After about 4 months of searching and proscratinating long enough that someone else bought cars I was looking at, I finally took delivery yesterday of a 64 Dodge Dart 270. The 879 mile trip home from Florida to Virginia went quite smoothly with one or two minor exceptions. Right away I noticed the brake pedal was very hard. By that I mean after what seemed like 1/4" of slack, it became solid. Maybe I have simply grown accustomed to power assisted disc brakes, etc., some something seems amiss. The car stops, but I feel it takes too much effort to do that. My service manual suggests: (a) incorrect brake lining; (b) incorrect brake adjustment; (c) frozen brake pedal linkage; or (d) restricted brake line or hose.

The previous owner kept very detailed records of maintenance he had performed on the car. It showed the brake shoes and related hardware were replaced about 3000 miles ago. I'm waiting to talk with him about the hard pedal issue to see if it started after his brake job or before.

I'm inclined to think I should focus my attention on adjusting the brakes and see where that goes. What do you think?

I'm assuming that statement means this car has manual brakes by the way you worded it. What you describe is quite normal for a manual brake car. Infact - in your power brake car, turn the engine off. Pump the pedal a few times to bleed off any vacuum left in the booster, then your pedal should feel like your manual brake Dart.

It's like coffee, beer, or manual steering - an acquired taste. Once you get used to the travel and effort required, a power brake pedal will feel like it sinks to the floor before you can stop the car.