My latest project: 1970 Dodge Dart 512 C.I. Bracket Racer

Some of you may remember that I used to have a 1972 Dodge Dart which I drag raced.

Well, I got the itch to get back into racing Our new house is only 3 miles from the Speedworld racetrack and I can faintly hear them running the cars from our house. It was just too much for me to bare I haven't been doing much in the way of local fourwheeling, so I thought drag racing would give me something to do on the weekends.

A couple weeks ago I bought a 1970 Dodge Dart off of E-bay. The car was located in New Jersey, a mere 2500 miles from home I decided this was the right car for me mainly because I really needed to get out of the house on my own for a couple weeks and this was just the excuse I needed

The car is going to be stripped and repainted. It will get new quarter panels, at least one rocker, one floorpan, new door hinges, fiberglass hood, bumpers, and most likely trunk lid as well.

The new color will most likely be orange, but it just may end up being red, like my old one. Plans for it include a 650HP, 512 CI, big block Mopar and an automatic transmission. I'm just not sure if it will be from BB or SB or whether or not it will even be a Mopar I plan on ditching the torsion bar front suspension for an aftermarket K member which gives you rack and pinion steering, upgraded brakes, and the choice of coilover shocks or airbag suspension.

The rear end in the car right now is a trussed Mopar 8 3/4", with a three link suspension and coilovers.

 

[Rick]

Really is a great looking ride! Well done

What’s next?

Getting the Pumpkin back in shape is a high priority.

 

[Rick]

Had a bit of a scare today. I went for a ride to the end of our main road where I can do some testing with the car. I launched the car from a dead stop, hit 2nd gear and then my low fuel pressure warning came on. The fuel pump wasn't running and I couldn't figure out why. After checking connections at the pump, pump controller, and fuse box I was about to call it quits and get someone to tow me home with a strap. Then I decided to check the connections on the fuel pump relay.

The relay was the issue. The trigger wire had come loose from the terminal. The spade connector wasn't as tight as it should have been and after launching the car many times it finally came loose. The connector was in line with the direction of travel, so every time I would get on it, it would tug slightly at that connector.

Pheww.. Glad it was a quick fix on the side of the road and that it happened on a nice cool day.

 

[Turdle]

It's the small things.

High of 82 today, temp dropping fast. It'll be 20 degrees or less overnight, after 3 days of record temps. How's that for a cool day?

 

[vroomzoomboom]

How's that for a cool day?

hold my beercicle

the snow was melting here on Saturday......

 

[BrooklynBay]

I've been using solid state relays for a few years. Sometimes I'll use a high current solenoid style relay, but even these have solid state counter parts. It might be worth looking into if you want to upgrade all of the mechanical relays.

 

[Josh P]

Amazing how something simple can cause a world of problems. It has been cool lately. I was in Florida for 2 weeks and it actually felt cold at night instead of warm humidity.

 

[Rick]

It's the small things.

High of 82 today, temp dropping fast. It'll be 20 degrees or less overnight, after 3 days of record temps. How's that for a cool day?

Friends in the Chicago area are complaining about the sudden 50 degree drop in temperature. Crazy stuff...

 

[410Fortune]

Up to 10’ of snow expected in parts of the sierra nevadas, yikes

Seems to be a spring trend last few seasons. We have had a very wet and grey “spring” after a very mild winter. Now I have about 4” of slush on the road with another 5” expected tomorrow. I am not complaining we need the moisture!!

 

[BKennedy]

The deserts will be beautiful in about a month

 

[429CJ-3X2]

We went from a record 78 Monday afternoon in central Iowa to a low of 9, I think, early Wednesday. Other than Wednesday, the temps have been above normal, but it's been windy. Supposed to be around 80 tomorrow before it gradually cools to more normal temps.