Sounds like you had good test day despite some of the problems. Car looks very cool! Look forward to seeing your video
Pat

It was a good test day, but I wasn't able to get any work done tonight as I was too tired. So, I'll have to do it tomorrow and really won't get another test day.

Still waiting for my friend to send me the video.

Hey Samy! Oh ok now I see why and how you got those scrapes on your tire! It must have been the hardware that is holding the trim on your car right above the fenderwell?
If the cuts are superficial, I wouldn't worry about it. If they are deep and down to the cords then it is a possible hazard. There is no way to tell how deep those cuts are in the pic. It dosen't look like you lost any air pressure so I hope everything is good!

See you at Willow Springs!

Some of the cuts are pretty deep but none of them are to the cords. I don't think the trim studs are the problem. They barely stick out and heck, the passenger side didn't even have a nut (part of the trim was popped out). I just think the car is rolling too much and machining the tire off of the fender lip. My shocks and sway bars are already as stiff as they'll get so maybe (in a year or so) I may need to bump up T-bars (currently 1.06"). That or get a wheel with a larger offset to move it in more. We'll see in the future. As for now, I banged the inner fender lip with a bfh. It didn't do too much. Maybe flare out the fender a little bit. The passenger side had a chunk of the inner fender lip missing where it was sharp at the break. I took a file to it and smoothed that out. So, hopefully that helps.

I also got some new locking washers and grade 8 bolts to replace the hardware that fell off the exhaust manifold.

As for now, I think that's as good as the Dart is going to get. I'm going to have to play Willow by ear and I don't think the race track will be as detrimental to the tires as autocross is.

Pictures of Driver side. Passenger side is similar but not as banged up at top.

My best autocross pass, I think. I thought my friend's phone filmed in a higher resolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvOZ_kb7CqE&feature=youtu.be

That's what you call "working out the kinks"

And it sounds like a hell of a lot of fun doing it!

It's pretty fun. I wish I could have gotten a little more seat time, but I've been way to busy with school and work and then of course bad stuff happened. I just wish I could have "worked out a couple more kinks."

I am a track junkie, but my track car(s) are mustangs. I'm a hybrid owner, I love mopars and mustangs...

I'd love to have a track-day worthy classic mopar.. I'd love to have an A body to hog out, throw a cage in it, and go crazy on the suspension and drivetrain (lightest and most powerful small block possible)

Basically, that's what I did. Not necessarily very cheap. I'm sure a Mustang would be a lot simpler and cheaper. Lol.

Sorry, I've been lagging. It's been a really long couple of days leading up to Spring Fling and I am beat. Took the Dart through Angeles Crest Highway Wednesday night after a full day of work and school. Pretty fun but took it easy as I was driving an unknown, winding road at night. Plus I had tools in the back. Stayed at a motel that by far had the most uncomfortable sleeping arrangements ever. To think people actually steal pillows from this place.

Got to Willow Springs... Had the driver's meeting, novice school, and went out to race. I only did two run sessions as I didn't want to kill the car and I was machining tires. I spun off course twice at turn 3 during my first session. The second was almost a 3 car pile up but luckily my car rolled off course. That may have been filmed. We'll see if Tim posts it up in a couple of weeks or if it makes it in one of the magazines.

Overall the Dart did great. I did the lunch time drags which was fun. Almost lost to a Ram 3500 because I decided to do an 1/8 mile burnout to make things more interesting. The WOT on the Dart is awesome and she really moves down the straight. Once I hit about 4500 RPM the engine just takes things to a whole new level and kicks you in the butt into overdrive. Basically in 4th gear the car goes from 85... 90... 95... 120!!! I did drag race a Hellcat, he got me slightly off the line and I had to slowly ease into 1st and 2nd so I wouldn't spin the tires. He beat me by a car length or two.

Weight is with 1/4 tank of gas.

