Winter upgrade plans, what are you guys( and gals) doing

I just bought a very nice Cope built 904 for my Dart. Will buy driveshaft and convertor to complete the swap from the 727 over the winter.
Also going to paint and install a hemi Dart hood and remove the flat hood without scoop on the car currently.
I might be a bit too high on expectations, but my hope is these changes might get this thing to dip into the 10's in good air.
The current convertor is way off from where it should be. I have whittled 8 tenths in ET off this thing this season, and the 60 has remained identical. So my hope is i am leaving a TON on the table on the convertor front alone.
Also having this hillbilly cage cut out the rest of the way and a proper 8 point installed.

One more outing left this week( not going to be good air) then season is over for me

Aren't you going to the Halloween Classic

Own a business. Can only go to some, not all. Norwalk for the Classic is my 4 days of playing hooky.
We are gone all of January, thats becone more important to me than racing at this point in my life.... lol

Getting your HIP fixed should be your biggest upgrade screw all the rest of the stuff

Your car should like the 904, mine did. I changed from a 727 to a low gear 904 and it picked up 3mph in the 1/8th. The scoop will help too, especially if you seal it off with an air box. I have another low gear set cheap if you’re in the market.

This winter’s projects for me are to lose another 100 - 150 lbs, and focus on the rear suspension. Move the springs mounts into the frame rails, install 25” front spring segments, mount the shocks straight up (maybe move to the front of the axle), and sliders.

Cheers.

Working on losing 25-30 lbs, already down 10. Newest in my checklist is to get a new set of pistons. Hopefully, make some serious headway with the rest of the car.

I'll be working as many hours as I can get at work. Have paint supplies, a couple wanted items to buy for the car, and would like to get a HANS device.

I think you'll really like that 904. A833 will always be my favorite Mopar transmission but the 904 in our Dart kicks ass.

Husband has already started body work on the '65 Dart in preparation for paint next year. It's going to look absolutely horrible for the Halloween Classic but oh well, I'm still racing it. LOL.

Still debating whether to go with a flat hood or a hoodscoop.

And the Edelbrock heads will get some porting done, they haven't been touched yet.

And next week we're trying a 950 Holley on it and see if it likes it better than the 750.

This Winter, I plan top get the car on the scale and go from there.

I have a few projects for the winter, I am not sure how many will get done.

Finish my Dana Swap(just need to get off my rear and put it in)

I am swapping to a Tunnel Ram with Dual 1000CFM Throttle bodies, I have a Holley Pro Dominator W2 tunnel ram being converted over to EFI as we speak.

Possible swap to a 904 or low gear 904 from 727

Hood Change, lose the heavy stock hood in favor of a six pack scoop. Suprisngly the tunnel ram would work with the stock hood but it would not have room for an air cleaner and I need that fresh air intake. The tunnel ram is coming first, I am not above driving around with no hood lol.

Install Flex Fuel sensor and maybe try E85

I had the intake off to inspect the lifters so I mocked up the tunnel ram before sending it off.

EDIT, I do not know why the pics I upload show up sideways? At least it shows up that way on my end.

Lost my mind and bought the Buzzin' Half Duzzin' car from Mike Jeffrey on his retirement sale. I pick it up next spring. Have everything to put it back together. It's been sitting 10 years, what can possibly go wrong?

Got any pictures of her. What has it run before?

Are the Cox brothers still around?

Finally wking on my Cuda again. The 30 yr old cage is being removed and replaced. Have a new tubular kframe to install and hopefully get one of my old short blocks back together. No real rush as I have my wagon to play with for now.

I may have some pics on my home computer.

Mike had it running consistant 10:50's on spray, best was 10:05. I plan on putting it together as just a nice, reliable, slow Pro bracket car running mid 12's or so.

The Cox boys are still kicking, but they haven't really raced since they crashed tbeir '66 at the Nats years ago.

I’m low on funds this year, but my plans are a 6pt roll bar (currently a no-bar car) and reinforce the torque box area. Hopefully I can find enough with tuning the existing combo to offset the added weight and be right back where I was last year performance wise, but have the car set up to handle more punch in the future.

Pull weight out and change converter.

Converter adjustment. Maybe go through the trans. Try and shave 150-200 pounds off the car.

I already did the hood swap on the challenger due to a little mishap @ Milan. I was thinking about a cam upgrade But I picked up a more door Dart so I'll be working on that.
Install my old 340 with a 904, the car is a pushbutton car so I'm looking to keep that if I can find a v-8 pb 904. It also needs a rear axle swap, 8 3/4. Frame connectors. Oh yea and change the bench seat to buckets.

Wife want the car ready for spring, I think I have my hands full

My plans are to finish car so it is ready by January.
Finish updating roll cage and get it recerted 25.1G.
Finish bodywork and paint cage and body.
Setup car for my BBC and glide combo, was setup for hemi.
Build headers for BBC.
Add all wiring and plumbing.
Finish wheelie bars.
Setup 4 link.
I'm planning on it being done by January, but might not be done until MATS.

Looking for sponsors.

I'm looking into getting a Dana for my Cuda, and finish the 69 Valiant, drive it around, maybe take it to the track on a street legal day, should run around 12.0 or so I'm guessing...maybe faster.
I'm kicking around going to the Zip-Tie Drags in Arizona in January.

Sweet, slantzilla

I'm just getting it done now, haven't drove it yet, but think it should run close to that, 408 w/RHS heads, 10-1, solid lifter .542/.556 cam, LD340, 780 Holley, has a A500 (has a low first), 3.73 rear, Calvert Suspension, drag radials.
Apparently my pics are too large to load here, just had it painted B5 blue, ProStars, black interior, bench with column shift.

New valve springs and retainers, plus I think I have my head wrapped around how to sort out my valvetrain deflection/pushrod length situation. I'm giving up a lot of net lift due to bad geometry. Plus, if anyone here has some old Crane 1.6 rockers for a small block that they're not using, PM me.
I'm also refreshing the convertor. After the last freshening, it launched the car really well at first, but now it no longer flashes to the needed 4500-5000 rpm my heap desperately needs. (TCS 8") To top it off, after finding out the limitations of my mini-spool behind a a trans brake with new slicks (Yes, Virginia a small-block actually CAN completely destroy every part of a 9" if you really try.), I need every part of a 9" that exists between the end of the driveshaft and the wheels, except for the driveshaft yoke and the housing. Well, not every part. I don't need new nuts for the center section studs.

Fresh Lenny converter, fresh trans. Pulling the motor next week, to stick it back on the pump to see what's wrong. New fuel pump. Retirement next May, want to hit it with new stuff!

Nothing for me. I am low on play money as always and I am just glad to have my car together and running fine. And I should be in Mopar Muscle mag sometime in the next 6 to 8 months as they did the photo shoot of my car about a month ago. That will be my big highlite for next year. Ron

go to the track with my new MT DR's when the DA is below 500',do some tuning, that should be November,December.

Now you're an A-body weenie! What year Dart?

Thank you. I really didn't need another project, but I always liked the car and Mike made me a pretty fair deal on it. It has lots ofmoney spent on it trying to get it light.

I am going to fix the Dana 60 I broke in pittsburgh, pull the tranny and get what ever broke in it fixed. Pull the motor and have it gone thru, for sure new valve springs. SHould have a new driveline ready to go for 2018!
After all it's only $$$$$

Between breaking the trans at MaTS, then it getting REALLY hot early about the time I got it fixed, my ride has pretty much sat. Labor Day weekend I raced at two tracks in three days..... 1400 miles away . Had my first "racecation" in South Dakota. It was a blast with good weather and great fun and very little sleep. I only have 28 passes on the car so we're hoping to race again soon this fall.... except the trailer is down for some much needed upgrades. I'm signed up for March Meet so we'll most likely hit heritage series race 1 in Phoenix in January. I do have a mild 904 I want to play with. Not as "upgraded" as I'd like, but we might dance with it

Transbrake transmission to go in by december , fit anti balloon plates to current vert as stall is good
Hope i dont need a taller radial or i will have to move rearend back a little .
Get M1 intake cut to fit motor then try adapter and dominator . Will also probably get Modman cut to fit and try it as well .
All to be done and tested by end February . So it will be hot testing over summer .

