'65 Dart build thread
#3116861
01/26/23 09:21 PM
01/26/23 09:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 96 Carson City
Mike@440Source
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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
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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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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,011 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,011
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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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.
Last edited by gregsdart; 01/26/23 09:42 PM.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: '65 Dart build thread
[Re: gregsdart]
#3116916
01/27/23 01:48 AM
01/27/23 01:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,237 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,237
Bend,OR USA
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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 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
Last edited by Cab_Burge; 01/27/23 01:49 AM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: '65 Dart build thread
[Re: Mike@440Source]
#3116948
01/27/23 07:52 AM
01/27/23 07:52 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,011 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 10,011
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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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
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Re: '65 Dart build thread
[Re: Mike@440Source]
#3116949
01/27/23 08:02 AM
01/27/23 08:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,011 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,011
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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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
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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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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 96 Carson City
Mike@440Source
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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
Last edited by Mike@440Source; 01/27/23 12:35 PM.
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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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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 96 Carson City
Mike@440Source
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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
Last edited by Mike@440Source; 01/27/23 01:15 PM.
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Re: '65 Dart build thread
[Re: justinp61]
#3117041
01/27/23 01:14 PM
01/27/23 01:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 96 Carson City
Mike@440Source
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Carson City
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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
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