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Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
#1194724
03/10/12 10:44 PM
03/10/12 10:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
orange city,FL
Demon340GSS
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
orange city,FL
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Hi guys and gals, Just getting interested in running something more "stock" for a change.. Doing a quick search here for info and did not find much !! I am working on my original big block 68 dart with a 440/auto that still uses the original cast iron big block exhaust manifolds.. Can I still be competitive using these manifolds, As They seem so restrictive just lookin at them!!! I would like to chat with any FAST class racers using big block dart or cuda in this class please, ..As I do not know any one local to me here in this class running a big block A body car.. Am I correct that it needs to look as original as possible ??? ( ie, I cant use headers?) What are your big block darts or cuda's running in the 1/4 thru the stock big block A body manifolds ???. Any one out there doing this? I appreciate your help and info on this please. I have more questions and have done alot to the engine/trans to be safer and "live" in a racing situtaion..,and still look stock, But got alot of work to do though.. It does run&drive now again though... Grant Eaton 1155 6th St, Orange City, FL 32763. 386-561-1181 
Owner of Original collector and restored original mopars from Mr Norms Grand Spaulding Dodge.
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: Demon340GSS]
#1194725
03/10/12 10:50 PM
03/10/12 10:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
orange city,FL
Demon340GSS
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
orange city,FL
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I know it's ugly right now, But the thing will look better after its taken apart to do the body work.
Grant Eaton
Owner of Original collector and restored original mopars from Mr Norms Grand Spaulding Dodge.
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: scatpacktom]
#1194729
03/11/12 04:46 AM
03/11/12 04:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
 Oh Ron
http://www.streetlegaltv.com/features/ca...e-dart-gss-440/
Tom I have to agree with Ron, the 68 GSS was not a factory built car so I don't think it would be FAST legal, it would be like a YENKO and I don't think those cars are legal.
Grant what is your idea of competitive? The top cars in FAST are in the 9's. many are low 10's. A 69 Big Block A body with a single 4 bbl and it's restrictive drivers side exh. manifold will not even be remotely competitive with the top of the class.
But then again I said a 6 pk wedge couldn't get out of the 12's so someone feel free to prove me wrong again ... 
I'll be happy if my 450" 4spd Dart runs into the 11's .
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: JohnRR]
#1194730
03/11/12 10:32 AM
03/11/12 10:32 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,103
Phila Pa
scatpacktom
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,103
Phila Pa
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What do you mean by "not factory built"? They are no different than a Superbird or a Shelby Mustang. These are M code cars, what is the problem? So what they went to a outside vendor, they were delivered to Grand Spaulding as complete cars, not something whipped up in the service bays. Imagine Grand Spaulding converting 50 cars in a little corner car lot. What is the issue John?
"Mr. Norm then managed to convince Chrysler to build 48 (50 by other accounts – logical, as it would qualify the 440 Dart for NHRA) 383/automatic Dart GTSs but without the 383 and tranny installed."
Mr Norm felt the Big Block Dart was "His Baby" and wanted to keep it that way. Chrysler said they were going to sell them to any dealer that wanted one. They finally comprimised and offered him that they would be available to all dealers but they would have to be ordered in batches of fifty. You couldn't just order one. Dealers would try to get them from Grand Spaulding and Norm would tell them to pound sand. If a customer wanted one they would have to buy it from GSD
Last edited by scatpacktom; 03/11/12 10:59 AM.
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: scatpacktom]
#1194731
03/11/12 10:57 AM
03/11/12 10:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,243
Canada
Kam*Kuda
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,243
Canada
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http://www.fastraces.org/members/fastrac...f5!OpenDocumentF.A.S.T. racing is for 1955 to 1974 muscle cars built in United States and Canadian assembly plants. Factory lightweight cars built for sanctioned drag racing and dealership built/modified cars are not eligible to participate. Cars must have been originally equipped with a minimum of four-barrel carburetion, dual exhaust, and other factory installed equipment that promotes a high performance image.
1970 Barracuda Convertible
1968 Satellite Street Strip car
1654.5 Mustang
1955 Land Rover
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: scatpacktom]
#1194737
03/11/12 12:29 PM
03/11/12 12:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,491
Oologah, Oklahoma
Big Squeeze
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,491
Oologah, Oklahoma
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I'm assuming this is the car??? If it is, I've never seen a '68 GTS with the "GT" emblems on the right corner of the trunk lid and the "DART" emblems on the quarter panels ahead of the side marker lights unless it was just a "GT".....but you say; I am working on my original big block 68 dart with a 440/auto that still uses the original cast iron big block exhaust manifolds..
.....I've never heard of an original big block GT Dart.......  What am I missing??? Is the car in this pic a real "M" code?? From the looks of it, it appears to be a '68 GT with a GTS hood......  If you're building a clone anyway and to avoid all this "is it legal" BS, just build it as a low deck and put 383 badges on it......  
If you can't handle the truth, you're living a lie.......
