63 Dodge Dart newcomer questions/advice

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Valiant63 said:
Welcome to the board. That's a very cool looking 63 Dart. Look solid enough, but may need a few things like you said the driveshaft and maybe some help with the springs in the back end. The front bumper looks great. Although it is missing the headlight trim rings oh, but you can make do without them. I love the color and I love the VP decal on the lower right front fender. I think you are to stick with the Slant six and get it running and driving with it and the small 9 inch brakes. Once you go with the 318 V8, you should upgrade to at least 10 inch brakes or possibly discs up front. Like previously said you're going to have to modify the windshield wiper motor area of the firewall, but I have done that several times when putting a V8 into a 63 A body. Some people cut that area out and weld in a later year area, but I choose just to carefully move that area backwards enough so that the distributor fits. Forget changing the K frame, your current K frame will accommodate a V8 just like the 64 65 and 66 has. Also you may want to upgrade two V8 torsion bars as I am sure 55 plus year old slant 6 torsion bars have their limit as to how far they can be cranked up to hold the extra weight of a V8. You'd have to find a V8 radiator and V8 motor mounts not to mention the early V8 exhaust manifolds to do the swap. If you can find a V8 parts car with everything in it then that would be the best thing to do, but for now get your slant 6 going and enjoy it. By the way, the only way you can use the push-button transmission with a V8 is using the 64 V8 transmission. 65 is a little different but you can use it.
I would find a ball and trunnion drive shaft for an early Dart locally, not a Valiant as the drive shaft is shorter. Fix your Springs in the back if needed, and put some decent wheels and tires on it and go cruising.
Good luck with it.
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Thanks for the solid advice! I do have the headlight trims, I just haven’t put them on yet. The car came with an aftermarket aluminum radiator.
 
63rustydart said:
Hell yes! I’ll research on my end to see how the shipping works.
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Get a measurement of how long it should be.
It just occurred to me that I pulled it out of a '64 Dart station wagon.
The Dart wagon is on the Valiant's shorter wheelbase (106" vs. Sedan/Coupe/Convertible's 111") - I suspect the driveshaft length may be different, but don't know for sure.
 
Welcome! IMO I would keep it a Slant. I don't know your situation, nor your future, but I would bet down the road, if you decide you like working on cars, A V8 car will find you. Meanwhile, get your feet wet with getting the \ running & driving. Don't go overboard with trying to hop it up, just in case you do decide to make the change. An early A is a conversation starter, & so is a \6 in its own right.
I miss my old \ Dart, & after getting my current project done, would like to find another Slanty.
 
64DartGTinAZ said:
Get a measurement of how long it should be.
It just occurred to me that I pulled it out of a '64 Dart station wagon.
The Dart wagon is on the Valiant's shorter wheelbase (106" vs. Sedan/Coupe/Convertible's 111") - I suspect the driveshaft length may be different, but don't know for sure.
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Yes the DART station wagon has a drive shaft that is the same length as a valiant. Both the Valiant wagons and the Dart wagons were built on the same platform. Therefore, your Drive Shaft won't work for him if he has a Dart. I do have a drive shaft for a Dart that is a slip joint made to replace a ball and trunnion drive shaft. It's still bolts on the front to the transmission, but has a slip joint. Too bad you're on the other side of the country.
 
RogerRamRod said:
Welcome! IMO I would keep it a Slant. I don't know your situation, nor your future, but I would bet down the road, if you decide you like working on cars, A V8 car will find you. Meanwhile, get your feet wet with getting the \ running & driving. Don't go overboard with trying to hop it up, just in case you do decide to make the change. An early A is a conversation starter, & so is a \6 in its own right.
I miss my old \ Dart, & after getting my current project done, would like to find another Slanty.
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Thank you! For sure, you don’t see many early Darts which is why I chose it!
 
64DartGTinAZ said:
Get a measurement of how long it should be.
It just occurred to me that I pulled it out of a '64 Dart station wagon.
The Dart wagon is on the Valiant's shorter wheelbase (106" vs. Sedan/Coupe/Convertible's 111") - I suspect the driveshaft length may be different, but don't know for sure.
Click to expand...
Darn, that’s a bummer. I’ll probably look into finding one at Turners auto wrecking.
 
63rustydart said:
Darn, that’s a bummer. I’ll probably look into finding one at Turners auto wrecking.
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Nice car. I think yours and mine could be sister cars. Mine is also baby blue (for now) 2dr sedan. Only diff is mine has the 170, not the 225.

home.jpg
 
'63GT said:
I built a hybrid distributor to get past the firewall. it's a Magnum series housing with LA internals and MSD electronics. The advantage is obvious. the mag cap has a smaller O.D. too. works like a charm !


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So it looks like I’ll be doing a 318 small block conversion much sooner. Had a guy across my street offering me his 318 out of a motor home for free! That distributor would help a lot. Just need the details on it.
 
I made it sound easy/straight forward but, there's a lot of machine work needed to complete the job.
Inside of Mag dist needs to be machined out to match LA dist. inside diameter.
LA dist shaft needs to be shortened approx. 2" and new drive machined into shortened end and drilled in new location for roll pin and collar.
Reluctor shaft needs shortening by 1/2"
MSD reluctor needs to be bored for LA shaft and turned down OD to fit, then machine a roll pin groove.
New breaker/pick-up plate fabbed. (will not accept vacuum advance unit )
I'm sure I'm forgetting something here... you should be able to see some of this in the pic
 
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Allen bolts hold down breaker plate and has adjustment for proper rotor phasing.

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