Featured Projects Dirt Cheap Dart

Almost got side tracked today lol
Dan

 

While messing around with engine/transmission I decided to do a little painting. 1st up the dash.

 

Should’ve mentioned I used Rust Oleum hammered silver paint, looks better than the pictures.
Dan

 

Dash looks great Dan.Thanks for taking us along for the ride,I'm enjoying this one!I know it's more work to do***ent and share.

 

Thank you. Duly noted. One of the problems with SS is that I likes to split when flared. I used Nickel Copper which is tougher for lack of a better word. For now I want to get all the odds and ends sorted out. When I get it going I won’t be driving in heavy traffic, no interstate highway etc. I will be installing a rear end with larger brake shoes and disks up front and will install the appropriate MC at that time.
Dan

 

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/malleable

 

Yes malleable, much better word.
Thanks
Dan

 

'malleable' and '******* bartenders ' just a couple posts apart!

 

I’m on page 15 of your Barracuda build. Cool stuff. I’m probably closer to your Checker or Volvo than the Barracuda. It’s beyond my skill level or budget.
Dan

 

yeah, I did go a bit overboard! But I learned a lot

 

Well as long as I’m painting I might as well do the interior. I thought I had more pics. Sprayed the Rustoleum hammered silver, looks ok and will work until I figure out what I’m going to do interior wise.
Also ordered a windshield and gasket, fuel tank and sender unit. Shipping was almost as much as the items. I could’ve drove to Ohio and back for the cost of shipping crazy.
Dan

 

Back to brakes.
Thank you to @wicarnut for bringing up single vs dual reservoir MCs
Thank you @57 Fargo for helping me understand residual valves and proportional valves with your tech post https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-week-57-fargos-brakes-101.1229211/
My plan is to use the single reservoir MC at first. I will be using a Ford 8.8 rear with 10 inch brakes vs the 9 inch I have now. First I have to narrow the rear locate and install spring perch’s and shock mounts. Then down the road I will install disks up front. I may need to change wheel cylinder diameter on the rear.
I feel confident with the single pot I presently will be using. However I do welcome any ideas, concerns, suggestions etc.
Dan

 

You'll die immediately with a single pot master cylinder.

I have one on my old truck with original drum brakes, and another on my old Corvette with aftermarket 4 wheel disc brakes (I removed the RPV from the MC).

Just because I haven't died yet, doesn't mean you won't.

For the rear brakes...how wide are the shoes? The later Darts used 10 inch rear drums with 1.75" wide shoes, and 15/16" cylinders

 

Ever since I cut a rear brake line on an old blazer with a dual master cylinder about 40 years ago and had no brakes front or rear, I have not worried about running single reservoir master cylinders on pretty much every old car that came stock with one since. Apparently I have somehow just avoided the imminent death that Jim talks about.

 

Two big issues with a single MC and disc/drum.
Pressure matching - The PSI in a 1 inch bore wheel cylinder VS a 2-3 inch bore caliper piston. This will be tricky. It's why there were very few non-power Disc/Drum OE systems. Sizing is tough between pedal ratio, volume and pressure produced.
Volume required to actuate the caliper and reserve because the adjustment for wear is all taken up by the piston in the bore. Keep a sharp eye on reservoir level.
You will get it right one way or another.
EDIT: just read the latest responses. You won't die! If you do stay with the single pot, I would try to hook up the e-brake for backup, though.

 

Well as long as it’s immediately and I don’t suffer lol, single pots were used for a long time, I’ve had them with out any incidents. The disc brake kit I’m looking I thought came with a MC but doesn’t there three option for $100 to $200 roughly , not sure on the 8.8 brake width but I’m guessing at least 2 inches next trip to the garage I’ll measure. I know guys have used the late model MCs from late models. I kept the donor car MC but it shot. Rock auto has the late model ones for $50 but I like the looks of the older ones. We’ll see.
When I get the 8.8 installed I’ll drive and see how stops, normal and panic.
Dan

 

Thanks all. When I get this thing up and running I’ll see how it stops. I don’t have power brakes don’t even want them. I have some Mopar freak buddies that have done some conversions. IIRC Jason’s 2nd gen cuda has disks up front but I think no power brakes I think the cam doesn’t produce much vacuum I’ll talk to him soon. Also I don’t think my 318 with the aluminum intake weighs much if anything more than the /6 so hopefully the 9 inch brakes up front will be adequate.
It has a functional e/parking brake.
Dan

 

With 10" drums on the rear, and 9" drums on the front, you may find the rear brakes locking up before the front brakes would. Locking up rear brakes (also means locking up the rear tires) is one of the fastest ways possible to loose control, the locked up rear tires will want to p*** up the front end real fast. Not a very fun experience.

