My 69 Dart Project

[standup303]

Have really been wanting to take the time to document my progress on my 69 Dart Custom. So here it goes….

Purchased the car May 6 2023 in Meeker, OK. Trailered it back to Castle Rock, CO. Original setup is:

69 Dart Custom 273, 727 car, bench seat

Purchased as 360LA, 727, 8 3/4 with 4.10s, long tube headers, flowmaster 40s, QA1 upper and lower control arms, QA1 adjustable shocks, Wilwood discs up front, aftermarket gauges/console, CVF serpentine system, AVS 650cfm carb

First thing I did was rebuild the steering column as it was very loose. Replaced the coupler and installed a bearing from Bergman Auto Craft. Tightened things up nicely.

The car had a driveline vibration, which I remember being pissed I didn’t notice more on the test drive. I dropped the trans, replaced the neutral balance converter and flex plate with a B&M external balance flex plate and neutral Balance Hughes 2500 converter. Huge improvement.

 

[standup303]

Next up, I drove the crap out of the car rest of the summer and fall! I was so stoked to finally have a V8 muscle car! My previous was a Plum Crazy 74 Swinger slant 6 I had been building a 440 for and wanting a V8 so bad in it.

Once winter hit I wanted to quiet the interior down and the bench seat was not agreeing with the 2 slipped discs I have in my back. I stripped the interior down, ground the floors down to bare metal and coated with KBS coat. Then installed Kilmat in every nook and cranny I could. Got everything except the roof. This made another huge improvement.

I started shopping around for new seats and they were just too expensive for anything nice, so off to the junkyard. I grabbed some front buckets from a VW Passat for $100 and then some brackets from Summit which I had to modify a bit. Ran a circuit for the electric recline function and love em so far!

I also replaced the front door glass track (this is a super fun task BTW….kidding), cat whiskers throughout, new interior and exterior door handles, key locks and ignition, custom made new door panels(which eventually failed), painted the front doors and rear passenger area, installed all new seat belts and thankfully had a tapped hole in the roof for the front shoulder belts, new package tray, installed kick panels with speakers and 6x9s in the back, ran all new wiring for these and they tie back into a Bluetooth module in the glove box.

 

[standup303]

I loved having the 360LA but it was a bit “tired” and I still really wanted a big block. So I continued working on the transmission and engine.

I purchased a “slightly used” BB 727. There was a bit of material in the pan so I decided I was going to rebuild it myself. Bought a Tom Hand book, rebuild kit from A&A and went at it. Little did I know the trans had a Cheetah reverse manual valve body! I did notice the housing was cracked due to a previous owner sinking a pan bolt on the neutral switch. Thankfully, I so happen to live about 5 miles from Andrews Racing Transmissions. I purchased a new housing and some other parts from him and he was kind enough to answer some of my stupid questions. Awesome guy to deal with, definitely look him up if you have any transmission needs. Anyways, got the trans rebuilt, no real issues.

 

[standup303]

Next up, about a year prior to picking up the 69, I had purchased a builder 440 from a guy who was clearing out his Dads old shop. I believe I paid $400 and he offered to give me a 383 as well just to get rid of it. Unfortunately I did not have to room for it. Remember him being a super cool guy though.

I tore it down, dropped it off at Gunn Automotive Machine in Denver, CO. If I remember right the details are:
Block shot peened
Bored .030 over
Cam and crank tunnels align honed
New cam bearings installed
Bronze distributor bushing installed
Balanced
Decks were flat
Factory connecting rods installed to new pistons 9.2:1 compression ratio (wish I had gone higher now)
New freeze plugs installed

I originally based the build on a Hughes “Whiplash” flat tappet cam which was for low compression engines. After reading so many posts about flat tappet cams I said screw that and purchased a Howard’s Hydraulic roller cam, lifter, timing set.

I got the block painted with KBS brush on paint (which I’ll never brush a block again), got the rotating assembly installed. Then it was time to pull the plug for a bit and get ready for our move!

 

[standup303]

We moved from Castle Rock, CO back to Littleton, CO. Once we were somewhat settled it was back to the project. I had been collecting parts for the swap for a few years. Everything went fairly smooth. It was definitely a fun experience and my first engine build!

I stripped the engine bay and coated it with SPI epoxy primer black. I did not want to paint the bay to color match at this time because I am most likely going to paint the car in a few years.

I bolted the motor and trans together and dropped it in, was a slight PIA getting the motor mounts to seat but it went in fairly easy. Then came a few weeks of getting everything else bolted up. Then first crank! Actually fired up fairly easy. I adjusted timing, checked for leaks, let it run and get up to temp. Then took it for its first drive to seat the rings. Man what a difference! And what a feeling to actually be driving down the road in something I built.

 

[standup303]

A few more details on the overall motor swap. I collected most of these parts over a few years. Sold a few nice mountain bikes and saved quite a bit to fund this.

Schumacher headers and motor mounts
Pypes Street Pro header back 2.5” exhaust
360LA had a CVF serpentine system I just had to buy a few different parts to make it work on the 440
452 iron heads
Edelbrock RPM intake
Quick Fuel 750cfm carb
PST 1.03” torsion bars
Replaced tie rod ends, idler arm and pitman arm
Mancini 6qt oil pan kit
Melling standard oil pump (wish I had gone high pressure)
Carter M6903 fuel pump


Since the install I repainted the grille, installed lighter hood springs for the fiberglass hood, and purchased a distributor with vac advance. Currently running 20 initial and 36 total.

The car is running GREAT! I am learning more and more everyday on how to get her tuned up. MAN it is so fun to drive especially with the reverse manual valve body. Have about 400 miles on the new engine. A couple rogue leaks but I have been fixing as I go.

I did have an issue with the valve seals in the heads so popped them off and had the machine shop cut the guides down and install new seals before they became an issue. Definitely sucked to rip the heads off a brand new build but luckily got in front of it before any damage was caused.

Now I have the car completely back together. Just ordered a few Black Friday parts I’m super excited about! Future plans include more tuning, new wheels and tires to get rid of the front runners and get wider rears, Borgeson steering box, new lower ball joints, new steering wheel. Already have some savings set aside for a TKX 5 speed overdrive from Silver Sport transmissions.

Feel like I’m about to make an acceptance speech but would like to say…. I never would have been able to get this together and running as well as it does without the members of this forum. Random questions, stupid questions, were all answered and really helped me out on this project. Thanks all.

 

[67Dart273]

I think the boy might be serious!!

 

[barbee6043]

Nice work!!!!

 

[mopowers]

Wow, that turned out great! I like your garage too.

 

[hcallaway]

Great Thanksgiving treat to read your posts. Love the car(s) and all your efforts!!!!!

 

[standup303]

Nice work!!!!

Thanks!

 

[standup303]

Wow, that turned out great! I like your garage too.

Thank you. Both were and continue to be a lot of work lol!

 

[standup303]

Great Thanksgiving treat to read your posts. Love the car(s) and all your efforts!!!!!

Thank you!!