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426 Hemi Dart install #852388
11/13/10 05:09 AM
11/13/10 05:09 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 39
Northern Indiana, U.S.
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senior60 Offline OP
member
senior60  Offline OP
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 39
Northern Indiana, U.S.
Getting ready to put a 426 Hemi in my 69 GTS Dart. Will be useing a motor plate and headmen headers, the car is a 4 speed. I know it will it take some thinking to get it done right.What I need the most information on the manual gear box and master cylinder. Running stock 2x4 manifold I want to keep it under the stock hood. Thanks for any help.

Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: senior60] #852389
11/13/10 07:35 AM
11/13/10 07:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,252
Sebring, Florida
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Mopar Grandpa Offline
top fuel
Mopar Grandpa  Offline
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Sebring, Florida
I did a 68 Barracuda and I don't think you will be able to use off the shelf headers. Mine were custom made by Mike Roth of MR2 Performance (Lebanon, Indiana) as they have to be "snaked around" the gear box, torsion bars, starter, etc. I'd be surprised if any manufacturer had a set that will work. You can use the manual gear box but it will get hot (no big deal)as the header tube will be extremely close to it.

Mike also has the offset plate for your master cylinder which requires a modification to your brake pedal assembly. Mike can do that too.

Some minor modification to your right side shock tower will be required.

I'd be surprised if you can get everything under a stock hood without a scoop unless you are using a very low profile intake and then I would question the clearance between the carbs and hood. There is someone selling a Hemi Dart in the A body section. You might contact him and see what he ran into. My Barracuda is the second ad. Wish you all the best as these Hemi A bodies are a "RUSH" to drive.

Last edited by Mopar Grandpa; 11/13/10 07:42 AM.
Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: Mopar Grandpa] #852390
11/13/10 07:58 AM
11/13/10 07:58 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,252
Sebring, Florida
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Mopar Grandpa Offline
top fuel
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,252
Sebring, Florida
If you're planning to use the stock steering column you may need to notch a portion of it where it comes in contact with the back of the head. I'm using the ICH Legend 1 alum. heads but your application might be a little different. Just a heads up, so to speak.

Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: Mopar Grandpa] #852391
11/13/10 09:41 AM
11/13/10 09:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,801
A collage of whims
topside Offline
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Posts: 20,801
A collage of whims
As I recall, the Hemi A cars had spacers between the frame rails & K member to effectively drop the motor for clearance. They had taller intakes, though. Last I heard Hedman still makes a header for that application, but I would not expect this to be a "drop-in" deal.

Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: topside] #852392
11/13/10 10:45 AM
11/13/10 10:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,607
Pgh, PA
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Bull1tt Offline
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Pgh, PA
I have worked on a couple of these swaps, but both cars were using a custom k-member, coiled over/r&p steering. TTI has a set that bolted right in and have very good ground clearance for use w/coiled front. I can get you hooked with the guy that built the k-member, the Duster has been running this setup for ten years now. Here's a link to the last swap in a Demon:
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=88358

Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: Bull1tt] #852393
11/13/10 01:03 PM
11/13/10 01:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 911
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CrazyD Offline
super stock
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Posts: 911
68 Dart with 1/2 inch spacers and K frame. Hedmans for Hemi A Body hit t-bars, steering linkage, starter, and if pass inner fender is not clearanced they will hit there too. I had the Hedmans modified to clear above areas, ended up 20% Hedman, 80% custom (see attached). If I had to do it over I would just get custom headers built and skip the aggravation. Also you need to cut 2 inches off bottom of steering column tube for better clearance.

6299729-headers.jpg (465 downloads)
Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: Mopar Grandpa] #852394
11/13/10 01:56 PM
11/13/10 01:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,468
So Cal
autoxcuda Offline
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Quote:

... I'd be surprised if any manufacturer had a set that will work. ....




Yet.

The motor plate will help with motor mount clearance, but torsion bar, steering column, steering box, steering linkage... still an issue with what's on the market currently right now.

Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: autoxcuda] #852395
11/13/10 11:50 PM
11/13/10 11:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,125
Benton, IL.
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DaveRS23 Offline
Special needs idiot
DaveRS23  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,125
Benton, IL.
I ran into the same issues with my Hedmans. Go figure. But they discontinued the Hemi A body hedders this year, so no more problems there.

If those heads are taller than stock heads, it will cause you extra problems. My buddy used Indys on his project and they hit big time. You might check on the valve covers too. I think that the new ones from them are notched in the critical area.

Anyway, make sure that the parts that you choose for this project are dimentionally the same as stock pieces or you are in for additional work. Guess how I know.


Master, again and still
Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: DaveRS23] #852396
11/14/10 02:09 PM
11/14/10 02:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,009
Covington Georgia
RV2 Offline
master
RV2  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,009
Covington Georgia
I had problems with the Hedmans and then the external oiling system, I got so frustrated I wound up installing the engine in my 72 road runner.

Re: 426 Hemi Dart install [Re: RV2] #852397
11/14/10 09:20 PM
11/14/10 09:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,125
Benton, IL.
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DaveRS23 Offline
Special needs idiot
DaveRS23  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,125
Benton, IL.
Quote:

I had problems with the Hedmans and then the external oiling system, I got so frustrated I wound up installing the engine in my 72 road runner.




Yes, the external oil inlet about kicked my butt, too. I bet I spent the better part of a week figuring out how I could get it to work and then had to redo it several times. I eventually fabbed a side inlet on the pump. This was one of the most difficult things I have ran into on the entire project.

And that is why I posted earlier that the op needs to check the dimensions on all the parts he wants to use. Because often there is NO room to spare, so a piece even slightly larger than the stock piece may require a lot of additional effort to make work.


Master, again and still






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