THANKS EVERYBODY!!! I got my big block dart running!!!

[jbarker]

I bought my Dart about 5 years ago.  I've always been partial to Mopars, and I knew I would have better speed potential with the smaller body-style.   The car was originally a slant6/904 with a 7 1/4" rear. The car is from California (I live in Buffalo).  It was actually in the movie Patch Adams.  No joke!  Anyways, I've been reading this message board and taking notes for about 2 years.  I started my project a year ago.  I started with a front disc brake conversion, ditching the drums for a set of disc brakes off a '79 St. Regis.  Later last fall, I put in a Moser-built Dana 60 with Mancini HD springs and offset shackles.  Rear tires are 275/60/15's.  Over the winter, I rebuilt a 727 for the first time.  I picked up a 383 out of a '69 Newport that was rusting in a field.  This spring, I had it machined at our local machine shop, and rebilt it myself with a 440 Source stroker kit.  Displacement is 489ci.  9.8:1 compression.  Edelbrock Performer RPM intake with a Thunder AVS 800 cfm carb.  It has Schumacher mounts and headers, and a Summit Pypes violator stainless dual exhaust.
I fired it up last weekend.  Once it started, I realized that the tach wasn't working!  So for cam break-in, I went by ear to get the RPM's up to 2,000-2,500.  Break-in went well, and then I took it for a ride.  It HAULS ASS!!!  This probably isn't anything special to you guys that run 10's all day, or to the professional engine builders out there, but I sure had fun.
 So thanks to everyone who has helped me out.  I 'd call you out by name, but I'm afraid I'd forget someone.  This site is the best.
I learned a few things during this project...a few that stick out in my mind...
- The pypes Violator exhaust is loud!!!  I mean really loud.  Attention-getting in a bad way.  I'll probably swap out the mufflers next year depending on how many times the cops pull me over.
-You can make a nice harmonic balancer installer out of 3/4" x 16 tpi threaded rod with appropriate nuts and some big washers

Anyways, I'll try to post a link to some pics of the car below this message.
-Jay 
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj251/jbarker496/000_0008.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj251/jbarker496/000_0012.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj251/jbarker496/000_0013.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj251/jbarker496/000_0007.jpg

[6469mopar]

 CONGRATS  ,NICE LOOKING CAR 

[DART VADER]

That's awesome. Isn't it a great feeling when you've worked so hard to get it going?

[73swinger]

looks good dude, congrats. I got mine running 2 years ago with a 383, then a 496 stroker. The speed bug has hit me hard

[68_Val_Sedan]

nice ride ... nice job ... 

[golferjohn]

sweet   

[DustBuster]

sweet ride. a suggestion though. you may want to get a drop base air cleaner to allow you to run a 3" air filter

[satellite65]

WOW! Congrats. The car looks awsome. Brings back memories of a metallic green '73 i had for a little while. It was a /6, A/C, PDB car. Very clean too, like yours. Wish I still had it, would've been a perfect candidate for a B.B.

Best of luck with yours. Enjoy the hell out of it.

[abqdart]

Very nice!

[70dust]

good job,now how about a video.nice ride.

[Capt Jack]

bada$$ ride

you should be proud

[MoPar_or _NoCar]

Very Nice!

[CudaSRT8]

Really nice car.   Very gratifying I'm sure.   Congratulations!
What size are those front tires?

[sr71mopar]

nice

[jbarker]

Front tires are 215/60/15's.
Thanks for the tip Dustbuster.  That is a drop base air cleaner, but the filter is only 2".  I'm pretty sure I can fit a 3" filter in there, and that is on my to-do list this week.

[dangerdawg]

good looking car, nice job, enjoy it.

[flyboy01]

Congrats! I am waiting on the same day.

[thebankerstoy]

Your car looks awesome!  Your story is EXACTLY what this hobby is all about! OWNER BUILT cars like yours are SOOOO much more sxciting to me, than cars that are "sent off" to a resto shop for a million dollar restoration, where the only thing that the cars "owner" does, is to give checks to the resto shop.    There is absolutely NO better feeling than working your ass off on your car and then seeing it come to life from YOUR efforts!  You should be VERY proud of that beautiful car!!! 

Richard

[rarefish]

Real nice. It kinda has that sleeper look to it. I like it a lot, Joe,

[ValiantOne]

Boy that is one GREAT looking ride

Congrats!

[gt]

Nice job.
The satisfaction of doing it your self is great.

gt

[johndart]

Very nice job. Looks great.

[dartracer]

Nice looking Dart. It dont get any better than being able to say I did it my self.

[b569rr]

good job,now how about a video.nice ride.

Great looking car and great job. I'm jealeous. We want a video of you blistering the tires. 

[CudaSRT8]

Jay,
You say that Violator exhaust is pretty loud.   Can you do a video and let us hear it before you remove it?   Sure would love to hear her runnin' ...

[moparwedden]

That,s Real Nice. Give Yourself A Pat On The Back. Know Start Doing This Then This  .

[Jim_Lusk]

Very subtle. Have fun with it.....

[Brett]

Nice work! I love the sleeper look. I'm also jealous of the paint/body condition! I bought my Dart in '92 while finishing school and it's been a project ever since. My car was from Baltimore and had a sound unibody but the rest of the body needs some TLC... which I may be finally getting around to!

[oldkimmer]

........Wow thats 1 great ride........KACHOW..............................Kim..........

[LS23HGTS]

Great looking car. Congrats on getting it going.   
More pics or maybe a video would be nice!