AutoX/Road race in a dart??

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WyKev

WyKev

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Still planning what direction to take my Dart while I assemble parts and pieces.

I've always wanted an AAR Cuda over a drag car, and wondered about how I could make a road hugging dart. And I swore I saw someone whose name was autox dart or something like that and my brain took off from there.

So, basic or complex, whats needed to make a Dart a slot car?( I've been offroading for years. No need to there!)
 
The is an article out there about the "Green Brick" or just "The Brick" in which someone did this with a Valiant. I bet someone here can find the link......
 
I think you are talking about autoxcuda.

It should not be to hard BobTullius raced a Dart in Trans-Am back in the mid 60's. And a fun fact for you. A-bodies won more races than E-bodies. So I think you are on the right track.
 
Found it!!

http://www.moparaction.com/Article/Brick/GreenBrick.html

http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/one-lap-pix.html

http://www.moparaction.com/Next/history/feb2003.html

01s.jpg

03s.jpg
 
Try "auto hobby digest" on the web. There's info about the old 1966 Trans Am series. Not a lot of info about building cars but fun to read. Also info on the D-Dart. toolmanmike
 
tool on over to Mopar Action's website and read all about it.
http://www.moparaction.com/Tech/archive/one-lap-pix.html
You can go through the magazine tech archives to get most of the info you will need, and find the back issues, if you want to go that route.
Try typing in "road race barracuda" Dart, valiant, or "Green Brick" etc on a Google search, and be prepared to spend hours reading and saving stuff on the subject.
It's out there.
alan627b
 
WyKev,

What year is your Dart? I'm planning to do the same thing with my '69. I recently did my first track day at Pocono Raceway(not in my Dart yet) and ever since then I've been thinking about what I can do to make the Dart road course worthy. As others have suggested the Green Brick articles are a great place to start, nothing too exotic but it works.

So far the only thing I have done to mine has been to put 1" torsion bars and sway bar on the front. The next thing I'm going to do and what I should have done first is reinforce the K-frame and all of the welds, if I remember they cover this in the Green Brick articles. The bigest drawback I can see with these cars is you are limited to the size tire you can get in the front wheel well with out hitting anything while still maintaing suspention travel.

Good luck.
 
Boy, now I've got some reading to do! Thanks for all the info and threads.

NJDart, mines a 71 that is currently awaiting the 340, 727 and basic restore to get on the road. NO RUST is the best thing so far. Was a V8 car, has ft disc.

My buddy is into German cars, loves to scream thru the Colorado mtns. He gave me all kinds of **** when I bought the dart about how I'll never keep up. I think it would be awesome to pass him around a curve. LOL
 
I've been toying with the idea of going vintage racing in an old Dart using the Group 44 Dart of 66 & 67 as a guide. Don't see why it wouldn't be a good autoXer as well. Good luck. Start a thread to keep us posted.

TULLIU~1.JPG


TA_DART2.jpg
 
http://hometown.aol.com/pwall5/cars/2cudapag.html

I believe he's a poster here under autoxcuda

here's more to get you motivated:
http://users.erols.com/dmapes/NINETH.HTM

http://www.rittich.ca/barracuda/

http://teamstarfish.com/

http://users.erols.com/mathewg/mgcuda.html

Happy reading. A bodies can be made to handle exceptionally well. There is no need to re-invent the car and it can be done with mostly stock pieces. Brakes, tires/rims, torsion bars and springs will make all the world of difference. Find the local autocrossing group through SCCA, and go be a spectator, meet some folks and bring your car out. Guarantee you'll be hooked.
 
Well, this is my first post although I've been an A body owner for over 20 years.

The green brick is pretty much the template although there are some great upgrades out there over what low buck ehrenbooger did.

Unisteer.com will release their A body bolt in rack and pinion steering in the next month or so. Final specs are still fuzzy but they are aiming for a performance oriented setup. Just Suspension estimates the complete setup to be $1,099.

Complete box steel front ends are also available that replace the K frame and complete steering system compeltely eliminating flex and bump steer.
 
WyKev said:
Still planning what direction to take my Dart while I assemble parts and pieces.

I've always wanted an AAR Cuda over a drag car, and wondered about how I could make a road hugging dart. And I swore I saw someone whose name was autox dart or something like that and my brain took off from there.

So, basic or complex, whats needed to make a Dart a slot car?( I've been offroading for years. No need to there!)
Click to expand...

Autoxcuda here. My website http://hometown.aol.com/pwall5/cars/2cudapag.html is down due to aol dumping all it web hosting.


My current setup listed below. Future plans (if money falls out of the sky) for some bigger T-bars, front and rear 275/40/17 tires on 17x9's, 13" ARE disks with brembo calipers, brake ducts...

