Bullseye!.........'71 Dodge Dart, right at home @ FBBO

[MT_Mopar]

The Dart is looking good Will, great work. Roof looks awesome, I am digging those red steelies.

 

[Propwash]

Thanks for the update Prop and I must have forgot what transmission you were going with but I was happy to see it's a 4 speed. I do remember now that a while back you were on the look out for a 4 speed or OD for it. Sorry to hear about the extra expense of the full quarter too brother. As always great photo's and a great build

Thank you sir! :tiphat:

Yes indeed, the wife will need to tidy up on her shifting skills.

Seeing you have to buy the full quarter anyway,I would think it would be easier/better to hang the full quarter?

I've tossed around which way to go chargin. One downfall is I already welded in the roof skin to the old quarter, so I'd have to grind a bunch of welding out. I kinda dropped the ball on that one. I should have been definitely looking at skin availability before doing that. You see them listed for sale everywhere, but no one really mentions that there's none in stock, anywhere. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

That's what I would think as well. Then you end up with all factory weld points and nothing grafted together. If you gotta buy the whole quarter (which I a bummer) then you may as well do the whole thing...

I agree the full quarter process is usually more of a clean cut process (until you buy a Sherman quarter...lol). Like I mentioned, kinda on the fence. A skin I'd have a 6 foot cut line to deal with. A full I'd be trying to locate and grind out the quarter/roof welds I put in, deal with the spot welds in the window opening & deck filler, as well as the brass brazing. Also getting the spot welds out down the trunk gutter and the interior rear side window area.

Just all kinds of back & forth in my head! Work wise, I'd say they're about the same...maybe a bit more with the full. Maybe I should just flip a coin and be done with it, lol.

The Dart is looking good Will, great work. Roof looks awesome, I am digging those red steelies.

Thanks John! Unfortunately the red steelies will have to go, because i'm moving up to the large bolt pattern all the way around. I'll be selling them for a killer deal (or just giving them away...lol).

 

[747mopar]

Sounds like a no brainer to me but then again I don't trust myself enough to do long welds on flat metal. Putting the full quarters on the Charger really made my repairs quick, clean and unnoticeable and since the old quarter was junk I just ground the spot welds paper thin and pealed it off. I'm sure whatever route you take you'll pull it off no sweat.

 

[Propwash]

Sounds like a no brainer to me but then again I don't trust myself enough to do long welds on flat metal. Putting the full quarters on the Charger really made my repairs quick, clean and unnoticeable and since the old quarter was junk I just ground the spot welds paper thin and pealed it off. I'm sure whatever route you take you'll pull it off no sweat.

Hehehehe....I wish it was that easy man. I get beat up putting on panels just like you guys. Only difference is that I don't gripe about it as much as I use to..lol The bad and good thing about the Dart is that there's literally 5 body lines that run down it. The bad part of that is obviously dealing with all the body lines during body work and making the lines all come out straight and as pronounced or unpronounced as they came from factory. They good part is that there is no vast stretches of flat open metal. Makes it much more easy when going to graft in a patch or lay on a skin to find a body line to make your cuts/welds near. The metal is less likely to warp along a body line vs. open flat sheetmetal, and the straight lines give good reference. Real nice thing on the dart is that there is a 2" wide body line running across the top of the quarter. Perfect spot to make a cut/weld for a skin.

Some good news just unfolded. Found a member over at FABO selling a pair of AMD quarter skins (as well as a pair of extensions). All for 425.00. He lives about 2 hours down the road from me. Sounds like he want's it all out of his garage. I really don't need both, but I figured even if I ordered one skin (if I could even get one), by the time I paid freight shipping it would cost me $400 just for one. Full quarter would be over $640 after shipping. I may even skin the drivers side, being it has dents as well, not to mention the car had mid-body line trim and when someone went to remove it years ago they just grabbed one end and yanked. That pulled all the little trim nail heads out that are centered on that mellow body line and really messed up that body line down the entire quarter. Either way, I could always put what I don't use on here, FABO or craigslist.

Here's a pic he sent.....ones still in the box:

 

[chargin']

Put a skin on a post Dart many years ago,took me 17 years to do bodywork on a Dart again. I joined it in the middle of the upper body line. It wasn't a barrel of monkeys!

