My wife did what?

[restoman]

For the door, take off the inside panel, stuff an inner tube inside and inflate. It may not come out perfect, but it should get better.

It's worth a shot.
Matching that gold paint will be tricky. But, you've been lucky to find this gem, so your luck might hold in the finding-a-door-in-the-right-hue department.

 

[69.5CUDA]

might also un stick it as id bet that the bottom edge sitting on the sill is keeping it from opening

 

[Stretch]

For the door, take off the inside panel, stuff an inner tube inside and inflate. It may not come out perfect, but it should get better.

I'll try that!

 

[thrashingcows]

68...never heard of using a tire inner tube to pop out dents...that is a very clever idea! Stretch if you do this please take progress pics...very curious how this will turn out!

 

[69.5CUDA]

not much different that those infaltion bads which are ideal for getting into those impossible to reach spots, hell if you prep up the rubber you can cut it glue it and clamp the ends to make whatever shape/size you want...with a good enough couple chunks of 1inch bar stock you can get away with just clamping,,,sometimes

 

[Stretch]

For the door, take off the inside panel, stuff an inner tube inside and inflate. It may not come out perfect, but it should get better.

Well I'll be dipped!

It worked pretty good! Good enough to get the door open. It actually opens and closes like nothing ever happened. I can't believe that door was caved in like that and there is zero damage to the hinges, striker, door latch, B-piller or any of the car structure.

I took a video while pushing it out with the tube but I don't know how to post it here. I don't have a hosting account or app.

I'll get pictures tomorrow.

In the mean time, here are some pictures of the power barn after a quick shot of Castrol Super Clean and the garden hose and some under body shots while I had her on the hoist.

Oh, look, a Thrush muffler!

 

[Stretch]

might also un stick it as id bet that the bottom edge sitting on the sill is keeping it from opening

That is exactly what I thought. We were both wrong!

Turns out the hit bent the linkage from the outer door handle to the latch. I was able to get the door open by moving the latch mechanism inside the door once the inner tube moved the outer skin enough to unfucker the linkage. I then removed the door handle and straightened the rod and reassembled it. The door never touched the rocker!

 

[68R/T]

Well I'll be dipped!

It worked pretty good!

When you need any other tips on red-neckery, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[69.5CUDA]

the perfect hit if it didnt touch the rocker....one now has to ask..is the door too fuckered to save?..i mean 3dr darts "were" dime a dozen so id think finding another door would be easy..but one still has to wonder

 

[69.5CUDA]

other than some uhh line botchery going on underthere and what i "think" are add a leafs it looks as clean as the underside of any fish ive ever had...save for that 68 fastback...that thing was trash but i got it for free

 

[Stretch]

Before and after.

 

[68R/T]

Some careful work with a chunk of wood and a hammer could even do some more.

 

[Stretch]

I ran up to the shop this morning and spent some time on the "Fart" (4 door Dart ). I replaced the upper snd lower radiator hoses and coolant, the bad intake/ exhaust gasket, and installed daul ? Exhaust.

It was a fun morning for sure.

 

[69.5CUDA]

ya know...i dont think ive ever seen AC on a slanty in person....i mean i might have in a van and never noticed, but AC in an a body round here is rare as hell on any engine...but i know ive never even seen a truck slanty with ac

 

[thrashingcows]

Gonna be hard to keep those front wheels on the ground now....

 

[Stretch]

Gonna be hard to keep those front wheels on the ground now....

It will be a lot easier once the car is off the hoist.

 

[Stretch]

Scored a set of small bolt 14x5.5 wheels today for the sweet sum of $50.00 and the guy delivered them about 100 miles to my work place. He had some parts Jass wanted too. He had some business up here so he dropped them off on his way through. Best part is. He has more parts and invited us down to dig through has stash when we head down to Jefferson for the spring swap next week.

I'll post pics of the wheels later.

All I have left to do on the Fart is rebuild the leaking carb and replace the rear wheel bearings.

I'll be rollin this thing down the road pretty quick here.

 

[68R/T]

........when we head down to Jefferson for the spring swap next week.

 

[Stretch]

Well I have more work to do. Something is loose in the right front suspension. I can feel the wheel move when I apply the brakes.

I pulled the rear axles after work tonight so I can replace the rear wheel bearings. I also pulled the carb so I can rebuild it.

I brought the carb and axles home to press the bearings and soak rhe. Arb over night in my dip tank. The carb disassemble went well. It soaking.

Axles, well I'm not sure the bearings I waited a week for are correct. I slid them down the axle before removing the lock collar and old bearing to check fitment. I hope there is one more step on the axle that I cant see with the old parts still there because the new bearing and lock collar are loose on the shaft.

 

[68R/T]

Weather prediction for next week here for the swap. Finally decent weather;