Upgrade handling 70 Dodge Dart

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Brooks James

Brooks James

VET, CPT, Huey Medevac Pilot
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I’m looking to upgrade the handling on my 70 dart
I already have a full set gas adjust
Shocks
I also want to put front and rear
sway bars
What else??
Don’t want to get aftermarket a frames
 
I have a ‘73 Swinger. I did 1.03 bars up front, Hotchkiss springs in the the rear and Bilstein shocks at all four corners. I followed that up with front and rear Hellwig sway bars and a 17” wheel/tire combo. All of the arms and steering components are still stock to this point save for stiffening plates on the LCA’s. It’s like a slot car now.
 
leechris81 said:
I have a ‘73 Swinger. I did 1.03 bars up front, Hotchkiss springs in the the rear and Bilstein shocks at all four corners. I followed that up with front and rear Hellwig sway bars and a 17” wheel/tire combo. All of the arms and steering components are still stock to this point save for stiffening plates on the LCA’s. It’s like a slot car now.
Click to expand...
 
Add frame connectors. Especially if you have a big block. I welded mine in. You can Fab these yourself for cheap.

upload_2020-12-20_16-28-36.png
 
Brooks James said:
I’m looking to upgrade the handling on my 70 dart
I already have a full set gas adjust
Shocks
I also want to put front and rear
sway bars
What else??
Don’t want to get aftermarket a frames
Click to expand...

What are your goals for the car? Get around town safely, full on autoX warrior, street/strip, something else?

Keeping the stock UCA's is actually pretty limiting because of how much it constrains the alignment settings, I would replace those before a lot of other stuff. But again, it really depends on what your goals are.
 
Better steering box, poly not rubber for bushings, bracing LCA, bracing K frame, disc brakes, solid strut rods, burly tie rods. And everything already suggested.

Solve use case question, set budget, get wrenching.
 
You should figure out a total budget.

Chassis stiffness always helps for a lot of reasons but getting down to real issue requires suspension parts.

I created a stage one suspension kit to be a cost efficient way to make necessary improvements. This helps alignment and eliminates some unwanted play in the suspension.

Sway bars make a large improvement.

From there, spring rate is huge too, but the tire sizes need to be considered. I see lots of big/little tire combos that are not beneficial for handling whatsoever.

Lastly, my steering kits add modern precision to the steering, but this is steering only, not a suspension improvement.
 
BergmanAutoCraft said:
You should figure out a total budget.

Chassis stiffness always helps for a lot of reasons but getting down to real

issue requires suspension parts.

I created a stage one suspension kit to be a cost efficient way to make necessary improvements. This helps alignment and eliminates some unwanted play in the suspension.

Sway bars make a large improvement.

From there, spring rate is huge too, but the tire sizes need to be considered. I see lots of big/little tire combos that are not beneficial for handling whatsoever.

Lastly, my steering kits add modern precision to the steering, but this is steering only, not a suspension improvement.
Click to expand...

70 Dodge Dart
 
BergmanAutoCraft said:
I’m a site supporter. My link is in the vendor list.
Bergmanautocraft.com
Click to expand...
I have a 68 Dart 270 that got carried away.
Firm Feel tubular upper A arms
Boxed factory lowers with greasable pivots
Fully welded K frame
Firm Feel stg-3 p/s box
Firm Feel sector support shaft
Hotckis adjustable strut rods
PST 1.06 T bars
Bilstien RCD SHOCKS
Hotchkis rear springs
Hotchkis front & rear sway bars
Tubular front frame rail support
US Car Tool contoured frame connectors,F&R torque boxes,inner fender to firewall supports.Car is lowered around 2"
17 x 8 rims with either Nitto NT05's or Nitto NT01's
Tires are a huge part of equation. Car is a total blast to drive
 
Last edited:
BergmanAutoCraft said:
You should figure out a total budget.

Chassis stiffness always helps for a lot of reasons but getting down to real issue requires suspension parts.

I created a stage one suspension kit to be a cost efficient way to make necessary improvements. This helps alignment and eliminates some unwanted play in the suspension.

Sway bars make a large improvement.

From there, spring rate is huge too, but the tire sizes need to be considered. I see lots of big/little tire combos that are not beneficial for handling whatsoever.

Lastly, my steering kits add modern precision to the steering, but this is steering only, not a suspension improvement.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Figure out how you want to use the car, what tires, and set a budget. Starting from the tires is best, there's no point going crazy with the suspension if you aren't upgrading the tires as well. And the opposite, if you put super high performance tires on the car you need to upgrade the suspension and chassis to match.

modart440 said:
I have a 68 Dart 270 that got carried away.
Firm Feel tubular upper A arms
Boxed factory lowers with greasable pivots
Fully welded K frame
Firm Feel stg-3 p/s box
Firm Feel sector support shaft
Hotckis adjustable strut rods
PST 1.06 T bars
Bilstien RCD SHOCKS
Hotchkis rear springs
Hotchkis front & rear sway bars
Tubular front frame rail support
US Car Tool contoured frame connectors,F&R torque boxes,inner fender to firewall supports.Car is lowered around 2"
17 x 8 rims with either Nitto NT05's or Nitto NT01's
Tires are a huge part of equation. Car is a total blast to drive
Click to expand...

That's a nice build right there, I bet it handles great!
 
72bluNblu said:
Exactly. Figure out how you want to use the car, what tires, and set a budget. Starting from the tires is best, there's no point going crazy with the suspension if you aren't upgrading the tires as well. And the opposite, if you put super high performance tires on the car you need to upgrade the suspension and chassis to match.



That's a nice build right there, I bet it handles great!
Click to expand...
kursplat said:
i don't see the "carried away" part :thumbsup:
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If I were you, I'd do what I did when I started in on my 1970 Dart GT - call the dudes at Firm Feel Inc., tell them what you are trying to accomplish and how the car will be used and then follow their advice for a well matched set of improvements
 
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