Now some of the parts are not the most perfect for their duty. But 75% of this stuff was bought used at swap meets and junk yard. For instance, if I bought a new rear sway bar it would be a Firm Feel or new Helwig adjustable. But I got my rear sway bar for $35 used.

  • .99 T-bar
  • stock 340 original 40 year old rear springs
  • Addco 1 1/8" front 3/4" rear sway bars
  • 245/50/15 BFG Comp TA, 15x8 rallyes, 4.5 bksp
  • 73-76 k-member welded reinforced
  • Mopar reman power steering box
  • La Carrea steering wheel
  • Moog offset 7103 rubber UCA bushings for caster on stock A-arms
  • poly: LCA, strut, sway bar, leaf bushings
  • Alignment: 4.4 deg pos caster, 1 deg neg camber, 1/16" toe in
  • 11.75 front disk, 10" stock rear drums
  • Mopar Police Duty semi metallic disk pads, braided flex lines, adj. prop. valve, MP alum master
  • QA1 single adjustble front shocks
  • Koni SPA1 rear shocks

autoxcuda2.jpg


W_2081.jpg



I don't think you need a rack conversion or a tubular k-member to get started. The fastest Mopar we had at Spring Fling Speed Festival 07 was a 68 Valiant with stock K-member, leaf springs, recirculating ball steering box.

Yes the Valiant's trick, but not fancy magazine stuff. He was faster than the Vipers, but he does have lots of road course experiance. He has a 8 point cage and subframe connectors that makes his chassis stiff. 1.24 t-bars, welded spool 73-76 k-member, Firm Feel tubular upper control arms, 13 ARE Brembo calipers, 275/40/17 on 17x9's, accusump, forgot his sway bar and rear spring setups.

This is 71Autoxr's Challenger behind the Valiant. He's been out each year to the all Mopar track days we have in conjunction with Spring Fling.
2007-05-03_038.jpg


2007-05-03_015.jpg


2007-05-03_012.jpg
 
Here's links to more picture from the Spring Fling Speed Festival's in 07 and 08 to get your blood pumping!!!

If you ever get a chance these are extremely fun event. A lot of comaridrie and exchanging ideas among Mopar guys that like handling. Last year someone brought a 67 Charger out that was set up really for drag racing. Well, he had a ball. And said he had more "on the track" time than in countless drag racing days.

BTW we have "heard" of rental cars out on the track. You can rent a hemi Charger right? 8)

1st Annual Spring Fling Speed Festival:

Big compilation video
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/b79fef84-0c13-4406-9135-99280048a2d9.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72p5vVwjRkk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN-iL0dyFU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6NndwRikAA

Cool video of Cuda showing suspension and tire movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MNypV_cFMk

Smaller Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXtFmHCYDLU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBnN83VM-T8

Neon !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvm2Xm8bt7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRpib9U3Lww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mZ1wUM8Utk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er2rsjmcqic


Speed Festival Pictures

Big picture set: http://alltimeracing.com/v2/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,28/catid,32/

http://users.erols.com/mathewg/temp/Speedfest.html

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v339/hotwheelsjr/Cars/Rick.jpg

http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i52/CHSRT8-Girl/MoparSpeedFestival2007/ Thank you Tamara

http://www.mrmopar.com/SpringFling2007/WillowSprings/ Thank you Arland


2nd Annual Spring Fling Speed Festival:

Speed Festival Videos
1967 Charger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw3Hy0gO0pA

In car camera!: Marty Robbins' actual Winston Cup Dodge Magnum racing with two 69 Daytonas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w38ruXZiDHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRUJOBQpWCw

Speed Festival Pictures
Big picture set: http://alltimeracing.com/v2/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,28/catid,39/

Thank you Ric Gusto: http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll291/71autoxr/
 
thats what i want to do with my 68 is make a pro touring car with either a twin turbo slant or a 10k reving 340!!!
 
WyKev said:
Boy, now I've got some reading to do! Thanks for all the info and threads.

NJDart, mines a 71 that is currently awaiting the 340, 727 and basic restore to get on the road. NO RUST is the best thing so far. Was a V8 car, has ft disc.

My buddy is into German cars, loves to scream thru the Colorado mtns. He gave me all kinds of **** when I bought the dart about how I'll never keep up. I think it would be awesome to pass him around a curve. LOL
Click to expand...

Here's picture of Tim's old 71 Swinger. He's the one that coordinates the www.alltimeracing.com events and Spring Fling Speed Festival. The suspension on that is about like mine but with manual 20:1 steering and 1.22 MP Torsion Bars, those are 245/50/15's on 15x7 rallyes. He had to fold in the rear wheel lip cause when on track the rear will move from side to side a little with all the cornering force.

