My 5.9 into '68 Dart swap
- Thread starter MileHighDart
- Start date
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MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
So pretty much finished up the Lokar cable install last weekend. Got it working even after my screw up.
Only thing I still want to do with it is this. Where the cable end goes through the firewall, it goes straight threw, and pretty much level. Well the lever on the gas pedal that grabs the end of the cable is a little lower than the end of the cable sticking through the firewall. So the cable coming out of the housing angles downward a little and when depressing the gas pedal you can feel and hear the cable scraping against the housing. I'm going to make a couple of washers that are kind of wedge shaped, one for the engine bay side and one for the inside. I'm hoping to angle the cable housing down a little so the inner cable comes straight out where it connects to the pedal. Maybe that will stop the scraping noise and put less wear on the cable.
Only thing I still want to do with it is this. Where the cable end goes through the firewall, it goes straight threw, and pretty much level. Well the lever on the gas pedal that grabs the end of the cable is a little lower than the end of the cable sticking through the firewall. So the cable coming out of the housing angles downward a little and when depressing the gas pedal you can feel and hear the cable scraping against the housing. I'm going to make a couple of washers that are kind of wedge shaped, one for the engine bay side and one for the inside. I'm hoping to angle the cable housing down a little so the inner cable comes straight out where it connects to the pedal. Maybe that will stop the scraping noise and put less wear on the cable.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Today was all about exhaust, and tomorrow probably will be too.
Installed new 2-1/2" pipe from the headers to the mufflers, with my Summit X-pipe kit in the middle. I hate exhaust work and it always takes me a ton of time.
Well, I got it all cut and fit and assembled, and even tack welded where needed, and I think it came out pretty slick.
I'll be pulling the section from the header to the mufflers back out tomorrow to finish the welding at the joints, and then re-install. I'll only be using clamps where the new part connects to the mufflers.
I am using 2-1/2" to 2-1/4" reducers just before the muffs because I didn't want replace my mufflers and tailpipes at this time. Running short on money, and those parts aren't very old anyway.
I also have to add a couple of new tailpipe hangers at the back.
Here's a couple pics of how it came out.
Installed new 2-1/2" pipe from the headers to the mufflers, with my Summit X-pipe kit in the middle. I hate exhaust work and it always takes me a ton of time.
Well, I got it all cut and fit and assembled, and even tack welded where needed, and I think it came out pretty slick.
I'll be pulling the section from the header to the mufflers back out tomorrow to finish the welding at the joints, and then re-install. I'll only be using clamps where the new part connects to the mufflers.
I am using 2-1/2" to 2-1/4" reducers just before the muffs because I didn't want replace my mufflers and tailpipes at this time. Running short on money, and those parts aren't very old anyway.
I also have to add a couple of new tailpipe hangers at the back.
Here's a couple pics of how it came out.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
I pulled the Edelbrock 1406 off today, tore it down and did a rebuild. Put a kit in it, and made some adjustments. Floats and a couple other things were way off.
Fired it back up a little while ago, let it warm up a bit, and messed with the idle air bleeds and idle speed a little. Have a much nicer idle now, around 800rpm and nice and smooth.
Before the rebuild I couldn't get any kind of decent idle below 1000 rpm.
Fired it back up a little while ago, let it warm up a bit, and messed with the idle air bleeds and idle speed a little. Have a much nicer idle now, around 800rpm and nice and smooth.
Before the rebuild I couldn't get any kind of decent idle below 1000 rpm.
Chuck McManus
New Member
Nice work, Mile High dart. Any available stock Mopar Magnum brackets, fasteners, or any thing that is not needed? Chuck M.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
I’ve got a complete beer barrel intake manifold with throttle body, fuel rails and injectors. A truck style p/s pump and bracket, and probably still have the truck motor mount brackets. That’s about it I think. Since I kept the serpentine setup I used a lot of what came with the engine.
Chuck McManus
New Member
Thanks, fuel rails and injectors would be a great help. The motor is a '94 5.2 which was in a car fire. The objective is Mopar Magnum LA in '73 Duster. Tranny, an SST Tremec TKO 5 speed. So, because of the fire, and application, compels a search for any and all odd ball items. These may be fasteners or brackets, any thing to make the LA Magnum appear stock to the early A body Mopars. thanks for any assistance you may render in this. Chuck M.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Just a quick update. Got the engine bay part of my fuel system together.
Cant take a drive just yet, still have to mount my elec fuel pump, wire it, run now line, etc.
But I make a quick little video of it running today. Got it up to temp, got it idling nice.
Cant take a drive just yet, still have to mount my elec fuel pump, wire it, run now line, etc.
But I make a quick little video of it running today. Got it up to temp, got it idling nice.
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I've bottle fed my carb to hear my magnum run. Got my wiring all cleaned up and reinstalled. Driveshaft, radiator, etc done. I've been working out of state but plan on doing my fuel system when I get home. Where are you mounting your pump? I bought a cheap summit pump.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
I bought a Carter pump, but haven't really explored my mounting options yet. But that's what's next.
skizzo
Fubar Emeritus II
Good job, MH, looks fantastic.
