I just went to my 2nd slant six race, and I think it's time to add my dart to the virtual dragstrip.

I bought this car from my dad about 8 years ago, and drove it to high school my senior year in this form:

Originally a 3 on the tree, but dad put a 4 speed overdrive transmission in it and an 8 3/4 open rear and sold it to me for $1000. Thanks Dad!

Over the next few years, we painted it, dyed the interior black, and did some engine work to get it into its current state:



It's been alot of fun, its my first car, and it still has the original slant six, and will always be a slant 6! The car has been a daily driver, spent time in Pennsylvania snows, and is NOT garage kept. I try to take care of it the best I can, but it will never be a show car, and I enjoy driving it to the race track, and driving it home. Over the years I have made alot of changes. I've tried 4 different cam profiles up to .570 lift (not by choice, by oil pump gear failure), and tried different combination's of parts. Dad's taught me alot about these things, and I've learned alot reading on this forum.

Here is the rundown on my current setup:

1972 Dodge Dart Swinger:

Weight: 3330 pounds with me in it
225ci Slant Six bored .030 over, .050 off block. Machine work done by Phils auto Service
Stock Rods with ARP Rod bolts
Cast Mopar performance 9:1 pistons and rings
Stock Re-Grind cam .510 lift 282 duration
1.75 intake valves 1.5 exhaust valves. Porting and Bowl blending done by Rick (aka Dad). .100 planed off head
43cc combustion chambers (2cc additional for bore notches for valve clearance)
Effective Compression Ratio of 10.79:1
Double Roller Timing Set
Offenhouser 4 Barrel intake manifold
600cfm Edelbrock carburetor
Mopar performance 6:1 headers splitting into dual 2 1/2 pipes through hooker super comp mufflers (with cutouts)
MSD 6AL programmable ignition box with msd coil and "locked out distributor"
4 speed overdrive transmission
McLeod Steel flywheel (30#)
Webber diaphragm Pressure plate, dual friction performance clutch
8 3/4 Posi rear with 4.30 gears
Front brakes swapped to disc brakes from an F body.
No Power steering, No power brakes
Compucar Nitrous System Plate setup adjustable from 50hp to 275hp

Current Best Times:

50 shot of Nitrous:
60 foot 1.954
330 foot 5.763
1/8 mile 8.986
1/8 mph 76.36
1000 ft 11.738
1/4 mile 14.061
1/4 mph 96.58

All Engine:
60 ft 2.039
1/8 mile 9.437
1/8 mph 72.48
1/4 Mile 14.83
1/4 mph 91.22

I currently have some very bad transmission noise that developed at the Mason Dixon Race, so it looks like I will be rebuilding that sometime soon. I also will be installing an electric fuel pump, so I have enough fuel pressure for the nitrous. My goals are to pick up another second in the 1/4 and still be a daily driver. Ron Hamby recommended that I get an exhaust Gas Temp guage, to help me with the nitrous tuning. I hope to make it to some more slant six races, and get to meet some more of you.

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Ryan Covalt
62 Plymouth Valiant Race Car 2170# 11.008 @ 117.65 MPH 1/4 Mile Best
72' Dart Swinger Street Car, 4 spd, 3330# 14.061 @96.58 1/4 mile Best

Thanks for the post, Ryan. Great car and it'll only get better. Hope we can entice you to another race later this year or next - Bristol, Clay City??

Happy motoring,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Nice writeup Ryan.

It was nice to meet you this spring .

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Thanks Sandy,
I had a great time socializing even if we didn't get to race that time. Hopefully we'll meet up again sometime and I will get to experience the flying tipis.

Lou,
I'm really hoping to start coming to more races, but I want to drive the car there and back. So hopefully I'll get the tranny fixed, find the high speed vibration, and then start taking the long road trips. Did you get the pictures I emailed you from the last race?

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Ryan Covalt
62 Plymouth Valiant Race Car 2170# 11.008 @ 117.65 MPH 1/4 Mile Best
72' Dart Swinger Street Car, 4 spd, 3330# 14.061 @96.58 1/4 mile Best

Great looking car!

(But then, I'm partial to '72 Swingers... )

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vm

Ryan, You have a nice Driver / Dragstrip Fighter!.

I wish you well on getting the driveline stuff squared away.


