Dave's 72 Dart

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Tue Sep 05, 17 9:03 pm

Some interesting issues.

The Flaming River conversion kit is a great bit of kit. Issue with the one I have is that it was boxed wrong.

The kit I have is in fact Manual to PS. The spline width is different and as you'd guess it, it fits the PS box that's just been removed and not the manual replacement.

A few searches by Jim later has shown that many in the states are now utilising the collapsable column to take up the additional length required for the Manual connection. There is a large overlap within the PS column so you can pull the column down to make the connection. This was done and as you can see above it looks almost stock.

A big saving: One thing is for sure. The PS setup weight a ton in comparison to the manual. I'd been advise about this before, so out of interest decided. I'd weigh both setups to see what weight I'd be taking off the nose.

Manual Box and Flaming River setup = 15.4lb
PS Pump and hoses = 16.6lb
PS Box = 35.8lb

Add fluid and your around 55lb all in.
Minus the Flaming rover kit due to the above issue and I'd be under 15lb.

So just over 40lb taken off the nose of the car!:D

Driving it and the additional weight is obvious as you'd expect. No more one finger steering. At cruising speed though it just feels so much better. So happy with the mod. Tyres on the front are a bit wider than the last car but it feels no different from memory. Happy camper!

Jim also managed to sort the wiring issue. Horn was related to the aftermarket grant kit. The wiring issue was down to the relay that lights up the fasten seat belt light, believe it or not. It was corroded and running hot when the car was on. Has been removed and due to the changeover on the box all wiring in the column has been inspected. All good!

Really happy with the difference in the car.

ScottyDave · Post by **ScottyDave** » Tue Sep 05, 17 9:11 pm

Good stuff

cadboy · Post by **cadboy** » Wed Sep 06, 17 6:23 am

Nice one Dave

best get my steering box changed (winter job I think)

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Sep 06, 17 6:50 am

Coming along Dave! With the bonnet as well that's a good chunk off the nose, move the battery to the boot and that's probably 200lb off in all, getting close to 50/50 weight distribution I would think...

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Wed Sep 06, 17 12:41 pm

Blue wrote:Coming along Dave! With the bonnet as well that's a good chunk off the nose, move the battery to the boot and that's probably 200lb off in all, getting close to 50/50 weight distribution I would think...

Cheers Chaps!!

Yes Jon, it was mentioned by Jim with the added benefit that it would give additional space in the engine bay too.

I will look to do it in the future, but i'll probably do the relocation at the same time as a whole car rewire.

lough3969 · Post by **lough3969** » Wed Sep 06, 17 8:40 pm

Nice stuff... power steerings for wimps...

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Sun Sep 17, 17 1:06 pm

The next round of modifications are a bit more significant in getting the car the way I want it.

With all this bolt on stuff I'm always interested in the improvement/reduction/increases etc. That being said I wanted to get a benchmark so I can see if what I'm doing is going in the right direction.

Up until now I've postponed doing anything in fear of breakages and embarrassing myself, but after watching various cars do their thing at the NATS, I'd decided the HRDS and the 1/4 mile would be the best bet (also closer to home for the AA).

So took Friday off work in a hope it would be a little less busy then the Sat and Sunday and dry.

Morning weather was typical UK in as such that any time the track got near being ready the drizzle started for 5 mins. Scrutineering cue was massive so kept putting it off. Mid afternoon the weather played ball and the cue was small, so I managed to talk myself and Chris (Birdman) into helping me get the car on track. It was also a chance for me and the car to tick another thing off the bucket list.

At this point:

1978 318 LA motor in stock low compression trim. Holley 600 running through an Eddy Intake. Dougs Headers and true dual exhaust. Ran without the hood and no rear interior, so realistically it's as light as the car is going to get. Street tyres 235/60/15 on rear running through a 7.25 open with 2.76 gears. Old tired rear suspension to go with it. Temp was around 15 deg.

Both runs were done in Drive so all I had to do was point and shoot and listen for bangs and smoke.

First Run:
20.66 at 66.83

Got to the end and happy that the car was running okay, but knew I'd left some in the table

So drove straight back round and pushed the car a bit harder!

Second Run:
19.30 at 71.61

Bit of wheelspin off the line and into second no issue but after 45/50mph and 3rd it just falls over.

