A BIG Steaming Pile of...

[golferjohn]

Thanks for all the support and encouagement, here's a shot of the new front tires and wheels they are a 225 50 17 and don't look balanced with the 40 series rear tires so I found some lower profiles to match the back on ebay...should be arriving Monday so I'll see how they look.
 

[johndart]

Thanks  for the info CudaSRT8 & GolferJohn,

I don't mean to hijack this fine thread, I was looking at the crossmember issue from a 518 automatic overdrive thought, I forgot that John's use of alterkation front end setup
celiminated the torsion bars. I was hoping that a robust trans crosmember would minimise the intrusion so i can still run a stock bench seat. I don't have al alterkation buget at this time
one day hopefully. 

Regards johndart

[golferjohn]

here are some updated progress pic's

front tires and wheels are in and on

TTI headers fit perfectly

exhaust is almost done, just a little tweaking necessary
Tried to fire it up, but there's no spark...arrgh!!
Maybe tomorrow

[golferjohn]

almost forgot, the factory steering wheel was padded and wrapped in black leather w/dark green stitching...looks and feel terrific

[CudaSRT8]

John,
Looking real good buddy.   What size front tire did you end up with to go with the low profile rears?  Also, wondering what clearance you have between:

AlterK crossmember to floor

Bottom sump of oil pan to floor

I thought they fired it up successfully a while back?   Get ahold of Mopar Performance.  They should know the right questions to ask your crew about connections.   I'll bet it's got something to do with ground wires...

[CudaSRT8]

John,
Any updates?

[CudaSRT8]

John? 

John? 

Did you get her fired up?  (the HEMI, not the UPS girl)

Progress report?

[golferjohn]

after countless hours on the phone to Mother Mopar, they finally over-nighted the computer that they are using for their 6.1 Concept Challenger and it WORKED!!!
There are a few bugs to work-out but the damn thing goes like a scalded dog, Rick had to figure out a way to get the stickers off the treads of the rear tires...I don't know if the photo picks-up the burn-out or not, but that was his sticker removal technique



The dash and gauges, seats and console are in, but need some tweaking


You couldn't wipe the grin off my face after the .75 mile screaming trip through first, second and barely into third gear...hands-down the fastest car I've ever been in

[68_Val_Sedan]

That's great news !!!   So when you takin it to the drag strip ?

[golferjohn]

That's great news !!!   So when you takin it to the drag strip ?

I never gave dragging it much thought, I built it as a sunny day driver that would cruise down the freeway @ 85-90 all day and get 19-20 miles to the gallon.  After going for that 5 block joy-ride, I may have to rethink.  I'm not kidding, this f@#$&r is FAST!!  The combination of the 5.7 fuel injected hemi, the Tremec 5 speed and the 8.75 323 rear really screams, and it just sits and purrs @ idle.


I truly thank all the members for their encouragement and advice

[IL.DART340- 4SP]

Man thats bad ass Congrats on getting your project on the road. 

[golferjohn]

Thank you very much...might have to schedule a road trip somewhere

[68GTconvert]

Wow! that car is sick!

[318_Magnum]

Love it!

[CudaSRT8]

Awsome John, awesome!   So there was a problem with the "crate" computer???  That engine was one of the VERY FIRST few to be released.   Wonder if there are others with the computer problem.

So some final tweaking and you drive her away huh?   Congratulations.

Say, can you give us (me) some info on your final combination? 

Size of front tires
Size of rear tires

Measurement from bottom of AlterK crossmember to the ground
Measurement from bottom of oil pan to the ground

Sure would appreciate it.   
Also, what's the scoop on the computer MP sent you?   Are they letting you keep that one or sending you another?   

[golferjohn]

here are the tire sizes:


225 40 17's up front on Bullitt Wheels 17X8 with 5.7" backspacing


245 40 18's out back on 18X9 Bullitt Wheels w/6" backspacing

We had to send their Concept Challenger computer back,as well as the one that I received w/the engine and hopefully they will figure-out what's wrong and either correct mine or send me a new one.

I'm playing around with the ride height and will post the clearances when I have it just right.  Rick took @ a 1" slice off the bottom of the oil pan and shortened the pick-up by the same amount, then used .125" metal to replace the 16 gauge that was stock.  This was due to the pan sitting slightly lower than the AlterKtion and kind of exposed to whatever comes its way.