I have rebult many 833's it can all be done with hand tools except for pressing on and off the bearings.



Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Thanks Guys I appreciate the comments,

Greg, Congrats again on the race win saturday!

It looks like I will be rebuilding my extra 833 sometime very soon.

I have a press at the shop, do I need any special spacers or sleeves to press the bearings on/off?

Thanks.

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Ryan Covalt
62 Plymouth Valiant Race Car 2170# 11.008 @ 117.65 MPH 1/4 Mile Best
72' Dart Swinger Street Car, 4 spd, 3330# 14.061 @96.58 1/4 mile Best

Thanks Ryan,


I dont think that you need any thing special for the bearings to press on or off.

Before I got my shop press I used to use a hammer and some old scrap wood to do mine. Some of the bearing / shafts are super loose and come off with just a light tap.. some are tighter and require the Press.


Happy trans Building!

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Here is a picture from the Mason Dixon time trials of the 14.06 run the fastest run for the Dart so far.

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Ryan Covalt
62 Plymouth Valiant Race Car 2170# 11.008 @ 117.65 MPH 1/4 Mile Best
72' Dart Swinger Street Car, 4 spd, 3330# 14.061 @96.58 1/4 mile Best

Just looking over some post I didn't see and I missed this one. Very nice looking Dart you have there. Good write up to. My 66 Valiant was my school car also. Later
Ryan

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10.74 @ 127.47 mph 1320 ft
6.65 @ 107.80 mph 660 ft

http://www.youtube.com/c/turbo66valiant
Follow on Instagram - turbo66valiant
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.peterson.737

Awesome car man something special about the first car, my duster is still my first and only car still getting me around town/work/college. Kudos on everything color, rims, motor and of cousre the time slips. Hopefully i'll make it to a race one of these days Florida is kinda out of the way for everything but the GA races (I think).

Kevin

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My blue '68 Dart was my first car, and I still am modding and driving it.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Kevin, I've been to 2 slant six races and they are a lot of fun. We all pit in the same area, and help adjust/repair things. It's really cool and you can learn a lot fast. I got to race Charlie Schmidt in a few time trials he came all the way to maryland from florida. Hopefully I will be able to start coming to a couple races down south, maybe we can meet up at a race sometime. Its cool that there are a few who still have their first cars, and still have the slant six. Hopefully we can get dads car finished this winter/spring its his first car too (65 valiant 2dr). Ryan, Congats on the record setting runs, amazing car. I am hoping to get my car adjusted/tuned to run a lot more nitrous and hopefully get into the 12's next season.... I can't even imagine running mid 10's great job!

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Ryan Covalt
62 Plymouth Valiant Race Car 2170# 11.008 @ 117.65 MPH 1/4 Mile Best
72' Dart Swinger Street Car, 4 spd, 3330# 14.061 @96.58 1/4 mile Best

I want into the 11's with this turbo motor but we shall see, im curious to see what kinda of boost and timeslips i can get away with without the addition of a meth kit which i'll probably end up buying because i know im gonna want like 20lbs of boost.
Ya if i dont have any major school exams or anything maybe ill make it to the GA race thats coming up in October I think

Kev

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Got to spend a little time working on the Dart the last few weeks. Dad helped me rebuild my extra 4 speed and get that put in the car. Hopefully this one will hold up much better than the last one. I also installed a EFI kit from professional products, and am in the process of getting it adjusted and set up properly. I currently have way too much fuel at idle. I got to put a few miles on it, and am hoping to get it dialed in over the next few weeks.
The plans for this racing season is to get the car running smoothly hopefully get into the mid 14 second range on engine only (current best of 14.8 engine only). 2nd will be to get some good runs with nitrous. I will be using 100hp of nitrous or more this year, and I am hoping that the EFI will help keep the A/F ratio close. I am not sure how it will all work out, but we will find out. If all works out I am hoping to continue driving the car on the street and be able to compete for some records in the new classes. I am really hoping to get into the 12 second range with nitrous this year, probably wishful thinking, but that s the goal. Hopefully the nice weather gets here soon, and we can start test/tune.

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Ryan Covalt
62 Plymouth Valiant Race Car 2170# 11.008 @ 117.65 MPH 1/4 Mile Best
72' Dart Swinger Street Car, 4 spd, 3330# 14.061 @96.58 1/4 mile Best