Original hemi dart information

[rhinodaert]

Originally Posted by HEMIDARTDAVE

According to the Mecum site, this Dart bid to $125,000 and "The Bid Goes On"....it has a 3 speed?...I have a feeling there might be more ???s

I was at Mecum and that car is the Eddie Smith car that was bought at Mr, Norms then sold to Max Hurley. I believe Max raced it with a 3-speed. I know that Reed Koeppe in Nebraska found it then sold it after I bought the Max Hurley 71 Super Stock Demon that I sold to buy my Hemi Dart. Also at Mecum the first Billy Stepp car bid to 100K and did not meet reserve.

[Liteweight]

Bob
So you want to install a Hemi in a A body using factory mounts?????. Your a brave man Hope you have alot of patience, specially if your using box headers (Hooker/TTI etc.). If you want to use an external oil pickup system, stay with a single line, because a dual line is ALMOST not doable without doing alot of cutting OR fabricating of mounts, & creating a new pickup port in the pump body because the "as delivered" ports will now allow for that second line.
As your probably aware Hurst/Chrysler utized the welded steel mounts on the K member from Hemi B Bodies to build the original Hemi A cars.The rubber insulators were also used.
The tubes they used were Hooker 2" & were delivered with a street hemi pan. This combination worked as is but did not allow for the oiling required for a high winding Hemi. So, the cutting started on both the drivers side mount & steering box mount.
Now getting back on track to your install, the easiest will no doubt be an engine plate with a torque restrictor to limit fore & aft. movement.This will allow for dual external oiling & lots of header clearance
If your interested in this next option, pm me & I'll give you the name/number of a buddy who fabricates 2 different Hemi A body K members as complete bolt in kits utilizing original style mounts, original K members & suspension . The first one he designed a few years back that locates the engine a little lower than stock, which allows for much needed trans tunnel/ header clearance. This K member will accomodate box headers. You'll have to ask him about 2 1/8" tho. I believe it'll only work with a single feed external oil system.
The other K member he has available is a direct replacement of the originals, location wise. I know that because he borrowed my original to build his jig.
My Hemi install is a little unique as I'm using an unmodified original style K member with custom built headers, custom fabbed engine mount made from DOM 1 3/4" tubing & a modified Milodon dual oiling system. MANY, MANY hours were spent making this work & all clearances for everything in that area are minimal. 1/16" is the difference of something fitting or interfering.
This is the passenger side mount


This is the drivers side mount


If you closely you can see the new oil location at the bottom of the pump. The original 2 rear pickup locations remain plugged



This is the almost ready to install assembly. Tubes are custom made . 2 1/8" primaries, 4" collectors. Passenger side is 2 piece, Drivers side is 5 piece. I need to remove both torsion bars, both tie rod assemblies, center link, have no starter or even the drain plg in the block to get them in. I can't even have the header gasket glued to the head for install, because the thickness of that gasket won't allow #1 tube to go in, even with the engine lifted. The gasket needs to be slipped in after the headers installed.


have I scared you yet? They're not all this tight. I sold Dave McDade an original unmodified Hemi A Body K member & he installed it with the motor attached from the bottom. He dropped the body over the assembly. Valve covers were off tho. I don't believe he has an external oil system & I think his tubes are 2". Feel free to ask whatever you need to get that elfunt installed, & I'll do what I can to help you out.

liteweight

[Skypower]

Thanks Daryl:
That sure looks like a nice setup you have there.
My motor is a pump gas motor with only 580 lift cam and 10:1 compression, built to be a daily driver if I so choose, 550 hp 516 tq. Internal oiling and stock valve train, with stock type chrome valve covers. I am doing the shock tower mod to give me a little more room if I decide to change heads and valve train. I'm pretty sure I will be putting it in from the bottom as I have spoken to quite a few who have done it that way and say its a lot easier. The pics you posted help a lot, thanks. I will be taking my car to my chassis guy in a couple weeks once I make a decision on what bell housing to use, my car is a stick car.

I guess one question, what torsion bars are running.

Is your k member guys name Denny?

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by Skypower

Thanks Daryl:
That sure looks like a nice setup you have there.
My motor is a pump gas motor with only 580 lift cam and 10:1 compression, built to be a daily driver if I so choose, 550 hp 516 tq. Internal oiling and stock valve train, with stock type chrome valve covers. I am doing the shock tower mod to give me a little more room if I decide to change heads and valve train. I'm pretty sure I will be putting it in from the bottom as I have spoken to quite a few who have done it that way and say its a lot easier. The pics you posted help a lot, thanks. I will be taking my car to my chassis guy in a couple weeks once I make a decision on what bell housing to use, my car is a stick car.

I guess one question, what torsion bars are running.

Is your k member guys name Denny?

Those kind of numbers will more than knock your socks off in that car & be street friendly too.. You'll enjoy it, specially rowin' gears doing it..
You won't regret doing the shock tower mod.
You'll probably want to put a scattershield on it for your toes sake, a 2 piece with access from the bottom is preferable. Depending on engine location, will dictate whether you"ll have to modify the firewall to floorpan flange & you may want to drill holes in the firewall for the top 2 bellhousing retaining bolts, then install those snap in plugs.

I'm currently running the small block bars in my car. I tried the 6 cyl. ones, but didn't like them because of excessive front end rise, & they were wound too tight for my comfort, street driving it.

My K member connection is Al in WI.

liteweight

[Liteweight]

After many,many hours of cheet & abuse that it has provided for me, it's finally alive.


When it barked to life, the hair on my arms stood at attention. To describe what it sounds like is best done through a quotation my buddy yelled @ me last night while it was warming up. "That ain't no 10 sec. motor."
I just smiled
I tend to agree with him.
I love it when a plan comes together

Giddyup............................

liteweight

ps. the build tour will continue.

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

After many,many hours of cheet & abuse that it has provided for me, it's finally alive.


When it barked to life, the hair on my arms stood at attention. To describe what it sounds like is best done through a quotation my buddy yelled @ me last night while it was warming up. "That ain't no 10 sec. motor."
I just smiled
I tend to agree with him.
I love it when a plan comes together

Giddyup............................

liteweight

ps. the build tour will continue.

Ok "Hannibal",requesting audio/video asap.

Share the experience with the rest of us.

I have a mop and bucket to clean up the expected drool.

[Skypower]

X2
I'm in need of some motivation to get mine in the car.

[Charlie A]

50 beautiful women in bikinis will stand in line to ride with you the day you get it running.

Motivation enough?

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

After many,many hours of cheet & abuse that it has provided for me, it's finally alive.

Great job. What kind of valve cover finish? To me it appears to be Jet Hot-coated or some similar process and not chrome plated. Don't tell me it's aluminum paint. Whatever it is, it produces a good-looking effect.

M68

[Ghost Missle]

Originally Posted by Skypower

Is your K-member guy's name Denny?

Probably ought to be.......right Sky?

John