1973 Dodge 383 Dart
Picked up this sweet 1973 Dodge Dart with a 383 Big Block for $4200 a couple weeks ago!
My buddy did all the work to it, it's nice having a big block A-body in the herd of Mopars for once. Long term restoration, I plan on taking everything down to sheet metal, fix any problems and repaint it right since he did a some-what ok single stage paint job, might also swap my '72 Dart front end on. Also have a new set of Vision Wheels Legend Series on their way, will have 245/60/15's rear w/ 4.5" back spacing big bolt pattern, and 215/65/15's w/ 4.25" backspacing for fronts. It gets up and goes decently, but to me lacks compared to all my Magnum Swapped rides. He swapped in a Summit 6400 cam, never installed a timing scale on aftermarket timing cover, so it's set by ear, played with timing a few times only to find it was happy where he had it set. Beginning to suspect the timing gear might be a couple teeth off, will be pulling everything off to check. It's a 1966 - 383 that has had work done to heads, rebuilt w/new rings, stock forged steel crank, cam swap mentioned, and a weiand intake manifold. Factory /6 car, new bigger torsion bars swapped in, power steering with pot coupler delete and universal straight shaft coupler welded in for HP exhaust manifolds to barely clear. Don't know if he changed K-member, it looks to be a very very tight fit. 727 trans higher stall converter w/ 8 - 1/4" rear w/3.05's. It's definitely a fun ride to have, only major thing I had to deal with was a ton of dirt n crud to flush out of cooling system multiple times, along with the prestone radiator flush stuff, lookin' much better now and threw a 190 thermostat in, average temps around 195-205, if stuck in traffic it goes up to 235, swapping on an electric fan and building a shroud for belt driven one. Also going to try to get some sort of heat shield for the brake master cylinder since I do get brake fade pretty bad with the amount of exhaust manifold heat (disc brakes in front), and power steering gear box makes all sorts of noises when it gets hot as well, mini starter doesn't like heat either. Will try to keep this thread posted up with what I do to it, it sounds really good and healthy.
Picked up this sweet 1973 Dodge Dart with a 383 Big Block for $4200 a couple weeks ago!
My buddy did all the work to it, it's nice having a big block A-body in the herd of Mopars for once. Long term restoration, I plan on taking everything down to sheet metal, fix any problems and repaint it right since he did a some-what ok single stage paint job, might also swap my '72 Dart front end on. Also have a new set of Vision Wheels Legend Series on their way, will have 245/60/15's rear w/ 4.5" back spacing big bolt pattern, and 215/65/15's w/ 4.25" backspacing for fronts. It gets up and goes decently, but to me lacks compared to all my Magnum Swapped rides. He swapped in a Summit 6400 cam, never installed a timing scale on aftermarket timing cover, so it's set by ear, played with timing a few times only to find it was happy where he had it set. Beginning to suspect the timing gear might be a couple teeth off, will be pulling everything off to check. It's a 1966 - 383 that has had work done to heads, rebuilt w/new rings, stock forged steel crank, cam swap mentioned, and a weiand intake manifold. Factory /6 car, new bigger torsion bars swapped in, power steering with pot coupler delete and universal straight shaft coupler welded in for HP exhaust manifolds to barely clear. Don't know if he changed K-member, it looks to be a very very tight fit. 727 trans higher stall converter w/ 8 - 1/4" rear w/3.05's. It's definitely a fun ride to have, only major thing I had to deal with was a ton of dirt n crud to flush out of cooling system multiple times, along with the prestone radiator flush stuff, lookin' much better now and threw a 190 thermostat in, average temps around 195-205, if stuck in traffic it goes up to 235, swapping on an electric fan and building a shroud for belt driven one. Also going to try to get some sort of heat shield for the brake master cylinder since I do get brake fade pretty bad with the amount of exhaust manifold heat (disc brakes in front), and power steering gear box makes all sorts of noises when it gets hot as well, mini starter doesn't like heat either. Will try to keep this thread posted up with what I do to it, it sounds really good and healthy.
