Can't decide on what to call this thing, but "Project V", and the "Dalliant" top the list. The car will have a '64 Dart front clip, with new 'glass hood from Meril Bruner. Actually, since it's a Valiant and a Dart, we could call it "Project VD" I suppose...

We are making some progress on the '66 V100 I acquired a couple of months ago from the Drakes. The front clip is off it, all the glass and mechanisms are out, and we're thinking about paint and body and rollcage and such.

Also, got the ol' 225 fired up today after a little oil down the plug holes, and a new fuel filter. Ran pretty well, but seemed to be missing on one cyl - we'll try a valve adjustment and a better 1bbl carb to see if the motor is useable. No leaks and it went into gear too!

My current thinking is to use the motor that's in it and throw a little boost at it for my first turbo experiment. Not much risk here...

We also checked out an autocross today - my first (just watching). Looked like it could be fun, and at least good for testing of the Valiant as we do our mods.

Happily,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Lou. this project sounds cool! Even cooler though is the fact that you feel the need to assign a name to your project "Project V" has a nice ring to it.

I name my various projects, too. Mine are more mundane and harder to keep up with, like "project 2347.896C", a habit I picked up from my dad. I like to name my various stories and anecdotes and BS, too, e.g. "story 756904FS, version 8". This numbering system is, in fact, not in any particular order and the assigned number can change from day to day, but this has never been a problem.

Keep us up to date with this one, I likes diff'rnt stuff...

"DW"

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

The seeds of inspiration. orginal owner referred to the GT as the "bronze bullet project (a reference to the extremely rare imperial color that was special ordered when new 999 paint code) Maybe someday i'll rechristen it "project bronze bullet" when I find a match for this color....Dave

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Troops on the battlefield have a far better view of the battle then the generals who lead them

Does that mean we could call ours "Project Dartster"? Afterall, we are using parts from a Duster on our Dart Sport.

Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Ooh I like, Jerry, your right. Even the GT is now wearing some 70 Duster doner items. Just waiting for my paint and body guy to be released from San Quintin and finding time/money to put the rest of the motor together....Dave

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Troops on the battlefield have a far better view of the battle then the generals who lead them

San Quintin?
What did he do, "shoot" someone with his spray gun?

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Two years for parole violation. He's well known in the LA custom car scene for his work and his brother is the best interior man I have see yet (also learned his trade in San Quintin).

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Troops on the battlefield have a far better view of the battle then the generals who lead them

Heck, it would be cheaper on me, if I just send my older son to prison instead of college. He could get job-trained in something for free, and it wouldn't cost me anything. Let's see........ more money for the "Dartster Project". Something to think about

Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Plus he would only charge you $1.50 per day for his new found skills, still leaving you positive cash flow for project Dartster

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Troops on the battlefield have a far better view of the battle then the generals who lead them

Updates...
Took the car to the N Wilkesboro Slant 6 race on 8/21 and had a blast. Tuned it up a little (retarded timing mostly) for consistent 10.80s in the 1/8th. Not bad for an almost stock motor and stock trans/rear. This car is pretty light but haven't weighed yet.

Installed and zeroed out a 1.25" front sway bar from Quickcor with 7/16" heim joint (rod end) endlinks and LCA tabs of my own devising. MAN did that make a difference. The car is tight as a tiger now in the corners.

Had alignment done this morning in Chapel Hill (Lloyd Tire & Alignment) to these specs:

Ride height (set by me): 0.7" (corrected 9/5 when remeasured)
Caster: +3.0 deg
Camber: -1.2 deg
Toe: 0"

They also read the rear end alignment and it was spot on (< 0.04 deg from perfectly straight). This is about the limit of their machine.

I may dial in a skosh of toe myself (fronts of tires inward), like 0.05-0.1", after a track test. I also note that my initial "eyeball" alignment allowed for +4-6 deg caster with -2 deg camber, all this with the MOOG offset UCA bushings. So, I think getting tubular UCAs is pretty much not needed, unless you want huge caster (power steering?).

The car goes on its first road course outing on 9/11-12 at VIR (Patriot course). Second outing will be 10/23 at Carolina Motorsports Park. The car was teched in today (9/2) and is legal to run.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Road tested the car a little this morning - everything feels good. Understeers a bit, but not terribly.

Also, weighed the car at the local landfill. I pulled my Van+trailer+car onto the scales and got 9000 lbs even. Dropped the car off and got 6440 with just the Van+trailer.

Car weight is 2560 lbs (+/-20lbs) with 9 gals of gas and no driver. This is with a passenger seat and 5pt belt as well.

Pretty close to what I thought. Hopefully we can strip some more weight so that when the rest of the rollcage goes in we are still 2600 lbs or less. The 8" rear axle and 17" wheels/tires will add probably 40lbs.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Well, we had a great weekend at VIR-Patriot course (1.1 mile, 14 turns) last weekend (9/11-12).

