'65 Dart GT

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jau126

'65 Dart GT 273 904
Joined
Jun 7, 2020
Messages
136
Reaction score
75
Location
Salt Lake City, UT
Hello All. I bought this thing about a month or so ago. I haven't had a quiet weekend since I got it so I am only posting here now. Although it only has 61,000 original miles now the age/neglect over the past 20 years was showing its age. Bad top end gaskets, carburetor leaking from every gasket, and a very clear valve cover gasket leak.
Well, most of it has been taken care of at this point with some long weekends and trying to get the intake manifold to seal twice after an incident with the coolant crossover passages.
The backstory on the car....
I purchased it from the original owner's daughter out of Oregon. The story I was told is it was bought new in 1965 as a Christmas present. The original window sticker shows it was purchased at Sunset Dodge in the Bay Area of CA. So it has the California emissions that started showing up then. Thank you to those forms that calmed my nerves when a first read base timing was 5 degrees ATDC.

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Welcome! That's a beauty! Your base timing will probably be happy at 10° BTDC. As long as it doesn't ping you are golden. I have always loved that medium red color.
 
Welcome! That's a beauty! Your base timing will probably be happy at 10° BTDC. As long as it doesn't ping you are golden. I have always loved that medium red color.
Mike, I believe it still has the factory "special" California CAP distributor. From what I remember reading in another thread it is to be 5 degrees ATDC because of the funky curve. Could be misremembering though. Being a '65 with the timing indicators on the passenger side I haven't had any helper to open the throttle to see what the total timing is.
 
Mike, I believe it still has the factory "special" California CAP distributor. From what I remember reading in another thread it is to be 5 degrees ATDC because of the funky curve. Could be misremembering though. Being a '65 with the timing indicators on the passenger side I haven't had any helper to open the throttle to see what the total timing is.
I wonder if @halifaxhops has restored any CAP units? Maybe he will chime in. Sorry to hijack.
 
I have restored them go by the curve, actually do not remember where the initial timing is I can look it up though. I need engine, year, carb and trans.

Welcome from PA great survivor you found!
 
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I have restored them go by the curve, actually do not remember where the initial timing is I can look it up though. I need engine, year, carb and trans.

Welcome from PA great survivor you found!
Here is a bit more information:
1965
273 2 Barrel with the Stromberg Carb
727 Trans.
Looking back at what records I have (which go into the mid 90’s) the cap and rotor were replaced about 10 years ago (but only 300 miles ago). I am not sure what exactly they put on as the PN isn’t clear. So I am not sure what the curve is in it exactly as you need very long arms on a ‘65 to reach across the engine to the throttle as you stand on the passenger side with a timing light. I also live at 3000-4000 ft of elevation and I run 88 octane as that is the ethanol free I can get.
Also, I think this was talked about in an earlier thread a few years back but again not sure this applies to me anymore.
Timing a 273
 
On a slightly different note I managed to snag a D4B (not the LD4B) and am considering changing out the stock intake manifold as well as doing either a set of Dougs or TTI headers. I was wondering if any one had any opinions on this? Is it to original and clean to mess with or should I make the modifications? I have been told both already but by non mopar guys...
 
Welcome to FABO. Great looking car and I too love that color.

I don't thing in 65 early A's came with the 727 as there is an issue with the bell housing not clearing the stock floor to firewall seem. I have put a 727 in an early before but it is tight even when I have flattened that firewall seem.
 
Welcome to FABO. Great looking car and I too love that color.

I don't thing in 65 early A's came with the 727 as there is an issue with the bell housing not clearing the stock floor to firewall seem. I have put a 727 in an early before but it is tight even when I have flattened that firewall seem.
Hmmm..... it is a floor shift so not sure if that makes a difference. I attached the original window sticker below. It does have a faded out vin in the upper right corner and I thought it indicated a 65 car. The title I got also indicated a 65.
I will have to run out and check the fender tag to see exactly when it was built. Not sure if there was an ‘65 1/2 cars either. But another indicator is it has CAP. Again not 100% sure that was available in ‘65 or it started in ‘66.
Let me know what you think. Thanks!

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Here is the fender tag. From what I gathered from a different thread 7/23 was the last day of production for 65 darts and the tag indicates it was built on 7/20. I also believe in 66 they moved the rear Dodge lettering to within the silver trunk trim.

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Yes a torqueflite came in 2 variations. a 904 and a 727. I think the option torqueflite just means you have an automatic trans. Also the they were originally named torqueflite 6 and torqueflite 8.
 
Yes a torqueflite came in 2 variations. a 904 and a 727. I think the option torqueflite just means you have an automatic trans. Also the they were originally named torqueflite 6 and torqueflite 8.
I guess you are right. Clearly new to mopars. Thank you for the correction. It will save me from further embarrassment.
 
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