Recent content by CPDave

Meh, locally (DC area) a engine freshen-up, with a cam & intake change by a good shop was running around $8K the last time I did it (over 10 years ago). A complete. run-in engine making over 1 HP per cube from just outside NYC for $10K doesn't seem too bad to me.

Yep, My point was, I was wondering which cam was in those flat-top blocks: Std. 273 2 Brl (8.8:1): Valve Lift: 0.395" 0.395" Duration: 240ø 240ø Opens: 14ø BTDC 58ø BBDC Closes: 46ø ABDC 2ø...

I've had 3 273 Commando's apart, a '65, '66 (out of my Formula S), and a '67, all three had the same bank specific, above the deck, pop-up pistons. I suspect when we see the flat tops appearing, in 273 cars, and keeping in mind how these cars may have been operated by their original owners, we...

So, BID they shifted D-Darts at 7000+ and were turning 8000+ in the traps, but that's drag racing only, and not high mileage hoonage, the stock rods and heavy-ish 10.5:1 pop-ups were the limiting factor; the the forged 273 crank is reputed to be good for regular use spinning to 8300 max, but the...

I'm sure there are photos up thread...

Okay, I''l chime in... As to why a 318, I vintage road race and have a rule book I have to follow: https://svra.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Chrysler_Corp-MoPar_64-66.pdf For me there is a budget, but part of the considerations are operating costs and rebuild frequency. So while I built...

AND you brought it back basically ready to hit the track again without any major thrashing! Outstanding! :)

Well I happen to know that Jari has dug himself out of the snow and is headed to the track shortly with a fresh 273 stuffed under his Dart's hood. In the meantime I've already gotten my first two race weekends in First down at VIR for an SCCA Regional Club Racing double (in a 1980 Pinto, Yeah I...

Really can't help you there, I have only dealt with VFN, and the various other fiberglass component manufactures I've bought from over the years, by phone, I've never actually gotten to watch them making stuff.

Yep all flat tappet cams need a high zinc (ZDDP) oil to live long & prosper. There was a discussion of oil formulation recently on a vintage road racing mailing list I belong to (from various posts): ... Brad penn 20/50 synthetic blend PPM zinc 1500z PPM phos 1400P...

I've had good luck with VFN's parts pretty much dropping into place, but I've only had the 3 hoods and one front bumper (also on the Dart) from them, the vintage road racing rules don't allow fiberglass fenders. The fiber glass racing apirn I bought for my'66 Mustang from Maier Racing 30 years...

Hi MuuMuu101. I suspect they lay up the bracing separately then bond it on with resin as a final step in production. Judging from the level of abuse the previous took while refusing to fall completely apart, I'd guess they lay down a thick coat of mat black gel-cote followed by 3 layers -...

So here is what the underside of a VFN pin-on hood for a '66 Dart looks like: You can see I've added some bracing and doubled up the center two hood pin hole reinforcing plates: And I had to move the center two pins forward 5" from where I had them on the previous hood: The...

Hi TerraBella, 2465315 is the correct casting number for all '64 & '65 273 heads. Note that the only difference between the Commando and regular 273 head is the valve springs. Here's what I have for production LA heads trough '86 or so: LA Small Block Cylinder Head Casting Numbers and...

Thanks for that I was indeed looking for the snout size too, but I also wanted a definitive answer on the correct ID on the crank. Based upon the options I've found and the below snout diminutions provided by Fishy68, those values are probably: 1.850" for 68 & later 1.565" for 67 &...