I still have my T/A

wingcarenvy · February 03, 2019, 09:57:09 PM

I know I haven't been real active here but I still have my T/A although the motor blew up and its been sitting. I have found my numbers matching block but I need to find another block to trade for it and that hasn't been easy. For the last year and a half my good friend and I spent 10 months building my first car that I bought 32 years ago. So I thought I would share this car. I do have a 360 that I built for the T/A and its kinda close to being done. It'll fill the need till I can get the restoration under way.

Cuda Cody · February 03, 2019, 10:22:34 PM

That's impressive!!!

Nice job.

wingcarenvy · February 03, 2019, 11:10:30 PM

Thank you Cody. For those interested in a few pages of light reading here is my build thread over FABO.

https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/threads/68-twin-turbo-dart-project.68988/

70 Challenger Lover · February 03, 2019, 11:23:02 PM

Cool car! So are you still on the hunt for a 340? They are out there but if it needs to be a 70 block from another T/A then I guess that will be a difficult search.

I have a 340 from a 69 Barracuda that I'm not sure if I'm keeping or selling.

aussiemark · February 04, 2019, 01:23:30 AM

Get that numbers matching block back ASAP just ask what they want and write the cheque.

RUNCHARGER · February 04, 2019, 07:04:20 AM

Neat car. It sounds like he has to find a T/A block to replace his original one. I agree get it done ASAP so it doesn't get lost or change hands.

750-h2 · February 04, 2019, 01:57:43 PM

Love that Dart!

71-440 · February 04, 2019, 02:45:21 PM

Awesome Dart you got there!

scf100 · February 04, 2019, 03:31:54 PM

HOLY CRAP!

Brads70 · February 04, 2019, 03:53:52 PM

Beautiful Dart! Did you make it to Drag week?

70 Challenger Lover · February 04, 2019, 04:15:40 PM

I will never quite get that. A nicely restored numbers matching well optioned T/A is about a $75k car (at least according to what others have stated in other posts). If the T/A has a non matching 340, maybe the value drops to $65k. The same restored numbers matching car in an A66 or R/T version can be a $50k car. I cannot quite see the point in paying $4300 (plus much more to build it) when you will still have a non matching engine in your car. I get the cool factor of having a T/A motor in your T/A but I can't see the car recovering all of its lost value when it's still not numbers matching.

Now if that block was THE actual original engine from my T/A (which would be a miracle to happen across), I could see paying that and I probably would.

I think the earlier advice of getting your original motor back is solid. Anything can be fixed and it's worth it in the end if it's the numbers matching block your car was born with.

wingcarenvy · February 07, 2019, 01:20:24 PM

Thanks for all the kind words guys. I do need a T/A specific block to trade with and he won't take cash.

Quote from: 70 Challenger Lover on February 04, 2019, 04:15:40 PM
I will never quite get that. A nicely restored numbers matching well optioned T/A is about a $75k car (at least according to what others have stated in other posts). If the T/A has a non matching 340, maybe the value drops to $65k. The same restored numbers matching car in an A66 or R/T version can be a $50k car. I cannot quite see the point in paying $4300 (plus much more to build it) when you will still have a non matching engine in your car. I get the cool factor of having a T/A motor in your T/A but I can't see the car recovering all of its lost value when it's still not numbers matching.

Now if that block was THE actual original engine from my T/A (which would be a miracle to happen across), I could see paying that and I probably would.

I think the earlier advice of getting your original motor back is solid. Anything can be fixed and it's worth it in the end if it's the numbers matching block your car was born with.

I think it would be real neat to have my original block back. I have 3 340s laying around and it seems they are not worth much but hot damn if it has the T/A cast into it and its worth mega dollars. Its really hard for me to fork out 4300 for a block that needs repair! I guess I just need to get over the sticker shock at some point and bend over and take it lol. The thing is that having the numbers block back probably won't ever make it back into the car because I use my cars as intended and I wouldn't risk injuring a 5K block. Hell I only paid 20K for the car in the first place. Oh well maybe I will find a deal one eventually.

70 Challenger Lover · February 07, 2019, 03:20:54 PM

I really do love originality and numbers matching stuff in particular though I can't explain why. I get why it's important to you. What I have to remind myself though is 99.9% of the time, the only person who knows or even cares is just me. A lot of money to put out unless you are showing the car at major events.

There are several Mopars on my bucket list, a T/A being one of them. If I ever pull the trigger on one though, I'd probably just buy a really nicely done restored version. As much as I enjoy restoring cars myself, certain cars like T/As become insanely expensive to do and sadly, they don't command sales prices as high as they deserve. Just a set of carbs, intake, linkage will break the bank. Then there's the air cleaner set up. We see what a T/A block sells for. Can't forget the unique heads and associated stuff there. Just building a clone would cost a small fortune to do it halfway right.

You got in at the right price. I think if I were in your shoes, I'd build up one of your other 340s and get that baby back on the road. Keep you eyes out for the T/A block you want but use the heck out of the car while you're still young and healthy. You can bleed away years of your life waiting for all the perfect little pieces to fall into place. If I saw your car on the road, you'd get a big thumbs up no matter what motor was under the hood.

wingcarenvy · February 08, 2019, 01:12:40 PM

Quote from: 70 Challenger Lover on February 07, 2019, 03:20:54 PM
I really do love originality and numbers matching stuff in particular though I can't explain why. I get why it's important to you. What I have to remind myself though is 99.9% of the time, the only person who knows or even cares is just me. A lot of money to put out unless you are showing the car at major events.

There are several Mopars on my bucket list, a T/A being one of them. If I ever pull the trigger on one though, I'd probably just buy a really nicely done restored version. As much as I enjoy restoring cars myself, certain cars like T/As become insanely expensive to do and sadly, they don't command sales prices as high as they deserve. Just a set of carbs, intake, linkage will break the bank. Then there's the air cleaner set up. We see what a T/A block sells for. Can't forget the unique heads and associated stuff there. Just building a clone would cost a small fortune to do it halfway right.

You got in at the right price. I think if I were in your shoes, I'd build up one of your other 340s and get that baby back on the road. Keep you eyes out for the T/A block you want but use the heck out of the car while you're still young and healthy. You can bleed away years of your life waiting for all the perfect little pieces to fall into place. If I saw your car on the road, you'd get a big thumbs up no matter what motor was under the hood.

Well said, I feel pretty much the same way. I have a 450hp 360 for it and I am going to put it in here soon. I will then drive the wheels off it!!