 

[Propwash]

It wasn't a barrel of monkeys!

Hehehehe.......Funny! I imagine it wasn't.

 

[Stevo427]

I'd say full quarters is the way to go.. I found so much hidden rust in seams I would of never been able to access without having the full quarter off

 

[Propwash]

I'd say full quarters is the way to go.. I found so much hidden rust in seams I would of never been able to access without having the full quarter off

That's a very good point Steve!

 

[tallhair]

That's a very good point Steve!

View attachment 247455

Prop I am so glad you have a project and are posting again .. your updates, comments, and humor really is enjoyable to read

You are a true one off brother and congrats on scoring the needed parts !

 

[Ron 73]

Hehehehe....I wish it was that easy man. I get beat up putting on panels just like you guys. Only difference is that I don't gripe about it as much as I use to..lol The bad and good thing about the Dart is that there's literally 5 body lines that run down it. The bad part of that is obviously dealing with all the body lines during body work and making the lines all come out straight and as pronounced or unpronounced as they came from factory. They good part is that there is no vast stretches of flat open metal. Makes it much more easy when going to graft in a patch or lay on a skin to find a body line to make your cuts/welds near. The metal is less likely to warp along a body line vs. open flat sheetmetal, and the straight lines give good reference. Real nice thing on the dart is that there is a 2" wide body line running across the top of the quarter. Perfect spot to make a cut/weld for a skin.

Some good news just unfolded. Found a member over at FABO selling a pair of AMD quarter skins (as well as a pair of extensions). All for 425.00. He lives about 2 hours down the road from me. Sounds like he want's it all out of his garage. I really don't need both, but I figured even if I ordered one skin (if I could even get one), by the time I paid freight shipping it would cost me $400 just for one. Full quarter would be over $640 after shipping. I may even skin the drivers side, being it has dents as well, not to mention the car had mid-body line trim and when someone went to remove it years ago they just grabbed one end and yanked. That pulled all the little trim nail heads out that are centered on that mellow body line and really messed up that body line down the entire quarter. Either way, I could always put what I don't use on here, FABO or craigslist.

Here's a pic he sent.....ones still in the box:

View attachment 247445

Real nice Will!!! Its hard to beat AMD, i know all to well its an exspencive journey, i have one box yet again on my porch with a passenger side foot well for the bird and have some used and new parts coming.. Im pretty whipped after today's adventure but its one of those Mopar tired nights lol... im sure you know what i mean along with a bunch of guys here..
Turning cold again for a few days so ill be hibernating inside the little shop or "nest" i tell the wife, well, it is a bird! lol I couldn't resist getting in here after i did some emails and seen this, This is not your first rodeo and by what i can see and read your enjoying it... After this though, i wonder what will ne next, sorry but cant see you staying idol to long, not with the quality of work and MORE, how you love it! Keep up your good work.....

- - - Updated - - -

Only because,,,,

[video=youtube;uMlRpN8ANrU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMlRpN8ANrU[/video]

 

[Propwash]

Prop I am so glad you have a project and are posting again .. your updates, comments, and humor really is enjoyable to read

You are a true one off brother and congrats on scoring the needed parts !

Hey thanks Bryan! Glad to be hanging out with the fella's, all working on our beat up, broken down, rusted up, dented, greasy cars that we all treasure so much. It's a strange love affair, but at least we're all broke, crazy, tired, burnt, blistered, and wore out to match our cars.

Real nice Will!!! Its hard to beat AMD, i know all to well its an exspencive journey, i have one box yet again on my porch with a passenger side foot well for the bird and have some used and new parts coming.. Im pretty whipped after today's adventure but its one of those Mopar tired nights lol... im sure you know what i mean along with a bunch of guys here..
Turning cold again for a few days so ill be hibernating inside the little shop or "nest" i tell the wife, well, it is a bird! lol I couldn't resist getting in here after i did some emails and seen this, This is not your first rodeo and by what i can see and read your enjoying it... After this though, i wonder what will ne next, sorry but cant see you staying idol to long, not with the quality of work and MORE, how you love it! Keep up your good work.....

