money got a bit better last summer. The father-in-law was over one day.. asked if I was ever going to do anything with that pretty car.. started digging into it. Saw how bad it was, was ready to part it, then found this site.
That goofy looking kid is now a 220 pound senior hockey player. Time flies.
I can get this car on the road. I wouldn't say that if I hadn't found this site. The knowledge, that people share on here, is an incredible resource.. and I thank you all.
stretch
I cut my cars!
That front frame rail is a easy repair if you can find a good rail. I did one in my garage a couple of years ago. They really do just kind of fall into place.
If you go to page one of this post you'll see it's much more than a rail, lol. Torsion bar support is cheese, inner fenders are half bondo. I have a complete inner front clip as a unit from a '74 Dart I parted out last summer to go into it.
stretch
I cut my cars!
Well that should go fairly easy too. They just kinda fit one way for the most part.
After parting out the Dart last summer, I don't see how it won't fit in how it should. But, I'll measure, measure again, then have a few beers, and measure again the next day, then have someone else look at it and measure before I do any welds.
Them yahoos up there look like they're havin a good time. lol
That would be a VERY ambitious repair "FOR ME", but I bet you get it did just fine. Keep it comin man. Good luck.
Getting how I'm going to brace the old girl up ready. Got some camper jacks and steel. The 4x4 will be the main support, pretty much mid-car with some of the 3/4 box under the rockers. The 2x3 will eventually be frame connectors. A new AMD floor, transition pan, and firewall on the way.
I've been saving up for over a year for the floors. I have to say, my money situation has been getting better the last couple years.. some due to luck, some due to circumstance, and some due to our own efforts. Still isn't going to be a concourse resto, but I'm getting closer to getting her back on the road!
I've been saving up for over a year for the floors. I have to say, my money situation has been getting better the last couple years.. some due to luck, some due to circumstance, and some due to our own efforts. Still isn't going to be a concourse resto, but I'm getting closer to getting her back on the road!
Started workin on rehabin the front tub from the '74 Dart donor, sucking the rusty crud out of the frame rails. I'm going to run a 'cleaner' of some sort down them.. like a pile of rags in a ball, on the end of a chimney sweep rod I have (kinda like a thick fishing pole). Then a spray with some thinned rustoleum with a deck sprayer.
Goofed around a bit with the donor car firewall to see how it went together.. holes in that firewall were worse than I thought. I drove that thing home on the interstate 180 miles a couple years ago, had her up to 95.. glad I didn't know about that then
Goofed around a bit with the donor car firewall to see how it went together.. holes in that firewall were worse than I thought. I drove that thing home on the interstate 180 miles a couple years ago, had her up to 95.. glad I didn't know about that then
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