70 dart swinger slant turbo build and mild restoration
The build is still on just not on my 70. I have a 74 and I'm going to look at a 71 in a field today if the rain quits
Since you are going to buy a car to build anyway, you might consider the fact that Valiants and Darts gained weight, consistently, almost every year, as time went by. Slant sixes are particularly affected by this situation because their displacement is initially so small.
I have a book that shows shipping weights of various models thoughout the early years. Shipping weights are usually 200-250 pounds lighter than curb weights, so are not actually accurate representations of what the cars are going to weigh in the real world, but, are a good way to compare various models when selecting them for projects.
For example, a 1961 Valiant 2-door has a shipping weight of a svelte 2,565 pounds.
A 1974 Valiant (Duster) has a shipping weight of 2,975 pounds (410 pounds heavier!
A 1974 Scamp (Dart body) is 3,010 pounds.
my 1964 Valiant 4-door is 2.575 pounds. A 2-door would have been 35 pounds lighter; 2,540 pounds. But, I couldn't find one for sale, so, I got the 4-door.
A 1971 Dart 2-door (Swinger) is 2,900 pounds.
A 1966 Valiant 2-door is 2,600 pounds.
A 1966 Dart 2-door is 2,670 pounds.
If you go by the old adage (which seems largely, true) that 100 pounds is equal to a car-length in a quarter-mile drag race, you can surmise that a '66 Valiant with the same engine (and, same body-style) will outrun a same-year Dart about 3/4 of a car-length... not anything you could feel by the seat of your pants.
You pays your money and you takes your choice!
If you need any more information RE: shipping weights, just ask.
Good luck! :cheers:
