72Dodge
Well-Known Member
OK, so here is the Mirada I picked up last weekend. I have a '72 Dart Swinger /6 and a '68 GTS project, but I have been wanting something to "just mess with". I'd been looking at things like later Dart Sports and had been keeping my eyes open for an Aspen/Volare or a b-body Cordoba, or maybe even a Diplomat. Just never found the right car, at least not at the right price. And let's face it, most cars in this area are rust buckets and that was the last thing I wanted. I also wanted something that I could do some bodywork on and eventually paint.
This one popped up advertised as solid TX car (no drivetrain) with some issues due to it being an abandoned project. I asked a bunch of questions so I'd have a better idea what I was getting myself into, worked out a deal, and bought the car sight unseen except for the pictures.
When it arrived, the only real huge surprise was the broken windshield, which the pictures did not indicate and is still highly irritating, and currently by biggest problem. Also the interior wasn't anywhere near as nice as I had expected, BUT, it's serviceable, and I've driven much worse LOL, so not that big of a deal. I can make it look nice.
Due to the windshield and the other three problems mentioned below, I posted the car up for sale locally, because at first they seemed to make for more of a project than I was really wanting, but after living with the car for a week, and doing more research, I'm more comfortable with it, and know I can handle all of them. I got a LOT of interest in the car from the local CL ad by the way! I had over 20 people email and call in a week. Way more than I was expecting from an obscure and mostly forgotten car from the early '80s!
So, the biggest problems were:
- the hacked up wiring harness, but I have another one coming to me now from an '80 Aspen that I can make work
- the brake lines that were all dismantled, but after researching some, I think everything is there, and I can put it all back together or make new lines
- the power booster and master cylinder are removed, and I'm not sure how to reinstall (since it seems the pins/bushings/bolts or whatever holds it together are missing), but I am trying to obtain the factory service manuals, so I'm sure I'll figure it out then. If anyone has these pins or knows what I should be using, please help!
- and of course, that windshield. I *think* I can use a windshield from an '80-'83 Cordoba, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for one, because I'd prefer to not have to install polycarbonate (but will as a last resort, though technically it's not street legal).
- it's missing the wiper motor, linkage, blades. Seems like these should be easy to find, if I ever find a good glass windshield that is.
- ears are cut off the k-frame and it has custom big block mounts. I want to install a small block, but there's several options.
But the GOOD things about the car, and reasons I decided to keep it as a project car:
- SOLID. I haven't seen a more solid clean car this side of my two year old truck. It has one tiny spot above the driver's door that needs to be patched, sort of weird there would be a small rust hole there, but no big deal. The underbody is clean as a whistle. Frame rails perfect. Floors perfect. Trunk perfect inside and out. This was the main thing I wanted, everything else I can deal with ultimately.
- Already has an 8.25" Sure Grip with 2.94 gears, and it's fresh.
- Partially rebuilt front end, and the rest doesn't look too bad.
- Has a 1-1/4" front sway bar. Not sure why, someone must have installed it later? I think this would have come with 1-1/8"? I could be wrong.
- 3" Hemi scoop and chin spoiler (I've never seen one like this for a Mirada, has anyone else?), and the Go Wing. I'm not a fan of the Go-Wing, but it can stay for now. It adds to the whole retro vibe the car has going on.
- Nice wheels... I think these are from an '80-'83 Imperial, please correct me if I'm wrong. They're dirty, but in pretty nice shape
- The front and rear plastic (or whatever they are) pieces aren't too bad. Not perfect, but better than a lot of Miradas I've seen.
All in all, a great starting point. My overall plan is to not put a lot of money into this car, but obviously it needs quite a bit. My goal is a fun street/strip car, more toward the strip side, but street legal.
I have a hot 318/727 combo ready to put in. In the spring I'll need to get a radiator and driveshaft to finish it out.
The interior I plan to make custom/race with racing buckets (leaning toward the comfortable side), aluminum door and dash panels, silver bezels, floor shifter, gauges, you know, the whole "race" thing. What is there is "okay", it has "custom" center insert fabric that they carried over to the doors too. With a little help, it would be fine. And some of the plastic pieces are spray bombed silver. Blech. It's not obvious, but I know, and it bugs me a little. I'll have to clean up the sail panels and such or get new ones to replace the sprayed stuff eventually, but that's on the backburner. The windows all have dark tint film on them, which I'm not fond of, but also not really looking forward to scraping it all off either!
Eventually outfit it with fuel cell, battery relocation kit/shut off, nitrous, and some Hoosiers on something like Centerline wheels. All this will be as I can find the parts used at good prices, so I can keep the cost down. Hey, let's face it, these cars don't have a whole lot of value right now, don't want to be totally upside down, at least not right away!
I don't think I'll keep these wheels on the car long-term, but for now, they are fine. I love them though. Might sell them once I get something to replace them with.
Just something to tinker with. Yeah it's "rare", but not original enough that I'm going to worry about "restoring" it or making it "original", just... have fun. The car reminds me a lot of my '76 Aspen R/T that I wish I still had (sold in about 1993), but truthfully, this car is in WAY better condition than the Aspen was in and a much better starting point for a project.
OK, that was a lot of detail. This is also somewhat of a record for myself, so... comments welcome! I appreciate the help I've gotten here already, and I'm sure I'll be asking a lot more questions as I make my way through this project!
