btp76 wrote:
This months Car Craft has six pages on swapping a new hemi into an old mopar...
Hot Rod did an article on a similar build a few moths ago but it was high-buck. Will you try for this year's Challenge? You better recruit an army then. Can't wait to see the end result.
GRM1964
New Reader
3/12/09 3:36 p.m.
Good luck with the project Jon, sounds cool
Bill
John Brown wrote:
[ John starts searching for Peterbuilt 281 tractors under Challenge budget ]
Semi's arent challenge legal are they?
NONACK
New Reader
3/12/09 5:45 p.m.
Duel might have been awesome (terrible) enough to call for a bending of the rules.
Too bad you don't live in Northen Virginia. I wouldn't mind getting my knuckles bloodied up to lend a helping hand.
Mr. Norm would be so proud.
admc58
New Reader
3/12/09 10:03 p.m.
Jon,
Pro driver dibs on driving it, please?. I still have the 71 Dodge Challenger conv that I drove in HS. At one point I had it lowered and tuned the suspension up to pull 1g+ & towed my race car. It was kind of cool having a 140mph tow car.
Spring rate up front will be a challenge. Be sure to keep the swaybar from binding up in the turns. Adding a 1/2 front section leaf can help the rear hook up.
Alan McCrispin
Luke
Dork
3/12/09 11:40 p.m.
Awesome project. That Dart coupe is such a cool looking car. Can't wait to see this one progress.
Ian F
Reader
3/13/09 10:19 a.m.
Mopar Action had an article about a similar A-body/new Hemi car. Look it up. Mentions some of the junk-yard parts used for the conversion. If you need to, send me a PM and I'll try to scan the article and e-mail it to you.
The tricky part will be getting an A-body to handle on the cheap w/o aftermarket torsion bars and/or sway bars. Looking forward to seeing how you overcome that.
Good luck! I'm an old Mopar nut from years ago, so I'll be pulling for ya!
admc58 wrote:
Jon,
Pro driver dibs on driving it, please?. I still have the 71 Dodge Challenger conv that I drove in HS. At one point I had it lowered and tuned the suspension up to pull 1g+ & towed my race car. It was kind of cool having a 140mph tow car.
Spring rate up front will be a challenge. Be sure to keep the swaybar from binding up in the turns. Adding a 1/2 front section leaf can help the rear hook up.
Alan McCrispin
Aw... I want Pro driver tips on setting up my 240sx. No fair.
Very nice score on that engine. Lucky duck.
<---jealous. Nice score, John. If Hong Norrth can help in any way, let us know.
John Brown wrote:
"AWESOME!"
+65165416354131654163513513546513546510
I'm SOOOO jealous, I've been wanting a 70's dart/duster slant six combo for a LONG time, not to do something so wild with but for a daily. Sooner or later it would morph into something like that. NICE SCORE BTW!
This is gonna be good. With a full year to build? Nice
dok33
New Reader
10/16/09 9:24 a.m.
Wow, that's crazy cheap for a new Hemi! We'll have to do an A-body photo shoot at the challenge next year, I'm planning on bringing my '70 Valiant:
Somewhat off-subject, but here is an interesting dart off of a local forum.
4g63t
Reader
10/16/09 6:42 p.m.
I just ruined my pants! ANOTHER home for a 4g63t!
Nashco
SuperDork
10/16/09 6:56 p.m.
Cool Dart. I googled and found more info on "Frankendart" here:
http://www.iowaautoforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=13437
http://www.revhardinc.com/shop%20pics/?d=FrankenDart
Bryce
I also did a frankendart search -
One BIG quesiton - what, how and where and why did he find/build/fabricate the engine to tranny adaptor?
How affordable was it?
I talked to a turbo Dodge racer that had mated a 727 to a 2.2 turbo for his RWD drag Daytona. He spent over a grand for his adapter!
Hey Jon-
How is the Dart project coming along?
jhaas
New Reader
10/18/09 12:16 p.m.
Mothballed for now... I didn't even have time to drive my old $2007 '49 down this year. Life has been real busy. 3 kids, 3 dogs, and two new businesses has taken a E36 M3 on my challenge efforts lately.
I PROMISE I will represent in $2010
I'll be bringin a well sorted out '49 with an LT1, and a basket case dart with a HEMI.
Nashco wrote:
http://www.iowaautoforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=13437
That would be the local forum. Notice it weighs in at like 2400lbs, lighter than a street legal AWD 1st gen.
psteav
Reader
10/18/09 2:34 p.m.
I don't know what the dart uses for a transmission/adapter, but to clarify that's a Mitsu 4g63 in the FrankenDart. The Dodge 2.2 will bolt up to a manual RWD trans (either AX-15 or toyota R154) with a factory bellhousing from a '93-'94 2.5 Dakota. Earlier transmissions are too weak and the Dak went to an AMC 2.5 in '95 (IIRC). I don't think there was ever a production Dodge 2.2/2.5 automatic RWD setup.
Yeah, only a couple of prototype A904's and they were dangerously slow in the test rigs.