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: scatpacktom]
#1194739
03/11/12 01:31 PM
03/11/12 01:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
orange city,FL
Demon340GSS
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
orange city,FL
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I am learning alot of things from some of you, So Thankyou to all of you.. I dont know is F.A.S.T is the right class, Or should I be looking for Pure Stock now? What the differences? I just thought it would be nice to race it in fast/pure stock and understand that they only have a limited number of races each year. Seems to me that a 440 dart would kick ass if done right? Some have asked how fast I wanted it to go? .. Honestly think I can make it run consistantly low 12's (with a gear change) low 13's just as it sits ! Even the stock class cars that Landy and the like ran Wayyy back then where down in the 11's with headers and small slicks. It is no "cream puff" right now. Needs an original brake master cylinder with the bolt on lid. The emblems /mirrors on it where swapped by the guy that had it before me ( a chevy guy) with ones off a much earlier 60's dodge dart and so we got new correct ones. It came with stripes and white interior, But has been partially repainted at some time. It has some 72 dart stuff on it now I found out (ie, headliner & back seat) The holes for the original gss emblems are still there, but missing the emblems, so I got some new ones for that. it has the 440 emblems from a 69 dart 440 emblems in the hood, in place of the gts ones, So I gotta get the right ones.. I has a adjustable pinion snubber on it, Big drum brakes all around. 3.91's and a spool. I got alot to do to it as you all can see! I am just wanting to know from some of the fast class guys what I can and cannot get away with running a big block dart. Again, Thankyou. Grant Eaton 1155 6th St Orange City, FL 32763 PH 386-561-1181.
Owner of Original collector and restored original mopars from Mr Norms Grand Spaulding Dodge.
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: Demon340GSS]
#1194741
03/11/12 01:52 PM
03/11/12 01:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,142
Central New York
slippery440
Crybaby440
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Crybaby440
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,142
Central New York
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Quote:
I am learning alot of things from some of you, So Thankyou to all of you..
I dont know is F.A.S.T is the right class, Or should I be looking for Pure Stock now? What the differences?
I just thought it would be nice to race it in fast/pure stock and understand that they only have a limited number of races each year.
Seems to me that a 440 dart would kick ass if done right?
Some have asked how fast I wanted it to go?
.. Honestly think I can make it run consistantly low 12's (with a gear change)
low 13's just as it sits !
Even the stock class cars that Landy and the like ran Wayyy back then where down in the 11's with headers and small slicks.
It is no "cream puff" right now.
Needs an original brake master cylinder with the bolt on lid.
The emblems /mirrors on it where swapped by the guy that had it before me ( a chevy guy) with ones off a much earlier 60's dodge dart and so we got new correct ones.
It came with stripes and white interior, But has been partially repainted at some time. It has some 72 dart stuff on it now I found out (ie, headliner & back seat)
The holes for the original gss emblems are still there, but missing the emblems, so I got some new ones for that. it has the 440 emblems from a 69 dart 440 emblems in the hood, in place of the gts ones, So I gotta get the right ones..
I has a adjustable pinion snubber on it, Big drum brakes all around. 3.91's and a spool.
I got alot to do to it as you all can see!
I am just wanting to know from some of the fast class guys what I can and cannot get away with running a big block dart.
Again, Thankyou.
Grant Eaton
1155 6th St
Orange City, FL 32763
PH 386-561-1181.
You seam like a nice guy. So here is the deal. Take your car and do with it as you like.This numbers game is only for anle people that have a bunch of money that either can buy a numbers matching car or have some else build it. If you have thousands of dollars and build that car. In the end it will be just a clone worth no more than a 318 Dart the same year. Here is my Build the car the way you want. Make it very streetable but with a little kick for the drag strip. Go have fun driving it and go to the drag strip once in awhile.Leave all these other guys to the garage driven numbers matching cars. 
If the MODS did their job I would not be hitting the notify MOD button. LOL
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: Demon340GSS]
#1194742
03/11/12 01:59 PM
03/11/12 01:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,491
Oologah, Oklahoma
Big Squeeze
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,491
Oologah, Oklahoma
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Quote:
I dont know if F.A.S.T is the right class, Or should I be looking for Pure Stock now? What the differences?
Pure Stock is basically just that.......The cars are supposed to be 100% pure stock with only blue printing to the engines, but there's a LOT of Creative Interpretation of the rules going on.....There are cars in the mid to low 11's now on bias tires..... 
Basically FAST cars should be able to pass the visual tech of Pure Stock cars, but they're allowed to modify the insides of the engines while using all the Pure Stock parts........so you can bore and stroke them, port the heads and intake, use any camshaft as long as it sounds stock, modify the carburetor.......That's the gist of it......
If you can't handle the truth, you're living a lie.......
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Re: Are there any Big Block 440 dart F.A.S.T. racers here?
[Re: scatpacktom]
#1194743
03/11/12 03:18 PM
03/11/12 03:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,008
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
What do you mean by "not factory built"? They are no different than a Superbird or a Shelby Mustang. These are M code cars, what is the problem? So what they went to a outside vendor, they were delivered to Grand Spaulding as complete cars, not something whipped up in the service bays. Imagine Grand Spaulding converting 50 cars in a little corner car lot. What is the issue John?
"Mr. Norm then managed to convince Chrysler to build 48 (50 by other accounts – logical, as it would qualify the 440 Dart for NHRA) 383/automatic Dart GTSs but without the 383 and tranny installed."
Mr Norm felt the Big Block Dart was "His Baby" and wanted to keep it that way. Chrysler said they were going to sell them to any dealer that wanted one. They finally comprimised and offered him that they would be available to all dealers but they would have to be ordered in batches of fifty. You couldn't just order one. Dealers would try to get them from Grand Spaulding and Norm would tell them to pound sand. If a customer wanted one they would have to buy it from GSD
Tom I am asking the question because I really know very little about these cars other than they do exist . I know that Norm had a big hand in both a big block ending up in an A body and a 440 going into it also , but that where it ends.
What did they use for exhaust manifolds on these 68 or did hurst stick the fenderwell headers on them? If it's the headers then they will not pass for FAST and that you know.
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Ron
