Hello,

I've been lurking for a while here now. I'm going to start serious work on my project, so I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself and start asking for advice/opinions.

I've got a '66 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible. My dad bought it new about 6 months before I was born and gave it to me last year for my 40th b-day. Not sure if it was a good present or not....yet.

Here's what I have, and what I'd like to do.

It's a stock 270 with a 225 /6, 1bbl, no mods, 3sp on the column. The engine has been rebuilt once, at around 80k. It's showing about 114k now. It starts and runs relatively well. I replaced the shocks, tires, plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, did the electronic ignition conversion kit, cleaned the carb, etc. Last year it had a brake issue (from sitting for many years) so it has all new lines, wheel cylinders, drums, etc.

It's had some body work done, but needs more. All but the passenger side front fender look like they're solid. The frame appears solid, won't know until I dig into it a little. Since I've been driving it a little, what was left of the tail pipe has fallen off. The leaf springs are bowed the wrong way All the bushings/suspension parts are shot.

So. Now for the work (or fun part depending on how you look at it). I don't necessarily want a hot rod, but I also am not really concerned about keeping it stock. I want a fun daily driver that has some get up and go without breaking the bank.

I've got a super six manifold set, carb, and air cleaner that I'd like to swap out. I was going to take the manifold set (still bolted together) to a local machine shop for cleaning up (grinding flat, bead blasting, painting, etc). I've got a holley 2bbl to go on it. I'm going to get a rebuild kit and work on that. My big question is with the 3sp manual, what major obstacles do I have with linkage for choke, transmission, and throttle? I believe I'll need a new gas pedal and cable throttle linkage, but wasn't sure about the choke. I was going to connect the exhaust manifold to a 2.25" single with a thrush (or something similar) muffler. Nothing real fancy, just a nice sound.

I've also got new leaf springs, but can't seem to get the shackles ordered. I'm going to pull off the old shackles, u-bolts, and brackets and take them to a local suspension shop and have them fabricate new ones. I've already spoken to them and with the originals they can make replacements to fit. I also want to replace the front coil springs. The same shop said they could do that also.

I'm going to get one of the complete suspension kits, probably the polygraphite super front end kit from PST. I've got torsion bars on the front with no sway bars. I was going to replace the torsion bars and put a sway bar on the rear. Sound good?

The steering box (manual) feels pretty good. It's got some play, but not too much. What is involved with a rebuild/replacement? Can I just pop it open, clean it out and replace the fluid?

Once I get all of that done, I'll start body and interior work.

Sorry for being so long winded, I just got on a roll and didn't want to stop!

Thanks in advance for all that I'm sure to get back from you all.

Marty

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'66 Dart 270 convertible, 225, stock

Shackles are available, without going to the expense of "custom" parts. As for the suspension shop replacing the front coil springs, that would be a good trick. I would think twice about using this shop. It sounds like they are giving you a line of BS. Your car does not have coil springs, it has torsion bars, as you stated in the next paragraph.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Sounds like a good present to me! Welcome on the board.
That'd be an exceptionally talented shop, to be able to replace something that doesn't exist! The front suspension uses torsion bars, not coil springs. One good, reliable source you should be aware of for suspension parts is www.espo.com .
Good idea...
Might as well take 'em apart. It'll give you a chance to clean out the accumulated carbon from the underside of the intake manifold hot spot and install a gasket that'll actually seal. I refer to the good Australian gaskets for the manifolds-to-head and the intake-to-exhaust (heat riser/hotbox) junctions. If your intake manifold is aluminum, inspect it very carefully in the floor area for cracks.
Which one?
Easiest way forward is to get one of the electric choke kit.
The manual trans doesn't know or care what's going on with the throttle linkage.
Correct. You can grab the "hanging" accelerator pedal from a '67+ A-body or anything else, for that matter. For accelerator cables, see here
You certainly could. Another good option: Dutra Duals.
Don't run a sway bar on the rear if you haven't got one on the front.
Before you rebuild or replace it, try adjusting it. See here . My favourite manual steering box mod is installing the 20:1 worm and ball nut assembly to cut lock-to-lock turns from 5¾ to 4½. Filling up the lube is an excellent idea. 90w140 extreme-pressure gear lube with a generous amount of fine-powder graphite mixed in works well.

