Best method for putting a Hemi in a 69 Dart

to make a long story short, back in the 1990's I was in the process of building a 426 Hemi Dart convertible and I had everything accumulated and started taking the car apart to paint when I had a house fire which put my project and for that matter, my whole life on hold for 5 years. After that I had to put a couple of kids through college and buy another house and run a business all the while the Dart has been sitting in a warehouse waiting for the day when I could work on it again. The Hemi has long since sold with another Hemi car I owned and all of the other parts went away. Now I'm retired and have the resources to start again and the question I have now is what's the best way to install a Hemi in an A body now? I planned on using elephant ears back in the day but with all the new stuff that's out now I hope there is an easier way. The Dart is still apart and I just took it to my buddies shop for a complete makeover, lower quarters, rockers, inner fenders and the radiator core support which is where my decision to build a Hemi again came from. I plan on going to a 26 inch radiator core support to help cool the beast. I am also planning on using a tubular K member and upper lower control arms with adjustable struts. I plan on driving this car and it's not going to be a race car so I'm not concerned with the racing aspects of everything. I plan on running a manual trans and would love to run a Viper 6 speed if I can make it fit. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

you'll probably need a few of the pieces this listing refers to Dodge: Dart SRT8

I'm talking gen 2 Hemi, probably end up being a 572 before I'm done

I have built more than a handfull Stage II Hemi builds with HDK tubular coil over , rack and pinion conversions. From column shift automatics, 4 and 5-speeds....with A/C (using factory and aftermarket componets) and power steering.....all shoved under a factory flat hood with poly or rubber bushed spool mounts. A few kept their motorplates because everything was already mounted, but wanted to make the car driveable again. Reversing the factory steering arms is not the way to go

I have also done several utilizing the factory K. Currently my brother and I undergoing the restoring the 1975 Butch Leal / California Flash /Direct Connection B/MP Hemi Duster.....factory K but with a few (1975) Ron Butler /Gary Henson front suspension tricks

Check out some of great threads here on FABO that document the builds.

Give me a call....more than happy to share any experience I have.
www.moparsuspension.com

Denny
HDK
hemidenny@rocketmail.com
304-939-0097

Off the shelf TTI headers for these are a big advancement. Before you were looking at having a custom set made.

Elephant ears that you put in to make sure the motor is exactly per TTI instructions would be the least expensive route. Stock k-member, manual steering, and disks are fine.

You could even buy the weld on hemi mounts and k-frame spacer from S&S in Pheonix AZ and have it look 68 super stock style.

Drops in like this....



For the trans, you will be cutting and fabbing the tunnel extensively and the trans/torsion bar crossmember.

You got that right autoxcuda.....whatever you decide, factory k or other, drop the car body down over the Hemi....... not the Hemi down in from above. On the Stage II Hemis remove the steering column / shaft and valve covers.....a little wiggle to slither by the valvetrain and you are in scratch free.

HemiDenny said:

You got that right autoxcuda.....whatever you decide, factory k or other, drop the car body down over the Hemi....... not the Hemi down in from above. On the Stage II Hemis remove the steering column / shaft and valve covers.....a little wiggle to slither by the valvetrain and you are in scratch free.

Click to expand...

aftermarket front end, one piece motor plate, for and aft limiter, race balance engine when machining. very little vibration if any. full auto for street duty, dana 60 for strength. tubb it while building, you aint gonna hook up a 572 hemi on the street.