1968 DODGE DART GT
Page 1 --> 08/00-02/06 - Daily Driver to Tear Down
Page 2 --> 02/06-07/07 - Body and Paint
Page 3 --> 07/07-??/?? - Rebuilding
Page 4 --> Parts and ideas for rebuild

Well its about time I update this page, since my Dart no longer resembles the Dart thats in these pictures, and is currently undergoing some major modifications. The pictures show what it once was, and will remain to show the cars different stages. Here is a rundown on the cars history, and what these pictures show.

I purchased my Dart nearly 7 years ago in the summer of 2000, in Moreno Valley, CA, for $3000. It was sporting a fairly stock 360-4V, A-904 3-speed auto, and a 489 cased 8 3/4 rear end with 3.23's, manual steering too. It was a pretty decent combo, it also had some sleeper dog dish hubcaps, and dual exhaust. The interior was pretty bad, consisting of some torn, early 80's Mustang bucket seats, some loose dirty carpet, and headliner that looked like thick vinyl material. I drove it around for a month, until the head gasket blew. It sat around for about a year, then I finally got around to repairing the head gasket. I drove it and realized it needed better brakes, so I ordered some Wilwood disc brakes. I didnt get the chance to install them, as the motor threw a rod not long after I repaired the gasket. Thats when I began to pour money into the car. I should have focused on the body work, but being 22 at the time and wanting to do some serious street racing, I focused on the engine.

First thing I bought was this Mopar Performance 360 short block with 10:1 pistons and a .509 hydraulic cam. I was simply going to replace the new block with the old, but I quickly started spending more to make the car go faster. I ordered some Edelbrock aluminum heads, a Mopar Performance M1 intake, and a Holley 750 cfm Double Pumper to top it off. Exhaust flowed through TTI headers back into 3" Hooker Maximum Flow mufflers. The oiling was a Melling hi volume pump with a Moroso deep sump pan that I later replaced, as it bottomed out pretty nasty. My biggest mistake here was ignoring the trans, and leaving it stock. I focused enirely on the engine and not the rest of the drivetrain. The car sounded like a beast, however.