Project Munin/68 Dart

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bentdart47 said:
Hello All,


Just recently I received my GTS 4 bar with watts link rear suspension. I will share my build here over the next weeks. I plan to first mini tub my car to allow for wider tires then to install the GTS 4 bar and new custom fuel tank. There's also a small list of reinforcement mods I want to do while I have things blown apart.



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Very cool. My Dart is mini-tubbed with a narrowed Strange 60. I've been thinking about going to a four link set up to make room for exhaust out the back. What is a GTS kit?
 
I've been waiting on some parts so I decided to start some chassis stiffening work. The side pieces will weld in and the center piece will bolt in so I can get to the trunk should the lock ever fail. I used just 22 gauge but you'd be amazed what some dimple and flange work will do to a panel. These should tie up the rear really well with minimal weight. I will get them welded in a little later when I'm doing the exhaust and trunk floor. I also started my side exit exhaust, it will make sense a bit later.

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Very very cool I have often thought about boxing that section behind the rear seat. Think it will have much affect? I have heard that non hart tops or post cars are stiffer back there so there could be some flex and movement going on.
 
purplehazenils said:
Very very cool I have often thought about boxing that section behind the rear seat. Think it will have much affect? I have heard that non hart tops or post cars are stiffer back there so there could be some flex and movement going on.
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I'm banking that it does help, that support back there is really wonky normally. Just my initial mock up tighten the area up with minimal weight added.
 
bentdart47 said:
I've been waiting on some parts so I decided to start some chassis stiffening work. The side pieces will weld in and the center piece will bolt in so I can get to the trunk should the lock ever fail. I used just 22 gauge but you'd be amazed what some dimple and flange work will do to a panel. These should tie up the rear really well with minimal weight. I will get them welded in a little later when I'm doing the exhaust and trunk floor. I also started my side exit exhaust, it will make sense a bit later.

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what are the tabs on the oval pipes for ? been thinking of oval ,out the side for my fish, but don`t really want to add the weight. 3 1/2" dumps are fairly heavy to start with.
 
Here's a little progression on the side exit exhaust. The tabs give me a way to transition the oval section to a set of modded 3 1/2" race bullets. I made everything extra long so I will have enough material to dog leg "up and back" the oval around my frame rail/ torque box and then dump in front of the tires. The last picture shows the finished exhaust.

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When my tank arrived I started to layout the area I needed to cut out so I could accommodate a flat top frame rail to rail tank, approx 33 gallons. Here I am doing some quick mock up with self tappers. I'll show you all the trunk floor fabrication soon.

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Here's my trunk floor build from layout to just before final fitting, I used 14 gauge for strength. I don't get to use my bead roller often but it's a good time when I do.

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Here I am after weld in, things went good. I built in a flange all around the edge of the panel and it's welded to both the old floor and the frame rail sections where the old floor was spot welded. I went ahead and started the weld nuts for the gas tank and coated the bottom side of the floor with rust inhibitor and then a coat of undercoating. I will be using six 1/2" weld nuts, three per side to secure the tank.

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Thank you! Here I am with some additional sound deadener on the underside of the trunk floor. I also did the same to the top of the gas tank itself. The rear support is fully finished, tank mounted.. Getting close, I want to hear that exhaust!

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Trunk finished and battery tray is in, I just need to set up the filler neck and tube.

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Here we are with a new gas filler. I had to make some thick rubber gasket for the filler neck to work. Works great! I'm about ready to get it running. I will see about posting a video.

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I've been trying to post a video of it running but I'm not able to embed the video for some reason. She sounds great, I've got it back on the road now. I still won't hook up the rear anti sway bar until I tune the ride a little. Everything is working as it should, it's handling great. I didn't get enough preload in the rear springs at first but I have that sorted now. I still need to re work the rear brake hard lines, get the ride height and suspension tuned after I corner weigh the car and throw on larger front anti sway bar. I have a plan for some modded anti sway bar end links I will share. Almost done!

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Thanks guys! I'm sure it's some sort of rare factory GTS suspension option! :steering:
 
bentdart47 said:
Here I am after weld in, things went good. I built in a flange all around the edge of the panel and it's welded to both the old floor and the frame rail sections where the old floor was spot welded. I went ahead and started the weld nuts for the gas tank and coated the bottom side of the floor with rust inhibitor and then a coat of undercoating. I will be using six 1/2" weld nuts, three per side to secure the tank.

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Nice to see this thing almost done. Looks great. Who made the gas tank and is it baffled?
 
Hot rod city garage made the tank. Yes it's baffled, it also had to go back once because the filler location was incorrect the first time around. The build quality is top notch despite the miscommunication.
 
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