Without a tach I didn't want to risk manual shifting, so that's on the list of things to do. Feel it maybe shifting into 3rd too early. In reality I recon there maybe a high 18 in it as it is, but that'd be about it for the car as it sits today.

So thats the benchmark set....19.30.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Sun Sep 17, 17 1:07 pm

The Proof:

Super Sloth · Post by **Super Sloth** » Sun Sep 17, 17 6:12 pm

Good effort, Dave! Bet you enjoyed giving it large on the track!?

Don't bother taking the hood off next time as that will have cost you quite a bit at the big end - maybe a second and a half? It really upsets the aero having no hood.

You know how closely matched our Demon and your Dart are both being '72 california cars and all the oddball parts they share?
I think your current setup has a lot more to give.
I can get our car down to a consistant 18.3 but the MPH is the same as yours. That suggests to me your engine has more grunt than mine and is pulling harder at the big end. I guess thats the superior inlet carb and exhaust that you have? We're still on a 2 barrel and factory two into one collector/ single tailpipe.

I manually shift our car - no point in winging it to the moon I just let her rev out to the point I think the engine revs will drop down to the peak torque point when the new gear engages.

I think if you get the opportunity you aught to run her again before you pull the engine. If you put the hood back on I reccon you'll smash my ET and get the mph figure up a few points.
I've just got a hunch given she's so similar to our car and the benefit of your bolt on goodies she might have a 17.99 in her as she sits???

ScottyDave · Post by **ScottyDave** » Sun Sep 17, 17 6:26 pm

Good stuff Dave

Now you have your baseline you'll be itching to try some other mods

charger01 · Post by **charger01** » Sun Sep 17, 17 8:31 pm

Dave have you got a picture of the flaming river adaptor? Might work for me.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sun Sep 17, 17 8:40 pm

great thread Dave and pleased you are where you are with the car. I remember seeing it at your old house a few years ago and you had plans and boxes of parts. Its all coming together now and looking great. Good luck with the racing... I will stick to 4 door show n shine!

cadboy · Post by **cadboy** » Mon Sep 18, 17 6:40 am

Good on you Dave, you have a reliable car and you can do the 1/4 mile.

very good start

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Mon Sep 18, 17 4:29 pm

Well done Dave for having a go and as you say a good baseline for further improvements.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Mon Sep 18, 17 8:27 pm

Thanks guys.

Super Sloth wrote:Good effort, Dave! Bet you enjoyed giving it large on the track!?
Don't bother taking the hood off next time as that will have cost you quite a bit at the big end - maybe a second and a half? It really upsets the aero having no hood.

You know how closely matched our Demon and your Dart are both being '72 california cars and all the oddball parts they share?
I think your current setup has a lot more to give.
I can get our car down to a consistant 18.3 but the MPH is the same as yours. That suggests to me your engine has more grunt than mine and is pulling harder at the big end. I guess thats the superior inlet carb and exhaust that you have? We're still on a 2 barrel and factory two into one collector/ single tailpipe.

I manually shift our car - no point in winging it to the moon I just let her rev out to the point I think the engine revs will drop down to the peak torque point when the new gear engages.

I think if you get the opportunity you aught to run her again before you pull the engine. If you put the hood back on I reccon you'll smash my ET and get the mph figure up a few points.
I've just got a hunch given she's so similar to our car and the benefit of your bolt on goodies she might have a 17.99 in her as she sits???

See what your saying but in reality my fiberglass hood with its massive scoop is not really the height of aerodynamic efficiency. I'd be interested to see your timing slip, as if your crossing the line at the same speed I'd expect out ETs to be the same, not 1 second apart.

Being honest I was expecting and would have been happy with something in the 17s. The 19.3 to me proves that the motor, though reliable is a performance dog with a crap CR. All I can find is that in 77 it was dropped to 8.5 1 at 145hp. Given that it's an unknown entity and an old rebuild, then I'd expect my HP numbers are quite a bit lower than that.

I may actually be loosing a bit of low down torque with the exhaust system and such a low hp output.

Thought process at the mo is to get the rear end modifications done and add a tachometer so I can see rpm to manually shift. Then I'll run it again in spring and see what I have improved hopefully.