65 dart gt from Nebraska...new member

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Curiousyellow71

Active Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2019
Messages
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Location
Nebraska
Hello A body experts. I have mainly been on the B body only site. There are always threads that I am watching over here.... so it's time to introduce myself rather then prowling around.

The last 20 years life has gotten busy and not allowed me to play with cars much....but I've decided to make time and enjoy my mopars. My curiousyellow71 comes from the first mopar that influenced many of the cars behind it. A 71 4 speed curious yellow 340 duster that I have been restoring. For now the duster is on the back burner...But I am posting about the revival of another car I own that has been out of commission for nearly 20 years. This little 65 dart a neighbor owned and I road in it in 1986. Later my brother and I bought it and did a face lift and installed a 318 instead of the /6 and drove it to college in 1991. The 318 was a junker, but still managed to run a 15.4@92 and you could drive it anywhere. The tranny quit moving, the engine is tired, the brakes are tiny, and the 7 1/4 has got to go. But the body and interior are decent yet...its time to get it back on the road. I just want to have fun with this car on a budget. A mini tub may be in its future but for now the scrawny tires will have to do. I have explored my options thanks to this site and am Looking at doing manifolds on a 383 or do a 452 b build...leaning toward the 452. Yes, I could keep the small block but the 273 drivers manifold looks very constrictive and I don't have time to make headers nor do I want to spend $$$. It's going to need disc brakes and a rear end upgraded. The car has hd springs 6 one side and 7 springs on the other...which is a bit unusual for a slant 6 car.
Getting around to finally dragging the little car out...this is what she looks like. A barn find of my own making...unfortunately :(

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Welcome! Nice car! Keep us posted on your progress! BTW, What is the car hiding to the Dart's left?
 
Car next to the dart...A 1979 ASC McLaren replica...factory built tube frame car w 4 wheel independent suspension...455 0lds, no.1 of 14 cars from '79-'84 that were made before the owner of the company passed.:( But not a mopar. Lol
My twin brother is sitting on the fender...era 1991.
It has even more dirt on it then the dart.

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Welcome to FABO!! Dart looks like a great car to work on....keep in mind though...you will have many more challenges ahead installing a big block in that dart than you would if you just upgraded to a 340 or 360. Smaller engine bay and exhaust manifolds or headers will be your biggest hurdle. Lots of different builds here and plenty of 65 Dart owners as well. I have a 66 Valiant 340 4-speed....love these cars!

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Car next to the dart...A 1979 ASC McLaren replica...factory built tube frame car w 4 wheel independent suspension...455 0lds, no.1 of 14 cars from '79-'84 that were made before the owner of the company past.:( But not a mopar. Lol
My twin brother is sitting on the fender...era 1991.
It has even more dirt on it then the dart.

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That is really cool!!! Should get that thing out and cleaned up....any more pictures?
 
This is the only other picture I have on my phone. Same picture but I am sitting on the red car. Don't own the red one anymore...it was not as neat...didnt have the flared body kit. My father owns the black car. It is sad...cars should be driven..

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Where in Otoe County did that car come from? I'm from Adams originally, but I don't ever remember seeing that car around. PM me if you would like.
 
Where in Otoe County did that car come from? I'm from Adams originally, but I don't ever remember seeing that car around. PM me if you would like.
You box seems to be full to pm. The dart would've been in the Nebraska city, Auburn area in the 90's along with our charger. 340 duster came from Minnesota in the 70's and was sitting on a farm in otoe county in early 80's. I am straight east of Adams. Small world


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. Smaller engine bay and exhaust manifolds or headers will be your biggest hurdle. Lots of different builds here and plenty of 65 Dart owners as well. I have a 66 Valiant 340 4-speed....love these cars!

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What are you running for manifolds or headers. We had J heads on our 318 in the dart and opened up the 273 manifolds as much as we could...they just don't look like their is much performance possible. Tried to fit the 71 340 manifolds on the 65...not close to fitting...wish they would.
 
What are you running for manifolds or headers. We had J heads on our 318 in the dart and opened up the 273 manifolds as much as we could...they just don't look like their is much performance possible. Tried to fit the 71 340 manifolds on the 65...not close to fitting...wish they would.

Early A-Body 63-66 Hooker supercomp fenderwall headers.....I really like them and many members here run them. I have no problems with mine at all, fit is good (snug on driver side) and haven’t had to mess with them in over 13 years. I got a heat shield for under my master cylinder and a adjustable powermaster mini starter for extra room. I also made covers out of tin to go over the holes I cut for the headers. I run a skinny tire up front and nothing ever runs on mine. The headers come in sections and you slip them together as you install them, real easy...no need to clamp them cause the fit is snug when together. However I did have the smallest section on my driver side header start to rattle a little so I made a small spot weld to keep it quiet.

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Welcome from Iowa. My first car was a 65 Dart. Now I own a 66.

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Nice to another early A on here. I'm running TTI's headers on my 360 65 Cuda, tight but clears and fits ok.
Cool McLaren replica's, I've never seen one of those before.
 
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