Butters "Winter Upgrades". . Starting a Little Early

[racerjoe]

Been listening to Talbots pod casts all day.. I typically rock out during long weld sessions, but I'm just kinda burnt out on my normal music. Now I'm all pumped up for Moparty. Ready to give @racerjoe another joy ride through some cones.. Bench seat and all

As soon as I leave the gates, I say, is it next year yet? It's been said before, and I'll say it again. It's the most fun you will ever have with your car! Let's hope for no hurricanes this year!

 

[Map63Vette]

It's definitely on my list to try to get to this year. I've known about LS Fest for a while, but didn't know they started up ones for the other brands as well. I think I'm confident enough in the car for a long trip as well, though I need to get my windshield re-set one of these days to fix the leak. I've had a new gasket and lockstrip for years now, just never took the plunge to cut the old one out yet.

 

[DionR]

I'm a long ways from ever being able to make it to Moparty. Not just distance, but capabilities. Love to make it there, but don't look for me any time soon.

 

[Dantra]

It's definitely on my list to try to get to this year. I've known about LS Fest for a while, but didn't know they started up ones for the other brands as well. I think I'm confident enough in the car for a long trip as well, though I need to get my windshield re-set one of these days to fix the leak. I've had a new gasket and lockstrip for years now, just never took the plunge to cut the old one out yet.

I might have a windshield leak as well... Not sure. I've driven it in rain and have never seen a leal, except for one day in particular. It was a monsoon and I noticed a few a drips. Could,ve been my gutter or whatever it's called. **** blew outta my crotch coolers for months, after buying it. Would make an absolute mess out of the interior and blind ya.

I could use a new windshield tho.. chips and turning white

 

[Dantra]

I'm a long ways from ever being able to make it to Moparty. Not just distance, but capabilities. Love to make it there, but don't look for me any time soon.

Better be making some of that mad trans mount money!

 

[Dantra]

Rear end is out and to my gear guy, pedal wired in and start tune applied. Fired right up, after a few cycles of the key, to get fuel into the rails. Ran through some heat cycles.. No leaks, which is amazing...I usually find something silly. Idke log sent back to frp.

Rear should be back next weekend and I figure I'll hear back from frp as well. Still waiting on my shifter to come back.. I may just buy one to use for mock up and use till mine comes in. Ready to get my interior back together... Still need to add my wilwood proportioning valve too.

 

[Map63Vette]

That's one thing I really like about modern engines. O-ring seals do a way better job of preventing leaks than old style gaskets I think. Though I did have one little coolant leak at the timing cover when I first put my engine together. I think it actually fixed itself on its own though with a heat cycle or two. Or maybe I pulled the cover and swapped the o-ring, I can't remember. Either way it was easy to fix and it's been nice and clean since. The valve covers do seem to have a problem leaking around the plug wells though. There's no real clamping force in that area, so I'm not sure the o-rings get good compression to seal there or not compared to the perimeter.

 

[racerjoe]

That's one thing I really like about modern engines. O-ring seals do a way better job of preventing leaks than old style gaskets I think. Though I did have one little coolant leak at the timing cover when I first put my engine together. I think it actually fixed itself on its own though with a heat cycle or two. Or maybe I pulled the cover and swapped the o-ring, I can't remember. Either way it was easy to fix and it's been nice and clean since. The valve covers do seem to have a problem leaking around the plug wells though. There's no real clamping force in that area, so I'm not sure the o-rings get good compression to seal there or not compared to the perimeter.

No leaks is one of the things I really love about the hemi. The engine is as clean as it was when I first put it in. Now if the damn Tremec would stop seeping....

 

[Kiddart1]

Rear end is out and to my gear guy, pedal wired in and start tune applied. Fired right up, after a few cycles of the key, to get fuel into the rails. Ran through some heat cycles.. No leaks, which is amazing...I usually find something silly. Idke log sent back to frp.

Rear should be back next weekend and I figure I'll hear back from frp as well. Still waiting on my shifter to come back.. I may just buy one to use for mock up and use till mine comes in. Ready to get my interior back together... Still need to add my wilwood proportioning valve too.

sounds very nice Dantra!!!

 

[340sFastback]

Engine sounds spectacular!!

 

[Dantra]

The upcoming weekend has alot of rain in the forecast, so I'm not sure about much of a shakedown run. After this last weekend, I'm close. I have a list of things to run through but it's basically bleed brakes, top off the trans fluid after some cycles, steering wheel and slap my shifter in.. Sublime did an awesome job making the 8 Speed shifter look stock-ish.

Pics of last weekends progress.. Rear-end in, proportioning valve, shifter mount, interior.

 

[racerjoe]

The upcoming weekend has alot of rain in the forecast, so I'm not sure about much of a shakedown run. After this last weekend, I'm close. I have a list of things to run through but it's basically bleed brakes, top off the trans fluid after some cycles, steering wheel and slap my shifter in.. Sublime did an awesome job making the 8 Speed shifter look stock-ish.

