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]

Yes, it comes with an adapter for that too.

 

[Maniak]

Yes, it comes with an adapter for that too.

Don't lose it.. I lost it even before I pulled the X off the lift when I put the trans in..

~Mark

 

[Rick]

:smoke:

The replacement window came today and I didn't break it while putting it in

There was actually algae or moss growing on this "new window"on the section that stays hidden inside the door I'm just glad I was able to find one so quickly.

 

[Rick]

Took a picture of the first Dart sitting lonely in the yard the other night.

 

[Rick]

Made some good progress today! Filled the motor with oil, primed the pump to ensure oil is getting up to the rockers and that it's building pressure, and popped the puppy in

 

[Rick]

..

 

[RangerX]

Hey when did the motor come in??? Last I saw mentioned, there was some delay...

 

[section525]

I bet it was scary getting it in there by yourself!

So, it'll be running by the weekend?

 

[Rick]

I picked up the motor this last weekend. They were just waiting on the correct length pushrods.

It was scary putting it in myself That's obviously why I used the blankets and towels. I just took it real slow and checked all around as I went. I managed to get her in without any chips or scratches

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ANBOUT!!!!!!! Hell yeah. Can't wait for the video of the first start.

 

[Turdle]

Oh Baby that is one fine looking engine bay. Good job Rick.

 

[Cobraguy]

I chuckle Rick. You are so careful not to scratch anything in the engine bay. And the first time you have to tear it apart to fix it before the final round, none of that will matter. Once the first scratch is in it, all bets are off!

 

[Rick]

Once the first scratch is in it, all bets are off!

Nah, once ten scratches are in it all bets are off The idea is to prolong that for as long as possible

 

[Maniak]

Nah, once ten scratches are in it all bets are off The idea is to prolong that for as long as possible

You mean like how the Pumpkin was once you got it all nice and shiny and Orange?

~Mark

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

I remember where and when I got the first scratch on my newly bodied and painted(red) Explorer. It was just in front of the right tail light, on Hell's Gate.

 

[Rick]

You mean like how the Pumpkin was once you got it all nice and shiny and Orange?

~Mark

Exactly... I continued to wash and wax the Explorer for many years after it got scratched, scraped, dented, etc... It took a lot before I ever stopped babying it:exporange

 

[Rick]

I remember where and when I got the first scratch on my newly bodied and painted(red) Explorer. It was just in front of the right tail light, on Hell's Gate.

That must have been the second

The first was the first time I took it to Truck Haven after the paint job. It was on the left side over the fuel filler door. Now I must have a half dozen scrapes in the same spot. People ask where I did that and I reply "which time".

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Exactly... I continued to wash and wax the Explorer for many years after it got scratched, scraped, dented, etc... It took a lot before I ever stopped babying it:exporange

Yeah, it was called 1970 MOPAR.

 

[Stic-o]

Exactly... I continued to wash and wax the Explorer for many years after it got scratched, scraped, dented, etc... It took a lot before I ever stopped babying it:exporange

This is why I painted my truck myself, there is no reason to put a expensive paint job on a rock crawler

Putting a motor in with 2 people can be scary, 1 just takes it to a new level good job though

 

[Rick]

Yeah, it was called 1970 MOPAR.

Nah, the neglect started before the Dart...