'66 Dodge D-Dart at Mecum auction

[W J]

Would ALL of the '66 Valiants, Darts, and 'Cudas w/the 273/235, 4sp combos have had the 8&3/4" rear, or did it have to still be ordered? My friend's 235hp, 4sp '66 Valiant did have it, w/3.9 ratio...WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

W J,
You would think all of the 4-speeds in 66' came equipped with the
8 3/4" posi, when equipped with a 273/235HP Commando engine.
Don't think the 273 2-barrel, 4-speed cars came with the 8 3/4" posi
as standard. Probably an option. Also, Chrysler did offer these cars
with an optional "Towing Package". Not sure what that included.
Paul

[dart4forte]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Alan,
What you said does make sense. 8 3/4' for 4-speeds, and the 7 1/4" for automatics in 65'. I would imagine many of 65' 273 Commando 4-speed
Darts and Cuda's in early 65' never drove home from the drag-strip. Got brought home via a chain.
I will post some valve clearance info. You have to check the photo's of the cylinder head (valves and combustion chamber) in the Ted Spehar
Dart, on the D-Dart site. Those intake valves are not 1.87". They are definitely 1.78. On the bottom side of the head, a "2" is stamped within the indentation. Not sure if that indicated anything special.
On the engines, again put together at Chrysler Marine & Industrial.
Paul

The 920's I used for my 64 had 1.78s. They now have stainless 1.84s, cut down 1.88s. it's my understanding that D/darts came with the standard 920 heads. i would imagine that the teams that got those cars flow enhanced the heads.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Bill,
On valve clearance. The valves were are angled at 18 degrees, entering
the cylinder. As for clearance, I don't have the complete technical info guide. But, when we put 340 exhaust valves (1.60 diameter) in one of our 273's heads, we had to slightly fly-cut the the top edge of the cylinder wall
to allow for clearance (expansion). And thats with .040 over Chrysler
10.5 factory pistons...........
As for D-Dart valve spring info. The Racer Brown #VR-18X were rated at 313lbs. closed @1.05"...150lbs. open @1.55". Free length of the spring was 2.00". The springs were outer only, no damper. Suprisingly, cannot find valve seal info. Doesn't look like a Perfect Circle teflon seal was used, may actually be a poly-acrylic standard umbrella.
Oh, that Porach Dodge photo. Is that shifter Dr. Ball-Peen is holding, is that after he just drag-raced the car. Looks like he's looking for a
garbage can, as a nice place to store that beautifully made mechanical device.
Paul

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Alan,
What you said does make sense. 8 3/4' for 4-speeds, and the 7 1/4" for automatics in 65'. I would imagine many of 65' 273 Commando 4-speed
Darts and Cuda's in early 65' never drove home from the drag-strip. Got brought home via a chain.
I will post some valve clearance info. You have to check the photo's of the cylinder head (valves and combustion chamber) in the Ted Spehar
Dart, on the D-Dart site. Those intake valves are not 1.87". They are definitely 1.78. On the bottom side of the head, a "2" is stamped within the indentation. Not sure if that indicated anything special.
On the engines, again put together at Chrysler Marine & Industrial.
Paul

Paul,

I had a 1964 Valiant with a 225 and a 4 speed with the 7 1/4. I raced it in stock class and E/mp (cam and 4bbl) at ATCO......broke 5 rear ends in one year...it was truly worthless!

JimR

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jim R,
Those rear-end units are not worthless. They make a very nice chain-base anchor in the backyard, when tieing up a dog.
I forgot to add (2) other 1966 cars that competed in D/S in 1966.
1966 Dodge Charger 383/325HP
1966 Buick Gran Sport 401/325HP (Nail-head)
PC

[Paul Ceasrine]

Corky,
The camshaft information for the D-Dart. Manufactured by CamCraft out of Maryland. .504 intake/.515 exhaust, with a 284 duration. It was not a Chrysler manufactured unit. Racer Brown did make a sister camshaft for the 273, Model #ST-12, with a lift of .512 intake/.480 exhaust with a
duration of 257 @ .050.
The only Racer Brown component on the D-Dart were the valve springs.
Model #VR-18X (313 lbs. closed)..(150 lbs. open).
And no, it did not come with an aluminum dual-plane intake or dual-quad set-up as a factory option. It had a factory modified/free-breathing cast iron intake with the same port sizes as the standard 273/235HP Commando unit.
Paul (No problemo' on the info)

[bill dedman]

Paul, I am aware of the 18-degree valve angle, but I seem to remember that they used to have to notch the tops of the bores if they tried to run 2.02" 340 valves on a (smaller bore) 318.

Just thought a 273 might need a dose of the same medicine to enable it to utilize 1.88" intakes, regarless of valve angle....

[Paul Ceasrine]

Bill,
I can't remember what we did on the 318's. Definitely had to notch the top of the 273 blocks, when we utilized the 340 heads. We had all the BHJ Cutter Heads and tech info, back in the day. Do remember that you gad to maintain a .030 clearance between the valve and cylinder wall.
The 340 exhaust valves in a 273 made no improvement over stock valves (valve shrouding), but did help in the 318.
Corky,
The CamCraft part #2843719 had a 60 degree overlap.
The stock 273/235HP Commando camshaft .425/.425,,248 duaration
had a 26 degree overlap.
Paul

[Paul Precht]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

Paul,

I had a 1964 Valiant with a 225 and a 4 speed with the 7 1/4. I raced it in stock class and E/mp (cam and 4bbl) at ATCO......broke 5 rear ends in one year...it was truly worthless!

JimR

Hi Jim, how fast was the 225 Valliant, Paul.