71 dart

[black betty]

My score on the front suspension wasnt as good as I thought. One of the upper control arms is bent. I am in luck though because the corvette show is at carlisle this weekend so I will be heading there to get a new one.

 

[black betty]

Just to give an update. I didnt find any reasonably priced control arms at carlisle but did get one on ebay. The 2x4 box tubing is sitting in my garage and I plan on starting my frame tomorrow. I have been making progress but not directly on the car. I got a band saw and a drill press at a local sale and had to repair them to start the frame. The band saw was for wood so I had to make a jack shaft to slow it down and the motor was bad on the drill press. It should be all systems go tomorrow.

 

[rjsjea]

Lookin forward to your progress.........

 

[black betty]

I spent the past 2 weekends drawing up the frame and I think I have it all worked out. I cannot run the 400 I was planning unless I dont want spark plugs. The upper control arms would be too close to the block for them to fit. So I am going to have a small block. The engine will be set back about 10inches and I will have to get a midmount shifter for the trans. I need to narrow the front suspension 6" so I will need a custom steering rack. The guy who is narrowing my rear said he would have it done this weekend when I get it I will double check that my measurements for the rear rails are right and can start cutting and welding.

 

[rjsjea]

I think it's awesome you are building the vette suspension into your plans...car is gonna be way unique. Setting that engine back 10"......what are your plans for the firewall and cowl??

 

[jjr426]

Man that thing is gonna be bad *** keep the pics coming

 

[black betty]

I think it's awesome you are building the vette suspension into your plans...car is gonna be way unique. Setting that engine back 10"......what are your plans for the firewall and cowl??

The plan right now is for the firewall to basically have a big tunnel down the center of it. The big issue is the distributor I may need to make an access to get to it from the inside of the car. The other issue is the height of the carb it will hard to get an air cleaner on it. I have been looking at programable ignition and fuel injection or maybe a new hemi. I will figure that out when i am at that point I know there is enough room to make it fit.

 

[shvrdavid]

Looks familiar... :wave:

 

[black betty]

It should your the one helping build it.

 

[black betty]

I have not made much progress lately due to cars giving me the finger. Three weeks ago a friend of mine blew up the trans in his car so on that saturday he drove his other car over and we pulled out the trans. When he went to leave his other car would not start. That same day my parents came over for dinner and when they went to leave there car wouldnt start! The next day my grandparents car shutoff while they were driving and there car was towed to my house. On top of all that I was in the process of puting a new motor in my Dads suburban and new trunk pans, floorpans, spare tirewell and sub frame connectors in my cousins Dart sport. I thought it would never end. here is alist of repairs.
Friends car- Loose connection at the distributer
Parents car-crank sensor
Grandparents car-Broken cam that ruined head
Cousins dart-spare tire well fixed floorpans out and putting in new ones tomorrow
Dads sub-on hold
MY CAR-ON HOLD

I do have some good news. Quick Time has posted that they will have mopar small block to t56 bellhousings the first of the year. Look halfway down the page.
http://www.quicktimeinc.com/products.html

 

[black betty]

Finally made some progress on my car last weekend. I started my front frame rails.
Smile Shaver your famous.

The frame rails is at ride height and close to where it will be in the car. The car will come down about 11".

 

[black betty]

Finally making some progress. I have been working on the car and didnt have time to post picks.
Look what my wife got me for christmas. I told her I would keep her another year.

reinforced body to remove floor may have went overkill

floor gone

front frame is tacked together

engine mockup with frame in position a big block will fit

 

[black betty]

Progress has been slow but I have a couple updates and some new parts.

bellhousing to go from big block mopar to t56

rear housing is narrowed

detroit trutrac and rear rebuild kit

my helper

 

[shortz]

Looking good, Good wife you have there too.

Will be good to see the finished results, love the pro touring look and ideals

 

[daves66valiant]

the puppy needs a welding hat.

 

[linkstar69]

This is one build I'll definitely watch with interest.
Great stuff

 

[black betty]

Finally I have time to post an update.

I got the driveline mocked together and mocked into the frame

the boards are seats for test rides

the rear frame is finished and attached to the front

I also started to mount the front control arms

 

[black betty]

Made some more progress

corvette hubs drilled for 5x4.5 bolt pattern

upper control arm mounts

front suspension tacked to frame

Rear and rear wheels sitting in place

frame under car with car at ridehight

 

[rockingraven]

when you wanna start mine??

 

[shortz]

moving along nicely, keep up the good work

 

[mr.318]

Not knocking you,differnt strokes for folks,but why are there so many people here putting gm parts on there mopar,A mopar will handle like a road racer look at the green brick it eats vettes with torsion bars,

 

[rjsjea]

What's you ride height gonna be set at?? Oil pan to ground clearance??

Should be way cool when the drivetrain is mocked up in the chassis=P~

 

[abodyjoe]

looking great man

 

[jomoper]

Now that's some good car **** ! =P~
That's gonna be one awesome ride !!!

 

[black betty]

What's you ride height gonna be set at?? Oil pan to ground clearance??

Should be way cool when the drivetrain is mocked up in the chassis=P~

The frame to the ground is 5"and the oil pan is about 5 1/2 to the ground.