posted 05-20-2004 10:29 AM            

The car started as a '66 Valiant 100 2dr (post). It now has '65 Dart front fenders and valance, and a '63/4 fiberglass hood. Turned out pretty cool IMHO. We call it the "Vart" or the "Plodge" or just "V". Needs paint, of course. It will get a custom grille that covers most of the "mouth" opening with sheet metal and expanded mesh.

My friend Marc Ter Horst has been a big help with garage space, labor, and some monetary contributions. Other helpers include Nathan Swanson and my wife Christine.

We have set out to build a /6-powered road racer with upgrades from my '64 Dart experiences in terms of handling, braking, and power. See this link for the Dart stories - http://www.slantsix.com/UBB/Forum4/HTML/000051.html

Andy Finkbeiner at www.AREngineering.com (andyf) was a big help with a custom brake setup that we have yet to fully test. Works great so far!

Motor came from Bobby Rogers (hope you're feeling better Bobby!) and is stock except for the 2X1 Offy setup and the Clifford street rod headers into single 2" exhaust.

Brief rundown on front suspension:

- Stock LCAs and UCAs, but with MOOG offset UCA bushings (Thanks Dartvader!)
- Welded box tubing sway bar tabs onto LCAs for heim-joint-mounted 1.25" sway bar (Quickor-custom bar, links/tabs-Lou). Need to complete install and adjustments on that.
- KYB shocks all around (for now)
- 0.890" MP torsion bars
- Strut rod heim joint ends from Bill Reilly at bigblockdart.com
- Custom brake system using 13 X 1.1" rotors from '94-up Mustang Cobra, Wilwood Dynalite calipers and D pads, aluminum hubs and caliper adapters, and '73-up A body drum spindles. Thanks again to arengineering.com!

Other features:

- ATL 12 gallon fuel cell inside trunk
- Battery in trunk w/cutoff switch
- All Lexan windows except for windshield
- Still stock 7.25" axle, but soon to be replaced...
- Lightwt alternator and starter
- AFCO aluminum radiator (afcoracing.com) universal Chevy 21" wide style
- 12" electric fan
- '80s Dodge truck aluminum master cyl (large bore) w/arengineering adapter plate
- 4 point SCCA Solo I/II legal roll bar (0.120" DOM tubing)
- RCI poly seat and Simpson 5pt harness
- Oblong trailer/truck LED taillights that fit into grooves for stock taillight assys that are pretty beat up. Saves 5 lbs too!

Check out the pics:

Here's what we started with, thanks to the Drakes!

Here's our Farmington outing.

Below are front suspension and related pics.

More to come...

Lou

[This message has been edited by Dart270 (edited 05-20-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Dart270 (edited 05-20-2004).]

posted 09-01-2004 04:34 PM            

Took the car to the N Wilkesboro Slant 6 race on 8/21 and had a blast. Tuned it up a little (retarded timing mostly) for consistent 10.80s in the 1/8th. Not bad for an almost stock motor and stock trans/rear. This car is pretty light but haven't weighed yet.

Installed and zeroed out a 1.25" front sway bar from Quickcor with 7/16" heim joint (rod end) endlinks and LCA tabs of my own devising. MAN did that make a difference. The car is tight as a tiger now in the corners.

Had alignment done this morning in Chapel Hill (Lloyd Tire & Alignment) to these specs:

Ride height (set by me): 0.7" (corrected 9/5)
Caster: +3.0 deg
Camber: -1.2 deg
Toe: 0"

They also read the rear end alignment and it was spot on (< 0.04 deg from perfectly straight). This is about the limit of their machine.

I may dial in a skosh of toe myself (fronts of tires inward), like 0.05-0.1", after a track test. I also note that my initial "eyeball" alignment allowed for +4-6 deg caster with -2 deg camber, all this with the MOOG offset UCA bushings. So, I think getting tubular UCAs is pretty much not needed, unless you want huge caster (power steering?).

The car goes on its first road course outing on 9/11-12 at VIR (Patriot course). Second outing will be 10/23 at Carolina Motorsports Park.

Lou

posted 09-04-2004 01:57 PM            

Also, weighed the car at the local landfill. I pulled my Van+trailer+car onto the scales and got 9000 lbs even. Dropped the car off and got 6440 with just the Van+trailer.

Car weight is 2560 lbs (+/-20lbs) with 9 gals of gas and no driver. This is with a passenger seat and 5pt belt as well.

Pretty close to what I thought. Hopefully we can strip some more weight so that when the rest of the rollcage goes in we are still 2600 lbs or less. The 8" rear axle and 17" wheels/tires will add probably 40lbs.

posted 09-10-2004 11:05 AM         

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Sandy Marshall

posted 09-10-2004 01:23 PM            

This car does not have, shall we say, many creature comforts. It is not as light as we can make it either. We still have some hacking to do before the full cage goes in, at least another 50-70 lbs worth (rear bumper, complete dash, doors inner structures, lighter battery...).