[CudaSRT8]

Thanks for the tire/wheel info John.   That will help a lot as I research a combo for my 'cuda.   When I had my engine mocked up in the car, it did look like the pan was going to hang below the AlterK crossmember, so maybe I'll keep researching another pan I'd be happy with.

Wow, that's a trip about the computer.  They had to have had problems with more than just that one.  I would think they'll just send you a new one.

I think your car's going to be awesome and REAL FUN to drive.  With that engine, the RMS front and rear suspensions and those 40 series tires, it should be pretty incredible.   If you want to take her on a road trip to the SF bay area, let me  know.   I'll have you over to the house to compare notes and cars.   

Got any pics of the Hemi / engine bay now that it's all cleaned up?   

[doug 371]

lookin good!

[flyboy01]

Freaking awesome!   

[pirate]

Is that an A body rearened?  Seems to me those wheels with a standard width rear would sit way in from the wheelwells.  Nice car by the way.  I was just about to order the same wheels when I saw you had them.  I'll have to pick some others now.  Cant have two darts in B-ham with the same wheels.

Later

Jon

[rjsjea]

Very nice lookin car!! 

[golferjohn]

Is that an A body rearened?  Seems to me those wheels with a standard width rear would sit way in from the wheelwells.  Nice car by the way.  I was just about to order the same wheels when I saw you had them.  I'll have to pick some others now.  Cant have two darts in B-ham with the same wheels.

Later

Jon

That is the stock A-body 8.75 rear end w/323's and new axles w/the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern

What part of B'ham do you live?  We'll have to hook-up and trade keys for a joy ride
Later,

[pirate]

John-

I'm on Cherry Point  S. of Birch Bay.  Let me know if theres any local shows you'll be at.  Im in the home stretch of a 383/727/8.75 swap.  Hoping to finish by mid June.  Any plans to give the dart a try at Mission Raceway? If so I'd love to go & comare your hemi to a big block. 

Later

Jon

[golferjohn]

small world, I'm the lender for the new housing plat, BayCrest which is right there.  I'm there every weekend, so we'll have to meet-up.  Not sure what or where Mission is, but it sounds cool.
Later

[CudaSRT8]

Hey John, how 'bout some pics of the engine all cleaned up in the engine bay?    What are you going to run for an air cleaner?   With the chrome valve covers, I'm thinking the small, round, chrome, unsilenced air cleaner from MP would look real good on there (it's the reproduction of the '68-'69 340/383 stock air cleaner.   I'm pretty sure it would clear the top mounted accessories just fine and it would tie the Hemi in with the Dart real well.   I have a black, wrinkle finish one that I set on the engine and it looked real good.   I highly recommend it.   You'll LOVE the sound...

[rjsjea]

As Cudasrt8 already asked.......I would like to see your ground clearance for the Kmember to ground and TTi's to the ground.

The 18's look good.......or 17/18 combo.

[golferjohn]

OJ, I've been in your neck of the woods for the last few days, played Harding Park and shot a 74 yesterday, played Presidio this morning and struggled a 78 out of it...flying home this evening @ 6:30.  Needless to say, I haven't been around to take any pictures or get the measurements that you've requested; I'll try Friday.
Does the new air cleaner from MP look like this?

It would need to sit @ 2" lower to have enough clearance.  Do you have any pic's you could post?  Wanna sell me yours if it fits?
Thx, J

[CudaSRT8]

John,
Yeah, that's the stock, non silenced one I still have from my ol' '68 Formula S Barracuda.   The MP piece is just like it, available only in chrome now.  I set it on the engine when I had it in the car, but I didn't have the hood on it.    Try this:    Pick up a cheapy, reproduction '69 Camaro Z28 air cleaner.   They have an inverted base that lowers the filter element down quite a bit.  Pretty sure the top part of your air cleaner will fit on it, but it will now sit lower.   From what I can remember, I did that once on a customer's car and it worked quite well.   If it does, you could then pick up the chrome MP piece or for that matter, the black wrinkle finish looks pretty good on there.   Keep us informed and...

Pics of the finished engine bay please   

[golferjohn]

here's the engine bay

I ixnayed the AC compressor so we modified the serpentine belt, other than that, pretty standard install.  Had to create our own water temperature sensor, you may be able to see the purple wire in the thermostat housing.

[golferjohn]

here are some shot from underneath

the clearance from the bottom of the AlterK and the ground is only 4" and since we sliced an 1" off the bottom of the oil pan, the k-member is the lowest point including the TTI Headers.