Tex

its' a '64. I was actually looking for a '60 valiant and this turned up. It kinda spoke to us ...buy me, buy me... I think the engine swap and exhaust will be slightly easier on this one.

We finally got this back at the track after a 20 month total stripdown, paint and rebuild. Lots of minor issues to sort out. We're starting from scratch again with the chassis after replacing all the worn out stuff and putting re-valved dampers on. We also need to fit the old 8 inch converter behind the back up 572 motor while the 655 gets re-freshed and some upgrades. We tried the 9 1/2 inch converter specced for the 655 but we feel the 8 inch will be better. The suspension has settled after a dozen passes and the camber, castor and toe are a mile out so that needs sorting too. We also fitted the 655 induction system to the 572 to see what happened. Theoretically way over carbed at 2300cfm, we chased a rich bog for most runs until we realised it was sloshing fuel out of the vent tubes.I'm also considering running an electric fuel pressure gauge, a -4 fuel return and an ARC module. We've ran out of racing 'till next season so we'll have to see if we've cured it and continue ironing out the bugs.



Motor Shot

Out with the 440 and in with a 5.7 based gen III hemi. Probably add a transbrake while I'm at it.

'64 Dart is (almost) as cool as a '65 Dart. Sounds like a fun project. It's for your wife?

not really doing much this winter, just tidying up some things, don't really need to do much since the motor and tranny are all new, would like to go thru the wiring and re-route a few hoses, and get it ready to send to the chassis shop in the spring for a once over.

yankin heads,

sending to Ray,

go through bottom end if needed,

reassemble,

flog Hard!

Just need to replace my twisted 35 spline axles and refresh the front brakes on the cuda.

All the while putting the '71 Demon back together.

This should be a lot of fun because I'll do things to this one I wouldn't do to the challenger.
We're calling it "her car" because she's the one that spotted it. If things work out right this will be the race car and the chally will be more street..... or maybe I'll have to get a stacker.

nothing is as cool as a 65 Dart can't wait to see the paint, have you picked a color yet?

4.15 Billet Crank, GRP rods, new blower for another 20 lbs of boost to make some real thunder

I'm going to replace my stock gas tank with a fuel cell so I can better manage my weight due to fuel volume (for NSS indexes).

Just got this little 440 huffing some air so my winter plans are porting the heads, arp head studs and a turbo camshaft. Last but not least some drag radials for it to hook up.

Working on getting my other 65 Dart running with the 408 I just built for it. 504 hp on the engine dyno, 904, 4000 +stall converter, 3.55 gears, frame connectors, coil over/rack and pinion front end. Plan on M/T drag radicals, not sure what to expect for ET and mph?
https://vault.myvzw.com/webcs/app/share/invite/HSTxFoiutR

having bought another car at the start of our winter, i had something new to explore & pull apart. The car had been running a blown Hemi on alcohol but i'm making the car an 8 sec bracket car. So, i removed 5 miles worth of uneeded wiring, raised the drivers seat & steering column, fixed the geometry of the steering shaft while at it. made a mount to suit a 727, made a new radiator mount, cut the fuel cell down to 1/3 of its size, removed all the decals, checked the driveline angle, made some headers, stripped out the windows so the car is ready for paint, changed the colour of the cage on the inside &relocated the guages from the steering colun & put them into a blank fiberglass dash. And i made a new rear wing coz i didn't like the other one.
my old car is getting new Larry Smith ported -1's. a new cam & new HS rocker arms. my race season starts in 3 weeks.

^^^Interesting looking E-body there^^^

My plans are to change the carpet to black and install some of those carbon fiber roll bar protectors .

