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]

I had to cut the windows to size and build the frame. The windows are nearly $300 a pair Needless to say that made cutting and drilling into them very nerve racking. So far, so good

 

[sparksafly'n]

Rick that car is beautful man. You've been busy these last 9 months!!! waiting for the start up vid myself!!

 

[Rick]

Got bit twice today... First off the new 24" tires still hit the tubes Barely, but they touch right at full lock. I'm thinking of putting in steering stops.

I finished both lexan windows and they fit great. The last step was to paint a black border around the windows as it's pretty much a standard thing on drag cars. Not sure why, but they all do it.

So, I went to the local hobby shop and picked up some black paint for polycarbonate material. I cleaned the lexan masked off the border and sprayed away. When I lifted the tape the paint came with it The stuff didn't stick at all. I thought I might have ruined the lexan. Thankfully that wasn't the case. All I had to do to completely remove the paint was to press some tape down over it, rub it in and peel. The paint lifted in perfect strips.

Turns out this lexan has a mar resistant coating on it which must come off or the paint won't adhere. Would have been nice if they dropped a note in with the windows when they shipped them. I haven't decided whether to count my blessing and run them clear, or risk scuffing and repainting them. My fear is that I won't remove all of the coating and I will be left with some spots that lift, and others that are well adhered.

It ain't easy building a hotrod. There's always something...

 

[BrooklynBay]

Try using some window tint film instead of paint.

 

[rookieshooter]

Looks good, but can't understand why the Lexan is so expensive. That is what I got for a removable window in the back of my Bronco and it was cheap (4+ years ago). But the cool thing, is that you can even bend it on a 90 deg bend with a sheet metal brake if for some reason you have to. I did that on mine to strengthen them where the rear window folds in half for storage. I butted both 90 deg. bends together and installed a piano hinge.
Not that you may have to, but nice to know. I also got the smoked color Lexan.
Keep up the great work.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Stop farting around with the windows a fire that thing up!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rick]

Try using some window tint film instead of paint.

Tint doesn't work well with lexan. The lexan out gasses and leaves bubbles between the surfaces. After that you can't get the tint off without screwing up the lexan.

Stop farting around with the windows a fire that thing up!!!!!!!!!!!!

In case you haven't noticed I'm not rushing through this. When it's ready it's ready... :

 

[Rick]

Before and after. Not quite all the way "after" yet, but damn close

 

[BrooklynBay]

I made a Lexan rear window on my 88 van, and it turned yellow after a few years. Does your Lexan window have something in its coating to prevent this from happening?

 

[techieman33]

I wouldn't think the tires rubbing a full lock would be much of a problem since it's not going to see the street.

 

[Dannyboy]

Before and after. Not quite all the way "after" yet, but damn close

ummmm. seeing this thing a few times in the build, I never could visualize the final image, it's amazing Rick.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

I know your rushing through this, but when your out looking for fuel, that means it's gonna be soon Just excited to hear it run

 

[Rick]

Quarter windows are done, but kind of screwed up When I removed the black paint with tape, it lifted the mar resistant coating in a few spots. I'm leaving them all clear and just running it like that. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Is the reasoning for painting them black to hide the mounting bracetry?

 

[Turdle]

Is the reasoning for painting them black to hide the mounting bracetry?

If it is, then don't bother. I like the way it is

 

[Rick]

Is the reasoning for painting them black to hide the mounting bracetry?

Yep, 99% of the guys with lexan paint the borders.

 

[BrooklynBay]

It looks good the way it is.

 

[Dannyboy]

Yep, 99% of the guys with lexan paint the borders.

maybe try herculiner, I heard that will stick to anything.

 

[Rick]

LOL! Yeah, I've heard that too!!

 

[Rick]

REALLY close to startup... I turned the car around in the garage for the first time in years!! Dang, this thing is long! There's barely any room to walk around it.

Just might be starting it this weekend