DavidB

My car runs! Fir the first time in nearly 5 years (11/04) my 68 Dart moved! The 64 Imperial (star cruiser) convertible has to come home from long-term storage. The only place it'll fit is in the center bay of my garage. In order to put it there, the 69 Coronet wagon has to move to the far 3rd bay (from the center) with the 68 Barracuda behind it. My Dart (which was in back of the 3rd bay) is now residing in the pole barn. I guess since it still runs & all it needs is a battery, I'll start driving it again. It's a "20-20" car: From 20 feet, or at 20 MPH or more it looks stunning. Any slower or closer & you can start to see the warts. Attached is a pic of the dust/mud being hosed off the trunk lid. When the Imp comes home I'll post pics of it's 18 year collection of dust/dirt! Anyone in NJ want to meet up at the Jackson Outlet Mall cruise (near Great Adventure) Friday? When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Opened the first pic & the very first thing that went through my head was, caption this pic: "Dammit, dammit, dammit!" When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Ewww.... Shitty. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

My exhaust would probably give you wood. Custom Tri-Y headers (I had to make my own to clear the steering mods), 2.5" head pipes, "X", Magna-Flow mufflers into 2.25" tail pipes with resonators. Deep & quiet rumble, yet a golf ball will go from headers to the back bumper freely. I've been accused of running both a 383 & 440 just from the exhaust note. The 7.25 rear; I suspect the bolt/pin holding the spider gear shaft in the carrier broke, allowing the pin to move. It usually wasn't a problem, but every once in a while the pin would move out & smack the pinion gear (BANG!) then be quite again. When the scrap metal I duct taped in to cover the gaping hole under my feet started falling out (like the shoemaker's kids, the welder's car was taped together) I sent it to the crusher. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

You're right! How could I miss that the first time through? I like how Jim's knees open & close during the smoke deployment process. So, do those things have a habit of bouncing back up into your lap, or what? When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

HUH!?!?! Did someone say something?!? When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Was that your 3/8 drive 1/2" 12-point socket I found in the road in front of my house yesterday?!? I used to take my 68 Dart out & drive the twisting, winding narrow old farm roads in Burlington, Monmouth, & Ocean counties at speeds that make mere mortals quiver in fear. Now days I put the box blade on the tractor (exhausting in itself) & move stone around on the driveway. Hahahaha! Is my 1/2in drive 12mm 12 point out there too? Can't torque the arp head studs without it! What engine did your dart have? My very first car was a 74 valiant with the trusty old slant six. Last slanty I had was a POS 77 Volare (can you say, "RUSTY"). Drove it for 5 years, junked it because the 7.25" rear was getting bad, only had 135K miles on it... Dart is a 2-dr sedan, bottom of the line Dodge (only Chrysler Corp car lower/less expensive was the 2dr sedan Plymouth Valiant @ $100 less base price). It was surprisingly well equipped: 273 V8, auto trans, P/S, A/C, tinted windshield, tinted side/rear glass (neither is standard with A/C), variable speed wipers (not 2-spd or 3-spd but on a rheostat), black painted roof (2-tone paint), & upgraded interior (which included carpet, rear arm rests (W/ash receivers), fancier door panels & upholstery, 1" more seat padding. Currently has a 360/A-518 (4-spd O/D auto)/3.91:1 8.75" rear for motivation. Koni shocks, 1.25" front sway bar, HD leaf springs, 1" torsion bars, all poly bushings, NOS "Firm Feel police P/S box with all C-body pitman/idler (2" longer than stock) /tie rod ends ( steering is 2-1/3 turns lock to lock vs 3-2/3 stock), make the chassis (along with a few other tricks). 11" disc/10" drums stop it (brackets & rotors to convert to 12" disc are on the shelf). Rides like a truck, handles like a slot-car, cruises the highways at 75 effortlessly, gets about 20MPG highway & probably makes around 350-375HP (300 or so rear wheel). When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

As . . . what? Lumber? Paint? A nail? When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Ride, Captain, Ride...! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

10AM & it's up to 26°c here & going up to 33°c. What makes it miserable, though, is the humidity: Currently 83%., making the "dew point" about 22°-23°c. Normally one needs to be in places like east Texas or Florida to experience weather like this. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Comedy, drama, action, adventure, big-name stars. Your first movie needs ALL these. I can only think of one movie that fits the bill: AIRPLANE! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Was that your 3/8 drive 1/2" 12-point socket I found in the road in front of my house yesterday?!? I used to take my 68 Dart out & drive the twisting, winding narrow old farm roads in Burlington, Monmouth, & Ocean counties at speeds that make mere mortals quiver in fear. Now days I put the box blade on the tractor (exhausting in itself) & move stone around on the driveway. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

I guess you learned both important lessons already, but they still bear repeating: 1- Always keep your load as low as possible during transport. Weight up high will come back to bite you! 2- Always keep your bucket in sight. As soon as you forget it's there, bad things will happen! BTW, if you think that's a fun machine, you haven't played on a back-hoe! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

My favorite from back then was: "Heat seeking moisture missiles" When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Ah... Fleetwood Mac... back when they were good. BTW Mick Fleetwood has a new blues album out. Couple things I've heard from it are good, including "Fleetwood Boogie" (traditional boogie woogie blues sound). When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Y'all Brits never hear'd of fried green duh-maters? I was driving around aimlessly this morning and found myself in Tampa. While I was there I had to stop by Cacciatore's and pick up a pound and a half of pecorino romano. I stopped at a bakery and bought a couple of loaves of cuban bread. By the time I got home half a loaf of bread and at least a quarter pound of the cheese were gone. A couple of tomato slices and a little basil would have made a nice sammich. Think I'll make me one for dinner.

Fantasy: 1968 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi 4-speed (black on black on black please). Reality: 1968 Dodge Dart 360 O/D auto (yellow). Daily Driver: 2004 Chevy Colorado When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Narf! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Fixed it for ya'. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

IMHO, THE single most important individual in modern music. Who's to say what music would be like today WITHOUT his 6 or 7 decades of influence? RIP Mr. Paul. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Bad news about the poor old 440. Go to www.moparts.org & look through the classified section. You should be able to find something (at least a core long-block) there. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

ROTFLMFAO! Thank you sir! May I have another!?! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Huh?? No, really... HUH??? It's "golf humor" so you either get it or you are like most people; normal. But you got it . . . sooooooo? Now hold on just a cotton pickin' minute there, youngster. Where is is stated, or implied, that I "got it"...? On the other hand, you couldn't describe me as "normal" either.... I'M SO CONFUSED...!!!!! When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Huh?? No, really... HUH??? It's "golf humor" so you either get it or you are like most people; normal. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Wow. If I'm thinking of the place, you're making some specialty alloys (as opposed to cranking out rebar by the mile), right? To put it in perspective for those that don't understand, that roof is some 40 to 50 meters up. You took those pics from what, about 100 meters away? This is "the land of the giants" my friends! "Black magic" as it was once called. When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.