Unfortunately, it's getting cold, so next weekend, the car will be mothballed for the winter, and I'll pick up on it again in the spring. I already ordered most of what I need to re-do all the brakes since that's something I can sort out quickly in a few hours right away.
Thanks FFMJBO!
This one popped up advertised as solid TX car (no drivetrain) with some issues due to it being an abandoned project. I asked a bunch of questions so I'd have a better idea what I was getting myself into, worked out a deal, and bought the car sight unseen except for the pictures.
When it arrived, the only real huge surprise was the broken windshield, which the pictures did not indicate and is still highly irritating, and currently by biggest problem. Also the interior wasn't anywhere near as nice as I had expected, BUT, it's serviceable, and I've driven much worse LOL, so not that big of a deal. I can make it look nice.
Due to the windshield and the other three problems mentioned below, I posted the car up for sale locally, because at first they seemed to make for more of a project than I was really wanting, but after living with the car for a week, and doing more research, I'm more comfortable with it, and know I can handle all of them. I got a LOT of interest in the car from the local CL ad by the way! I had over 20 people email and call in a week. Way more than I was expecting from an obscure and mostly forgotten car from the early '80s!
So, the biggest problems were:
- the hacked up wiring harness, but I have another one coming to me now from an '80 Aspen that I can make work
- the brake lines that were all dismantled, but after researching some, I think everything is there, and I can put it all back together or make new lines
- the power booster and master cylinder are removed, and I'm not sure how to reinstall (since it seems the pins/bushings/bolts or whatever holds it together are missing), but I am trying to obtain the factory service manuals, so I'm sure I'll figure it out then. If anyone has these pins or knows what I should be using, please help!
- and of course, that windshield. I *think* I can use a windshield from an '80-'83 Cordoba, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for one, because I'd prefer to not have to install polycarbonate (but will as a last resort, though technically it's not street legal).
- it's missing the wiper motor, linkage, blades. Seems like these should be easy to find, if I ever find a good glass windshield that is.
- ears are cut off the k-frame and it has custom big block mounts. I want to install a small block, but there's several options.
But the GOOD things about the car, and reasons I decided to keep it as a project car:
- SOLID. I haven't seen a more solid clean car this side of my two year old truck. It has one tiny spot above the driver's door that needs to be patched, sort of weird there would be a small rust hole there, but no big deal. The underbody is clean as a whistle. Frame rails perfect. Floors perfect. Trunk perfect inside and out. This was the main thing I wanted, everything else I can deal with ultimately.
- Already has an 8.25" Sure Grip with 2.94 gears, and it's fresh.
- Partially rebuilt front end, and the rest doesn't look too bad.
- Has a 1-1/4" front sway bar. Not sure why, someone must have installed it later? I think this would have come with 1-1/8"? I could be wrong.
- 3" Hemi scoop and chin spoiler (I've never seen one like this for a Mirada, has anyone else?), and the Go Wing. I'm not a fan of the Go-Wing, but it can stay for now. It adds to the whole retro vibe the car has going on.
- Nice wheels... I think these are from an '80-'83 Imperial, please correct me if I'm wrong. They're dirty, but in pretty nice shape
- The front and rear plastic (or whatever they are) pieces aren't too bad. Not perfect, but better than a lot of Miradas I've seen.
All in all, a great starting point. My overall plan is to not put a lot of money into this car, but obviously it needs quite a bit. My goal is a fun street/strip car, more toward the strip side, but street legal.
I have a hot 318/727 combo ready to put in. In the spring I'll need to get a radiator and driveshaft to finish it out.
The interior I plan to make custom/race with racing buckets (leaning toward the comfortable side), aluminum door and dash panels, silver bezels, floor shifter, gauges, you know, the whole "race" thing. What is there is "okay", it has "custom" center insert fabric that they carried over to the doors too. With a little help, it would be fine. And some of the plastic pieces are spray bombed silver. Blech. It's not obvious, but I know, and it bugs me a little. I'll have to clean up the sail panels and such or get new ones to replace the sprayed stuff eventually, but that's on the backburner. The windows all have dark tint film on them, which I'm not fond of, but also not really looking forward to scraping it all off either!
Eventually outfit it with fuel cell, battery relocation kit/shut off, nitrous, and some Hoosiers on something like Centerline wheels. All this will be as I can find the parts used at good prices, so I can keep the cost down. Hey, let's face it, these cars don't have a whole lot of value right now, don't want to be totally upside down, at least not right away!
I don't think I'll keep these wheels on the car long-term, but for now, they are fine. I love them though. Might sell them once I get something to replace them with.
Just something to tinker with. Yeah it's "rare", but not original enough that I'm going to worry about "restoring" it or making it "original", just... have fun. The car reminds me a lot of my '76 Aspen R/T that I wish I still had (sold in about 1993), but truthfully, this car is in WAY better condition than the Aspen was in and a much better starting point for a project.
OK, that was a lot of detail. This is also somewhat of a record for myself, so... comments welcome! I appreciate the help I've gotten here already, and I'm sure I'll be asking a lot more questions as I make my way through this project!
Unfortunately, it's getting cold, so next weekend, the car will be mothballed for the winter, and I'll pick up on it again in the spring. I already ordered most of what I need to re-do all the brakes since that's something I can sort out quickly in a few hours right away.
Thanks FFMJBO!