Hello, my name is ddart cart.

[ddart cart]

Yes, I stuttered.

Enough about me, I need to say thank you to all the contributors on this forum. Car people are the best.

Okay more about me car guy and pirate stuff. I 440 swabbed a 74 Satellite in the 90’s, she ran great, she got hit and runned by a dump truck. Details on that in my bio.

I never forgot the Satellite. Seeing them hurt. 30 years later, I read around here for 2 months, and jumped back in.

I just bought a drivable 74 Dart Custom 5.2. The interior is awesome and very reminiscent of my 74 Satellite lost. I did my first burn out in decades yesterday with the Dart. Thank you god! Also yesterday, god said hi when when the cherry picker dumped my 5.9 magnum and pinned me against the garage opening, during “delivery”. So far I picked up a 8.25 323 sure grip, china air gap, edl 650 thunder to go in. I will rebuild and shift kit the 904. I’m still figuring out the remaining parts needed.

ddart carts ultimate goal is to build a highway drivable 12.5 - 13.5 reliable car on the cheap, with good used, and good knock off parts. Obviously the 6 turbos and Cadillac conversions will be new.

Thank you for reading that, pics are probably more fun.

 

[H22A4]

Welcome! Looks like you’ve got a good base to start with.

Is the car large bolt pattern? If so swapping that 8 3/4 (assuming it’s a 8 3/4 A body rear end that hasn’t been modified to a large bolt pattern already) will result in two bolt patterns on the car.

Glad to see you only mentioned ‘fast’ and ‘reliable’ in your post and not ‘fuel efficient/low cost of ownership’. Depending on what size tires you have, running that gear set with no overdrive on the highway is gonna result in higher fuel bills.

 

[ddart cart]

Thank you. The car is 5 x 4.5 bolt pattern with front disc. The 8.25 rear is the same which came from a 73 A body. Fuel economy isn’t even a thought, unless something is broken. I’m not sure how it shakes out but hopefully 65-70 mph will be in the 2000rpm area so I can drive on the highway.

 

[Scott_ 69HemiDart]

Welcome from West Virginia.........................

 

[ddart cart]

Thanks! I *had a few WV cars/pick ups on my maybe list, 4 hours out from me though.

 

[missing linc]

from

 

[H22A4]

Thank you. The car is 5 x 4.5 bolt pattern with front disc. The 8.25 rear is the same which came from a 73 A body. Fuel economy isn’t even a thought, unless something is broken. I’m not sure how it shakes out but hopefully 65-70 mph will be in the 2000rpm area so I can drive on the highway.

Ah, my bad I misread you picked up a 8 3/4 but it was a 8 1/4 you bought so it would already be large bolt pattern.

Your tire size (diameter) will play a roll (pun intended) your rpm…. Try going for something as tall as possible that will fit. I think even with the tallest tire you will be hard pressed to get something close to 2000rpm with a 3.23.

 

[ddart cart]

Just put some used cooper cobra 225/70r14 on the back, 205/70r14 front.
I was hoping for 3.55, but found 3.23 and figure it’s at least a step over the 2.91. I guess 3.55 would not be highway drivable?

 

[Car Nut]

Nice looking car.

 

[318willrun]

Welcome! Fun project!

 

[ddart cart]

Nice looking car.

View attachment 1716388249

Thank you! I wasn’t sure about the pointy nose, but the whole car is growing on me.

 

[ddart cart]

Welcome! Fun project!

Thank you! For sure, I’m pumped!

 

[Lift&Move]

Welcome to FABO!

 

[H22A4]

Thank you. The car is 5 x 4.5 bolt pattern with front disc. The 8.25 rear is the same which came from a 73 A body. Fuel economy isn’t even a thought, unless something is broken. I’m not sure how it shakes out but hopefully 65-70 mph will be in the 2000rpm area so I can drive on the highway.

Yeah you’re not gonna be anywhere close to 2,000rpm with 3.23 gears no matter how tall your tires are. I’m running 3.23 gears in my Scamp with a stock 904, 235/60/14 tires and at 70mph the engine is turning at 3,500rpm.

 

[volaredon]

Something don't seem right there. Seems like those revs are a bit high with that combo

 

[ddart cart]

Yeah you’re not gonna be anywhere close to 2,000rpm with 3.23 gears no matter how tall your tires are. I’m running 3.23 gears in my Scamp with a stock 904, 235/60/14 tires and at 70mph the engining is turning at 3,500rpm.

What I’d like, what I know, and what is, may all be different. If I can drive 65-70 highway without screaming the engine, I’ll be happy.

 

[volaredon]

There really isn't a whole lotta difference between 2.94 and 3.23 a little but not much

 

[ddart cart]

There really isn't a whole lotta difference between 2.94 and 3.23 a little but not much

I picked up the 323 sure grip because it was available, but 355 may be more of what I’m after, so long as highway driving is not uncomfortable. Again, I have zero real world experience on this, other than 2.90’s in my Satellite that sucked, unless you like cruising at 100+ miles per hour.