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'65 Dart build thread #3116861
01/26/23 09:21 PM
01/26/23 09:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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This thread could take a while and it has taken a long time just to get to this point for many of the same reasons that affect every enthusiast (work, kids, etc.) I figure that if I post a few pics it'll help keep me motivated.

I was in the market back in 2014 for something fun to build on the cheap with my three boys. I had a pile of Chevy parts in the garage I could have used, but I couldn't find anything that grabbed my attention. I looked at a few Pontiacs as well, but what I found was more project than I needed. Then I thought, "Why not a Dart or Duster, Scamp, etc?", and since I had a Ram 2500 at that time, the decision became a little easier.
What was really going on in my head was worrying about being the best father I could be, and making life seem a little bit more "normal", teaching them and spending time with them that I never got with my dad. We lost my wife at the end of 2012 before I got home from Afghanistan, and my dad was nine weeks before her.
Sometimes having something to occupy your time acts like a magnet to compensate for loss. There was also plenty of construction happening on the house we had just moved into 6 months before Kris passed, but this isn't a construction page, so...here is the beginning of our story.

Mike

Dart pickup.jpgDart pickup2.jpgDart pickup3.jpg
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116862
01/26/23 09:26 PM
01/26/23 09:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,149
Park Forest, IL
slantzilla Offline
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Sounds like an awesome project!


"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116865
01/26/23 09:36 PM
01/26/23 09:36 PM
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Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Online content
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Mike, good luck with it! I will attempt to post pics of my 65s both of them. I still have the orange race 65
The orange car was in Mopar Muscle june 2002 issue, titled NORTHLAND FLYER. The rear axle is moved forward six inches for weight transfer, currently have an aluminum block 550 cube motor making 960 hp. The blue one i built to go to shows with my car show buddies. It got a 504 hp 408 stroker. IMHO the best wat to build these early darts is 904(899) auto behind a 360 , a stroked 318 or a magnum 5.9.

Dart pics + others 106.jpgphone pics 017.jpgAB6hycxtKkfhW-6f0SA6W_5ni-M5ltcN_Sll--goUa2xiJp90eDJKHk6baRD-TI4PqIZbspLVficQM65EgABaS5P6MVWx2OBrl5tzxjLri1RBAh17iSSzIDn8hzA1_6cDA--.jpg
Last edited by gregsdart; 01/26/23 09:42 PM.

8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: gregsdart] #3116916
01/27/23 01:48 AM
01/27/23 01:48 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
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Bend,OR USA
My new (1965 Dart 270 hardtop) heads up no prep car is under construction and I'm hoping it will look as good as either one of your guys cars when done luck
It is currently certed to 7;50 ET and I'm hoping it will run mid to low 4 in the 1/8 at or above 180 MPH when completed, it is less than halfway done now realcrazy

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 01/27/23 01:49 AM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: slantzilla] #3116917
01/27/23 01:49 AM
01/27/23 01:49 AM
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Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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Originally Posted by slantzilla
Sounds like an awesome project!

Thank you

Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: gregsdart] #3116919
01/27/23 01:54 AM
01/27/23 01:54 AM
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Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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Greg,
I dig both of them. What are you running for rubber under the orange car?

Mike

Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116921
01/27/23 02:29 AM
01/27/23 02:29 AM
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Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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Cutting for the spring relocation kit I purchased from
Mancini. This happened a while ago.
I boxed in the end of the frame rail and drilled the end of the spring pocket to plug weld it, adding additional shear strength.

625B0F05-39B6-40F5-9C99-4D7F4AD816DE.jpegA801C5CD-0687-4D61-BE4B-EB93F76EDF45.jpeg
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116948
01/27/23 07:52 AM
01/27/23 07:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,963
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Online content
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Originally Posted by Mike@440Source
Greg,
I dig both of them. What are you running for rubber under the orange car?

Mike

Biggest i can get under the car is a 33x15x15 Goodyear 2078 stiff sidewall. Those tires have a section wideth of 17.8, and are within 1/2 inch each side. I recomend doing your best to leave a little extra room as they are a beach to get iff the car. I have to deflate the tires and wrestle with them to clear the outer fender.