Like to get the RPM's on my car sold and some other stuff so I can upgrade the heads on the car now.
Whole lot of 11.0's and 11-teens I'd like to turn into 10.80's and 10.90's

350 passes on my basically stock 727 running low 9's @ 3350lbs. I think I'll take a look. Time to check valve springs, bearings, and add a new pair of slicks.
Doug

Swapping the rear drums to strange discs
Changing the gear in the dana from 4.56 to 4.10
Go through the transmission
Building an aluminum block based motor for NSS to step up a little. I will leave the current motor in place until the new bullet is ready. I may start the season on this one.

Sawzalls are fun on a car. LOL. And definitely get a stacker!

The Dart will probably be some shade of green (to no one's surprise), though not high impact. Something to fit the mid 60's era.

Basically stock?! Haha I've seen the inside of that thing... lol

Well we were hoping to just change out oil pans, add a diaper, and freshen the trans....

However, after last weekend looks like we will now throw a set of gears in it, new driveshaft, freshen the trans, perhaps a new sprague, maybe some axles, and a spool...

Gotta love racing!!!

Casey

Yea that sucks but better it happened at the end of the year and not the beginning. All that new found power will make any weak links show up. I have a set of 5.88 gears if you are interested. I may try them in mine

Hmmmmm Winter upgrades. The small block in my black Duster will be getting the solid lift cam pulled and replaced with a bigger roller cam. I will also be doing some more porting and flow testing on my 360-1 heads and I may add a few more cubic inches. My 572 for the small tire car has been on the engine stand forever and I may have it done and going into the car by next week. I would LOVE to make a pass or two NA in November before the local tracks close. Another 408 Edelbrock headed build will be started so Matt and I have a fresh bullet sitting on a stand just in case it is needed. I should also have my 512 Mega block done by March with a very nice set of 440-1 Indy heads. The block is ready to go and the assembly is balanced and ready for installation. Matt also wants to switch his car over to a 9 inch rearend and powerglide so I have 3 powerglides that I will be assembling. Hopefully I have 1 or 2 surprises that I may do but that depends on if I can come up with the needed funds. It should be a busy Winter.

I LIKE IT!

The plans are to pull this 40 year old 440 out of my 70 Challenger and replace it or rebuild it with newer parts that don't sound like a diesel with piston slap when it is cold. Maybe some aluminum heads and put a real 4 833 4 speed in it instead of the 6 cylinder OD trans that came out of a 80 dodge 6 cylinder.
Then go to the track where I have not gotten to make a run in 36 years. Not since my son was a year old and we needed family money.

I'll work all winter on both the '65 and the Duster. My project list is too long to write down. I just get up every day and try to accomplish a few things. The shop is heated so I can work all winter in regular street clothes. Not like the old days when I froze solid trying to turn wrenches in the winter.

1) Rebuild the 10 year old 670 Street Avenger and get it running right again. The 750 Street Demon I bought is so rich I may as well just run long hose from the local gas pump straight into my intake manifold.

2) Upgrade to a modern ignition system. Probably a Pertronix dizzy, coil, and wires. Realizing that MP orange box conversion on my car is about 25 years old now, and was about 20 year old technology when I installed it.

3) Full suspension rebuild front and rear. When I cruise around the crappy roads in the neighborhood it sounds like someone rolling a 50 gallon drum full of bricks down the road. Sooo many clunks and bangs.

I'm stripping, sanding, filling, priming, etc. I now have a special wardrobe just for the above.

Finally going to go 1/8th mile racing?! haha

Casey

New headers .
Prob. send conv. out. Way to tight .
Pull trans apart just to check it over .
Hook 2nd fogger up .
Then in the spring go out and hurt some feelings . lol

New Legendary door panels, Seat covers, race weight hood, 4:10 complete rear carrier assy, large oval dual quad air cleaner, and Tuff wheel...all for my '68 Super Bee project.

last of the big expense items needed...then just $50.00-200.00 stuff needed, that can be purchased anytime.

Mark

oooops - meant 4.88

Thank you!

My winter upgrades include some engine quest heads from hughes for the 318 in my desoto also a voodoo hydraulic roller cam, to replace the lazy stock cam. And an offy 4x2 intake with cross ram adapters to replace the 3x2 9super7’s that are on there now.

I am going stuff this in the 64 over the winter - who knows where all this madness ends!