The V stood the tests and was SWEET to drive on track, as I had hoped. Neutral balance, limited body roll, but not enough power for me. The track was very busy, with lots of turns and not much straight. I reached about 78-80 MPH on the two straights. Some of the faster guys were over 100. I'm sure the '64 would have hit 85-90 at least.

I ran it every session (3 X 20min on Sat and Sun), and in the Time Trials on both days (5 laps each). The car had no mechanical problems or issues at all. People were really psyched about the car and there were lots of head scratchers asking questions and commenting on how fun it was to watch the V drift and squeal around the course.

Time trials netted 1:02:097 on Saturday (best of 3 laps) and with some driving improvement I got down to 1:01:041 on Sunday. I ran with an instructor all Saturday, so had to adjust driving for his weight loss for the TT. On Sunday, I ran alone all day, so could practice without him. These were my first "competitive" time trials with official clocking and it was fun to get a clear course and really let it hang out.

The fastest non-tube-chassis cars were around 53-54 sec, and most of the modded BMWs with slicks were around 56-59 sec. There were several people slower than me, including some people with racing tires. My feeling is that I would have been in the 57-59 sec range with slicks. I'm still very underpowered compared to most cars (high 16s in 1/4, 115 RWHP), but plan on some motor mods for another 10-30 HP before the next outing on 10/23.

My buddy and I ran the same run group, so didn't get many pics, but I may be able to post something if he got some.

Immediate mods:
- upgrade T-bars from 0.890 to 0.990"
- relocate fuel cell below trunk floor (about 10-12" lower)
- install 20:1 steering worm/ballnut
- better head and/or cam for another 10-30 HP
- Ford 8" rear with BBP to mount 16" or 17" wheels/tires
- PolyU rear spring bushings and 1" lowering blocks/Ubolts
- more weight reduction
- RACING TIRES!!! (those may wait 'til Spring/'Summer)

Hope to see some spectators at Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) on 10/23-24!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Upgrades in the last year:

- Ford 8" rear from a 71 Maverick 302 (5 lug), needed 1" wheel spacers (hub centric) to run 99 Mustang 17X8 rims, rebuilt brakes, approx 35lb weight gain over 7.25" axle, ran 2.79 open at Farmington and VIR 11/04-6/05
- 3.00 posi chunk received, built by "69dart_440" on Ebay, put in soon
- Poly (Energy susp) rear leaf bushings
- 1" lowering blocks and 1" raise on front eye (AREgineering/magnumhp front hangers), 1/2" shortening of rear shackles (homemade from 1.25"X5/16" steel bar and 1/2" bolts welded on)
- Falken Azenis Sport (2004-down model) tires all around on 17X8 rims

- Cut out trunk floor and hung fuel cell at floor level (9.5" overall drop), saved 14 lbs from sheetmetal and mounts
- Hawker Energy Odyssey PC680MJT battery (15lbs) replaces huge Diehard ($90 shipped from ebay) in trunk, 20 lb weight savings

- Crane 0.460", 228 @0.050" camshaft, degreed at 103 centerline (107 is Crane spec)
- 1.76/1.50" valves cylinder head done my Mike Jeffrey
- Offy 4V intake with Holley 500 2bbl tuned up on my 68 Dart
- Floating (cable) gas pedal retrofit

The car is really beginning to take shape. Will have it out to either Clay City or N. Wilkesboro Slant races, or both. Should run in the low/mid 15s? Road racing in Sept/Oct.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Took the V to Clay City and N. Wilkesboro races.

Checked mech timing advance and it had way too much. I quickly modified a dizzy to have 15 deg total spread, all in by about 2500. Golly having a wire feed welder is nice...

At Clay City, ran 16.0s with the stock converter (lazy launches) and no tuning except for timing advance (total at 30 was best). 10.39@67 best in the 1/8. Put out rookie Slant6Ram in the 1st round, but lost to Barry H in the 2nd when I broke out by 0.012, having him covered by 0.130.

Ordered a 9.5" converter from Midwest in Rockford IL. Specified 2600-3000 stall with my car parameters. $410 shipped and it arrived at my door 4 business days after I ordered it. This was with $30 extra for custom machining for the small snout crank hub. Fred hit the stall right on as it hits 2700-2900 stall coming off the line depending on flash or static. That stall is perfect to get "on the power" right off the line.

Cameron Tilley and I installed it the night before leaving for NW race. Nice working with him as we got it in the car start-to-finish in 2hrs with moderate effort. Also swapped in the 904 originally built for my 68 Dart (big input shafts) with a deep pan, shift kit, higher line pressure, 4 clutch front drum...

At N. Wilkesboro, with worse air, it ran 10.09@68.4 best and 10.13 on the brakes in elims. Still no carb tuning and has my cobbled up 2" single exhaust... Those are next on the list, but this thing is getting dowright fun to drive!

I think the 8.5:1 comp is also hurting me, so this winter we'll probably build a short block for it.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I'm pretty happy with my Midwest 8" converter too Lou.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.