1969 Dart Street/Strip (Re)Build

mopardude318 said
anything new

Yes there's some new stuff I'll be posting soon. I've just kind of taken a break from the car for a bit but I've started back into it recently. Unfortunately, I hurt the motor a little because it was detonating on a hard run I made (and it was the only time I ran it THAT hard), running it to the shift light in first and second. I did not know it was detonating until I pulled the plugs. It smoked a little on the right exhaust after that and it smoked out of the breather too. It did not do that before that run, and it only took one time. Had a decent amount of leakdown on my #8 cylinder so I ended up taking the safe route and pulled the motor to see what happened. Detonation is a B@#&H! At least now I will know everything about the motor once it's put back together. Cam, compression ratio, etc. I think I'll be detuning this beast a little to back off the "supposed" 15:1 compression. Now I will be redoing the front end because it walks the road like a wheat truck, getting the headers re-coated since they rusted from TTi. Some areas will need bent because the headers hit the driver's side frame, barely cleared the steering shaft, was rubbing the right torsion bar, and also was rubbing the bolt on the pitman arm (the bolt was actually ground down to clear and still hit). It almost rubbed clear through the header in that spot. The wiring needs some serious attention so I'm trying to figure out what route to take on that because I have never done wiring before and I think it ALL needs ripped out and replaced. I would love to re-do my dash cluster while I'm at it but it's all so overwhelming and I honestly don't think I can afford it right with all the other expenses I'm incurring with the motor and front end work. My wife is a very unhappy lady right now because she could have got wood floors and "the bi$#h in the garge" (as she calls it) is sucking all our funds. So I should know next month or so what's up with the motor when the guy gets it apart. Hopefully a torque plate hone and new rings will do the trick (best case scenario).

340sFastback said
Awesome job on that metal work!! Love the way those tires look! And that engine is sounding pretty manly too!!

I would get a fuel pressure gauge from Harbor Freight, tee it in right before the carb, tape gauge to windshield, and have a friend watch it while you step on it to make sure pressure does not drop off. Usually when power drops off on the top end its not getting enough fuel. Might be sucking a fuel line shut or something like that.

Thanks for the compliment. I have the fuel situation straightened out now. I'm running an Aeromotive 140GPH pump with a bypass style regular and the needle doesn't move a bit on the guage when I get into it.

bamamopar said
That looks nasty! Is that radiant red?

It's some Ford color that I am unsure of. The guy said it was a color used on a 2006 Mustang .