8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116949
01/27/23 08:02 AM
01/27/23 08:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,963
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Online content
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[quote=Mike@440Source]Cutting for the spring relocation kit I purchased from
Mancini. This happened a while ago.
I boxed in the end of the frame rail and drilled the end of the spring pocket to plug weld it, adding additional shear strength. [/quote
Mike, i put my rolacation boxes in as high as possible and still the car sat way too high with mopar ss springs. The top holes for the front spring eye were placed as high as possible also. So a test fit would be a good idea. Rear sliders will help, but i wound up using spacers between the springs and axle tube to get my car to factory hieght.


8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116956
01/27/23 09:16 AM
01/27/23 09:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,678
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline
I Live Here
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Nice looking little car.

How much tire will fit under the early Darts once mini tubbed?

Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: justinp61] #3116964
01/27/23 09:58 AM
01/27/23 09:58 AM
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Posts: 4,003
Shelby Twp. Mi
HardcoreB Offline
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Hello and welcome here!

Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3116966
01/27/23 10:02 AM
01/27/23 10:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,963
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Online content
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I didn't mention the orange car has a full chassis for racing.

Dart pics + others 127.jpg

8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3117012
01/27/23 12:14 PM
01/27/23 12:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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I measured at multiple points to get this thing square. It’s not a race car build, so I didn’t want to back-half the car.
That could change, but it’s staying on leafs for now. I purchased two sets of springs over the course of a couple of years
So I’ll see where the ride height ends up. If I don’t like it, it’ll get changed.

Mike

3D474F37-6D46-4F06-9604-7BC3274ED516.jpeg8A04F87B-0346-4B8B-AB52-F27F24EBFFBF.jpegCED9D141-6CB5-4E07-BC8F-DDE289867E32.jpeg645981A2-D50B-45C3-83DA-C1BF595C7F28.jpeg
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3117018
01/27/23 12:29 PM
01/27/23 12:29 PM
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Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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I chose a Moser 9” for the rear since I already had a set of Wilwoods on the shelf.
Shane at Moser Engineering was great to work with. I went with the early Edsel-style
round-back center section so it would “kinda” look like a 8 3/4” at a glance, mostly because
I didn’t want to hear any grief from the Mopurists.
It didn’t cost any extra $ to go with 35 spline axles, so that was an easy choice.
Note: still 1 3/8” Mopar offset.

Mike

C46E333A-E2D8-4EA3-A371-2ADC2671BB76.jpegD4A172BB-8D3E-406E-AD8F-85469B086841.jpegA3AFE0ED-30C1-4606-B683-0A5CC0CF5947.jpeg6579FFA4-896B-4210-AA1B-779979DC20C3.jpeg
Last edited by Mike@440Source; 01/27/23 12:35 PM.
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3117024
01/27/23 12:40 PM
01/27/23 12:40 PM
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Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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I chose Weld Rodlites for the somewhat old-school look, and I thought the oblong holes played off the shape of the tail lights.
295/55-15 Mickeys on 15x10’s, 4.5 backspace IIRC…
I did change the studs in the axles to 3"

Mike

716CF674-F06A-4724-A78F-BD80E1EDED7A.jpeg
Last edited by Mike@440Source; 01/27/23 01:15 PM.
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: justinp61] #3117041
01/27/23 01:14 PM
01/27/23 01:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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Originally Posted by justinp61
Nice looking little car.

How much tire will fit under the early Darts once mini tubbed?


This one has 295/55-15 Mickeys in the back; the axle is 52" flange to flange including the discs. I may be able to cram 315's under it, but it will be tight and didn't want any rubbing.

Mike

Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3117059
01/27/23 01:54 PM
01/27/23 01:54 PM
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Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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I haven't rolled the fender lip yet, but clearance for the tire should be about equal inboard and out.

Dart wheels4.jpgDart wheels3.jpgDart wheels2.jpg
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3117069
01/27/23 02:08 PM
01/27/23 02:08 PM
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Posts: 94
Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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I struggled for a while with making a decision on the fuel system and, initially, I wanted to keep the stock tank. Safety, clearance issues, and new products on the market since I started the build
made that decision for me.

Dart wheels4.jpg
Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: Mike@440Source] #3117081
01/27/23 02:34 PM
01/27/23 02:34 PM
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north of coder
moparx Offline
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nice build. up
beer

Re: '65 Dart build thread [Re: moparx] #3117085
01/27/23 02:59 PM
01/27/23 02:59 PM
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Carson City
Mike@440Source Offline OP
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Originally Posted by moparx
nice build. up
beer


Thank you Bob.

Mike

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