I found out from the tech inspector that the rules for classes we'd want to run allow removal of the middle trunk floor and hanging of the fuel cell from 1" steel tubing. This should save a little weight and get the cell down low where it should be.

We will be adding the 8" rear, but I think I can keep that under 170lbs (about 30 heavier than a 7.25" Chrysler). 150-155lbs is my estimate with an aluminum pig (not sure we can afford that). Fiberglass rear leafs would offset the increase in axle weight. Baer lightweight rotors will save some unsprung in the front. Gotta save up for this stuff...

An aluminum engine is another possiblity, but depends, again, on $$ and availability.

posted 09-15-2004 02:28 PM            

The V stood the tests and was SWEET to drive on track, as I had hoped. Neutral balance, limited body roll, but not enough power for me. The track was very busy, with lots of turns and not much straight. I reached about 78-80 MPH on the two straights. Some of the faster guys were over 100. I'm sure the '64 would have hit 85-90 at least.

I ran it every session (3 X 20min on Sat and Sun), and in the Time Trials on both days (5 laps each). The car had no mechanical problems or issues at all. People were really psyched about the car and there were lots of head scratchers asking questions and commenting on how fun it was to watch the V drift and squeal around the course.

Time trials netted 1:02:097 on Saturday (best of 3 laps) and with some driving improvement I got down to 1:01:041 on Sunday. I ran with an instructor all Saturday, so had to adjust driving for his weight loss for the TT. On Sunday, I ran alone all day, so could practice without him. These were my first "competitive" time trials with official clocking and it was fun to get a clear course and really let it hang out.

The fastest non-tube-chassis cars were around 53-54 sec, and most of the modded BMWs with slicks were around 56-59 sec. There were several people slower than me, including some people with racing tires. My feeling is that I would have been in the 57-59 sec range with slicks. I'm still very underpowered compared to most cars (high 16s in 1/4, 115 RWHP), but plan on some motor mods for another 10-30 HP before the next outing on 10/23.

My buddy and I ran the same run group, so didn't get many pics, but I may be able to post something if he got some.

Immediate mods:
- upgrade T-bars from 0.890 to 0.990"
- relocate fuel cell below trunk floor (about 10-12" lower)
- install 20:1 steering worm/ballnut
- better head and/or cam for another 10-30 HP
- Ford 8" rear with BBP to mount 16" or 17" wheels/tires
- PolyU rear spring bushings and 1" lowering blocks/Ubolts
- more weight reduction
- RACING TIRES!!! (those may wait 'til Spring/'Summer)

Hope to see some spectators at Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) on 10/23-24!

Check this link for a few pics of the car and all the others out there:
http://kevinmallen.home.att.net/patriot_09_04.htm

posted 09-15-2004 05:15 PM            

That looks like something I'll look into once the 1/4 mile bracket racing gets stale, but for now, it's enough of a rush.

I noticed how much work you've put into your car to make it safe and nimble enough to race on that type of track. Sounds like it payed off in full till next time.

posted 09-16-2004 09:41 AM            

I'm definitely game for more old Mopars on track! Not sure what the closest road course is to you, but I can certainly vouch for VIR being awesome.

Let me know about the 'stang wheels. I'm looking for a pair of 17x8 99-up GT wheels to complete my set, but will consider other options in 17x8 or 17x9.

Cheers,

posted 09-16-2004 10:06 AM         

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Sandy Marshall

posted 10-14-2004 12:09 PM            

Keep us updated!

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-=- Rob -=-
GHoosdum@yahoo.com

posted 10-14-2004 01:35 PM            

You should know that Will Burns is selling a '65 Valiant project car with 'glass front end for a killer price ($600 asking). I have pics I could send. Someone also posted in parts for sale some '64 Dart front end pieces...

posted 10-14-2004 02:08 PM            

Also, where did you get your 'glass hood?

Thanks!

------------------

-=- Rob -=-
GHoosdum@yahoo.com

posted 03-25-2005 07:54 AM            

Few notes on the "V"...

I am still in New Zealand until May 1, but my "partner in grime" Marc TerHorst has been busy running the car. Before I left home, we put the '71 Maverick axle in it (2.79 open for now) and 17X8 Mustang rims on the back, and Falken Azenis Sports all around. He says the car feels great on track. The 20:1 steering box went in last fall too.

Both of us ran the car at Carolina Motorsports Park in September and it held up very well. Still on street tires.

Marc ran the car at Virgina Int'l Raceway (full course) in Feb with no troubles. Sticky tires and axle felt good. I can't wait to get back and try it out!!

Will post pics sometime...