Project SCUD - 1969 Dodge Dart

[droptop73]

I'm around a little bit. I'll give you a call.

[wellis77]

Cool. Spent today running all over the city doing craziness. Tomorrow I'll be getting things setup and organized, and Wednesday the real fun begins!

[TARAfied]

WOW, just read thru this whole thread. Very impressive! I am jealous of your skills! Always loved the Dart body, glad you are not going widebody and went back to the original rear wheelwells.

[wellis77]

Thanks Craig. It's been fun so far and I can't wait to see how the next 3 weeks finish up. More to come...

[TARAfied]

I may have missed it somewhere but what do you do in Switzerland (If it is not being too nosey)?
I travel for my job, some international, mostly domestic. I'm gone pretty much every week but when I go overseas its usually only a few weeks at a time. I work for an aluminum company, I troubleshoot manufacturing issues for our customers.
It's hard to find time to tinker when your on the road, I can't imagine being gone as much as you are. Keep up the great work!

[wellis77]

Not nosey at all. I'm going to school finishing my degree and just got a job at IBM. My wife is working as a dental hygienist. My wife has been in Switzerland for 5.5 years and I've been there almost 3. She was there already while we dated and when we got engaged, we spent a lot of time talking and praying about where to be and felt Switzerland was the place. Switzerland is an amazing place and we both feel very fortunate to be there. It's been a great place to start our life together.

[mincharlie]

Im sure your out in the shop! keep up the great work. Its really looking good!

[TARAfied]

cool, thanks for sharing.

[wellis77]

Was definitely out in the shop and I'm about to head back out. I need to take some pics first. I've got almost all of my frame rails cut, have begun assembling the perimeter, and will continue with the chassis assembly today. More progress to follow...

[ramlinman]

pictures will.....?

[wellis77]

Y'all better chill!!! Working in the garage all day doesn't leave much time for updates. But I got a few pics for you. All day Monday was spent running around and getting my junk together, a little bit more of that yesterday but then started cutting more tube and getting my perimeter frame rails put together. Also was double checking some measurements on my front spindle to make sure the geometry I have is solid; all is well on that front. So, here are some pics...

Got caught dealing with jet lag around 10 to 6 yesterday morning


Getting frame rails put together




Assembling the front 2/3 of the frame


And where I'm at now with the frame


I've got my welder dialed in pretty good for this 1/8" stuff; now if I can get the operator dialed in I'm good to go... I also started building my jig for the LCA's and will finish that up tomorrow with the hopes of getting the new LCA's put together. I'll get some pics tomorrow, but I received my Del-Spheres from Spohn, those things are beautiful, as well as my Howe ball joints, those are super nice too. In addition to getting the LCA's going tomorrow, I'll be trying to get the rear frame rails finished and added to the chassis along with getting the back brace measured up, cut, and tacked in place as well. If I get through all of that I'll work on the front cross member and hopefully start building suspension mounts this week(end). More to come but things are going well and I'm real happy so far.

Bis Morgen!

[Motorcitydak]

Great to see more work goin on, just be careful with that surface rust. Id say hit it with the POR-15 3 step coating because you never want your work to rust out from under some paint

[wellis77]

I hear you on the surface rust. Once the chassis is finished I'll clean it up real good and hit with something. Need to look into the POR-15 3 step, have never used it. Thanks Steve.

[CruizinKev]

looks great! good work

[Motorcitydak]

Its great stuff, here is my before and after. The stuff is hard as nails too and runs into every pore of the metal





Better shots of the drivers side I did

[wellis77]

Steve, did you brush the POR15 or spray it? I have about a half quart of Rust Bullet and may use that.

[wellis77]

Here's some progress as of late. Doesn't seem like much but I've been working my junk off! The chassis is almost finished after I had to rebuild my front frame rails; I can do statistics and calculus like nobody's business, but apparently 7th grade geometry has fled through my first set of front and rear frame rails.
So, I built the rear rails tacked them in place, rebuilt the front rails, tacked them in place...


...started building the back brace, tacked it in place, and here is where the chassis is at...

I have a lot more to do on the back brace to strengthen and finish it but I ran out of material since I changed the design. I'll pick some up and get it finished up tomorrow.

After double checking all measurements I welded the chassis solid and began the fishplates. I've got all the fishplates cut and tacked in place and will get those locked down tomorrow as well. Tuesday I'll begin working on suspension mounts and front cross member.

While all this has been going on, more parts have come in, Spohn Del-Spere's, Howe Balljoints...


Trans mount when I get there later this week or first of next...


Rear license plate holder from a '77 TA to hide the trailer hitch mounted to the frame...


And finally the jig for my LCA's...


That's enough for now, more to come tomorrow.

[Bryce]

Nice work. I like the jig!

[ramlinman]

will your killing me... a whole week is gone

[wellis77]

Yup, and I still have 2 weeks left. There is a lot to do but there is also plenty of time. It's all good!

Thanks Bryce.