Original hemi dart information

[jack arnew]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

Not the unibodies causing them to lane change. It was due to the steering geometry resulting from the K member being dropped half an inch. There was close to an inch of toe change from full front suspension extension to rebound due to the outter tie rods arc location.. These cars are SCAREY to drive left in this condition. Chrysler sent out parts to place the upper balljoint in a different location to correct this.

liteweight

Did a lot of Dart and Cuda suspensions back then and also many different brands for stock,super stock and outher classes.But toe change was not the only problem with front ends. Never found any problems with upper bal joints on mopars . The drop k frame was 75% of it , but most could not aquire enought caster from stock adjustments and had way too much camber change .Never found any issues after the cars were on front end machine as long as rear end suspension checked out. But have to agree they were a real hand full before any work was performed.
The very first Cuda's I did were Bill Stiles's SS/AA and my SS/A, first Dart was Richard Shipley's SS/AA, this was in late1968 or1969. Now I'm back in the game,as my son no longer wants to do the cars They would not let me retire for too long I guess. Will very soon have the new SS/AH of Dave Collette's on the machine. What a beautiful car this is. And I'm running a 67 Dart in nostalgia super stock circuit next season myself. Hope it's more fun and less work than last time.

[jack arnew]

[quote=Liteweight;456754]Not the unibodies causing them to lane change. It was due to the steering geometry resulting from the K member being dropped half an inch. There was close to an inch of toe change from full front suspension extension to rebound due to the outter tie rods arc location.. These cars are SCAREY to drive left in this condition. Chrysler sent out parts to place the upper balljoint in a different location to correct this.

liteweight[/quote
Have followed from page 1 and the info in here helps the younger racers have a insite as to how it was for us old guys in the 60,70,80's, and see what it will take to restore one of these machines. Your Dart is a 10. Thanks for opening this form been great reading...Jack

[Liteweight]

Thanx for the good words Jack.

This car didn't have the modified parts sent out by Chrysler when I got it. It had all the correct kelsey Hayes brakes on it with the 4 1/2" bolt circle rotors only.

This was the most evil handling Mopar I've ever driven when I got it.. Toe change through it's suspension travel was just short of 1", & it wasn't equal side to side through it's travel. The camber change was horrible too.

I squared up the center link height side to side by shimming the steering box in one direction, & shimming the idler the other. To correct the camber change, I installed adjustable upper control arms. Next was relocationing the outter tie rod heights. This was done with heim ends & shims.

now it has less than 1/8" toe change through it's full travel, about 1/2* of camber change, & almost 5* of caster in it.

liteweight

[71Dartman440]

May be re-post of an L023 but just in case. Came across this clean pict today on the AMC Race Photo Forum.


Note the closed lugnuts; stock lugs?

[hemid68]

Today - Morgan Family and Friends Motorsports Hemi Dart (former Ray Rixman Dodge)- In August 2015 it will be 40 years since I rescued it from a junk yard!
Dan

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by hemid68

Today - Morgan Family and Friends Motorsports Hemi Dart (former Ray Rixman Dodge)- In August 2015 it will be 40 years since I rescued it from a junk yard!
Dan

[tommy d]

Found on f.b.

[rhinodaert]

Originally Posted by jack arnew

Did a lot of Dart and Cuda suspensions back then and also many different brands for stock,super stock and outher classes.But toe change was not the only problem with front ends. Never found any problems with upper bal joints on mopars . The drop k frame was 75% of it , but most could not aquire enought caster from stock adjustments and had way too much camber change .Never found any issues after the cars were on front end machine as long as rear end suspension checked out. But have to agree they were a real hand full before any work was performed.
The very first Cuda's I did were Bill Stiles's SS/AA and my SS/A, first Dart was Richard Shipley's SS/AA, this was in late1968 or1969. Now I'm back in the game,as my son no longer wants to do the cars They would not let me retire for too long I guess. Will very soon have the new SS/AH of Dave Collette's on the machine. What a beautiful car this is. And I'm running a 67 Dart in nostalgia super stock circuit next season myself. Hope it's more fun and less work than last time.

I own Shipley's car now, was it always an automatic? I have seen docs that it was built as a 4-speed but nobody seems to know for sure. I wish I could find color pictures of it when he raced it, seems to be few and far inbetween. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I will be starting the resto this year back to the Poison Dart paint scheme.


Jim

[marfen]

check the LH frame rail for evidence of a clutch z bar pivot that may still be there or evidence that one was there. Floor pan surgery may give you some idea .

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by rhinodaert

I own Shipley's car now, was it always an automatic? I have seen docs that it was built as a 4-speed but nobody seems to know for sure. I wish I could find color pictures of it when he raced it, seems to be few and far inbetween. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I will be starting the resto this year back to the Poison Dart paint scheme.


Jim

Good to hear Jim. It'll be great to see another of these back in the limelight.

marfen (Dave) has a great idea there bout the bracket on the frame rail

liteweight