D-dart links

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I had never heard of a D Dart, that's cool!
 
Great information, thanks! Great reading.

I have always wondered about the brand new, 4 speed, 66 Dart, that Harold's Texaco in Wichita Kansas had.

At the time, I was only 16, and worked at the Vickers station right across the street.

It was a drag race only Dart, and they painted "El Bandito" on the side of it in big letters. To see somebody take a brand new car, and do that to it, just blew me away at the time.

Of course, they didn't want no kid hanging around, but I snuck around it as much as possible. Loved to listen to it when they were tuning, it sounded real strong.

If it was white, I would have no doubt it was a D-Dart, but it was that pale yellow with black interior. So they must have added the stuff that was available through the dealer. Because at that time, almost nothing was available in the aftermarket for a 273.
 
There is a parts list linked to the first link for converting the Commando to to D Dart specs. It appears to be a list from the 60's. The cost of the camshaft is $152. Thats pretty interesting that the cost of a cam has not changed in 35 years.
 
CudaGuy,

Camcraft cam... 284 duration
495 lift on the intake
505 lift on the exhaust
Racer Brown springs
Dual point-minus vacuum advance

Headers into the single pipe

14.33@94.21 Pretty snotty for a 273 in 1966.

I guess the 4.86 gears helped !
 
Looser!:toothy10:

but really, very neat find.......anyone know where to get one of those cams or overlap info?

I talked to Jim at Racer Brown about it when I ordered the cam for my 273. He said he could duplicate one if he were to get his hands on one. He's never actually laid eyes on one yet. He's got some cam's that he think might be close.

They were originally ground by CamCraft, but when I contacted them to see if they could grind them, the answer was no one knew the spec's todo it.
 
CudaGuy,

Camcraft cam... 284 duration
495 lift on the intake
505 lift on the exhaust
Racer Brown springs
Dual point-minus vacuum advance

Headers into the single pipe

14.33@94.21 Pretty snotty for a 273 in 1966.

I guess the 4.86 gears helped !


I talked to Jim at Racer Brown about it when I ordered the cam for my 273. He said he could duplicate one if he were to get his hands on one. He's never actually laid eyes on one yet. He's got some cam's that he think might be close.

They were originally ground by CamCraft, but when I contacted them to see if they could grind them, the answer was no one knew the spec's todo it.


Oregon cam grinding said that they could do it if they had the overlap as well, Ive known the lift and duration for years but nobody seems to know the overlap
 
Awesome! I remember reading about the D-Darts in one of my small block hot rodding books. They didn't say much, but it was intriguing none the less
 
I went with the Mopar .557 cam when building my clone, no runs yet doing metal work.
 
Awesome info. yellowdartdave, thank you! Man I wish they would have made more of these, I have always wanted one and I have honestly thought about building a replica but I already have too much to do!

ddartdude, if I remember correctly don't you have one of the originals? Do you still run her? great cam pics btw, thanks!
 
I'm wondering about the air cleaner on the D-Darts. Were they from some other application? I can't see it being very cost effective to make a specific air cleaner housing for such a small production run. I'd like to find a similar air cleaner.
 
Rocky65 --- I have, what I believe is, the first D/Dart that was produced. It was owned and sponsored by Ted Spehar's Preformance Automotive.

The other one that I had owned, and sold, is going on the Mecum Auction block this coming Friday. I plan on attending it.

Overdrive --- The air cleaner assembly is a one off type unit. Back in the 60's, Chrysler Engineering was in Highland Park, Mich. They had the means to produce anything they needed in a short period of time. You can see swirl marks in the top of the air cleaner like if it was turned on a lathe. I think the tools were built in house and parts stamped on site. The carb spacer/adapter was also made in house. You can see the band saw marks on the side of it.

I'd use the current Mopar Performance unsilenced air cleaner without the nipple. Have the chrome removed and paint it a semi gloss or gloss black. That air cleaner looks the closest dimensionally. The wing nut area is different. There are pictures of it, and drawings, on the D/Dart website.

67Valiant100 --- All D/Darts were 2 door hardtops...... LO23's
LO23 =
L - Dart
O - SuperStock
23 - 2 door hardtop
 
I can't wait to see the results of the auction Friday, keep us posted and thanks ddartdude, that is one rare animal you have there.
 
Thank you Crazy Dave I just downloaded and printed It took my computer a minute or two to load it but it was well worth it
Thanks again Milo
 
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