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.

 

[Cobraguy]

There was some seriously good air Sunday.

 

[Rick]

It was a great day that's for sure. On the way home from the track I reminded Char that the reason I moved to AZ in 1984 was for the ability to race year round

 

[BKennedy]

Why don't they make drag cars with more front wheel travel so you never lose steering?

I think front suspensions on drag cars are very tight with restricted wheel travel so they can control them at the rapid, high speeds.
Think of your Explorer going down the track at 126MPH :roll:

 

[Rick]

I think front suspensions on drag cars are very tight with restricted wheel travel so they can control them at the rapid, high speeds.
Think of your Explorer going down the track at 126MPH :roll:

I was a passenger in this thing at 120 mph. Steering it was no problem.... on the dirt

 

[BKennedy]

I was a passenger in this thing at 120 mph. Steering it was no problem.... on the dirt

This going to be your next project??

 

[Rick]

This going to be your next project??

I've actually thought about what kind of offroad vehicle I could slam my 512 into Maybe a Dodge Dart desert car

 

[ford99_1979]

I was just reading about this in my Hot Rod magazine. This is the style you speak of?

 

[BKennedy]

I've actually thought about what kind of offroad vehicle I could slam my 512 into Maybe a Dodge Dart desert car

I was just reading about this in my Hot Rod magazine. This is the style you speak of?

OK, new project for Rick. Make a Dart off road racer kind of like this 442, then you could put a twin 512 in that. I bet that handles pretty good. Think about it!!:

 

[Turdle]

Yeah, it wouldn't need to be perfect like you did your dart. No real reason to match body lines and stuff like that.

 

[Rick]

OK, new project for Rick. Make a Dart off road racer kind of like this 442, then you could put a twin 512 in that. I bet that handles pretty good. Think about it!!:

I've been thinking of just this thing since I started my Dart project

Specs...

Full tube chassis with long travel suspension, drop a Dart body on it, drop the 512 in it, and tear it up!!!

 

[Rick]

BTW, don't be holding your breath waiting for this

 

[JDraper]

I've actually thought about what kind of offroad vehicle I could slam my 512 into Maybe a Dodge Dart desert car

Don't you still have that other Dart body?

 

[Rick]

Don't you still have that other Dart body?

Both quarter panels are completely shot.

 

[Scott B.]

Both quarter panels are completely shot.

They make weld-on aftermarket ones, you know...

 

[JDraper]

Both quarter panels are completely shot.

Who cares if you're wheelin....:

 

[Rick]

Gotta start with it nice, then beat it to death

 

[mitgib]

It was a great day that's for sure. On the way home from the track I reminded Char that the reason I moved to AZ in 1984 was for the ability to race year round

So only 27 years to take advantage of it?

 

[Rick]

You know that I haven't been deprived for toys at any point since. Just deprived of a race car.

My V65 and 750 Turbo were both very quick... They satisfied my need for speed until I decided to go the other way and build a slow rollin' rock crawler:exporange

 

[Rick]

Man, this car has been incredibly consistent! It's the driver that needs help

I made 5 passes last night and ran three 10.49s!! The first pass of the night was a 10.54. The first pass is always a bit slower since the fluids in the diff and tranny haven't come up to temp yet.

My worst pass, a 10.74 happened when I started out in 2nd gear!! I got flustered when I did my burnout, and had to kill the engine and wait for the track crew to check the track after an oil down ahead of me. I had to go back do another burnout, and just wasn't concentrating on what I was doing. I launched, pulled the shifter once, and tried it again to hit third, but I was already in third!!

 

[techieman33]

Thats great, and I'm sure more consistency from the driver will come with time as you get more and more comfortable with the car.