Hi all, long-time lurker and first-time poster here.

I'm doing my first car restoration on a 64 valiant w/225 and 904 pushbutton. Since I'm a rank beginner, I'm mainly teaching myself via the FSM, the 60's Stockel textbook, and this forum. Thanks already for your unaware help, especially Dan!!

Anyway long story short what do you guys recommend for a mild build up? I would primarily like to use the lady as a daily driver, but I wouldn't begrudge just enough performance to smoke those damned turbo'd, swarmy imports from streetlight to streetlight.

I'm not looking to do any real racing, just want to show these cars the taillights of my faded, unassuming American 4-door when I'm driving around town.

Thanks in advance, guys!!

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64 Valiant, 225 w/904tf

run em off the road no actually put a cam, a 2bbl carb, electronic ignition, dutra duals, and flow masters don't forget to set your timing at 12degrees btdc and tune your carb for max vacuum which should be with a mild cam 15 in of vacuum also put a stage 3 shift kit in the trans and a set of 3.55 gears this set up should get you some decent respect

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trying to keep it low key here in my Valiant200

Biggest exhaust, higher compression (shave the head), 2bbl carb are probably the easiest and cheapest upgrades that will give you good gains for your buck.

Whilst the head is off, you might want to upgrade to larger valves and/or do a port job yourself (but it's expensive to pay someone), if you take the head off have hardened seats put in for the exhaust valves so it'll be fine with unleaded fuel.

The electronic ignition upgrade was good and cheap to do, something you can do yourself as well.

Changing the Cam is a decent job and with the combo mentioned above it'll help a lot. I believe in the Articles section it shows how you can do an in car cam swap. this may be applicable on your 64 - I'm not too sure I can't remember the article.

My advice to you is to have a lot of fun, and don't let it turn into a chore!

Seems the previous owner tried to get exhaust gains already. The at-least 2.5" aftermarket pipe and magnaflow muffler are the only shiny parts under the car, and that includes a horribly discolored stock exhaust manifold! :p

I have actually been considering removing both manifolds and the head to get all three ported and polished, and get the head milled if I can figure out the proper shave depth.. I figure the combination of all three will help this baby breathe easier for not too much money, right?

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64 Valiant, 225 w/904tf

You could consider getting a different exhaust manifold, I frequently see headders or extractors for sale on Ebay (second hand) at a reasonable price), and I've never heard a bad word about Docs Dutra Duals.

If you are planning to change to a 2bbl, I think you'd have an easier job if you source the manifold at the same time.

I don't think port work really needs to be done on the manifold/s... other people might know more about that than me.

If you can you might want to shave the deck as well as the head to ensure a perfect surface for the gasket.

Personal opinion: If wanting to keep the car as a reliable street driver, raise the compression, and install a rear end gear to is suitable for the type driving you will be doing. Then ignore, the "ricers".
If you insist on playing in their ballpark, put on some nitrous for light to light fun. Just remember they have nitrous, also. Plus 40 year newer technology in their engines.
A ricer with the same kind of mods as a slant, will kick your butt.

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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

A stock, turbo charged, Subaru Forester is 2 tenths faster then my not so stock '65 Dart in the 1/8 mile. It even has air conditioning, but it does slow down when the intercooler heats up.

Well, damn. :p I guess I'll be building for fuel efficiency only!

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64 Valiant, 225 w/904tf

I'm not trying to discourage you, just make you aware of certain facts. There is no reason not to modify your slant, for performance (look at my signature line). Just be aware of it's limitations. In my mind it is amazing what some slanters have accomplished. It is also amazing what those 4 cyl engines do.

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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

build one like charlie's cuda...should be able to smoke most ricers

Gas prices aren't going to be getting any cheaper and racing from streetlight to streetlight will lose its appeal. If you're going to use your Valiant as a daily driver, then focus on making as enjoyable as possible as a DD. As time and finances allow, do the things that will make your car more fun or more economical to drive. Besides, other drivers probably won't notice or care who smoked them at the lights. Though, everywhere you go, people will stop to talk with you about your nearly 50 year old car.

In my case, I've added a slightly hotter cam and a 4bbl carb, which made my car a bit quicker with a small gain in fuel economy. With my disc brake upgrade, I went from 2:93:1 to 2.76:1 gears without any perceptible loss in acceleration. Future upgrades include HEI, an electric fan, a Denso alternator, and a Transgo TF-1. I had headers but they rusted out so now I've got a pair of Dutra Duals.

Thanks Frank and Charlie - everyone has made really good points on here. I'm going to just build it up a piece at a time and decide where I want to go based on how each piece affects the whole.

I probably need a tranny rebuild anyway, so I think my first real non-stock mod will be a shift kit, and I'll just see where that takes me!

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64 Valiant, 225 w/904tf

Want a real cheap and easy way to smoke all ricers at the stoplight. Run a vacuum line from intake into interior with a golf tee shoved into the end. When you are next to said ricer rev your engine, remove golf tee, and now is the important part install the vacuum hose into an open bottle of automatic transmission fluid. Instant smoked ricer.

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trying to keep it low key here in my Valiant200