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Intended useage?
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17948
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Author:  74.swinger [ Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Intended useage?

A lot of people ask questions about what parts to use or upgrade to perform.
but opinions vary a lot. Mostly due to the fact that everyone seems to have a different idea odf how the car is being used.
So I figured I would see what you guys are doing.

So fess up what are you planning on doing with your toy?
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Author:  Patrick Devlin [ Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

My '68 Dart used to be my daily driver (from April '99 to August 2005), but I really got tired of running it into the ground. It would break my heart anytime it snowed and I had to drive it in the snow. So, right now it is parked and not being worked on enough.

As my intentions were for a daily driver before, I made changes for reliability and safety. So I did suspension/brake work (all heavy duty, .920" torsion bars, 6 leaf rear springs, Edelbrock IAS shocks), SSBC 4 piston Kelsey-Hayes ripoff brakes, 10" drums on a 3.55 8 3/4" rear. 14" American Racing Outlaw 1 wheels, quick turn manual box, Weber 32/36 DGEV carb, 3 point harnesses in front, electronic ignition., etc. Of course, all of these things had to be done on the weekend or at night so I could make it to work or school the next day.

Now that I have a different daily driver (1990 Volvo 240), I first want to preserve my Dart by cutting out the rust and welding in new metal and prepping for paint. After all the body work and paint, I would like to rebuild the slant six engine (head work, etc.) and go to multipoint fuel injection and DIS ignition. I will also finally be putting in aftermarket gauges. Eventually, I'd like to run a turbo off of an iron T connected to two Dutra iron castings.

The irony of all this is that I found it easier to justify spending money on "upgrades" when the Dart was a daily driver. Now that it is a "toy," I find it harder to spend money on it.

Author:  Matt Cramer [ Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:38 pm ]
Post subject: 

My Dart had been a daily driver until the upgrade bug bit me. Now it's been sitting in the garage too long while I try to convert it to EFI. When that's done, I envision taking it on occasional commutes, but it's likely to be a "weekend warrior" as I've got a more economical daily driver. I also plan to take it to car shows, the dragstrip, and even to autocrosses - I've taken pains to build a fuel system that can supply gas under high G cornering and meet all NHRA requirements.

Author:  vynn3 [ Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:26 am ]
Post subject: 

My '72 Swinger is my absolute daily driver, and has been for over three years. My emergency "back-up" car is a '67 Dart GT convertible, but it's got a 273.

Every single modification I consider is based on whether or not it will interfere with it's #1 job — to get me 25 miles each way to and from work in relative comfort with as much reliability and economy as possible, come rain, sleet or snow (okay, I live in Texas, but still). Current mods are a Super Six, Dutra Duals, Pertonix ignition, and front sway bar. Future intentions are HEI ignition, T-5 tranny, MPFI, bucket seats, custom instrumentation, all new A/C, and a shiny white paint job to reflect the Tx. heat. But a turbo is really tempting.

I know it's elitist, but I get irritated by the guys on some of the other Mopar forums who consistently suggest mods that pretty much throw mileage out the window ("Screw mileage! Power is King!!! If you want mileage, buy a Honda!"). They're the guys that have a 450 horse big-block Roadrunner to drive to shows on the weekend, but drive an '05 Accord to the office all week. Toys are okay, and a dedicated race car is fine, too, but I respect people who really use their old cars.

VM

Author:  Slanted Opinion [ Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:40 pm ]
Post subject: 

One thing you don't want to do is to disassemble it so much that it never gets put back together. Yes, you can do it that way and be successful, but many times it just ends up taking so long to put together (or save up $$$) that it never gets done.

Buy whatever parts you need for a particular upgrade, rebuild it over a weekend or three, and then drive it, enjoy it, and plan your next upgrade.

My $.02 :)

-Mac

Author:  dakight [ Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:31 pm ]
Post subject: 

Mine will be a weekend warrior and fair weather cruiser. I don't intend to use it as a daily driver. I'll take it to club meetings, car shows, and similar get togethers and might drive it on vacation once I'm comfortable with its reliability.

Author:  Old6rodder [ Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:44 pm ]
Post subject: 

Another tack for a driver is to prebuild your upgrades and slap'em on when the time and urge permit. My toad wagon is the hauler for my shop and my daily as well, I use'er as a pick-up with a built in camper shell.

So far she's gotten 14" rears with load rated tires, a proper plywood hauling bed to replace the rear seats, many running rebuilds, a BBD with a better exhaust and a bunch of minor upgrades to the fuel and electrics. Even a few chrome bits and pieces as well. All done "on the fly" as it were.

Next up on her mods list is a rear end (presently under going rebuilding on the bench) and more spring to use the tires. Then a new dash I've been cobbling up for a bit. Cosmetics when and as, amid the usual running repairs........

Cassi on the other hand, is a pet. A barn job project eventually to be a hobby driver with an occasional 1320' trip just for old time's sake. Three years and running on the build, she keeps getting interrupted by whatever's screamingly important this month.

Author:  74.swinger [ Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:22 pm ]
Post subject: 

Well i started the thread . if I want people to share their info I guess I should do the same.

I have played with half a dozen different a bodies in the last 5 years all different goals at the same time. Then I got sick of it and took a year off. got rid of some stuff and lowered my standards.
Right now Im trying to finish up my 74 swinger that was originally intended to be solo racer. But reality set in. I live in the sticks and there are no solo races.
Now my intended use is simple FUN. Lots of it. I cant afford to feed the 440 for a daily driver but Im gonna beat the heck out of this thing on the weekends and even try my hand at the local airport drags.

Im not trying to build a 50k dollar show car that will run 10 second quarters and pull 5 g turns. Im going to enjoy my slightly rough swinger and not obsess about it anymore. i think it will be a lot more fun.

Im also looking at a couple slant cars for my wifes daily driver but Im going to keep my fingers off of it. my "improvements" are costly and hard on fuel mileage. :twisted:
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