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Strip Down & Rust Removal

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Leaf Spring Relocation

Subframe
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512 Big block

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Fuel System - Fire Suppression - Electrical

Roll Cage

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Dodge Dart Restoration Resources


 

1970 Dodge Dart Restoration
& Race Car Project

Bodywork
Epoxy Primer / Filler / 2k Primer / Paint


 

 


Roof has been stripped.


Cleaned out the junction between the roof and quarter panel with sand blaster.


Epoxy primed firewall


Location of "hidden VIN"
The stamp is VERY light. Sandblasting brought it right out. Scraping or wire wheeling would most likely have destroyed it.


I built a jig to roll the car around on. It makes things much easier!

 

 

 
While I was making good progress with the '70 Dart, there was still a LOT to do. As I stripped the car down to bare metal I found lot's of hidden problems. Worst of all, the car needed a new rear suspension. What was in there was a hack job. The 4 link was one of the reasons I had bought this car, I didn't expect to have to replace it from scratch. A leaf spring relocation kit had also been installed at one time. It was also installed poorly and couldn't be used as is. I began to  feel that I wouldn't make my two year deadline with this car, but I kept plugging away. Until... ...While picking up a 440 block that I found on Craig's list, I found a 1973 Valiant in the guys garage. The car had been entirely media blasted, inside, out, and underneath. The car had practically no rust. Media blasting had revealed a section of small pinholes in one of the floor pans. Except for the 2x3 frame connectors which were installed the car was unmolested and completely stock. Best of all the price. Only $500, which included a $500 Art Morrison roll cage kit, 4 new tires, and aluminum wheels. I have spent the last few weeks getting the "new" car to the point that I had taken the first car. That is, I filled in the firewall holes, windshield wiper holes, cut the fenderwells for the Hooker Super Comp headers, and patched the floor pan. I also filled in the seams between the quarters and sail panel and at the cowl and A-pillar as well. The car is just about ready to be entirely primed. I  just need  to give it a good cleaning before it gets sprayed.

As for the '70. I covered the car in primer put a car cover on it, and wheeled it to the backyard on it's jig.

 I hope to finish the body once I'm done with this project.

Sorry for the long delay between updates. I have been laying down body filler and blocking out every panel. That's a ton of work for one person in his spare time.
I picked up a set of used 29x11-15 slicks and wheels from an ad on Craig's List.

Looks like they will fit fine in the mini-tubs.

Swamp cooler lets me work for about 6 hours in the morning, before the Arizona heat takes over.

Large exhaust fan gets rid of fumes, dust, and the humidity generated by the swamp cooler.

Thankfully no HOA here!

The top black area is 3 plastic garbage bags still attached to each other from the roll. That keeps hot air from being sucked back into the garage.

The bottom black area is black "sun screen". It allows air to flow through and covers the plywood providing a somewhat nicer appearance. It all comes down every night.


Firewall is coming along... I work on multiple areas at once, so I can keep mixing, applying, sanding, etc... without running out of places to work.


Filled windshield wiper holes.

This is how it sits on 6/6/2008

Blocking is nearly done for this stage. Next is to shoot some high build 2k primer and start blocking it again!


2k primer is on and sanding has begun


2k primer prior to sanding 6/18/08


Airconditioning!! Boy will this help!!


We had a 2.5 ton package unit installed on the garage roof.

5/3/09

Time to catch up! It's been 11 months since I sprayed the car with 2k primer. Since then I've got a lot accomplished, but the bodywork still isn't finished.
In the past year I have added the roll cage, subframe connectors, new trunk floor, fuel cell, window net, and seat mounts.

I have accumulated nearly all the parts needed to put the car on the track and the engine is now at the machine shop being machined and assembled.
After I shot the 2k primer on 6/18/08 I found a lot of problem areas which I needed to go back over. I was sick of bodywork so, that's when I skipped to the fabrication end of things.

 This last coat of primer shows the body looking better than last time, but again there are a few problem  areas which I need to work out before I block the whole car out again.
Dzus fasteners
Mounting tabs for Dzus fasteners
Fiberglass hood
Fiberglass hood installed with Dzus fasteners. 1971 grill. Fiberglass bumper.
Front end assembled for mock up with a lift off 6 pack hood, fiberglass bumper and 1970 grill.

Back to this stage again... Ready for primer.

The roof needed a lot of work. When I got it it looked like some one had sat on it in a couple spot.

 I worked the dents out by "shrinking" the metal and using a slapper paddle to get the crown back. After that I skimmed the roof with a mix of Evercoat Extreme Rage and Evercoat Metal Glaze to thin it out. I was pleased that it actually turned out pretty well.

Since I went down to bare metal in several spots I shot the car with another coat of epoxy primer before hitting it with 3 coats of high build primer.
Epoxy Primed Interior Dodge Dart
Epoxy Primed Interior

Eastwood 2k Chassis Black Inteior Dodge Dart
2k Chassis Black Satin

Dodge Dart Undercarraige Epoxy Primed
Epoxy Primed Undercarriage

Dodge Dart Seam Sealer Eastwood 2k Ceramic Chassis Black Dodge Dart

January 2010
Dodge Dart Viper Red
 Painted  

April 2010

 










Copyright 2018 - 2007 Rick Horwitz