As far as mounting that Summit pump, lol just make sures its isolated from the body or you wont be able to hear anything other than that f’n pump!
As far as mounting that Summit pump, lol just make sures its isolated from the body or you wont be able to hear anything other than that f’n pump!
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Well I know it seems like I fell off the face of the planet or something. Just too busy with thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, family members not well, etc, etc.
But I have been getting a little bit done.
Got my new fuel tank in, new 3/8" sending unit installed.
Gave up on the carter elec pump, just couldn't figure how to mount it where I needed it.
Bought an Airtex 9psi pump that's more of an inline design, in the back, out the front.
I got the pump mounted after making a little bracket that allowed me to mount it on rubber blocks. Should help with the pump noise.
Bent all new 3/8" steel fuel line from the tank to pump, and from the pump forward to the engine bay were I converted to -6an braided line.
I'm minutes away from going to fill a couple gas cans so I can dump some into the new tank.
Pretty much all that's left is some clamps to hold the steel line in place, and then wiring up the pump, relay, and oil pressure safety switch.
Here's a few pics. Enjoy
But I have been getting a little bit done.
Got my new fuel tank in, new 3/8" sending unit installed.
Gave up on the carter elec pump, just couldn't figure how to mount it where I needed it.
Bought an Airtex 9psi pump that's more of an inline design, in the back, out the front.
I got the pump mounted after making a little bracket that allowed me to mount it on rubber blocks. Should help with the pump noise.
Bent all new 3/8" steel fuel line from the tank to pump, and from the pump forward to the engine bay were I converted to -6an braided line.
I'm minutes away from going to fill a couple gas cans so I can dump some into the new tank.
Pretty much all that's left is some clamps to hold the steel line in place, and then wiring up the pump, relay, and oil pressure safety switch.
Here's a few pics. Enjoy
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MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
And a couple more.
Hey, who let that kitty cat in here?
Hey, who let that kitty cat in here?
Do you have some part numbers on that fuel pump, relay, pressure regulator, hoses and fittings? My son has that same red Uline bench for his legos, great shop tool.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Running for the first time off the Airtex electric fuel pump. No leaks anywhere and the pump being mounted on the rubber blocks is dead quiet. Just ran a temporary hot wire today to test the pump. Got my holley pressure regulator dialed in at 5.5psi. In the next couple days I'll get the relay wired in, and then The First Testdrive !
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
We’ll finally got it out for its first test drive today.
Taking it pretty easy for now, but huge improvement over the 318. Never went beyond 1/4 throttle and it scoots along pretty good. Can really feel the torque.
Just did a couple 15 minute drives. Need to get my lokar kickdown adjusted a little better. Holds in gear too long before it shifts.
I’ll mess with it in the morning a bit, and if I’m feeling confident I’ll try driving it to work. That’s about a 35 minute drive each way on various roads from 30 to 60 mph. Will give me a chance to start breaking it in. Plus I just can’t wait to spend some time behind the wheel. It’s been off the road about two years.
Taking it pretty easy for now, but huge improvement over the 318. Never went beyond 1/4 throttle and it scoots along pretty good. Can really feel the torque.
Just did a couple 15 minute drives. Need to get my lokar kickdown adjusted a little better. Holds in gear too long before it shifts.
I’ll mess with it in the morning a bit, and if I’m feeling confident I’ll try driving it to work. That’s about a 35 minute drive each way on various roads from 30 to 60 mph. Will give me a chance to start breaking it in. Plus I just can’t wait to spend some time behind the wheel. It’s been off the road about two years.
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Well, this morning was fun.
Decided to take the advice of some members here and get this thing broken in by making some full throttle passes up and down through the rpm range, a dozen or more times.
I gotta say, OMG this thing hauls ***!
Runs smooth, and pulls hard all the way from 0 to 80 (which happens very quickly).
I couldn't be happier with the swap right now. If it had any more power, I'd probably be scared of it.
I'll try to get some video soon of me running through the gears, but need a camera man for that.
p.s. I can stop grinning! Just so happy to see it back on the street again, after almost 2 years in the garage.
Decided to take the advice of some members here and get this thing broken in by making some full throttle passes up and down through the rpm range, a dozen or more times.
I gotta say, OMG this thing hauls ***!
Runs smooth, and pulls hard all the way from 0 to 80 (which happens very quickly).
I couldn't be happier with the swap right now. If it had any more power, I'd probably be scared of it.
I'll try to get some video soon of me running through the gears, but need a camera man for that.
p.s. I can stop grinning! Just so happy to see it back on the street again, after almost 2 years in the garage.
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Very happy to see it turn out. Got a similar plan in the not too distant future myself, but its in a \6 "64 with even less room for headers so it should be fun...
So it’s been a few years now since you completed this swap, and I was just wondering how the dead head fuel system has been working for you? I plan to swap the serpentine setup back onto my engine in the next few weeks so I’ll be installing an electric pump. I’d planned on running a return line but saw how you did yours and figured I’d see how you’ve been liking it
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
I haven't had a lick of trouble with it. Been driving it a good bit, and still working fine.
Still got the seat cover?
MileHighDart
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately that seat cover was borrowed for a couple hours, not mine.Still got the seat cover?
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