Featured Projects Dirt Cheap Dart

Very Cool Project

 

Thanks

 

Jumping Ju Ju beans my friend Jason offered me a 5.2 Magnum engine. These engines even with 200k miles often have cross hatch left in cylinder. 9.1:1 cr vs maybe 8.0:1. I need my head examined but I’m going to get it.Tear it down all new begs , rings etc. I can use my intake from the 318 just need to drill heads to accept. Should be able to make 325 HP easily. Project for next winter. I was going to freshen up the engine I have, but this will be better.
Dan

 

Good engines, should be a fun freshening job.
I know there was a set of drill guides going around for the heads a decade ago, I think they got lost over time. Check into the tools and setup BEFORE you tear things down. Better to make chips before clean, rebuild and detail!

 

There was a drill guide free for using just pay shipping. Someone borrowed/stole never returned! Another has one he requires a hefty refundable deposit so the same thing doesn’t happen again.
Dan

 

The heads on a Magnum head have the best air flow of any small block Mopar, but they also have an issue with cracks in the combustion chamber. Most of those cracks don't cause a problem (only the cracks that extend into the valve seats are said to be an issue). Any cracks on cylinder heads scare a lot of machine shops. I would probably have a conversation with machine shops with real hands on knowledge of the magnum heads over anything I could read on line though.

 

I’ve read about the cracks most guys just run em, I don’t blame the machine shop.
Dan

 

More engine stories. When I first bought the Dart I wasn’t sure what direction the build was going to go. One idea was G***er, looking in the HAMB cl***ified parts for sale looking for engines. Lo and behold there is pile of BBC parts - brand new 454 LS 7 crank, a .020 .020 L88 crank. Good heads, pistons, later model 454 block etc etc. advertised by @Gl***ThamesDoug for a very good price. I PMd him he has me call him. I tell him I’m just kicking tires “thats alright”we talk for quite some time. The deal gets better and better. Almost jumped in my truck and drove to his place. Bottom line installing. BBC and related equipment with a straight front axle was a much bigger project than I was willing to attempt. But holy hell that engine would’ve turned the Dart into an absolute animal.Bottom line is he would’ve sold me everything for less than the cost of a new forged crank. I really enjoyed my talk with him. One of the guys who was there ,done that ,had the Tee shirt hell he probably designed the Tee shirt.
The amount of support and encouragement I receive on here is unbelievable
Dan

 

Dealing with good people and getting some good parts will definitely give you a boost to feel better and get 'er done Dan!

 

Great times, I even ended up selling the LS7 stuff for giveaway prices $300 nos LS7 crank, $300 NOS LS7 pistons, L88 Rods $175, and gave the block 4 heads, pile aparts away for free. Good that a Hamber got them. I divested my BBC stuff, 1 yr later I ended up with a BBC muscle car ..

 

That’s always the way it works seems like.
Dan

 

You almost made me sell my Dart and buy a Chevy lol
Dan

 

Ive too got a fresh 454 on the stand, never fired with lots of goodies & all the paperwork. & Fresh built rock crusher to back it up.
They'll likely end up in the cl***ifieds here soon.
If ya end up buying a Chevy give me a call.

 

Man you all are hard on me.
Dan

 

@corncobcoupe has been hard on me also. 1st he offers me the original set of mags and tires from his new Barracuda project for a very good price. That one was fairly easy as the wheels weren’t my cup of tea. Next he bought a set of 14” 5 on 4 Cragars SSs and tires, he then decides he wants 15” Cragars and offers me the set for cheap. I going to put an exploder 8.8 in the car down the road has 5 on 4.5 bp. I look at maybe drilling the exploder axles for 5 on 4 very iffy. Anyways I spent some time and eventual tell myself and cob I’m going to stick with steelies and poverty caps. I have 3 15x7 steelies wheels that will fit the rear.
Cragar SSs look cool on the early darts.
Dan

 

Man o man your guilty of starting this escapade and I love ya for it!
I have to finish this project before I start another. I have a 30x40 garage that I can’t park any of DDs in lol.
I have to restrain myself from looking at the cl***ifieds.
When you had that Valiant for basically s**** price I showed my wife and before I got one word out She gave me the look!!!
You might ask “are you afraid of your wife?”
YES as a matter of fact!!!

Dan

 

Remember the words to live by Dan: "HAPPY WIFE HAPPY LIFE!"

 

If it makes you feel any worse, I have 3 400 blocks, a mild build 400 complete and a used (core) 360 I'd hand off to you to see them go to a good home. Trouble is, WI isn't next to AZ!

 

You too, I’m going have to take out Home Equity loan and build a bigger shop
Dan

 

I got knocked sideways health wise pretty hard but today I turned into the skid. Cleaned up around the garage went to the dump, unhooked the well heat, made a to do list and worked on the Dart a little.
I’m going to have to tone down my chili and enchiladas lol
Dan

 

Haha, Fair warning, Ive got a "Bad Influence" tattoo..
We've been married going on 24 years, together 28. Never ever look her directly in the eyes when discussing this "thing we do". If you dont see "the look" it possibly didnt happen, plausible deniability...

Serious note, Ive heard possibly my Mopar friends I got these from are considering letting go some of the nicer stuff soon..
I'll let ya know if there are any more good deals. Just for fun..

 

I looked at the timing it was retarded about 15 - 20 degrees. Set for 10 degrees advanced. Might explain the backfiring I had. Not sure how it moved that much?Next up I started on the seat. Used an old patio chair cushion to fill the void.
Tomorrow I’ll the hammer down and start pulling out of my skid.
Hopefully finish the seat, start, tune and move car
Dan

 

You know when we first got married she give me a look - much more pleasant look than the LOOK I get talking cars lol.
Dan

 

Haha, Fair warning, Ive got a "Bad Influence" tattoo..
That’s the good BAD!
Keep me posted maybe I’ll have one of two projects finished or at least drivable by then.
Dan

 

Good way of hiding the evidence of the backfiring

 

I was going to glue some fabric down over the bad areas, didn’t stick well.
I happen to have some Zip System Flashing tape, this stuff is sticky, I’ve used to pull small metal slivers from fingers. If you use scissors to cut it the scissors become stuck to the tape. I don’t think it’ll come loose like duct tape.
Tomorrow I’ll install an Indian blanket seat cover I bought.
Dan

 

I’ll either re upholster myself or have local guy down the road upholster.?
Dan

 

Back in garage had Taxes, finances to do, yesterday I did get the bottom seat cover on.
Today I gotta the lower radiator hose pipe lips welded on. Will finish tomorrow and fire it up. I still get tired easily which the doc said is normal. Pics and video to follow.
Dan

 

kind of a freudian slip there...

 

Fixed
That was really bad considering my main Dr is a female.
Dan