1968 Dodge Hemi Dart

[Patrick2005]

This is an awesome storyline to go along with an awesome build!

[george 53]

Mike, it IS comming out great and it is a great storyline. BUT why,WHY did Johnny have to DIE?????//:lol:

[mrmike]

Thanks Patrick and George!

George, if I told you why, then it would ruin the story for the others. You'll just have to wait until the conclusion. Sorry!

The Story 2011-

After a day of walking around, asking questions, and avoiding stepping on the Police's toes, McNally returns home tired, hungry, and thirsty. He sits at the kitchen table drinking a beer and sorting his notes on his PDA when he hears the porch door open. He pulls his Smith & Wesson and aims it at the back door as Vic Arronski walks in. "Whoa, I'm one of the good guys" he says! "Sorry Vic, I'm a little edgy right now." Vic offers his assistance if McNally needs it and he accepts and starts to tell Vic want he has and the people he needs to see. "I talked to about 30 people today and I feel like I have missed somebody."

The Build

Chassis concstruction is underway. I am going to leave off the rear suspension for now and install it laterwhen the chassis, interior, and body are together. Then I can check the stance.

I started on the interior by installing the roll bar from the Revell '71 'Cuda Street Machine.

The engine is nearly done. I just need to route the plug wires and add a ignition coil.

McNally will return...

[mrmike]

The Story 2011-

McNally's cell phone rings while he is talking to Vic. It's Teresa telling him that someone is trying to break into the house and the garage. "Call the Police! I'm on my way," he says. McNally and Vic arrive seconds after the Police and identify themselves. The Police go to the house while McNally and Vic cover the garage. McNally goes in through the partially open garage door as Vic goes to the side door. Vic flicks on the lights and a teenager tries to escape through the side window only to be captured by McNally. The cops cuff the teen and place him in the cruiser for the ride to the station.

The Build

The Hemi is finished and ready to be installed into the chassis.

The wheels and tires on the right are ready for some Shabo lettering. The wheelbacks on the left are leftovers from a Landy Dart I built a few years ago. They will be painted gloss black and painted with Alclad II Chrome paint. The Cragars in the center will be trimmed on the inside to narrow the wheel.

McNally will return...

Edited April 17, 2011 by mrmike

[mrmike]

The Story 1975-

Armed with a variety of motor mounts and pads, the boys get the Hemi into it's new home and start to assemble the front clip onto the body. But, Johnny's mind is on his new girlfriend and it is bothering McNally since it is more of a distraction and it is causing them to fall behind the schedule they had set for themselves. It has gotten to the point that McNally will take the Dart off Johnny's hands if he looses interest in the car altogether and will finish it himself. "John, I will not interfere with your relationship with Teresa, who I think is a really nice person, but we had set a goal and we have way fallen behind. Let's finish the car before the beginning of fall or it'll never get done," he says. Johnny gets mad at his friend and says, "You're just jealous cause you don't have a girlfriend," yells Johnny and he storms out of the garage leaving McNally alone...again.

The Build

I started removing the inner lip on the mags and sanding the backs smooth.

The wheel backs were painted gloss black and with Alclad II Chrome paint.

The completed wheels and tires with Shabo tire graphics.

McNally will return...

[Mr. Moparman]

The Story 1975-

Armed with a variety of motor mounts and pads, the boys get the Hemi into it's new home and start to assemble the front clip onto the body. But, Johnny's mind is on his new girlfriend and it is bothering McNally since it is more of a distraction and it is causing them to fall behind the schedule they had set for themselves. It has gotten to the point that McNally will take the Dart off Johnny's hands if he looses interest in the car altogether and will finish it himself. "John, I will not interfere with your relationship with Teresa, who I think is a really nice person, but we had set a goal and we have way fallen behind. Let's finish the car before the beginning of fall or it'll never get done," he says. Johnny gets mad at his friend and says, "You're just jealous cause you don't have a girlfriend," yells Johnny and he storms out of the garage leaving McNally alone...again.

I know how McNally feels. Me and my friend had one of those quarrels the other day. I am more of a McNally person.

Edited April 17, 2011 by Master Modeller

[mrmike]

The Story 1976-

It is late March and the Dart is not done. McNally is working his afterschool job at Piccolo's Hardware when a young women approaches him. "McNally, my name is Teresa, I'm John's girlfriend. Can I talk to you?" "Yeah, let's go outside." Teresa tells him that she feels like she is the cause of the tension between McNally and Johnny and how she would like to try and ease that tension and get the boys back together. McNally explains that the tension has caused him to reconsider his goals and when he graduates from high school in a few months, he'll be enlisting into the Army. "My Dad is a cop and I want to follow in his footsteps and become one myself someday. You are not the cause of the tension between Johnny and myself. I think it was just bound to happen."