Only because,,,,

I know, you know the feeling Ron. Billfold looks like a bad re-run of Pompeii, but is sure is fun getting in new parts isn't it? It's Christmas everyday!! "The nest", gotta say I like it Ron. Has a great ring to it. Stay warm my friend! Hopefully we're over the hump and the warm sun of spring will be raining down on us shortly. And you're right, I am enjoying it amigo.....What is it about hanging in the garage with an old car that just puts a smirk on a guys face? Fulfilling a dream, reliving yesteryear, just enjoying the serenity of doing what you love, spending time with loved ones, maybe all of it? I think some think we're all crazy, wasting time, money and beating ourselves up. But what they don't know is with all of that, a rotten beat up old car can give a fella some peace in life....the kind most are always searching for.

 

[roadrunnerman]

Hey Will, don't forget to put in those factory sheet metal screws like you told the wife when you were taking the old ones out of the roof. hehehehe. P.S. got something coming your way in the mail as soon as I get to the post office probably on Monday. As far as the 1/4 skins go, you can buy them from the FABO member and hang on to what you don't use. Maybe sell the other one down the road sometime.

 

[Propwash]

Hey Will, don't forget to put in those factory sheet metal screws like you told the wife when you were taking the old ones out of the roof. hehehehe. P.S. got something coming your way in the mail as soon as I get to the post office probably on Monday. As far as the 1/4 skins go, you can buy them from the FABO member and hang on to what you don't use. Maybe sell the other one down the road sometime.

LOL! No doubt Roger......! Hehehehehe. I'll have to keep close keeps, don't want to loose those puppies! Rare.

Package eh? Cool beans! I have one for you too. I need to play a little hooky from work and get that sent down to Iowa!! I did pick up the quarter skins & extensions Saturday. Drilled out pretty much all the spot welds for skin removal on the passenger side today. WoHoo!

 

[Budnicks]

As normal Prop, great work so far & nice start to your second book here too,
this thread/book probably won't be 100+ pages thou...LOL

here's a little inspiration for ya'
I know some are 1970's adverts. not 71's but still cool

looks like your thinking more stock lines & a good runner...

have fun either way, good luck, the wife's going to love her

 

[Propwash]

Thanks for taking the time to post those Budnicks. I appreciate it.

I don't think this thread will be quite as epic as Skeletor's, being it's a lot less rotten. But, it will be epic seeing the wife behind the wheel of a 400HP+ 4 speed small block A-Body!

Picked up the AMD quarter skins and extensions over the weekend and am stoked to get rolling on it. Spotwelds all drilled out. Just waiting for a little time to make my cuts and fit up.

Nothing like having fresh AMD sheetmetal to go on your ride. It's about the equivalent of waking up to someone cooking bacon! Biblical!

 

[Propwash]

Free dent filled, bondo laced quarter up for grabs folks!! Better strike while the iron's hot!



Obviously it's time to clean up, seal and paint the areas that were underneath. Not use to seeing whole solid metal around wheel houses, rockers and extensions. I may have entered The Twilight Zone! Up next, make my cut line on the new skin, fit in place, then cut along the established cut line on the new skin, into the old metal.

 

[MarPar]

the metal master is at it again!!!

ah yes, FBBO wouldn't be the same without you workin some magic Will!

love to see it! all is right in MoPar-land

btw, I picked up a little a-body of my own at the end of summer last year...

 

[Propwash]

:VB toast: Thanks Mar! And that's one dang clean A-Body you picked up last summer! Sweet looking little Dodge. Hope you're enjoying it and your GTX isn't too jealous.

It will be a while before the wife's Dart is anywhere near looking as good as yours, but I'll keep pegging away. Great to be back at the grind man! Also great to have you along for the ride again! I remember you were tagging along with the bird's thread right from the get go as well. Many moons ago. Man time fly's!

 

[MT_Mopar]

Nothing like having fresh AMD sheetmetal to go on your ride. It's about the equivalent of waking up to someone cooking bacon! Biblical!

Your a sick and demented man my friend...

Keep up the good work!

View attachment 248851

 

[747mopar]

Great to hear how solid it is underneath the skins, maybe this build will go smooth as butter getting your wife behind the wheel in record time. Sounds like fun!