Pics of last weekends progress.. Rear-end in, proportioning valve, shifter mount, interior.

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All kinds of hard work and magic hidden under that carpet and behind that dash.

 

[85glht]

Been awful quiet in here...

Hurry up!! The dogs need to go for a ride!!

 

[Dantra]

Hurry up!! The dogs need to go for a ride!!

I just realized I posted this here.. instead of Dions thread. Crap!

But yea.. the pups are ready! I did take it for a short spin, last Friday. Rain was relentless all weekend.

 

[85glht]

I just realized I posted this here.. instead of Dions thread. Crap!

But yea.. the pups are ready! I did take it for a short spin, last Friday. Rain was relentless all weekend.

Raining here too... I better call Noah!!

 

[Dantra]

Been dailying the Dart as much as possible.. Still in the tuning stages. Few little bugs, but getting dialed in by FRP.

Over the weekend, I did have to change the front crank seal, due to some drippage. I had read tgat when using a Super Damper, only run Mopar front seal.. But you hear that **** all the time, from brand loyal people. I had a new Felpro on the shelf, so that's what I used. No Bueno! So I slipped a Mopar in and it's happy now. Also added a Holley lower trans support and ran a check on the AC system.

Did a cut and buff 2 or 3 weeks ago.. Huge change. Actually has a little shine to it now.

Ordered new Bilstein shocks and 1.12 torsion bars from Bergman, last week. Shocks should be here today and the torsion bars should be here by the weekend. Still need to focus on front disc brakes and come up with a solid plan. Every time I think I've found some F body spindles, something happens. It'll get there.

Powertour is less than a moth away.. Looking forward to that again this year. Indy will have some auto x and I may try to get a few runs in..

 

[TT5.9mag]

You’ve done such a nice job on that car. It’s super bad ***.

 

[85glht]

Such a sleeper!!! Hopefully, it is dog approved

 

[bjkadron]

Looking good!

I only have one spare disc brake spindle (need to find a matching one at some point) but you might check DR Diff. He sells brand new reproductions for $175 for the pair. I've seen cruddy ones going for way more. Or you can just get the Kit, or the spindles and sliders and use the stock stuff depending on how crazy you want to get.

This should be a monster with the upgraded suspension.

 

[DionR]

I only have one spare disc brake spindle (need to find a matching one at some point)

Is yours an F-Body or A-Body spindle? I have a single F-Body spindle, but not sure which side right now.

It would be cool if we could make a set for him.

Oh wait, I am making some assumptions there. You probably want to make a set of your own don't you.

 

[bjkadron]

Is yours an F-Body or A-Body spindle? I have a single F-Body spindle, but not sure which side right now.

I'm not sure. I think F-body but I'm not entirely sure when or where I got it. I need to compare with the other set and measure to confirm. It will probably be the weekend before I actually get to measure.

 

[Dantra]

Such a sleeper!!! Hopefully, it is dog approved

My little Boston approves and it doesn't phase her a bit... The golden is afraid of everything! Mower, SxS, wagon etc. Does like a ride in the Ram tho

 

[Map63Vette]

You people and your super clean engine bays, lol. I wish mine had that much free space. Mine has only gotten more and more stuff bolted to the inner fenders as my build has progressed (fuse boxes, ignition modules, fuel regulator, heater valve, etc.). Though I may finally have the relief of A/C this week if things go well. Got everything mounted and hoses crimped today, so hoping to get the system fully sealed and vacuumed to check for leaks. I'd love to do the Power Tour one of these days, but would still need to clean some stuff up before that, like my leaky windshield gasket. I've had the new one and the matching trim for years now, but have never committed to doing it. The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to have a shop do it though, assuming I can find a shop that even knows how to install a windshield that isn't glued in like modern cars. I also need my Viper back before I can go sending the Dart off to be out of commission for any amount of time.

 

[DionR]

I'm not sure. I think F-body but I'm not entirely sure when or where I got it. I need to compare with the other set and measure to confirm. It will probably be the weekend before I actually get to measure.

Pretty sure they are easy to identify visually. The A-Body spindle has a lot more meat between the caliper ears.

F-Body:

A-Body:

 

[Dantra]

Did some suspension upgrades over the weekend. Went with 1.12 torsion bars and Bilsteins on all 4 corners and it all came from @BergmanAutoCraft .Peter has been great to deal with. Communicates in real world terms that my brain understands.

Final results.. Wow! I was really expecting it to be a hard ride, but it's not at all. Dibs and bumps are way smoother and the cornering is crazy now. Body roll is gone. Now maybe everybody can make fun of my driving at moparty, instead of how my car handles lol.

Brakes are next. Probably end up just going with dr diff or pirate hacks.. Peter is doing some cross checking for me. Also toying with the idea of a sway bat.

Bars are obliviously way bigger than the /6 bars. Only took a few hours to install everything. I broke out the death wheel, once it was obvious that they were not just gonna slide (or beat) right out. Once everything was in, it was QC passed by Dottie. She's very thorough!