The Build

Another hurdle done! I have foiled the body this afternoon. Considering my economic situation, I have developed a way to foil using less BMF by being much more precise with my measurements. As a result of being more precise, I have reduced the amount of waste of BMF by 75%. That should leave more foil for more projects down the road!

I even did the side markers. All that is needed here is a tiny drop of clear red or clear orange paint.

McNally will return...

[butchey]

LOOKIN GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrmike]

those are some awefully small tires for the back of a Hemi street machine don't ya think?

Yes they are, but it's what I have and anything in my parts box are simply too big or too wide. If I start playing around with ID and OD, I'll end up with a hole I just can't fill on the outside!

[Rick R]

Nice work and as usual an entertaining and engaging story...

[mrmike]

The Story 2011-

McNally figures he'll need an extra hand with this case. He'll have Vic keep an eye on Teresa and her kids and he will go and ask "The Sink" if he is available. Rubuen Sinkowski is a BIG man! At 6 foot 5 inches tall and 260 Lbs., he was known as the Kitchen Sink when he play high school football, but now he teaches kindergarten kids and helps McNally when he can. McNally watches him playing pig pile with the kids during recess and how he is able to stand up with a bunch of 5 years olds on his back and hanging around hismassive neck. The bell rings and the children run back into the school and Sink walks over to the fence and shakes McNally hand with a hand that is 3 times the size of McNally's. "I need your help, but I can't pay you much," he tells Sink. "I'll Help. What's the job?"

The Build

I did a mockup with the interior, chassis, and body. I really like the stance.

The Hemi looks right at home in there.

I installed the shocks and added a set of traction bars from the Revell '71 'Cuda Street Machine.

McNally will return...

[Patrick2005]

This car is looking SIIIIICCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[walt francis]

I am really enjoying this journey that you are taking us on, it's like a guys soap opera And the dart is coming along great.

[mrmike]

Thanks guys! I just hope the story is not too soapy!

The Story 2011-

Based on what the teenager had told McNally, a small raid on the warehouse/meeting place for car thieves is a must with McNally, Vic, and Sink. They sneak into a side door and are immediately seen by the other car thieves who split up into different directions. McNally chases one thief down a row of cartons and when cornered he turns and starts yelling and doing karate and jujitsu moves, only to be grabbed from behind be the massive hand of Sink who throws him against the wall, unconsious. The thieves are gathered together and questioned and a name is finally given to McNally...Richard Fedal, Johnny's former employer.

The Build

The interior is finally complete after loosing the tachometer. I dug another tach out of the parts box only to find the original later elsewhere in the house.

You can see the fire extinquisher attached to the passenger side of the roll bar.

I have used white glue for attaching glass to the body for a couple of years with mixed results. After using gloss clear for photoetch, I decided to try that on glass. For me this was a major improvement!

McNally will return...

[mrmike]

The Story 1976-

Graduation day and McNally just misses making the honor roll. He searches for his friends after the ceremony and he sees Johnny and Teresa walking towards him and he mentally prepares himself for the worst. "Congratulations Mc," says Johnny with his hand extended and clasping McNally's. "I want to apologize for everything I said to you last year. It's taken me a long time to get past my anger, I'm sorry." McNally tells Johnny and Teresa when he is leaving for boot camp and Johnny tell him that he will finish the Dart someday. He is graduating next year and wants to go to college and study engineering. They will all meet at the bus station when McNally leaves for boot camp.

The Story 2011-

Richard Fetal is in a hurry, emptying his desk and floor safe when McNally enters the office. "Going somewhere?" Rich jumps at the sound of McNally's voice and reaches for a file folder and throws it at McNally and runs for the side office door only to find it blocked by The Kitchen Sink. "You have the means, opportunity, and motive for killing my friend, Johnny. And, it was all over the Dart sitting in his garage." Det. Sgt. Troy walks into the office and says, "I have a warrant for your arrest," and cuffs Richard and a patrol officer escorts him out to a waiting squad car. "Thanks for your help, McNally. I'm sorry about you friend, Johnny." McNally smilles at Adam and motions to Sink to leave and they both silently walk out of the building.

The Build

I have completed my '68 Hemi Dart and it is post in Under Glass. I would like to thank all those who took the time to view and to comment on this build!

Edited April 22, 2011 by mrmike