10200012.jpg
 
AutoXcuda, you are a REALLY bad influence!! Congratulations.LOL Haven't even watched the vids yet, but I'm all re inspired.

The budget says low buck, but I'm going to buy new swaybars since all the old iron around got sent to china:wack:. Decided to work on suspension and brakes first, along with tubbing it this winter. Engine and trans mods will come next and then finally paint.

Really do appreciate the specs and vids!
 
I noticed that folks are using this K member. What particular advantage is there over welding up my 71 Kmember?
 
WyKev said:
AutoXcuda, you are a REALLY bad influence!! Congratulations.LOL Haven't even watched the vids yet, but I'm all re inspired.

The budget says low buck, but I'm going to buy new swaybars since all the old iron around got sent to china:wack:. Decided to work on suspension and brakes first, along with tubbing it this winter. Engine and trans mods will come next and then finally paint.

Really do appreciate the specs and vids!
Click to expand...

What K-member do you plan to use? What disc brake setup are you starting with?

Why tub it?

Another teaser pic....

SFSF08Pic24.jpg


SFSF08Pic03.jpg


SFSF08Pic04.jpg
 
WyKev said:
I noticed that folks are using this K member. What particular advantage is there over welding up my 71 Kmember?
Click to expand...

Opps missed this post.

IMHO, the advantage to the 73-76 K-member is:
  • The wide 67-72 factory dimension type sway bar will interfere with rims with more than 4.5" backspace. Running 17" rim with 5.5" backspace is the key to getting big 275/40/17 on 17x9 rims up front. Or you can run 5" backspacing with 16" rims and smaller tire.
  • Better motor mounts. biscuit 67-72 type can split easy. There are Mity Mount and other brand mounts that have a locking thru bolt in them though.
  • The sway bar is inside the k-member
  • Sway bar doesn't hang down low in the front like a early type does especially after you add sway bar poly bushing adapters.
  • With a 73-76 K-member with factory sway bar LCA tab or welded tabs you can use a cheap ~$100 ebay new sway bar. With the 67-72 ~$100 type, you need buy a good sway bar adapter kit from energy or buy the $275 www.firmfeel.com sway bar.

See how the sway bar hangs low here on the nice firm feel setup:

sway%20a2.jpg


This is how the firm feel brackets with LCA that didn't come with a 67-72 sway bar attach. Much beefier than the addco brackets.

Note: the bolt hole drilled and outlined in the center of the LCA is for a narrow 73-76 sway bar that didn't come with factory sway bar.

swaybara5.jpg
 
Just so the early A-body guys don't feel left out. These are from the 67 Mont-Tremblant, Québec Trans Am race.

30.jpg


26.jpg


16.jpg
 
on the first page,the red valiant with the accusump,pay careful attention to the crossover from each valve cover,VERY IMPORTANT!!! and the accusump is awesome,I will try to post pics of the breather system on my pro figure eight car,less plumbing but effective,they are running a pcv system on that valiant,whereas I didn't run that, just breathers.you will have to run a manual transmission(as per the rules)can't find pic's of the breather system,look in speedway motors catalog but heres some pic's of the car just for kicks,it turns left ,turns righ and bury's you in the seat on the straights!!!car is setup for dodge or chevy power sorry guy's sponsors flipped the bill for that kind of stuff but the 360 made just as much power for less $$$

side #27 pro.JPG


all you'll see.JPG
 
waggin said:
on the first page,the red valiant with the accusump,pay careful attention to the crossover from each valve cover,VERY IMPORTANT!!! and the accusump is awesome,I will try to post pics of the breather system on my pro figure eight car,less plumbing but effective,they are running a pcv system on that valiant,whereas I didn't run that, just breathers.you will have to run a manual transmission(as per the rules)can't find pic's of the breather system,look in speedway motors catalog but heres some pic's of the car just for kicks,it turns left ,turns righ and bury's you in the seat on the straights!!!car is setup for dodge or chevy power sorry guy's sponsors flipped the bill for that kind of stuff but the 360 made just as much power for less $$$
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, the manual tranmission is for your figure 8 rules. To go out on a track rental day you can have any tranny.

I don't have an accusump or a crossover breather setup. Sure, it's a good thing, but don't let that keep you from getting started and going out. Most of the older cars we had for our track day didn't have those two things. They were fine.

Now, my road course skills and car are not at the same level as the Valiant who's driver is a track instructor.

Cool Figure 8 car waggin. I've seen Jesse James in the pits with us at our home track, Irwindale. They had a really cool 200 lap? figure 8 enduro last year? that Jesse put up like $10K to win. After we got our stuff put away, I watched the end of that race and it was awesome!!
 
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