You mentioned installing electronic ignition. What distributor did you use?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I kinda got lost reading skiming through, however last spring I installed a performancesuspension.com (I think) polyurethance kit, and ordered a ball joint socket from mancini racing. It took a weekend and made the car a whole lot better, just become good friends with your pickle fork!
The super six is a good add-on cause it sounds like you just want a street cruiser, unfortuantely I couldn't find a holley electronic choke for the 2-barrell, so maybe you will or someone could help you. You might be better off with duals and a good offy.

I've been pointing to the same link for electric choke kits for quite awhile now...and that link contains the P/N for the 2bbl unit...

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

sounds like a great project!!!

if you can fabricate items you can keep your rod style throttle linkage-- check out member old6rodder's solution.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9255485@N04/sets/
Welcome to the board!! Lawrence

sorry dan guess I never saw the posts, anways carbs are to old for us youngesters I did efi over the summer and got it running better than that darn 2 barrell ever did.

Sounds like a cool project.

Go to BigBlockDart.com, it is a forum for Darts. Even though most of the guys to run big blocks, there is many contacts and places listed where you can get the shackles & anything else you may need for the suspension. Just go to the "Chassis/Suspension section and read and somewhere in all the threads are many links & listings for the parts needed on the suspension.



Jess

One day and already a wealth of great information! I may start deconstructing this weekend. I'll keep you all posted on the progress, or lack thereof...

Marty

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'66 Dart 270 convertible, 225, stock

I've had the shackles on back order for over 6 months from JC Whitney. They can't seem to get them and I don't know if I want to continue to wait. Any other place I may be able to find them (and the U bolts)?

Maybe it was me, I was referring to the springs around the shocks in the front. Is it really necessary to replace them? I'll definitely replace the torsion bars.

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'66 Dart 270 convertible, 225, stock

JC Witless get their springs and accessories from John R Spring Service on DeQuindre Rd. near Troy, MI. You can contact them directly and see if they've got the shackles. I would actually check with Espo, first.

If there are any springs around the shocks on the front of your car, they're not supposed to be there; get 'em off. I see you already replaced the shocks...what'd you install? There are large improvements to be had by using KYBs instead of parts-store shocks, and even larger improvements by using Edelbrock IAS units instead of KYBs.

The torsion bars don't need to be replaced as a maintenance item, but if you want to improve handling, then by all means install larger-diameter bars.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thanks Dan. You're a wealth of information. I'll check with Espo right after I cancel the other order. I see from their web site they have everything I'm looking for.

Interesting about the springs. I don't know how they would have gotten there, except to be stock. My dad was not a motorhead or anything and he did not make any mods from stock that I know of. I put Monroe shocks on it. Nothing fancy, not gas charged or anything. Its a huge improvement from what was there. Put it this way, I took the old shocks off and could compress them completely by hand and they didn't open back up again!

Down the road if I get it a little more pep, I may upgrade the shocks. I just needed something, anything, fast.

Do torsion bars wear out? If not, I'm not going to bother replacing them right now. I may upgrade in the future as noted above w/shocks.

If you haven't noticed already, I'm not a mechanic by trade. I consider myself very handy, but this project is going to (I hope) greatly expand my mechanical abilities and knowledge!

Thanks again.

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'66 Dart 270 convertible, 225, stock

Probably the car got taken in to a Sears or Monkey Wards auto care centre (or similar) and your dad got sold some kind of an alleged "upgrade" in the form of the springs you are seeing. They're definitely not stock.
That's how non-gas-charged shocks work...even new ones.
Not really, no. And they're adjustable.
It will certainly do that. Definitely ASAP go get the three books described at this thread.

Glad to help out!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I thought I remembered hearing or reading somewhere that it is a good idea to have the face of the manifolds (that bolt to the block) machined while bolted together to get an even smooth face. I was then going to have them taken apart and cleaned as you mentioned. If this is not true or necessary, let me know. I'll look into those gaskets. Both manifolds are steel, not aluminum. I have no idea what year they came off of.

Not sure which holley. I'll need to pull it out and check.

I'll look into that electronic choke also.

What are some pros and cons to doing dutra duals versus a single?

Got it. No sway bars.

I'll try adjusting/relubricating the steering box first.

I used the existing distributor and a bolt on conversion kit. I can't recall off the top of my head where I got the kit tho. Tweaked the timing a little and it runs like a champ.

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'66 Dart 270 convertible, 225, stock

Probably a Pertronix kit, then.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.