 

Yes I agree, may need a proportional valve. I know the 8.8 is a common swap on early A Bodies as the Mopar 8-3/4 are stupid money. I’ll get on some Mopar forums and read up. Also my buddies are pretty sharp on this stuff. I’ll test drive and go from there. I’ll be asking ???s as I go, stand by.
Dan

 

Just pointing out that plumbing in a proportional valve is 3/4 of the way to a dual master cylinder. Most proportional valves are set up for two lines from the master cylinder. The 10" drums usually have more surface contact with the brake shoes (even if they have narrower shoes) that the 9" drums have.

 

To the discussion on dual master cylinders vs. single, that 60 Thunderbird I drove daily for a while had a single and disk brakes front and rear with different volume requirements front and rear. It honestly didn’t stop worth a **** and I was tempted to just put it back to four wheel drums like it started although I know that probably wasn’t the right answer either. Anyway, I’m sure you can figure this out way better than the guy that did all the modifications on my Thunderbird. It was somewhat scary to get shut down at times and way worse than the original drum brakes would have been.

 

Well if can be made worse I’m sure I can get the job done lol
Dan

 

Just stumbled across this thread. Holy hell! You’ll be at 20 pages by the end of the month. lol!
If you’re not familiar with Jamie from Dead Dodge Garage, you should check out his channel. He’s got a soft spot for early Darts/Barracudas.
I’m still a Mopar guy at heart, but haven’t owned one since the early 90s, but still keep an eye out for some. Looked at a 66 or 67 Charger last year.

 

No I’m just posting stuff I’ve done since summer, I think I stated that- not sure- anyways I’ll post until I’m at my current level of completion. I have quite a bit to do yet.
Dan

 

Hey Dan, I'm enjoying your thread. It seems like a lifetime ago but I was a fully immersed small block Mopar guy for a long time, having once had a "66 Valiant (Canadian version of the Dart) as a daily driver, many other Mopars and still have a '66 Formula S Barracuda sitting in the garage. I will be the first to admit that I forgot more than I know about the subject but I have done the full gammit of building a decent street machine. The Barracuda's 273 Hypo was pulled and replaced with an early 340 stroked to 416 cubes built by Best Machine in Michigan, with more trick components than I can recall. I remember modifying the K-Frame. I modified the firewall to accept the 727 which needed more room than the 904. I used a Flaming River manual steering box and converted to a dual master cylinder. The headers were a challenge without removing the fender wells. I remember using pool noodles as a design aid to build a set. The Formula S came stock with 4 piston front dic brakes. It has an 8 3/4 posi. I still have a completely dismantled parts '66 Barracuda stored in the attic of my garage. I have given the Barracuda to my son and it has been sitting under a car cover for several years now waiting for final paint and interior install.. He is very capable and will get to it soon as life gives him the time.
Carry on, just wanted to let you know there are interested folks following.
only pic I have of the Valiant taken in summer of '69.

 

Hey when you do decide to replace your master here’s what I did on my Mopar. I used a late model master because it is so much lighter than the original, and I made the adapter.

 

Jes sayin' about the single MC
As a kid growing up, never heard the word 'parking brake'
That handle hanging under the dash was the emergency brake.
I recall, one Sunday with my father, driving all around town (city) using second gear and that handle. Years later my 57 had a short in the column, thru the turn signal switch, the brake light would kill the motor. So ya know how I got by 'til I could tear into the column.

 

Oh yeah, funny, I do remember using the emergency brake handle in that manner too for braking for a while but can't remember why it was necessary. Had to twist the handle counter clockwise and pull back so the brakes wouldn't lock up. Also, remember using the fresh air vent doors for storing beverages. LOL