HW's 1963 Dart GT race car build.

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hw612

hw612

The Mopar Martian.
Joined
Apr 12, 2010
Messages
398
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Location
twin cities, MN
Here goes nothing...
Hi I'm Hector! i look like this(kid in middle), I suppose I'm a "young gun" at 15.

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I am always surrounded by cars that run and run fast.
my friends and i are always making something faster.

This is my 1963 dodge dart gt, it is an old race car with local history(built by mechanics at local dealership.) working on getting to know more about the car, and maybe some pictures of it in its prime. i heard last it was running(early-mid 70s) it ran low 11s with a 340....
i plan on putting my 440 in it with a 727.
car is already set up with a narrowed 8 3/4 and small wheel tubs(tubs need replacing.)
there is a really nice roll bar in it that i think ill keep.
it also has a hand made fiberglass rear bumper!
but the amount of rivets in this car is insane.
the trunk floor was cut out and had some aluminum riveted in for the fuel cell, the divider between the trunk and interior has riveted metal in there and the dash is just riveted in with one stewart warner oil pres indicator and a water temp indicator. the taillights were canned and they riveted some metal over the holes for that.
so right now im just slowly getting rid of the 60's barbarian craftsmanship (which i admire but it aint gonna work) and cleaning everything up so i can asses what needs to be done.
here is all the pictures i have so far...

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messed up wheel tub.

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glass bumper...

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Ill try to keep this as updated as possible, with lots of pictures.
Thanks!
Hec.
 
From one 63 owner to another, very cool build...
 
thanks for the kind words guys, i am hoping to really start working on it this week...
 
Didnt get much done over the weekend because i helped two of my friends put rear ends in their cars... a 9 inch in a 71 chevelle, and a 8.8 in a 83 el camino... disgust.

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monday - tuesday, i kinda just stared at the thing for a few hours...
i drilled out a bunch of the rivets removing the rickidy rear firewall and the fuel cell mount in the trunk. i also started to pick away some bondo where the wheel well alteration was done, its electrical conduit brazed to the quarter. i plan on keeping this just re bondo-ing it correctly...

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ok here is the deck lid, not sure if you can see it but it used to say direct connection dart.

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ok thats it for now, tomorrow im going to see if i can get a plasma cutter out and cut out the wheel tubs...

Thanks!
Hector.
 
Hey all, havent done much. didnt get the wheel tubs out because i didnt go get the plasma cutter. next week maybe. i pulled the remains of the old wiring from under the dash(didnt take pics) found that there was a chrysler electronic ignition module wired in the glove box... (again no pics.) puled out the steering column because it wasnt connected just bolted in and in the way. going to paint it eventually... pulled out the hillbilly second layer of firewall you can see a before pic above, the stock one is pretty beat up but i like the look of a stock-ish firewall. inner fenders are also hacked to hell, not sure why maybe alignment? going to cut those out anyways so i can put my 440 in there and build headers then build new inner fenders around the motor and headers or just do some supports of some kind and not run inner fenders... not sure. also when i fit the motor ill look and see if i can box up the k frame and maybe move some stuff around on it for oil pan clearance.
thats it for now.
Thanks, hec.

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Looks like you got your work cut out for ya! No pun intended.....
 
Hector,
Are you working at Sharadon or have some kind of connection there? I also live in the twin city area and have known of Don for many years. Good luck on your build. L8r

Jim
 
i bought the car from dons friend randy, it was being stored there, but from what i understand don owned the car after it was taken apart in the early 80s its had multiple owners since then but nothing has really been done, randy told me don had planned on putting a 440 in it. i have some elephant ears don made back then and plan on using them.
 
What in the name of Batman's black undies did you do to the poor car man?!?!?!?!?
 
hw612 said:
i bought the car from dons friend randy, it was being stored there, but from what i understand don owned the car after it was taken apart in the early 80s its had multiple owners since then but nothing has really been done, randy told me don had planned on putting a 440 in it. i have some elephant ears don made back then and plan on using them.
Click to expand...

Cool, always good to find another local A-body enthusiast. Good luck on your build. L8r

Jim
 
i think i got out most of the bondo from this canyon, i think i am going to put bondo back in there but add a bunch more of tack welds or brazing rod so its not a half inch thick. there was way more on there then needed to make it look ok. its not going to look perfect when done but like the guys that did it before, i just wanna go racing. plus i think things look cool when they arent perfect but whatever. heres some pics. also how can i decode this vin?

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thanks
hec.
 
didnt get much more done this week except get the car moved to the other side of the shop... cleaning everything and getting ready for school to start. i should be able to work on the car more next week....

thanks
hec
 
hw612 said:
maybe if i knew where i was going.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like you already have a good idea = just want to go racing.

My first car (bought in 75 for $400) was a Blue w/white stripe, 64 GT, 273, 2 brl, 4spd, single exh, buckets & consul. I have a fond place in my heart for the early A's.

Keep going Hector, can't wait to see the video. You w/big smile, then the sound of the revving engine followed by a slight squeak of tires loosing traction a bit :burnout:, some smoke then another squeak as the tires grab and then the grand finally, as the disappearing tail-lights are complemented by the exhaust note of the 440 . . .

You go young gun!!! Subscribed
 
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