My latest project: 1970 Dodge Dart 512 C.I. Bracket Racer

Some of you may remember that I used to have a 1972 Dodge Dart which I drag raced.

Well, I got the itch to get back into racing Our new house is only 3 miles from the Speedworld racetrack and I can faintly hear them running the cars from our house. It was just too much for me to bare I haven't been doing much in the way of local fourwheeling, so I thought drag racing would give me something to do on the weekends.

A couple weeks ago I bought a 1970 Dodge Dart off of E-bay. The car was located in New Jersey, a mere 2500 miles from home I decided this was the right car for me mainly because I really needed to get out of the house on my own for a couple weeks and this was just the excuse I needed

The car is going to be stripped and repainted. It will get new quarter panels, at least one rocker, one floorpan, new door hinges, fiberglass hood, bumpers, and most likely trunk lid as well.

The new color will most likely be orange, but it just may end up being red, like my old one. Plans for it include a 650HP, 512 CI, big block Mopar and an automatic transmission. I'm just not sure if it will be from BB or SB or whether or not it will even be a Mopar I plan on ditching the torsion bar front suspension for an aftermarket K member which gives you rack and pinion steering, upgraded brakes, and the choice of coilover shocks or airbag suspension.

The rear end in the car right now is a trussed Mopar 8 3/4", with a three link suspension and coilovers.

 

[Rick]

Well, after a long day it's ALL RED!!!

We've got to get a couple more coats of color on tomorrow as well as clear coat. Then it sits and dries. I can't tell you how good it is to finally see it in a color other than gray! Can't wait to post pics of the car in clear coat!

 

[section525]

Did it come out better than you hoped?? Looks awesome from here!

Did you learn anything during the process you'd care to share? I have to paint a tailgate on the Stooper Dooty soon.

 

[Rick]

Did it come out better than you hoped??

I really like the way things look so far. No issues that I've seen with the bodywork I did. I'll know better tomorrow when it has all it's paint and clear coat on it. The clear coat makes a huge difference in color and gloss even before it's wet sanded an polished. Without clear, the paint is dull and lifeless. Add clear and it comes alive!!

Did you learn anything during the process you'd care to share?

Doing an entire car that has been stripped to nothing is a huge job. Not sure I would do it again. Sanding is a never ending process and it takes a lot of time to sand every millimeter of the vehicle inside and out.

I have to paint a tailgate on the Stooper Dooty soon.

Repair? Color change? Whatcha' doin'?

 

[rookieshooter]

Really nice, can't wait to see the clear coat.
Where are the local tracks in your area? Are there several to choose from or just one?
I know when I was racing there were several tracks located with in an hour and half.
Even different sanctioning bodies. ARA,NHRA and IHRA. And then the best ones. RT 50, around Bladensburg MD, Kenilworth ave, College Park MD, V st. which was in DC of all things. And then of course any stop light that a Mopar would pull up against my 55 Chevy :. This was my street Royal Blue Lacquered 55 Chevy.

 

[Rick]

Two tracks within an hour and a half. Speedworld is 3 miles from our house. Firebird is about an hour and a half. Both are NHRA tracks.

 

[Dannyboy]

props to you Rick! This is a HUGE step in making the light at the end of the tunnel come closer.

 

[90ranajo]

Don't forget to tape all your edges when you get to reassembly and final fitment. I'd hate to see you chip that paint work.

 

[Stic-o]

Sanding is a never ending process and it takes a lot of time to sand every millimeter of the vehicle inside and out.

I think this is the part every body and paint person hates....but it has to be done, and right.

 

[Turdle]

oooooohhhh nice !!

This is going to turn heads.

 

[mrboyle]

Nice!

 

[Rick]

Mmmm... liquid red

 

[Rick]

..

 

[Burns]

Oh my goodness that looks so good.

I really need to see this in person. I may have missed this from before but what color will the tubes be or will they stay metal since you dont have a rust problem?

 

[gmanpaint]

Looks BEAUTIFUL!! Great work there Rick!

I wonder how long the over spray is going to be hanging around? LOL

 

[Rick]

The process is still going on One last round of clear coat at midnight and we're done.

 

[cybergasm]

So is there gonna be any wet sanding on this?

 

[Rick]

There is going to be a ton of wet sanding, buffing, etc. The plan is to leave it sit as is until I get back from T-haven then reassemble and begin the final paint prep.

 

[SVO]

REDRUM









Jeff - :navajo:

 

[vroomzoomboom]

There is going to be a ton of wet sanding, buffing, etc. The plan is to leave it sit as is until I get back from T-haven then reassemble and begin the final paint prep.

rick, if it makes you feel any better, there's about 40 to 50 hours of sanding and polishing in on evil (only for me to screw it up the first time i washed it )

 

[Rick]

I can't tell you just how good it feels to open the garage door and see RED instead of GRAY!

A couple more shots..