Pictures:

http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/muumuu101/library/Spring%20Fling%202017/Thursday

Just an update. The Dart is still going after Spring Fling. I just drive it every weekend or so around town. 2 weeks ago I drove 90 miles round trip to a Cars & Coffee.

Today my friend and I carpooled to another friend's wedding. When we got to my place, I showed him the Dart which he has only seen in pictures. Once he walked into the garage he instantly turned giddy like a child and I had to take him out for a spin. We terrorized the streets for about 15 minutes through the local neighborhood and he had a blast. He said he always wanted a race car experience and he got it.

Before the Dart goes racing again, I need to fix my tire rubbing problems. That's why you haven't heard many racing stories.

sweet!

Well, I did something stupid this morning. I am leaving today on vacation and decided to unhook my battery in the Dart because I don't have a battery tender. Well, stupid me forgot Batteries 101 and started undoing the power side. As I was untightening it, the wrench started to spark. So, naturally, you let go. Then it fell on the battery box connecting it to the power port. I had a Disneyland firework display in my garage. I immediately wacked the wrench with a towel covering my hand. The wrench is toast... literally. I already ordered a new one. The battery box has a small chunk missing. And the power connector is a little black itself. Lesson learned.

Pics of the wrench would be interesting

Ask and you shall receive.

OUCH! that left a mark!

Yep, the wrench is practically useless except for the 12-point side.

Well done! (literally)

Sorry, I kind of left this thread for dead. I've been super busy. Was on vacation for about a week and a half and then I just started another session of school again.

But I drove the Dart today for about 30 mins. I didn't push the car too much because there was traffic on the street. Before I created this thread, I actually used a BFH on the front fenders and the past couple times I've driven it I haven't seen swiss tires on the front. The rears are rubbing on the outer fender (although it didn't happen today). There seems to be a ledge on the inside of the quarter panel and it's catching on that. It's not rubbing the rolled lip. I took a BFH to it and hopefully that helps.

It seems like my short term fix is going to helper springs. My friend has a set that he used on his '72 Charger so that should help with reducing compression. Long-term fix would be offset shackles, that way I can remove my 5mm spacers and relieve some space. Also, I remembered that the 8 3/4 favors the passenger side so there's extra rub there. The offset shackles should center the 8 3/4 in between the wheel wells. So, we'll see. I hope I can fit 275's all around some day. Gotta keep massaging.

I think I have a plan, it's just when to pull the trigger. I want a couple hard runs, possibly through the local hills, to feel out the fronts and rears to see if they're still rubbing after it's bfh treatment. But if I pawn off my MP shackles and buy the Dr Diff shackle, I'll have offset shackles that will accept the aftermarket leaf springs and retain my 1" drop. Not only that, but it will center my 8 3/4 as mine favors the passenger side about 0.25". I was going to also borrow a buddies helper springs he had on his '72 Charger to help reduce compression. On the fronts, while it would be in the shop, I was thinking about upgrading torsion bars to something thicker than the 1.06" bars I have right now.

At that point, I could just remove my rear +5mm spacers and run the car as is. The only problem is I wouldn't really pass tech at any racing events as the front tires are cut up and the rear tires had their sidewalls rubbed away. But I could run the tires as is on the streets and just have fun.

Luckily, when I go to the tire upgrade, I don't think I'll be paying a pretty penny in wheels. I found out Summit still offers the offset I have up front. So, I could just buy 2 wheels for less than $400 and I have all 4 corners matching. The only thing I'm worried about is the section width. The Michelin's on an 18 x 9" are 10.2" wide. The Bridgestone RE-71R's are 10.9" on an 18 x 9.5" wheel. So, I'm hoping by having a wheel that's .5" shorter it would bring the section width down to about 10.6-7". Looking at RimsnTires.com, with my +5mm spacer on the back, I'll be the exact same distance to the fender as I am now and I think I'll be able to clear the springs. The loss in 0.4" in tire height may help me.